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Swimlane diagram maker.

Describe the roles in a process and the work each role does. The swimlane diagram maker puts tasks in lanes, so it is clear where responsibility changes and where work waits for another team.

BPMN Business ProcessEnter to send

Free account, no card · Export SVG, PNG or PDF

See it work

Swimlane diagram maker examples.

Same tool, four requests. Every drawing below is a real render.

What you type
Draw a BPMN customer return process with customer service, warehouse, and finance lanes; check order details, inspect the item, reject unacceptable returns, and issue a refund for accepted returns.
Then tryAdd an exchange option.Add a manager review for high-value returns.
BPMN business process: Customer return
BPMN business process · OMG BPMN 2.0.2 / ISO/IEC 19510:2013 · schematex-bpmn

Rather start from a finished drawing? Browse 50 bpmn templates →

The drawing

What a swimlane diagram is.

A swimlane diagram is a process flow split into lanes for the roles, teams, or systems responsible for the work. The arrows cross lane boundaries when responsibility changes.

Swimlanes are useful when a normal flowchart hides ownership. They let a team see both the order of work and the handoffs that can create delay or confusion.

Standard
OMG BPMN 2.0.2 / ISO/IEC 19510:2013
Also follows
Visual subset
Engine
schematex-bpmn
Editable
Double-click text, drag nodes
Export
SVG · PNG · PDF
BPMN business process: What a swimlane diagram is
Who uses it

Who uses swimlane diagrams.

BPMN business process: Customer service teamsCustomer service teams

Returns that move from customer service to inspection and then to finance for a refund.

BPMN business process: Hospital discharge teamsHospital discharge teams

Patient discharge handoffs across nursing, physicians, and pharmacy before the patient leaves.

BPMN business process: HR and hiring teamsHR and hiring teams

Onboarding work split between HR, IT, and the manager before an employee's first day.

How it works

How to make a swimlane diagram in three steps.

01

Describe it

One paragraph is enough to start.

“Draw a BPMN customer return process with customer service, warehouse, and finance lanes; check order details, inspect the item, reject unacceptable returns, and issue a refund for accepted returns.”
02

See the drawing

Drawn by the right engine.

BPMN business process: Customer return
03

Say what changes

Every edit keeps a version.

Add an exchange option.
V2 · DRAWN FROM V1, NOTHING RETYPED
FAQ

Common questions

What is a swimlane diagram?

It is a process diagram that separates activities into lanes, showing which role, department, or system owns each step.

When should I use swimlanes?

Use them when a process involves more than one participant and you need to make handoffs and responsibilities visible.

What should each lane represent?

A lane can represent a department, role, team, or system. Choose one level of responsibility and use it consistently.

How do I show work moving between lanes?

Connect the task in one lane to the next task with an arrow. A cross-lane arrow shows a handoff.

Are swimlane diagrams the same as BPMN diagrams?

Swimlanes are a layout used in BPMN and other flowcharts. BPMN adds standardized events, tasks, gateways, and message flows.

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Map responsibilities in your process.

Free account, no card. Name the roles, their tasks, and the handoffs.

Open the editor