Flowable is a powerful business process management (BPM) and case management platform built around open standards such as BPMN, CMMN, and DMN. Designed for enterprise-grade applications, Flowable enables organizations to model, execute, and optimize business workflows and case handling through a flexible, event-driven architecture.
Whether you’re looking to automate internal processes, support dynamic case management, or embed workflow engines into your software products, Flowable provides the scalability, compliance, and adaptability required in highly regulated and fast-moving industries.
Flowable comes in both open-source and enterprise editions, giving teams the freedom to build with community-driven tools or opt for commercial-grade features like advanced analytics, clustering, and low-code app builders.
Features of Flowable
BPMN Workflow Engine
Flowable supports BPMN 2.0, allowing teams to model and execute structured, rule-based business processes. These can range from simple task flows to complex enterprise-level workflows.
CMMN Case Management Engine
With CMMN (Case Management Model and Notation) support, Flowable lets organizations manage unstructured, human-centric processes that depend on dynamic conditions, such as legal cases or healthcare incidents.
DMN Decision Engine
Flowable’s Decision Model and Notation (DMN) engine allows users to define and execute business rules that drive automated decision-making, ideal for compliance and validation workflows.
Open Source Core
The Flowable Core Engine is fully open-source and maintained under the Apache 2.0 license, enabling deep integration, extension, and community support.
Flowable Work (Enterprise Edition)
Flowable Work is the enterprise offering that includes:
Visual modeler and low-code builder
Real-time monitoring and analytics
Integration connectors
Advanced authentication (OAuth2, SAML)
Clustering and scalability features
REST and event-driven API support
Human Task Management
Model tasks for human interaction with roles, deadlines, escalations, and UI forms, ensuring seamless collaboration between systems and users.
Event-Driven Architecture
Flowable supports integration with event buses and messaging systems such as Kafka, allowing for reactive process execution.
Multi-Tenancy
Serve multiple clients or departments from a single Flowable instance, with secure tenant separation and configuration.
How Flowable Works
Model Processes
Use Flowable’s modeler (web-based or desktop) to design workflows using BPMN diagrams, CMMN case models, and DMN decision tables.Deploy Models
Models can be exported as XML and deployed via the Flowable Engine or Flowable Work interface.Execute and Monitor
The runtime engine manages process execution, handling user tasks, service calls, timers, and gateways. Dashboards help monitor executions and bottlenecks.Integrate with Systems
Flowable supports REST APIs, Java APIs, and event subscriptions for integrating with external applications, databases, and microservices.Scale and Secure
Use Flowable in clustered environments with full RBAC (role-based access control), identity management, and audit trails for governance and compliance.
Use Cases for Flowable
Financial Services Workflow Automation
Automate loan origination, client onboarding, KYC, and compliance validation using BPMN and DMN models.
Healthcare Case Management
Manage unstructured patient workflows, including treatment cases, insurance claims, and discharge planning using CMMN.
Insurance Claims Processing
Drive end-to-end claims lifecycle management, from intake to adjudication, with integrated rules for fraud detection and policy validation.
Public Sector and Legal Case Handling
Handle case-centric workflows such as license approvals, legal disputes, or regulatory actions, where outcomes evolve over time.
IT and DevOps Automation
Embed Flowable within CI/CD pipelines or use it for request approvals, incident handling, and infrastructure orchestration.
Embedded Workflow in Software Products
Software vendors embed Flowable’s lightweight engine to add native workflow and process capabilities to their own SaaS or enterprise products.
Pricing of Flowable
Flowable is available in two primary editions:
1. Flowable Open Source
Free under Apache 2.0 License
Includes BPMN, CMMN, and DMN engines
Ideal for developers and small teams
No official support (community-driven)
2. Flowable Work (Enterprise Edition)
Commercial license
Includes UI builders, dashboards, monitoring tools
Advanced features like clustering, multi-tenancy, and SSO
SLA-backed support and professional services
Custom pricing based on user count, environments, and support level
Organizations interested in Flowable Work can request a demo or quote via https://www.flowable.com/contact/.
Strengths of Flowable
Standards-based (BPMN, CMMN, DMN) ensures compatibility and portability
Flexible and modular architecture supports integration and customization
Open-source foundation with strong enterprise enhancements
Supports both structured and dynamic workflows
Excellent Java and REST API support
Highly scalable and performant for large enterprises
Powerful decision management with DMN engine
Modern UI and low-code tools in enterprise edition
Trusted by major banks, insurers, and public sector organizations
Drawbacks of Flowable
Steeper learning curve for BPM/CMMN/DMN modeling for new users
Open-source version lacks visual UI and monitoring tools
Requires developer resources for initial setup and integration
Less marketing visibility compared to tools like Camunda or IBM BPM
Pricing not publicly listed for enterprise version
Comparison with Other Tools
Flowable vs. Camunda
Both support BPMN and DMN and offer open-source cores. Flowable additionally supports CMMN, giving it an edge in case management. Flowable’s enterprise UI tools are often considered more complete out-of-the-box.
Flowable vs. Appian
Appian is a full low-code platform with a high cost of entry. Flowable offers more flexibility and developer control, making it preferable for custom enterprise environments.
Flowable vs. BonitaSoft
BonitaSoft provides a BPM platform with open-source and enterprise editions. Flowable excels in modeling standards coverage and embedded use, while Bonita focuses more on business-user-centric development.
Flowable vs. IBM BPM
IBM BPM is a heavyweight enterprise solution. Flowable provides a lighter, modern, and open alternative with easier integration and faster deployment cycles.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Flowable is used by global organizations across finance, insurance, telecom, and government:
“Flowable gave us the flexibility to model both simple workflows and complex case management scenarios in a single platform.”
— Digital Transformation Lead, European Bank
“We embedded Flowable into our SaaS product, giving users self-service workflow capabilities without rebuilding our architecture.”
— CTO, LegalTech Startup
“Their support team helped us scale from a pilot project to full enterprise deployment within six months.”
— Head of IT Strategy, Government Department
Flowable has a growing developer community and high satisfaction scores on platforms like G2 and GitHub.
Conclusion
Flowable is a modern and powerful BPM and case management platform that supports complex, enterprise-grade automation use cases. By leveraging open standards like BPMN, CMMN, and DMN, it offers both developers and business architects the tools to create flexible, scalable, and compliant workflows.
Whether you’re a software vendor embedding workflow into your platform or an enterprise transforming manual operations, Flowable delivers a comprehensive and future-proof solution.
