Biz Start Up Guide
  • Ideas
  • Entrepreneur
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Business Growth
  • Work From Home
No Result
View All Result
  • Ideas
  • Entrepreneur
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Business Growth
  • Work From Home
No Result
View All Result
Biz Start Up Guide
No Result
View All Result
Home Business Growth

How to Automate Workflows to Increase Productivity

June 29, 2022
in Business Growth
Reading Time: 5 mins read
How to Automate Workflows to Increase Productivity
0
SHARES

All businesses of any type involve at least one administrative process: data entry, manual approval, routing information, scanning documents, etc.

These manual, repetitive tasks often cause two major issues: first, they take valuable time from employees that could be used to accomplish other tasks that will contribute more to the organization’s overall goal. It’s often administrative tasks that require employees to perform outside their core competencies, so an organization is essentially wasting time and resources in executing these tasks.

The second is that repetitively executing menial, tedious tasks are prone to human errors, and even simple administrative errors can have massive negative impacts when not managed well.

So, how can we streamline these administrative and repetitive tasks while ensuring accuracy in execution?

The answer is workflow automation.

In this guide, we’ll discuss all you need to know about workflow automation: the concept, how it benefits your business, and especially how to implement them.

What Is Workflow Automation and How Does It Work?

As the name implies, workflow automation is the act of employing workflow automation software and other digital technologies to automate operations that would otherwise have to be carried out manually.

A workflow may be defined as a series of processes or operations that, when completed, produce a certain goal or outcome.

There are two key concepts to consider while automating a workflow:

1.Today’s software, aided by Artificial Intelligence (AI), can do basic tasks considerably quicker than humans. While it may take an average data entry administrator hours to enter 1,000 fields of data, with the correct software, it can be done in seconds.

  1. We can decrease or even eliminate the risk of human mistakes by automating the process since software programs are consistent and accurate.

Document approvals, such as reimbursement form approvals, purchase order approvals, and so on, are a common use of process automation. This process often follows a predictable and repeatable set of steps: a reviewer manually evaluates the document against a set of criteria before approving or rejecting it.

This operation may be streamlined by automating these predictable stages while preventing human mistakes like mailing the form to the incorrect person or calculation errors.

How To Automate a Workflow: Step-by-Step

Automating a workflow might seem like a complex and challenging task, but by following these steps, you’ll find out that it’s much simpler than it looks.

Step 1: Identify your purpose

What’s the purpose of automating the workflow in the first place? Ensuring efficiency? Increasing output? Reducing errors?

Each workflow is unique, and to ensure successful implementation of workflow automation, we have to identify what objectives we are looking to accomplish. Doing so will also help justify the investments that may be needed in implementing the workflow automation to secure buy-in from stakeholders.

Step 2: Identify the workflow to automate

If your business only involves one workflow, then this will be a straightforward process.

However, most businesses have more than one workflow, so it’s crucial to identify a workflow you’re going to automate.

First, not all workflows can or should be automated, and you should consider:

  • Whether it’s possible to automate the workflow (whether there’s the technology capable of automating the workflow)
  • Whether it’s financially feasible to automate the workflow (i.e., whether the benefits you’ll get from automating the workflow justify the investments required)

Next, you can use one or more of the following approaches to choose a workflow to automate:

  1. Strategic: picking a workflow that has a considerable impact on the business (i.e., has a direct impact on revenue)
  2. Reactive: picking a workflow with obvious issues to fix them (i.e., repetitive and inefficient approval process)
  3. Customer-centric: picking a workflow with a direct impact on customer experience (i.e., shortening queue time)

Step 3: Gather information

Once you’ve identified a workflow to automate, the next step is to gather as much information as possible about the workflow. Observe how the workflow is currently executed, and get feedback from stakeholders involved in the workflow. The information you should gather include:

  • The start and endpoints of the workflow
  • The list of tasks required to accomplish the workflow
  • Information needed to achieve each step/task
  • If the workflow involves decisions, what information is necessary to make these decisions?

The more information you can gather, the better the workflow automation will be.

Step 4: Choose your technology solution

Different workflows may require other technologies to automate them, so the next important step is choosing the right technology solution to automate your desired workflow effectively.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, here are some key features you should look for when choosing a workflow automation software solution:

  • Drag-and-drop workflow diagram builder (no coding required)
  • Easy to use (preferably drag and drop) form and visual rule builder
  • Automatic notifications and reminders
  • Mobile-friendly and easy-to-use interface
  • Analytics and reports
  • Integration with your other solutions

Step 5: Mapping your workflow

Most workflow automation software solutions will automate your workflow by using a flowchart-based workflow diagram.

With Aproove’s workflow automation solution, you can easily map a workflow diagram and customize each workflow step to fine-tune the automation. You can, for example, add conditional rules into your workflow to automate decisions.

The main concern of this step is accuracy: make sure the diagram is as accurate as possible based on how the workflow is currently executed.

Step 6: Evaluate the automated workflow

Thoroughly test the automated workflow before launching it. Involve the workflow’s original stakeholders to evaluate how the automation performs, whether the workflow is more efficient than before the automation, or if it’s the other way around.

It’s crucial to make sure the workflow is already as efficient as possible before you automate it. Automating inefficient workflows will only amplify their inefficiencies so that they will be counterproductive.

Analyze your workflows for inefficiencies and bottlenecks, and reoptimize your workflow as needed.

In today’s fast-paced business environment that demands agility, workflow automation is more important than ever.

By automating your workflows, you can free up your employees’ time from performing repetitive administrative tasks. At the same time, improve the accuracy of the workflow execution by reducing human errors. In the long run, workflow automation will increase your business’s operational efficiency and productivity.

All businesses of any type involve at least one administrative process: data entry, manual approval, routing information, scanning documents, etc.

These manual, repetitive tasks often cause two major issues: first, they take valuable time from employees that could be used to accomplish other tasks that will contribute more to the organization’s overall goal. It’s often administrative tasks that require employees to perform outside their core competencies, so an organization is essentially wasting time and resources in executing these tasks.

The second is that repetitively executing menial, tedious tasks are prone to human errors, and even simple administrative errors can have massive negative impacts when not managed well.

So, how can we streamline these administrative and repetitive tasks while ensuring accuracy in execution?

The answer is workflow automation.

In this guide, we’ll discuss all you need to know about workflow automation: the concept, how it benefits your business, and especially how to implement them.

What Is Workflow Automation and How Does It Work?

As the name implies, workflow automation is the act of employing workflow automation software and other digital technologies to automate operations that would otherwise have to be carried out manually.

A workflow may be defined as a series of processes or operations that, when completed, produce a certain goal or outcome.

There are two key concepts to consider while automating a workflow:

1.Today’s software, aided by Artificial Intelligence (AI), can do basic tasks considerably quicker than humans. While it may take an average data entry administrator hours to enter 1,000 fields of data, with the correct software, it can be done in seconds.

  1. We can decrease or even eliminate the risk of human mistakes by automating the process since software programs are consistent and accurate.

Document approvals, such as reimbursement form approvals, purchase order approvals, and so on, are a common use of process automation. This process often follows a predictable and repeatable set of steps: a reviewer manually evaluates the document against a set of criteria before approving or rejecting it.

This operation may be streamlined by automating these predictable stages while preventing human mistakes like mailing the form to the incorrect person or calculation errors.

How To Automate a Workflow: Step-by-Step

Automating a workflow might seem like a complex and challenging task, but by following these steps, you’ll find out that it’s much simpler than it looks.

Step 1: Identify your purpose

What’s the purpose of automating the workflow in the first place? Ensuring efficiency? Increasing output? Reducing errors?

Each workflow is unique, and to ensure successful implementation of workflow automation, we have to identify what objectives we are looking to accomplish. Doing so will also help justify the investments that may be needed in implementing the workflow automation to secure buy-in from stakeholders.

Step 2: Identify the workflow to automate

If your business only involves one workflow, then this will be a straightforward process.

However, most businesses have more than one workflow, so it’s crucial to identify a workflow you’re going to automate.

First, not all workflows can or should be automated, and you should consider:

  • Whether it’s possible to automate the workflow (whether there’s the technology capable of automating the workflow)
  • Whether it’s financially feasible to automate the workflow (i.e., whether the benefits you’ll get from automating the workflow justify the investments required)

Next, you can use one or more of the following approaches to choose a workflow to automate:

  1. Strategic: picking a workflow that has a considerable impact on the business (i.e., has a direct impact on revenue)
  2. Reactive: picking a workflow with obvious issues to fix them (i.e., repetitive and inefficient approval process)
  3. Customer-centric: picking a workflow with a direct impact on customer experience (i.e., shortening queue time)

Step 3: Gather information

Once you’ve identified a workflow to automate, the next step is to gather as much information as possible about the workflow. Observe how the workflow is currently executed, and get feedback from stakeholders involved in the workflow. The information you should gather include:

  • The start and endpoints of the workflow
  • The list of tasks required to accomplish the workflow
  • Information needed to achieve each step/task
  • If the workflow involves decisions, what information is necessary to make these decisions?

The more information you can gather, the better the workflow automation will be.

Step 4: Choose your technology solution

Different workflows may require other technologies to automate them, so the next important step is choosing the right technology solution to automate your desired workflow effectively.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, here are some key features you should look for when choosing a workflow automation software solution:

  • Drag-and-drop workflow diagram builder (no coding required)
  • Easy to use (preferably drag and drop) form and visual rule builder
  • Automatic notifications and reminders
  • Mobile-friendly and easy-to-use interface
  • Analytics and reports
  • Integration with your other solutions

Step 5: Mapping your workflow

Most workflow automation software solutions will automate your workflow by using a flowchart-based workflow diagram.

With Aproove’s workflow automation solution, you can easily map a workflow diagram and customize each workflow step to fine-tune the automation. You can, for example, add conditional rules into your workflow to automate decisions.

The main concern of this step is accuracy: make sure the diagram is as accurate as possible based on how the workflow is currently executed.

Step 6: Evaluate the automated workflow

Thoroughly test the automated workflow before launching it. Involve the workflow’s original stakeholders to evaluate how the automation performs, whether the workflow is more efficient than before the automation, or if it’s the other way around.

It’s crucial to make sure the workflow is already as efficient as possible before you automate it. Automating inefficient workflows will only amplify their inefficiencies so that they will be counterproductive.

Analyze your workflows for inefficiencies and bottlenecks, and reoptimize your workflow as needed.

In today’s fast-paced business environment that demands agility, workflow automation is more important than ever.

By automating your workflows, you can free up your employees’ time from performing repetitive administrative tasks. At the same time, improve the accuracy of the workflow execution by reducing human errors. In the long run, workflow automation will increase your business’s operational efficiency and productivity.

Tags: business growthbusiness growth chartbusiness growth consultantbusiness growth strategiesbusiness growth strategyorganic business growthsmall business growthstages of business growth
Previous Post

Is a High IQ Needed For Success in a Business?

Next Post

New Business Creation In 2022: Continued Surge—Or Another Slump?

Related Posts

DevSec Divide Broadens With New Algolia Incident
Business Growth

DevSec Divide Broadens With New Algolia Incident

January 3, 2023
Here are eight ways your company may help the community where you are located.
Business Growth

Here are eight ways your company may help the community where you are located.

November 4, 2022
Why Would You Want to Increase Sales by Using LinkedIn Lead Generation Software?
Business Growth

Why Would You Want to Increase Sales by Using LinkedIn Lead Generation Software?

November 3, 2022
Five Customer Engagement Metrics and KPIs That Are Most Commonly Used
Business Growth

Five Customer Engagement Metrics and KPIs That Are Most Commonly Used

November 2, 2022
4 Vital Information About Your Buyer Persona You Need to Know to Generate Leads
Business Growth

4 Vital Information About Your Buyer Persona You Need to Know to Generate Leads

November 1, 2022
How Your Credit Score Affects Business Finance in 5 Ways
Business Growth

How Your Credit Score Affects Business Finance in 5 Ways

November 1, 2022
Next Post
New Business Creation In 2022: Continued Surge—Or Another Slump?

New Business Creation In 2022: Continued Surge—Or Another Slump?

Comments 38

  1. coursework marking says:
    3 weeks ago

    coursework in a sentence course workload coursework thesis coursework marking

  2. coursework utd says:
    2 weeks ago

    coursework average calculator coursework psychology
    help with coursework coursework utd

  3. mycourseworkhelp.net says:
    2 weeks ago

    coursework format coursework utd coursework plug mycourseworkhelp.net

  4. coursework english literature says:
    2 weeks ago

    coursework psychology coursework rule usyd coursework help uk coursework english literature

  5. coursework on resume example says:
    2 weeks ago

    coursework translate creative writing english coursework do my coursework for me coursework on resume example

  6. coursework-expert.com says:
    2 weeks ago

    coursework meaning coursework at a college or university coursework levels coursework-expert.com

  7. InessaeaKa says:
    2 weeks ago

    design coursework
    creative writing coursework ideas
    coursework website

  8. coursework title page says:
    2 weeks ago

    coursework b science titles coursework report coursework
    cover page coursework title page

  9. coursework degree says:
    2 weeks ago

    coursework geeks coursework resume example jerusalem coursework coursework degree

  10. coursework based degrees says:
    2 weeks ago

    coursework rule usyd coursework writing services coursework based a levels coursework based degrees

  11. Pingback: 1conferences
  12. Davissmops says:
    1 week ago

    diflucan buy canada

  13. Davissmops says:
    1 week ago

    anafranil 25 tablets

  14. Davissmops says:
    1 week ago

    anafranil prices

  15. Davissmops says:
    7 days ago

    propecia 0.5 daily

  16. Davissmops says:
    7 days ago

    can i order retin a online

  17. Davissmops says:
    6 days ago

    price of generic wellbutrin

  18. Davissmops says:
    6 days ago

    cheapest bupropion

  19. Michaelsmoro says:
    6 days ago

    where can i get cephalexin 500

  20. Davissmops says:
    5 days ago

    cymbalta medicine

  21. Davissmops says:
    5 days ago

    buy lasix tablets

  22. Davissmops says:
    5 days ago

    clonidine 0.2 mg

  23. Davissmops says:
    4 days ago

    malegra fxt uk

  24. Nickexefe says:
    4 days ago

    cytotec buy online

  25. Davissmops says:
    4 days ago

    azithromycin cap 250 mg

  26. Davissmops says:
    3 days ago

    retin a over the counter canada

  27. Davissmops says:
    2 days ago

    diflucan medication

  28. Davissmops says:
    2 days ago

    how to get finasteride prescription

  29. Davissmops says:
    2 days ago

    ampicillin brand name

  30. Davissmops says:
    1 day ago

    generic tadalafil for sale

  31. Davissmops says:
    1 day ago

    purchase amitriptyline

  32. Davissmops says:
    1 day ago

    zovirax prescription australia

  33. Davissmops says:
    18 hours ago

    zestril drug

  34. Amyexefe says:
    18 hours ago

    acyclovir 800 mg prices

  35. Davissmops says:
    15 hours ago

    plaquenil cheapest

  36. Davissmops says:
    12 hours ago

    erythromycin drug

  37. Davissmops says:
    3 hours ago

    how to get fluoxetine without prescription

  38. Davissmops says:
    11 seconds ago

    foreign online pharmacy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • Steps to becoming a great leader in business
  • DevSec Divide Broadens With New Algolia Incident
  • What’s the Difference in Methods?
  • A Guide to the Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Beginners (2022)
  • Your Guide to Getting Started

Archives

  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021

Categories

  • Business Growth
  • Entrepreneur
  • Finance
  • Ideas
  • Marketing
  • Work From Home
  • Home
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Ideas
  • Entrepreneur
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Business Growth
  • Work From Home

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

This website uses information gathering tools including cookies, and other similar technology. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information. Ad and Cookie Policy
Cookie SettingsAccept



Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT