Mural's visual work platform makes online process mapping more intuitive — and easier to share:
Add ideas, action items, and more as a sticky note or text box — then change the colors and cluster to identify patterns and new solutions.
Build quick and easy visualizations of flows, maps, processes, hierarchies, journeys, and more.
Build presentations collaboratively, then deliver engaging sessions that go beyond one-way talk tracks.
Innovate and collaborate effectively together without booking time on calendars.
Structure your mural for easy navigation, then add activity instructions for collaborators.
Seamlessly add visual collaboration to meetings with Microsoft Teams, Webex, and Zoom integrations.
Mural makes it easy to build process maps that can be shared with your team or whole organization to make sure everyone is aligned. Get started free with one of our 300+ templates in our curated template library, leverage common frameworks, or build from scratch — Mural's intuitive tools allow your team to collaborate visually in an engaging way, whether in real-time or asynchronously.
Explore free template recommendations and popular use cases.
Process mapping is a visual representation of a workflow or a series of steps involved in a particular process. It helps to illustrate how tasks are performed, the sequence of activities, and the interactions between different stakeholders or departments. Process mapping provides a clear and concise overview of a process, making it easier to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement.
Process mapping offers several benefits for organizations, including:
There are several types of process maps commonly used in process mapping:
Flowcharts
Flowcharts are the most common type of process map. They use symbols and arrows to represent the flow of activities, decisions, and information within a process. Flowcharts are versatile and can be used to map both simple and complex processes.
Swimlane diagrams
Swimlane diagrams, also known as cross-functional flowcharts, are used to illustrate the interactions and responsibilities of different departments or individuals involved in a process. Each department or individual is represented by a "swimlane," making it easy to identify handoffs and potential bottlenecks.
Value stream maps
Value stream maps focus on the entire value stream of a process, from the initial customer request to the delivery of the final product or service. They help identify waste, delays, and areas for improvement in the value stream.
SIPOC diagrams
SIPOC (Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers) diagrams provide a high-level overview of a process, highlighting the key elements and stakeholders involved. They are particularly useful for understanding the inputs and outputs of a process and identifying customer requirements.
Gantt charts
While not strictly a process map, Gantt charts are often used to visualize project timelines and dependencies. They show the start and end dates of tasks, as well as their interdependencies, helping teams manage and track project progress.
Process mapping is easy with Mural. Get started free with one of our 300+ templates, or begin with a blank mural and use common frameworks, shapes, images, sticky notes, and more to visualize your processes. Once you've started your mural, invite collaborators to work together, whether in real time or asynchronously, in a shared visual space that is accessible from anywhere.
Which Mural templates can help me quickly create a process map?
There are several options to choose from, but the most basic example is the Workflow template. You can also search for more specifically tailored examples in our Template Library.
Once you've built your process map with Mural, there are several ways you can share it: First, you can share it via a link, where you set permissions and allow collaborators to add their input, comments, and feedback; you can embed your mural as a read-only document in another platform; and you can export your mural in a variety of formats, including PDF. You can also take advantage of Mural's integrations with platforms like Microsoft Teams, Google, Asana, Airtable, Notion, Jira, Trello, and many others.