Join

Intro

A Join merges two or more parallel process paths into one. In BPMN, a Parallel Gateway is commonly used to perform a join.

Key points:

• Clarifies synchronization points in workflows.
• Prevents race conditions and inconsistent states.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include parallel approvals, multi-system updates, and batch merges.
• Pitfall: using the wrong gateway type for conditional merges.

Examples:

• Finance and Legal approvals join before contract execution.
• Parallel data validations join prior to publishing a report.
• Multiple system updates join before customer onboarding completion.

In practice:

Choose Parallel, Inclusive, or Complex gateways based on required synchronization rules.

Related terms: Gateway; Parallel Gateway; BPMN

FAQs:

Q: Does a join wait for all incoming paths?
A: A parallel gateway join waits for all active incoming paths.

Q: Can a join also split flow?
A: Yes; gateways can be used for both merging and splitting depending on placement.