Get Guardian on GoogleBabajide Sofeso, a UK-based business analyst and computer scientist, has developed an artificial intelligence tool that converts written descriptions of business workflows into diagrams, with the aim of reducing the time spent mapping organisational processes.
Called BPMN Generator, the application allows users to describe a workflow in everyday language and generate a visual representation without having to construct the diagram manually.
Sofeso says the platform is free to use and has about 7,000 registered users.
Turning written descriptions into process maps
Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) is an internationally recognised standard for representing business processes graphically. It helps analysts, developers and project managers understand how tasks, decisions and activities connect within an organisation.
Creating process diagrams manually can be time-consuming, particularly when workflows involve several departments, decision points and operational requirements.
Sofeso developed BPMN Generator drawing on his experience in business analysis and process improvement, as well as his master’s degree in Information Technology from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland.
In the original account of the project, he described the platform’s purpose as “lowering the barriers to structured process modelling”.
The application generates diagrams from text prompts, which users can save and download for review. The diagrams can then be checked against business requirements and refined where necessary.
Potential productivity gains
The time required to create process diagrams varies according to their complexity and the level of detail involved. Sofeso says some users have reduced the time needed to create process models from approximately 90 minutes to between 35 and 43 minutes using the application.
A hypothetical example illustrates the potential effect. If 20 analysts each produce 12 diagrams monthly, completing each manually in 90 minutes would require 360 hours of work.
If the reported timings applied consistently across the team, reducing the time per diagram to 35–43 minutes would save approximately 188–220 hours monthly, a reduction of about 52 to 61 per cent.
At an assumed labour cost of ₦5,000 per hour, the time saved would represent an estimated ₦940,000 to ₦1.1 million in monthly labour capacity, or ₦11.28 million to ₦13.2 million annually.
These figures are illustrative estimates based on the stated assumptions, rather than measured savings across an actual organisation. Results would depend on the complexity of the workflows and the time required to review and correct the generated diagrams.
Commercial prospects
Sofeso has identified a possible freemium model under which basic functions remain free while advanced features are offered through paid professional or enterprise plans. Its viability would depend on user demand, pricing, technical support and maintenance costs.
Potential future additions include collaborative modelling, process simulation, version control and integration with business workflow systems. These remain development possibilities rather than confirmed features of the current platform.
Sofeso has also developed BIAutomation.io, a separate tool focused on analytics automation.
Potential applications in African markets
Process modelling tools could help smaller businesses, independent consultants and educational institutions in Nigeria and other African markets document procedures and teach process design without extensive experience with specialist software.
Adoption would depend on factors including the accuracy of generated diagrams, compatibility with existing systems and the handling of sensitive business information.
Independent assessments of diagram quality, user retention and time savings could help establish the platform’s practical value and identify areas for improvement.
Its longer-term prospects will depend on technical reliability, user confidence and evidence that it can reduce manual work while producing diagrams that accurately reflect business requirements.
About Babajide Sofeso
Babajide Sofeso is a UK-based business analyst and technology developer whose work focuses on business transformation, requirements engineering and process improvement. He developed BPMN Generator and BIAutomation.io.
Platforms:
BPMN Generator: https://bpmngenerator.com
BIAutomation.io: https://biautomation.io/
