Business process simulation handbook
Business process simulation lets you test process changes on a virtual model before you touch your real operations. You can spot bottlenecks, compare alternatives and predict the impact on time, cost and resources without trial and error. To get reliable answers, you need a simulation-ready model, the right parameters and a clear way to read the results.
This free business process simulation handbook walks you through the whole journey, from your first BPMN model to recommendations your stakeholders can act on.
What you'll find in the handbook
- How BPMN and the BPSim standard work together. BPSim parameters live inside your BPMN XML, so your model and your simulation data stay connected.
- The six BPSim parameter types: time, control, resource, cost, property and priority, and what each one controls.
- A four-step loop for simulation-ready models: model, parameterize, simulate and analyze, plus practical tips like mapping the happy path first.
- How to pick the right distribution, with the triangular distribution as a reliable default, and what to do when you have little or no historical data.
- Read simulation KPIs such as cycle time, waiting time, resource utilization and completion rate to find bottlenecks and deadlocks.
- How to validate your digital twin against real-world data, and why one simulation run is rarely enough.
From simulation results to business ROI
Running a simulation is only half the job. The handbook shows you how to compare scenarios, explain trade-offs like adding resources to reduce waiting times, and turn your findings into next steps that support investment decisions.
Real-world examples across industries
The handbook covers simulation use cases in healthcare, financial services, insurance, public administration, and energy and utilities. It also includes two projects built with Cardanit: a wire manufacturer that simulated automation scenarios for a new unwinding system to reduce bottlenecks and improve plant flexibility, and LIFT, which modeled and simulated railway operations for the European project PORTRAIT to help maximize railway capacity.
Who this handbook is for
This handbook is for business analysts, process specialists, consultants and operations managers who want to move from process maps to evidence-based decisions. Whether you're new to simulation or want more reliable results from the simulations you already run, you'll find guidance you can apply right away. For quick definitions along the way, keep the BPSim glossary open.
Download the handbook
Don't wait for a real-world change to show you what goes wrong. Download your free business process simulation handbook and start testing your ideas on a model, not on your operations.