Arreteq

Enterprise process modeling and architecture platform. Standards-compliant BPMN 2.0 with semantic validation, real-time collaboration, production AI, process analysis engine, and a governed EA repository — all without Microsoft dependency.

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Microsoft Visio

Widely recognized general-purpose drawing application, a staple of Microsoft 365 environments. Provides BPMN shapes as visual elements, but with no semantic enforcement, no compliance checking, and limited real-time collaboration.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature	Arreteq	Microsoft Visio
Core Positioning	Enterprise process modeling & architecture platform	General-purpose diagramming / drawing tool
BPMN 2.0 Support	✅ Full semantic validation: all task types, events, gateways, sub-processes, boundary events	⚠️ BPMN shapes exist but no semantic enforcement — diagrams are drawings only
BPMN Compliance Checking	✅ 9 rule sets, 5 strictness levels, auto-fix, compliance score tracking	❌ No standards validation
BPMN XML Import/Export	✅ Standards-compliant BPMN 2.0 XML, MIWG validated; interoperable with any BPMN 2.0 tool	⚠️ Proprietary VSDX format; BPMN XML export is unreliable and not MIWG-validated
Visio Import	✅ VSDX parser with shape mapping	✅ Native
Process Analysis Engine	✅ Critical path, transfer-of-work, rework detection, task-type distribution, simulation	❌
Flowchart Diagrams	✅ Structured flowchart editor	✅ Strong — extensive shape libraries
Whiteboard / Freeform Diagrams	✅ Full whiteboard editor	⚠️ Limited freeform capability
Value Chain Diagrams	✅ Full value chain editor	❌
UML Diagrams	❌	✅ Class, sequence, component, etc.
Network / Infrastructure Diagrams	🔜 Coming Q2 2026	✅ Strong — extensive shape libraries
Floor Plans / Facility Diagrams	❌	✅ Strong
Real-Time Collaboration	✅ True CRDT-based co-editing, live cursors, user awareness, @mentions	⚠️ Co-authoring via SharePoint — limited, no live cursors or presence
Comments & Threads	✅ Full threads, @mentions, reactions, file attachments, convert to tasks	⚠️ Basic inline comments
AI Diagram Generation	✅ Text-to-BPMN, document-to-BPMN, image-to-BPMN, text-to-diagram	❌ No AI diagram generation
AI Assistant	✅ Context-aware AI with BPMN semantics: compliance checking, bottleneck detection, optimization	❌ Microsoft Copilot is general-purpose; no diagram-aware analysis
Semantic Search (RAG)	✅ Tenant-isolated RAG across entire repository	❌
Enterprise Architecture Repository	✅ 27-type configurable dictionary: applications, capabilities, processes, services, vendors, data	❌ Diagrams are standalone files with no repository
Dictionary / Governed Taxonomy	✅ Schemas, linking, governance, audit trail, version history	❌
Data-Linked Diagrams	✅ BPMN elements linked to live dictionary records	✅ Visio Data Visualizer — shapes linked to Excel/SQL data
Application Portfolio Management	🔜 Coming Q2 2026	❌
Business Capability Mapping	🔜 Coming Q2 2026	❌
GRC / Compliance Schema	✅ 45+ field control schema for compliance and risk governance	❌
Change Governance & Workflows	✅ Change requests, approval workflows, task backlog, audit trail	❌
Version History & Diff	✅ Visual diff overlays, side-by-side, named versions, revert	⚠️ File version history via SharePoint only
Auto-Layout Algorithms	✅ Tree (Sugiyama BFS), force, grid, circular	⚠️ Basic auto-layout
Access Control	✅ RBAC + ABAC + Fine-grained relationship-based access control	🔶 Microsoft 365 file sharing permissions
Audit Logging	✅ SOC 2-ready diagram-level audit logging	⚠️ Basic via Microsoft 365 compliance center
Multi-Tenant SaaS	✅ True multi-tenant SaaS with strict isolation	⚠️ Tied to Microsoft 365 tenant; complex Visio licensing
GDPR Compliance	✅ Right to access, erasure, compliant data handling	✅ Microsoft 365 data residency
Dark Mode	✅ Full dark mode	❌
Deployment	Cloud SaaS, GDPR-compliant	Desktop (Standard/Pro) or Web (Plan 1/2)
Pricing Model	Transparent credit-based + seat model; standalone, no Microsoft dependency	~$5–$15/user/month + Microsoft 365 dependency
Offline Capability	❌ Web-based	✅ Desktop app

Why Choose Arreteq over Microsoft Visio?

🏗️ Model vs. Drawing — A Fundamental Difference

Visio provides BPMN shapes, but those shapes have no semantic meaning — an "exclusive gateway" is just a diamond with an X. There is no validation, no routing logic, no compliance enforcement. Arreteq enforces BPMN 2.0 standards — loops are detected, missing error handlers are flagged, and compliance is scored automatically.

📊 Process Analysis That Drives Real Decisions

Arreteq's analysis engine automatically identifies critical paths, detects handoff points between teams, flags rework loops and inefficiencies, and distributes task-type metrics across the entire process. Visio diagrams are static — they communicate only what a reader can observe visually. Arreteq's models are computational artifacts that produce structured insight.

⚡ True Real-Time Collaboration

Visio's SharePoint co-authoring is limited, inconsistent, and not designed for simultaneous multi-user editing of complex diagrams. Arreteq uses CRDT-based synchronization (YJS + Socket.io) — the same technology as Google Docs — guaranteeing conflict-free, real-time co-editing with live cursors and presence awareness.

🤖 AI That Understands Processes, Not Just Text

Arreteq's AI understands BPMN semantics: it generates compliant process models, validates them against business rules, identifies anti-patterns, and checks regulatory compliance. Microsoft Copilot offers generic text assistance with no understanding of process model structure or standards-based semantics.

🏛️ A Platform, Not a File Cabinet

Visio diagrams are standalone files stored in SharePoint or OneDrive. Arreteq provides a governed repository where every process links to applications, capabilities, and data entities through a 27-type dictionary — creating a connected knowledge graph of your organization's architecture.

☁️ No Microsoft Lock-In

Arreteq is standalone, cloud-native SaaS with transparent pricing — no Microsoft 365 subscription required, no complex Visio Plan licensing tiers. Deploy it independently with full GDPR compliance, SOC 2-ready audit logging, and ReBAC security that goes beyond what Microsoft 365 file permissions provide.

Migrating from Visio to Arreteq

Moving your diagrams from Visio to Arreteq is straightforward. Arreteq's VSDX parser imports Visio files with shape mapping, preserving your existing work while unlocking enterprise-grade modeling capabilities.

Import VSDX files directly — shapes mapped automatically
Standards-compliant BPMN 2.0 XML export for tool interoperability
Preserve diagram structure and shapes during migration
No Microsoft license required after migration

Ready to move beyond drawing tools?

See how Arreteq transforms Visio diagrams into governed, analyzable, AI-powered process models.

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