BPMN diagrams

BPMNVending Machine Process

BPMN Diagrams

BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) is a standard graphical representation for specifying business processes in a workflow. It provides a visual language that is easily understood by all business stakeholders, including business analysts, technical developers, and program managers.

This diagram is built using Mermaid, a Markdown-based tool for generating charts. It can also be constructed in Lucid.app for more advanced styling and collaborative editing.

Order Process: Vending Machine

This diagram illustrates the logical flow of a customer interacting with a vending machine to purchase a drink. It is divided into two horizontal swimlanes: Customer and Vending Machine, showing how responsibility shifts between the user and the system.

Nodes and symbols

SymbolDescription

Start Event (Circle)Represents the trigger where the customer decides they want a drink.

Task: Insert moneyThe user provides payment to the machine.

Task: Check moneyThe system verifies the inserted amount.

Task: Select drinkThe user chooses a specific product.

Task: Notify customerThe system informs the user if the selection is unavailable ("Out of stock").

Task: Dispense drinkThe mechanical process of releasing the product.

Task: Grab from dispenserThe final physical interaction by the user.

Gateway (Diamond)Decision point labeled "Is the drink in stock?" — branches into Yes or No paths based on inventory status.

Intermediate EventLabeled "Wait 3 seconds", indicating a short system delay during dispensing.

End Event (Bold Circle)Marks the successful completion of the process.

Connections

TypeDescription

Sequence FlowsArrows defining the order of activities — e.g., the flow moves from the machine's Wait state back to the customer's Grab drink action.

Conditional FlowsThe Yes/No paths from the gateway that determine the next system response based on stock availability.

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Mermaid diagram

Lucid.app alternative

This diagram can also be easily constructed in Lucid.app for more advanced styling, collaborative editing, and richer export options.

Lucid.app export