Business process language is the formal standard for XML-generated business processes. There are primarily three types of languages used in the current business process specification. These are business process modeling language (BPML), business process execution language (BPEL),and business process specification schema (BPSS). Each language is used in concert to define and illustrate a company's business processes.
Business process execution language is an XML language that is used by business process management systems for web services in computer applications. This BPEL information integrates multiple business processes of a company. Business process language helps companies streamline business flows, which can increase productivity and profits.
An example of a BPEL process could be a supervisor quality assurance process. This type of process requires several steps within an organization that would typically use multiple business functions. The business process language would map each step, including the interaction between employees and supervisors. The supervisor process would enable a final review before a transaction could complete.
BPEL was declared a standard for web service interaction in 2007 by the Organization for Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS). This standard has been integrated into most commercially available business process automation tools. This business process language provides the blueprint for web service development, which enables quick integration of the enterprise services in a company.
Business process modeling language (BPML) is a formal standard for creating the a company's business models. Each business model represents a standard operating procedure for a company. These models typically are depicted as flow charts that represent the steps necessary to complete a business function within a department.
BPML automation is used by many commercial business process modeling tools. Some commercial examples of these products include Websphere Business Process Modeler® and Oracles Business Process Management Suite®. These products use BPML and provide a visual method of presenting models to users.
Business process specification schema (BPSS) is the detail outline of data elements within a BPEL interface. The BPSS language is the necessary standard to ensure that business processes communicate effectively. BPSS is a business process language that is typically used for business-to-business (B2B) transactions.
An example of a BPSS process could be an interaction between a warehouse inventory system and a product supplying company. When the warehouse inventory detects a shortage of a product, it could automatically purchase more from the supply company. This purchase transaction would use the language specification of the BPSS. This schema would be a formal outline of the data elements that are necessary to complete a purchase order between the warehouse company and the supply company.