Why Archi with GitHub Wasn’t Enough for a Large Financial Institution: The Case for a Repository-Based EA Tool

Introduction: Open Source vs Enterprise-Grade EA

Archi is a widely used open-source modeling tool designed for ArchiMate® — simple, flexible, and ideal for small to mid-sized architecture initiatives. Combined with GitHub , it offers version control, team collaboration, and backup capabilities. But as some of our enterprise clients have discovered, this combo hits limitations when applied to the scale, regulatory rigor, and governance required in large financial organizations.

This article explores a real-world scenario where a financial institution attempted to implement enterprise architecture using Archi and GitHub, but ultimately required a shift to a repository-based EA platform to meet their long-term goals.

Context: The Financial Institution

The client is a multinational bank operating under multiple regulatory frameworks (e.g., ECB, GDPR, Basel III) with hundreds of applications, dozens of IT and business domains, and complex change portfolios.

Initial Setup

Architects used Archi to model applications, capabilities, and data flows
Models were stored and versioned in GitHub using the .archimate file format
Folders were organized by domain (Retail, Risk, Compliance, etc.)
Change tracking was handled using Git commits and markdown notes

Why Archi + GitHub Was a Good Start

Cost-effective and easy to roll out
Lightweight for small modeling teams
Flexible version control with Git
Open standard (ArchiMate XML) for portability
Scriptable with jArchi for tasks and reports

Where the Setup Fell Short

1. Lack of Metadata Governance

Architects began tagging elements inconsistently (e.g., different ways of labeling lifecycle stages, compliance status). Without a metadata schema or enforced model governance, reports and dashboards became unreliable and required constant manual cleanup.

2. Poor Multi-User Collaboration

Conflicts in Git merges became frequent, especially when multiple architects worked on the same domain. Unlike repository tools with concurrent multi-user editing, Archi+Git required disciplined manual coordination — which didn’t scale.

3. No Role-Based Access

Everyone had access to everything. Business users couldn’t be shown partial models without creating custom, filtered copies. Stakeholders needed curated dashboards — which were nearly impossible without a live repository view.

4. Insufficient Traceability

The team struggled to answer basic audit questions such as:

“Which applications process personal data under GDPR?”
“What impact does this project have on regulatory compliance?”
“Which business capabilities depend on this obsolete platform?”

Without a queryable repository and consistent relationships, traceability was ad hoc and error-prone.

5. Static Reporting Limitations

Reports had to be generated manually, exported as PDFs, and sent by email
No interactive dashboards or live analytics for stakeholders
Executives wanted metrics on risk, cost, and strategy alignment — which required stitching multiple model files and spreadsheets

6. No Lifecycle and Governance Integration

The EA team had no way to enforce approval workflows, document decisions, or manage architecture changes in a controlled, audited way. Stakeholder accountability was missing.

Transition to a Repository-Based EA Platform

After hitting these limitations, the client transitioned to a repository-based EA tool (Sparx EA + Prolaborate) and restructured their architecture practice around it.

Benefits Realized

Central, queryable model with structured metadata
Real-time dashboards for GDPR, Cloud, Legacy Roadmap
Role-based views for architects, developers, auditors
Traceability across Business – Application – Data – Tech
Approval workflows for architecture change
Impact analysis and risk reporting with scripts and views

Key Lessons Learned

Open tools work well — until governance is required.
Git is great for source code, not for complex multi-user models.
Data quality is everything — and without enforced metadata rules, things collapse fast.
Stakeholders want curated views, not raw diagrams.
Architecture needs to be a living system, not a static file.

When Archi is Still a Good Fit

Small teams or startups with a few architects
Innovation labs, MVP projects, and academic use
Offline work and standalone modeling
Initial TOGAF or ArchiMate learning

When You Need a Repository-Based Tool

Regulated industries (finance, healthcare, energy)
Multiple architecture layers (Business, Data, App, Tech)
Cross-team collaboration with versioning and review
Reporting, dashboards, and model validation
Architecture-led change management and transformation

Conclusion: From Diagrams to Decisions

Archi + GitHub offers a fast, free, and transparent modeling experience. But for enterprise-level architecture, especially in complex, regulated domains like finance, a repository-based EA tool is essential .

It’s not about flashy diagrams — it’s about structured data, governed change, traceability, and shared decision-making. That’s where tools like Sparx EA, BiZZdesign, and LeanIX move beyond drawing and become platforms for enterprise control and innovation.