ViFlow

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viflow
Basic data

developer ViCon GmbH, Hanover
Current  version viflow 7
(2020)
operating system Windows
category Process modeling software
License proprietary
German speaking Yes
www.viflow.de

Viflow ( own spelling viflow or ViFlow ) is a business process management software for the graphic representation and improvement of processes in companies and their representation on the intranet. The software manufacturer is ViCon GmbH from Hanover (Germany).

overview

viflow uses Microsoft Visio for the graphic display . For this purpose, Microsoft Visio is fully integrated into the viflow software and expands it with additional functions for central maintenance of content and for web-based publication for business process modeling .

Viflow is used with 43,000 licenses at 8,200 companies in 45 countries (as of 2020).

history

The first version of viflow was first published by ViCon GmbH in September 2000 as ViFlow 2000. This was followed by the versions ViFlow 2002 (January 2002) and ViFlow 2003 (April 2004). From March 2006, the manufacturer dispensed with the year in the version designation and published version ViFlow 4. In May 2010, version ViFlow 4.5 appeared, in February 2013 version 5 and in June 2016 version 6 (with this version the notation of the program name changed from "ViFlow" to "viflow"). The current version is viflow 7, which has been on the market since March 2, 2020. viflow 7 is a completely new development and not a further development of the previous versions.

version Period
ViFlow 2000 09 / 2000–01 / 2002
ViFlow 2002 01 / 2002-04 / 2004
ViFlow 2003 04/2004 - 03/2006
ViFlow 4 03/2006–05/2010
ViFlow 4.5 05/2010-02/2013
ViFlow 5 02/2013–06/2016
viflow 6 06/2016–02/2020
viflow 7 03/2020 – today

functionality

In viflow, company procedures are referred to as "processes". A process can be described in more detail by any further sub-processes. The process of "order processing" can be described as a process, for example. This process is graphically described in viflow and provided with further information (who does what? What is required for this?). The standard setting for the graphic display is the swim lane display, through which the areas involved in a process (departments, people, systems) are displayed as horizontal "swim lanes" and the activities to be carried out are placed as process boxes within these lanes. The information passed on (documents, data) is modeled as arrow connections between the process boxes.

In principle, however, you are free to design the graphics and you can use almost all of Microsoft Visio's options. It is also possible to display the processes in accordance with the conventions of the EPK , BPMN and FlowChart methods.

The information recorded and collected with viflow can be generated as a web representation so that it can be made available to all employees in an internal company intranet.

Editions and variants

The manufacturer offers the software in three editions: blue, silver and gold. Microsoft Visio software (from version 2016) is required for operation. A variant including Microsoft Visio Standard 2019 and a variant without Visio (if the user already has Visio) are offered.

The software interface is available in German, English, French, Hungarian, Spanish, Dutch and Italian.

Areas of application

viflow will u. a. used quality management systems to describe and create quality management manuals (QM manuals) paperless. It can also be used for the documentation of IT systems, projects and clinical treatment pathways.

Demarcation

viflow is a software for business process modeling with which the user of this software can graphically represent the processes in his company in order to become aware of them and to inform other employees about them. The software does not automatically recognize possible weak points in processes and does not suggest any improvement measures.

In addition, it is not a workflow system that actually allows real processes to run, nor is it a document management system for managing forms, etc. However, a link can be created between documents used in processes and the actual documents.

Web links

literature

  • Schwab, Josef: Business process management with Visio, ViFlow and MS Project , Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & CO. KG; Edition: 2nd, updated and expanded edition (December 1, 2006) - ISBN 3446404643
  • Reiss, Georg and Manuela: practical book IT documentation , Addison-Wesley, Munich; Edition: 2nd, updated edition. (September 29, 2010) - ISBN 3827329523
  • Schmelzer, Hermann J. & Stuhlmann, Wolfgang: Business process management in practice , Hanser Wirtschaft; Edition: 7th, revised and expanded edition (July 1, 2010) - ISBN 3446421858
  • Holzwarth, Arno & Lohr, Dietmar: WAP - Value Stream as a Project Basis , Grin Verlag (May 2010) - ISBN 3640632583
  • Cassel, Michael: ISO / TS 16949 - Implementing Quality Management in the Automotive Industry , Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & CO. KG; Edition: 1 (October 5, 2006) - ISBN 3446227296
  • Eckhardt, Jörg & Sens, Brigitte: Praxishandbuch Integrated Treatment Paths , Economica; Edition: 2006 (April 28, 2006) - ISBN 3870814306

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Viflow overview. In: viflow.de. ViCon GmbH, accessed on January 22, 2017 (section "More than 7,200 companies worldwide are already working with viflow").
  2. ↑ Description of the swimlane display
  3. ↑ Youtube video quick start
  4. ↑ Edition overview