BPM-X® Designer for Visio vs. ARIS® Express

Methodology

Has a fixed number of diagram types such as

• value-added chain (called process landscape)
• and event-driven process chain (called business process).

There is

• no way to create new diagram types,
• no way to modify an existing diagram type by adding or removing symbols,
• no compliance with your individual ARIS® filter.

Includes an open metamodel to change or add new diagram types. Fully flexible approach to creating your own methodology or to match your project-specific ARIS® filter:

• Full method capability and ARIS® filter compliant.
• A library of more than 200 diagram types ready to use.
• Open metamodel.
• Dynamic symbol library, extendable.
• Shape descriptions dynamically created from method language.
• Visio properties flexibly mapped to any ARIS® attributes (see below).
• Shape designer

No swimlanes.

Comes with various swimlane diagram types like

• vertical swimlanes,
• horizontal swimlanes,
• table diagram (horizontal and vertical),
• matrix diagram type.

• Fixed set of only very few useful attributes such as NAME or DESCRIPTION.
• Only string data type of fixed length.

• Unlimited selection of attributes and descriptions, free to be defined within the method.
• Attributes with data types (string, currency, date, numbers etc.)
• Own data types with regular expression validation.

Only supports object definitions, no object occurrences.

• Support of object definitions and object occurrences.
• Support of object masterdata to ensure proper usage of object occurrences.

No assignment of models controlled by methodology. Only limited linkage to documents.

• Model assignments are fully supported and controlled by the methodology.
• Assignments are checked within the allowed method.
• Unlimited linkage to documents

Data Exchange

• Only unidirectional import of ARIS® Express models into full versions of ARIS®, e.g. ARIS® Business Architect.
• No usage of existing ARIS models, that is no import from e.g. ARIS® Business Designer into ARIS® Express.
• Issues and limitations with merging Express models into full version ARIS models: ARIS® Express handles only definition copies not occurrences.

The BPM-X middleware allows for full model roundtrips between different platforms (e.g. Visio® and ARIS®):

• Bidirectional model exchange between the Visio® and ARIS® platform with no loss of data.
• Full exchange of model graphics and model data.
• Object identities are assured by using the same GUIDs on all platforms.
• Object definitions and object occurrences are distinguished to allow for a coherent use of masterdata objects (app systems, org units, positions etc.) as occurrence copies.
• The built-in BPM-X Model Explorer makes it easy to work with nested group structures and to reuse masterdata.

Rather limited Visio import capabilities.

• This is Visio®.
• Very flexible and method-compliant import of model contents from a broad range of process modeling platforms (including native Visio® diagrams) by using BPM-X middleware.
• All enterprise standards and conventions defined in your ARIS® filter will be available in Visio®.

Application

• Not a Microsoft® Office-like product.
• It is a Java™-based application without Office look and feel.

• Visio® is part of the Microsoft® Office suite.
• The BPM-X Designer add-in extends Visio® to be fully method-compliant with the ARIS® Platform.
• The well-proven Visio® GUI is completely available.
• Visio 2003, 2007 and 2010 are supported.

Very limited language support

Full and flexible language support in terms of GUI, method and content languages:

• Selectable GUI languages, e.g. English, German, Spanish, Japanese, Russian.
• Selectable method languages, e.g. English, German, etc.
• All Windows®-supported languages for model contents; Unicode-based with Kanji support.
• Multiple content languages may easily be maintained within models.

Limited to free form shapes such as rectangles and circles.

Large gallery of master shapes for a variety of diagram types.

No model validations available.

• Existing validation library with validation rules such as “Shape has to be connected to another shape” etc.
• Create your own validations with Microsoft® Visual Basic® for Applications (VBA) script language.

No application, method or symbol customizing available.

• Fully flexible customizing with VBA.
• Fully flexible method and shape customizing.