A bending process is controlled for bending a bending body, such as a bending profile. A bending device has a bending unit provided with at least one bending element that executes a defined movement based on a control signal. A data processing process is carried out in which a target geometry of the bent bending body is described in the form of target bending information by comparing at least two coordinate systems. A bending process is carried out, wherein before and/or during the bending process, the control signal controlling the at least one bending element is used on the basis of the target bending information to bend the bending body using the at least one bending element.