How are ARIS models converted to SAP diagrams?

You can upload process models and process diagram variants as BPMN diagrams to SAP Solution Manager. ARIS models are automatically converted to BPMN diagrams of the selected type. Models of the EPC and the Value-added chain diagram types are always converted. Models of all other types that are relevant for SAP synchronization are converted only if modeling rules are violated. If a model cannot be converted, the model is not transferred. For BPMN diagrams available in ARIS, the layout of the ARIS diagrams is used. If ARIS models are converted, by default, the layout for generated BPMN diagrams is Horizontal and the System landscape is used as a target diagram subtype. You can select other settings, if required. The type of the ARIS model and the selected SAP diagram subtype define how the resulting the SAP diagram will look.

You can transfer models of only these types:

  • EPC

  • EPC (column display)

  • EPC (row display)

  • Value-added chain diagram (VAD)

  • BPMN collaboration diagram (BPMN 2.0)

  • BPMN process diagram (BPMN 2.0)

  • Enterprise BPMN collaboration diagram

  • Enterprise BPMN process diagram

EPC/System landscape SAP diagram subtype

If you transfer ARIS models using the System landscape option, the system landscape is used as the target SAP diagram subtype. In the SAP system, the pools of the converted BPMN diagrams use the logical components occurring in the ARIS model. For each logical component group assigned to an SAP function, a corresponding lane is created and placed in the pool. This pool has the name of the process. Functions to which a logical component group is assigned are placed in the corresponding lane. Functions without logical components are placed in the N/A lane. Other elements without a logical component, such as gateways, are placed in the lane of one of the neighbor's logical components.

EPC(column/row display)/Role SAP diagram subtype

If you transfer ARIS models using the Role option, the role is used as the target SAP diagram subtype. In the SAP system, the lanes are built from the row/columns of the EPC process model (Type: EPC (column display) or EPC (row display)). ARIS tries to keep the layout of the EPC for the transferred diagram. Process steps, events, rules, and process interfaces are converted in the same way as described for the EPC/System landscape SAP diagram subtype.

Organizational elements and the related connections define the lane where functions of the Process step SAP function type appear. The following types are used: Organizational unit type, Organizational unit, Position type, Position, Position description, Role, and Group.

In models of the EPC (column display) or EPC (row display) type, the lanes of the SAP diagram are built from the columns or the rows (see examples: ARIS model and resulting BPMN diagram). The names of the lanes are determined as follows:

EPC (column display)

Converted EPC (column display)

BPMN models

ARIS models of the BPMN collaboration diagram (BPMN 2.0) type and the BPMN process diagram (BPMN 2.0) type are converted to BPMN process diagrams of the SYST type. In SAP Solution Manager, diagrams of the SYST type, contain exactly one pool and each lane represents a logical component group. For each logical component group assigned to an SAP function, a corresponding lane is created and placed in the pool. Functions without logical components are placed in the N/A lane.

BPMN models are transferred only to BPMN process diagrams of the SYST type if they meet the following conditions:

In ARIS, you can do much more in a BPMN model than in SAP diagrams of the SYST type, for example, you can use subprocesses or symbols for embedded process. Such ARIS models cannot be uploaded as they are. Therefore, the layout of these models is modified automatically during the upload process. The ARIS models remain unchanged.

If you transfer models of the Enterprise BPMN collaboration diagram or Enterprise BPMN process diagram type to the SAP system, the diagrams are converted to BPMN collaboration diagrams or BPMN process diagrams. If converted to BPMN collaboration diagrams, the diagrams can contain more than one pool. Possible pools are the process pool, the external pool, and the draft pool. If converted to BPMN process diagrams, the diagrams can contain one pool.

The SAP function of the Process SAP function type to which the Enterprise BPMN collaboration diagram is assigned defines the corresponding process in the SAP system.

The process pool only contains process steps related to this process and free elements, such as gateways or free tasks that are not related to a specific process. If a pool contains only steps from another process, an external pool is created. The draft pool is created if a pool contains only free elements, such as gateways or free tasks that are not related to a specific process or the pool contains no element.

If a pool contains steps from two or more different processes, the diagram is converted internally during the model transfer. Elements are converted as described.