Camunda, a provider of a business process management (BPM) platform written in Java, this week added support for an open application programming interface (API) to make it easier to integrate its namesake software with applications written in Javascript/Node.js, Python and C#.

Company CTO Daniel Mayer said at a time when many organizations are investing in digital business transformation initiatives, the latest updates to the Camunda BPM platform adds support for an OpenAPI standard advanced by The Linux Foundation to enable IT organizations to integrate business processes spanning modules created using different programming languages. In the case of Camunda, IT organizations will be able to generate a REST API client using their preferred coding language that can be integrated with the core Camunda BPM platform, he said.

In addition, Camunda announced that version 7.13 of the Camunda BPM platform will be available in the form of a lightweight distribution, dubbed Camunda BPM Run, that can be deployed as a Docker container to create a standalone engine with no Java or application server knowledge required.

Camunda has also added support for Camunda’s Optimize 3.0 to provide a unified view of real-time process insights from any data source and the ability to visually track changes across different versions of process models using its Cawemo tool.

Finally, Camunda has added support for version 1.3 of the Decision Model and Notation (DMN) specification as well as version 1.2 of the Friendly Enough Expression Language (FEEL) defined by The Object Management Group.

In the wake of the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations are looking to reduce costs by streamlining business processes. The decision many of them need to make is determining to what degree they want to rely on packaged applications to achieve that goal versus a platform that enables them to create custom business processes. While many rote processes can be automated using packaged applications, Mayer said the Camunda platform makes it possible to create business processes that truly differentiate organizations from rivals. Packaged applications, in contrast, drive organizations to employ the same business processes in the same way.

Of course, organizations can customize packaged applications. However, at that point, most of them will have embarked on an application development project that would be easier to complete using a platform designed for that purpose, he noted.

Naturally, there are other platforms for integrating business processes that revolve around graphical user interfaces. Camunda has been making the case for an open source Java-based platform that enables developers to create and deploy custom business processes using best DevOps practices at a much lower total cost. The company also commercially makes available an enterprise edition of its platform. In total, Camunda claims there are now than 100,000 developers participating in the Camunda community.

It’s too early to determine to what degree organizations will rely on packaged applications versus BPM platforms to drive digital business transformation initiatives. However, given the current economic climate, it’s apparent these projects have never been more urgent.