Overview
Use our AI capability to automatically generate a UPN (Universal Process Notation) diagram, allowing you to document your business processes in a clear, easy to understand format. ElementsGPT leverages AI to further accelerate your business analysis by generating maps in a matter of minutes, giving you a solid foundation for process analysis.
Prerequisites
Editor permissions in the space
How to generate a diagram
To generate a new diagram, go to the "Diagrams" tab in the left menu in your Space:
From here, select the "New" button, and from the dropdown menu, select "Use AI to generate".
Meaning of the fields and options
After clicking 'Use AI to generate' the following popup window appears:
Generation type (mandatory)
This field defaults to 'Human instructions or text to UPN Business Process Diagram' but can be switched to 'Image to UPN Business Process Diagram' which offers the capability to additionally upload an image (in GIF, JPG or PNG format).
Diagram name (mandatory)
Choose a name for your diagram, which describes the process in a few words. For example 'Validate contact'.
Select theme (mandatory)
Themes determine the style (e.g., fonts and colours) of your diagram. You can leave this to the default 'UPN Default theme' but also select a different theme.
Description (optional)
Describe in a few words the intent of this diagram. For example 'This process describes all steps needed to validate a contact.' This text will be saved as your map description.
Instructions (optional)
This is basically your instruction prompt and the most important field that will be used to generate your diagram. You can describe the process in your own words, or paste any copied text from an existing textual process-description.
NOTE: The instruction text will NOT be saved, so it makes sense to store this somewhere if you're trying things in an iterative way.
Tags (optional)
To structure and manage your process maps, you can add tags, which are beneficial in a later stage.
Use only existing resources (optional)
Default the AI will generate a new resource if it cannot find a suitable resource in your current resource library. And if a resource already exists, it will simply be used, rather than creating a duplicate.
However, if you don't want the AI to generate new resources, you can switch this toggle to on. This will make sure the AI will refer only to the existing resources that are currently present in the Resource Library. Any new resources also won't be added, and so you will notice some activities won't have resources added.
Once ready, select the "Generate" button, sit back, and relax! The process should take around 1 to 2 minutes depending on the length of context/size of diagram being generated.
After generation of the diagram...
You probably want to rearrange some boxes and flow lines once generated, but the general idea is to give you a head-start in creating a base for further business analysis and process mapping using UPN.
Using images as additional context
You can also upload up to 4 images as additional context for your diagram. You need to switch the 'Generation type' field to 'Image to UPN Business Process Diagram'.
Images could include existing diagrams in other notations (e.g., BPMN or EPC), but also written notes, hand drawn processes through brainstorming, PowerPoints and more. Note that supported file formats include only GIF, JPG and PNG. So, if you have PDF images, you need to convert them to one of these formats before.
Simply click "Upload File" or drag the image to the grey box in the window:
We recommend adding in the "Instructions" field some information about the provided images, and how you want them to be used. For example, if you want to merge multiple processes, or use a process as guidance to create a new one, specify that in the text you provide. It is also valuable to describe more about the image, such as the process type, and notation information, if relevant.
Example: "You have been provided with a flowchart that shows the process for logging in to an application. Use the key activities and outcomes shown in the flowchart to generate a process. Ignore [X], but include [Y] in the final process."
How to generate a drilldown
To automatically generate a drilldown on an existing diagram, right-click on the activity that you want to create a drilldown for. From the opened context menu, select "Create child diagram", "Process diagram (UPN) and "Auto-generate". This will show a new window for entering the drilldown name, description, and instructions.
The fields and principles are the same as the ones described in How to Generate a Diagram (above). Once filled in, press "Create" and a drilldown diagram will be generated at that level according to the provided information.
Retries and failures
If a diagram fails to generate, you have the option to retry generation. Click "Retry" on the notification, and you will be redirected to the starting window again, with your previous instructions pre-filled.
We recommend amending the instructions to see if this yields better results. Tip: Lots of bullet points can sometimes be interpreted as an activity per bullet point, and too many activities can cause errors.
Limitations
The instructions field has got a 20,000 character limit for both new diagrams and new drilldowns.
A maximum of 4 images can be uploaded as context.
If you are providing your own API token in Elements, it must be a compatible model token for using vision. See the OpenAI guidance for more information on which model to choose.
Tips for success
As always with AI, better data = better outcome.
If you have a good idea of the process you want to see, use the instructions to your advantage. Specify which resources you want to be included, where the process should start and end, as well as any specific activities or outcomes.
Good guidance examples include written process documentation or summaries of a process (hint: you can use ChatGPT to summarise large files or guidance text, and use that summary to prompt the diagram generation).
Instructions fields with little or no text will generate more generic, high-level diagrams for if you are unsure of where to begin.