ACTION

As part of the ACTION project, automatic code generation and continuous optimisation for interactively composed process models are being developed.

The idea of the ACTION project is to interactively model processes of any complexity, generate their codes and permanently optimise the workflows. ACTION provides the possibility to document processes semi-automatically and intuitively with the help of chatbots and in dialogue with all process participants. While processes used to be defined on a drawing board on a lonely desk, working with ACTION means all the participants coming together for a dialogue and describing their process in natural language. Smart chatbots provided by ACTION are integrated into the conversation and assume the role of participating IT systems. ACTION captures a formal process model in the background so that all participants can see live how the process emerges. Quality improvement is achieved by ACTION itself carrying out feasibility analyses during modelling and making suggestions for improvement. The development idea is also envisaged to accompany users thoughout the entire process cycle, with ACTION actively monitoring every implementation, recognising and eliminating bottlenecks with regard to IT capacities, and using intelligent algorithms to recognise and report on deviations from the process model and the actual process reality.

Technological development

A module is developed for the interactive and collaborative modelling of processes. Chatbots are developed that directly support the interactive modelling process by taking on the role of participating IT systems. The time-consuming defining of data flows and interfaces is thus no longer necessary - the chatbots can be addressed in natural language and translate the requirements made on them directly into a formal model, which in turn is converted into executable code in the next steps. Algorithms for capturing processes are also developed, based on live discussions so that ACTION can present the finished process model after a meeting of all participants.

In addition, the develpment of a simulation and optimisation module is planned. ACTION will continuously analyse the current process model during the modelling process. A component for process simulation is therefore planned, which will calculate the most diverse scenarios and reveal any bottlenecks - such as too many tasks per time unit for the actors involved. ACTION will then proactively suggest improvements, such as a balanced load distribution. While conventional process modelling tools only point to optimisations such as parallelisation or acceleration, ACTION takes the path of "human-centric optimisation" and distinguishes between IT resources and human actors - another unique selling point.