IBM Business Automation Workflow as a service

IBM Business Automation Workflow as a service (IBM BAW service) is a platform to create workflow applications to improve productivity. Workflow applications coordinate work between tasks performed by humans and automated tasks to improve daily business operations. This document describes how to connect IBM watsonx Orchestrate to IBM Business Automation Workflow as a service and import skills on watsonx Orchestrate.

Configuring the connection

As a builder, you can access skills in IBM BAW service and connect to them.

To connect watsonx Orchestrate to IBM BAW service:

  1. Enter the following connection details:
    • Review the general considerations before connecting to IBM BAW service.
    • On Username, enter the functional ID or service credentials.
    • On Password, set the password of your username.
    • Choose the target environment as either Development, Test or Production.
    • On Connection URL, set the URL for IBM BAW service. See General considerations for details.
  2. Click Connect.

Upon successfully connecting to IBM BAW service, you can discover skills from apps and projects built in your specified environment. Following are the steps to import skills on watsonx Orchestrate:

  1. On the Add skills page, expand the folder containing the skills and select the skill of your choice. Each skill has a unique set of features. You can expand each skill to understand what it does.
  2. Select the skills that you want to add.
  3. Click Save as draft. You’ll see a notification when the skill is imported.

The newly added skill is now listed on the skills and apps page with a Ready to publish status. It's now time to enhance and customize the skill to suit your requirements. Publish the skill to the skill catalog so that your team can start using it.

General considerations

Before connecting watsonx Orchestrate with IBM BAW service, take note of the following general considerations:

Parameters Details
Functional ID or service credentials Use the IBM BAW service functional ID or service credentials that are generated for your service account. If you don't have your functional ID or service credentials, you must contact your IBM BAW service account administrator for more assistance.
Connection URL The connection URL is the URL to connect to the IBM BAW service. To get the connection details:

  • Log in to your IBM Business Automation Workflow service instance.
  • Enter the IBM BAW service URL without the target environment (dev, test or run) as prefix. For example https://bpm.ibmcloud.com or https://bawdemo.automationcloud.ibm.com
Note: Information on the functional ID, service credentials and the connection URL are sent after you request access to the IBM BAW service instance. Contact IBM Support or your BAW account administrator if you've lost the details.

Using the skills

As a user, you can access the prebuilt apps and skills that IBM BAW service offers and use them.

To connect watsonx Orchestrate to the IBM BAW service skills, complete the following steps:

  1. Enter the username and password while you run the skill.
  2. Specify the member credentials. See Supported authentication schemes for more details.
  3. Click Connect app.
  4. Use the skills.
Note: If you're unsure about your member credentials, contact your IBM BAW service account administrator for more details.

Supported authentication schemes

The supported authentication scheme for IBM BAW service is

Apps Authentication type
IBM Business Automation Workflow Basic auth (LDAP)

Parent topic:

→ Building skills from apps