Valtimo's core features
Valtimo brings together several features that work as a unified system. Understanding these core concepts helps you see how the platform fits together.
Cases
A case is the central concept in Valtimo. It represents a piece of work your organisation handles — an application, request, complaint, or any other workflow.
Every case:
Is started by an event (an incoming order, a submitted form, an API call)
Contains all related information in one place
Progresses through defined stages
Eventually reaches completion
Cases are defined by case definitions — blueprints that specify what data a case contains, which processes run on it, and how it appears in the interface.
Processes
Processes are the workflows that drive cases forward. They define the steps, decisions, and actions that move work from start to finish.
Valtimo uses BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) — a visual standard for modeling processes. This means:
Processes are designed visually, not coded
Business analysts can understand and modify workflows
The same model that's designed is the one that executes
A case definition can have one or multiple processes. They work together to handle different aspects of the case lifecycle.
Building blocks
Complex, long-running processes can become difficult to manage. Building blocks solve this by packaging reusable process components.
A building block contains:
Process models
Decision models
Forms
Related configuration
Teams can create building blocks for common patterns and reuse them across different case definitions. This keeps complex processes maintainable and promotes consistency.
Forms
Forms capture and display case data. When a process reaches a step that needs user input, a form appears for the user to complete.
Forms in Valtimo:
Are configured visually
Connect directly to case data
Support validation and conditional logic
Can be reused across different processes
Plugins
Plugins extend Valtimo's capabilities beyond its core features. They're used to add domain-specific functionality or integrate with other systems.
What plugins can do:
Connect to external services (document management, email, notifications)
Add specialised features for your domain
Integrate with your organisation's existing systems
Plugins come in two types:
Embedded plugins — Built into Valtimo, offering deep integration
External plugins — Run separately, providing isolation and independent updates
Access control
Valtimo includes a policy-based access control system that determines who can do what. Rather than simple role assignments, policies can include rules and conditions.
This allows fine-grained control over:
Which cases users can see
What actions users can take
Which data is visible or editable
Dashboard
The dashboard provides insights into operational information — how cases are progressing, where bottlenecks occur, and how the team is performing.
Dashboards help managers and teams:
Monitor workload and capacity
Identify delays before they become problems
Track performance over time
How features work together
These features don't operate in isolation. A typical flow might look like:
An event creates a new case
A process starts automatically
The process creates tasks and collects data through forms
Plugins handle external integrations along the way
Access control ensures the right people see the right information
The dashboard shows progress to managers
Building blocks provide reusable components throughout
Understanding this connected system helps you design effective solutions in Valtimo.
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