Processes are a sequence of actions you can run from a button on a dashboard or the Actions pane of a model. 

Workspace administrators can add a process to the model, then add actions to the process, in the Actions pane.

Anyone can run processes from a button on a dashboard, as long as their model role has permission to access all data the process references.

You can only add certain actions to a process. Some of these actions lock the model while the process runs.

Process actionEffect on model
ImportRead-only as the source is retrieved. Locks to both read and write while the import runs.
ExportLocks to write activity while the export runs.
Delete from list using selectionLocks the model to both read and write while the action runs.
Order listLocks the model to both read and write while the action runs.
Update current periodLocks the model to both read and write while the action runs.
Bulk copyLocks the model to both read and write while the action runs.

If any action in the process is unsuccessful, the process stops to prevent data loss or data inconsistency.