Catalog
concept#Software Engineering#Architecture#Governance

Event-Driven Process Chain (EPC)

The Event-Driven Process Chain (EPC) is a process-modeling notation for representing business processes using events, functions and control flow.

The Event-Driven Process Chain (EPC) is a process-modeling notation that represents business processes using events, functions and control flow.
Established
Medium

Classification

  • Medium
  • Organizational
  • Organizational
  • Intermediate

Technical context

ARIS or other process modeling toolsWorkflow engines and RPA platformsCMDB and process repository systems

Principles & goals

Events as primary triggersClear separation of events and functionsModularization of large processes
Discovery
Enterprise, Domain, Team

Use cases & scenarios

Compromises

  • Over-modeling and unnecessary level of detail
  • Inconsistent semantics across models
  • Lack of adoption without governance
  • Modularize instead of monolithic models
  • Use consistent event and function naming
  • Conduct regular reviews with business stakeholders

I/O & resources

  • Existing process documents and business specifications
  • Stakeholder interviews and role descriptions
  • Technical interface and system overviews
  • EPC models and model libraries
  • Improvement and automation backlog
  • Handover specifications for developers

Description

The Event-Driven Process Chain (EPC) is a process-modeling notation that represents business processes using events, functions and control flow. It supports analysis, documentation and preparation for automation. EPCs emphasize explicit triggers and logical sequencing; for large landscapes modularization and governance are essential. Widely used in ARIS-based BPM initiatives.

✔

  • Improves transparency and communication between stakeholders
  • Facilitates identification of automation potential
  • Standardized notation supports governance and training

✖

  • Not directly executable without further technical specification
  • Can become unwieldy for large landscapes
  • Limited in representing data-oriented details

  • Model coverage

    Percentage of core processes documented as EPCs.

  • Time to automation

    Average time from model to productive automation.

  • Change effort per model

    Average effort to adapt an EPC after process changes.

EPC for order and delivery process

Compact model with events for order receipt, validation, and shipping.

EPC for invoice processing

Models approvals, validations and handover to finance systems.

EPC in a service transition

Shows handovers between business and IT including control points.

1

Identify stakeholders and define goals

2

Establish modeling guidelines and vocabulary

3

Model and validate core processes as EPCs

4

Import models into repository and maintain

5

Establish governance processes for changes

⚠️ Technical debt & bottlenecks

  • Outdated EPCs without refactoring
  • Missing automation specifications
  • Heterogeneous tool landscape without integration concept
modeling-efforttool-supportgovernance-processes
  • Using EPCs as the sole source for executable automation
  • Allowing inconsistent terminology per department
  • Creating monolithic models without modularization
  • Premature detailed modeling before process validation
  • Unclear responsibilities for model maintenance
  • Lack of alignment with technical interfaces
Process modeling and notationsDomain knowledge of the business processFacilitation and validation skills
Process transparencyAutomation capabilityInteroperability between systems
  • • Dependence on consistent terminology
  • • Availability of suitable modeling tools
  • • Need for stakeholder validation