viflow Alternative

viflow is your starting point — process era is your next step.

From Visio-based desktop modeler to a modern BPM platform with AI, integrated improvement tracking and 9 views on every process.

Positioning

If you started with viflow, you've built a solid Visio-based modeling routine. process era is the next step: the same simplicity, but as a SaaS platform with AI, CIP tracking and 9 process views instead of one.

viflow (ViCon GmbH) has been an established tool for Visio-based process modeling in the DACH mid-market for years. It does one specific thing very well: maintaining flowcharts out of Visio and publishing them on the intranet.^[1]

As organizations grow, Visio diagrams alone are rarely enough: stakeholders demand alternative views (BPMN, SIPOC, RACI), compliance requires traceable CIP tracking, and AI features are no longer a “nice-to-have”. process era picks up exactly there — as a SaaS platform for viflow users who want to scale rather than replace.

When switching from viflow to process era pays off

When your organization wants to model beyond pure flowchart documentation — e.g. BPMN 2.0 for IT-related processes, SIPOC for lean initiatives, RACI for accountability.
When you want to move CIP suggestions out of comments and into trackable issues with financial impact.
When you want to reduce Visio desktop dependencies and model in the browser from any device.
When AI-assisted model generation should noticeably reduce your time-to-model.

Head-to-head: viflow vs. process era

Tabular overview. Sources at the bottom of the page.

Comparison of viflow and process era by functional area
Criterion	viflow	process era	Advantage
Licensing model	viflow is traditionally sold as a per-seat desktop license; viflow Web as an additional SaaS module.^[2]	User-based SaaS licensing model. No desktop install, no Visio required. (Detailed license tiers will follow with the pricing release.)	process era
Cloud / On-Prem	Classic desktop (Windows + Visio). viflow Web is a SaaS extension with reduced functionality compared to the desktop product.^[2]	Pure SaaS platform hosted in Germany. Access via any modern browser.	process era
Process views	At its core Visio notation (flowchart). Extensions for swimlane and EPC; BPMN 2.0 only partially supported.^[2]	9 native views from a single source of truth: Business Process Canvas, BPMN, SIPOC, Turtle, Makigami, RACI, Table, Issue, Maturity.	process era
AI model generation	No native AI model generation evident in the product so far.	AI generates process models from descriptive text and enriches them with integrated catalog modeling.	process era
CIP / Improvement tracking	Improvements are mostly captured as comments on the diagram. No integrated issue tracking with financial impact.	Issues with financial impact scoring, owner, status and audit trail. Anchored directly to the process.	process era
BPMN import / viflow import	BPMN export is possible; import functionality is limited.	BPMN 2.0 import and export. A dedicated viflow migration path is in preparation — migration guide to follow.	Parity
Configurability	Proven functionality, rather conservative product evolution.	Start-up velocity: new features in weeks, not years. Customer requests flow directly into the roadmap.	process era
Reporting	Reports mostly as Visio exports and HTML publication.	Native reports on maturity, issues and process coverage.	process era

The most important differences in detail

From Visio flowchart to multi-model

viflow models live in one notation — Visio. That works for classical workflow documentation. But as soon as different stakeholders need different views — management wants a SIPOC overview, quality assurance BPMN 2.0, the auditor a RACI matrix — you either get duplicate maintenance or gaps. process era keeps exactly one single source of truth and automatically renders all 9 views from it.

CIP that doesn't get lost in comments

In viflow, users often capture improvement suggestions as annotations on the diagram — easy to understand, but hard to track. process era turns every suggestion into an issue with financial impact scoring, owner and status. CIP becomes measurable — and the process manager goes from bottleneck to multiplier.

Browser instead of Visio license

viflow classically relies on Microsoft Visio as the modeling tool. That's economical for small teams but scales poorly: every new modeler needs a Visio license and training. process era runs in the browser — access without installation, without Visio, with a consistent UX across all devices.

See process era compared to viflow.

30-minute live demo. No commitment.

Where viflow is stronger

Honest assessment — no comparison is complete without these points.

Visio toolchain

For teams with an established Microsoft Office/Visio landscape, viflow integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. If you already use Visio intensively, the entry barrier is very low.

Offline modeling

As a desktop tool, viflow works without an active internet connection. For industries with strict network restrictions, that can be a real advantage.

Long market presence

viflow has been on the market since the 2000s and is established in many mid-market IT departments.^[3] For conservative procurement that can be an argument.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between viflow Desktop and viflow Web — and which variant does process era compare to?

viflow Desktop is the original, Visio-based product; viflow Web is a SaaS extension with reduced functionality. This comparison refers to the documented functional scope of both variants. What matters for your switch is the variant you're using today — we're happy to align that individually in a live demo.

Can existing viflow models be migrated to process era?

BPMN 2.0 is supported on both sides and can be imported. A dedicated viflow migration path including conversion of Visio notations is in preparation; a migration guide will follow. For a concrete assessment of your portfolio, please get in touch.

Which BPMN notations does process era support compared to viflow?

process era supports BPMN 2.0 natively as one of 9 process views. viflow is primarily based on Visio notation; BPMN 2.0 is only partially represented.

Can process era be rolled out without an IT department — like viflow as a desktop tool?

Yes. process era is SaaS — no installation, no server provisioning. Business units can typically get started without an IT project. An onboarding workshop from process era supports the start.

What costs arise when switching from viflow to process era?

Essentially three items: (a) process era license costs (user-based), (b) migration effort for existing models, (c) an optional training workshop. Against that, you save the Visio licenses and the training effort for Visio notation. We're happy to give you a concrete quote in the demo session.