Business Process Concepts

In Sterling B2B Integrator, a business process is a series of linked software and possibly human activities that accomplishes a business goal. The activities in a business process are primarily performed by components known as services and adapters, and are orchestrated by Sterling B2B Integrator integration engine.

The Business Process engine runs business processes according to the instructions that comprise your business process models. Technically, a business process model is defined by a single, unique BPML document, a .bpml file. BPML is an XML-based language used to describe (model) and run business processes.

Business process models are the executable tasks and instructions that make up processes. The Graphical Process Modeler, or GPM, enables you to create business process models by manipulating icons that represent services, adapters, and other specific instructions, in a graphical palette. The GPM converts the graphical representation of business processes to BPML behind the scenes.

The following diagram illustrates a simple business process model as it displays in the GPM:

Simple business process model

This example is one of the predefined business process provided for your convenience with Sterling B2B Integrator (this is the EDI deenveloping business process). The following figure illustrates the BPML code that is created, stored and used by Sterling B2B Integrator for a business process model:


<process name="EDIDeenvelope">
  <sequence>
    <operation>
      <participant name="EDIDeenvelope"/>
      <output message="Xout">
        <assign to="." from="*"></assign>
      </output>
      <input message="Xin">
        <assign to="." from="*"></assign>
      </input>
    </operation>

  </sequence>
</process>

For more information about predefined business process models, see:

  • Reusability of Business Processes
  • Using Predefined Business Process Models
  • Subprocesses