Location-aware business process modeling and execution

Locally distributed processes include several process participants working on tasks at different locations, e.g., craftspeople working on construction sites. Compared to classical IT environments, new challenges emerge due to the spatial context of a process. Real-time location data from Internet of Things (IoT) devices can help businesses implement more efficient and effective processes through business process management (BPM). However, only small parts of existing research have touched on those advantages, while the architecture and implementation of actual executable location-aware processes area has only been vaguely considered. Therefore, we introduce and present a non-exhaustive list of patterns for using location data in BPM while also including an actual implementation of a location-aware approach using a multilayer system architecture based on standard BPM technology. These can be used to leverage the location perspective of process entities as contextual data in BPM.