Block Explorer
Visualizing business processes
Block Explorer is a tool designed to make business processes – often abstract – more tangible by giving individual products a defined form and a place within those workflows.
Software;
Data Visualization;
Tools:
Figma
The Block Explorer is a software tool derived from the SAP system, designed for the visualization, management, and supervision of Order-to-Cash processes. It supports process managers in identifying and resolving issues within these workflows. A central aspect of its design is the focus on all currently active orders, rather than on individual process steps – making the entire process more tangible and comprehensible.
In Block Explorer, each block represents an order in the Order-to-Cash process. A block appears in real time as soon as an order enters the system and disappears once the process is completed.
Each block is assigned a unique order number, similar to a tracking or reference number.Blocks can consist of one or many elements – identical or different, without restrictions.
There are three block sizes: small, medium, and large, based on the total order value (low, medium, high).If an issue arises within an order or one of its elements, the block’s status updates and its color changes accordingly:
Gray: no issues,
Yellow: warning,
Red: alert
Blocks are arranged in five vertical columns, each representing one of the main process stages:
1. Quote, 2. Order, 3. Delivery, 4. Invoice, 5. Payment
A block enters the column of its current process step and remains there until all sub-steps are completed. It then moves to the next column.If a block encounters an issue, it changes color and shifts to a lower position beneath the regular stack in that column — visually separating problematic orders from the normal flow.
The interface brings everything together into an infographic-style overview of all current orders. Through drill-in functionality, users can access detailed views of each process stage, all alerts and status messages, and, most importantly, every individual order.
Each order contains a wide range of information. In the case of a yellow or red status, the system provides direct options to resolve the issue through targeted actions. Intelligent assistance supports the user in responding appropriately to each situation. This ensures that problems are addressed quickly and effectively, allowing for smooth and well-managed Order-to-Cash processes.