A system for converting a data file in a first format for data serialization into a second format for workflow specification is disclosed. The system comprises one or more processors and non-transitory memory storing instructions. When executed by the one or more processors, the instructions cause the one or more processors to receive a data file in the first format representing a workflow; automatically generate a functionally equivalent workflow specified according to the second format, via consultation with a correspondence table and replacing a set of elements from the first format with a corresponding set of elements from the second format; automatically fill in any default values required in the second format and not specified within the first format; and output the functionally equivalent workflow in the second format. In a preferred embodiment, the first format is JSON and the second format is BPMN 2.0.