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Monday, January 15, 2018

By Peter Sanders


Business can easily solve their operational challenges by automating their business processes. One way of doing this is by using workflow systems. With a proper automated workflow solution, these businesses can effectively manage their routine processes. The bigger challenge, however, is finding the right workflow system that works for their business. This mainly arises because most businesses are not sure about the kind of features that a workflow should have and if those features fit their needs. The worst thing is investing in a system that will cause more challenges than staying without. Considering this situation, here are some of the features that you should consider when choosing your workflow program.

First, you need to invest in a cloud-based system otherwise your organization will face some limitations along the way. One of the brilliant things about cloud-based technology is that it allows systems users to access, edit, monitor, and make approvals from any device anywhere. Besides, you would not have to invest heavily in software updates and other upfront infrastructural investments.

You should also consider choosing a solution with WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) form designer. Form being an essential piece, you should ensure that you are able to instantly see what the form will look like. In addition to this, the form designer should be simple to work with, not something that you have to pay someone to walk you through.

Another important feature that your workflow systems should not miss is the ability to create workflows in business steps. If you were to work with a system that let you create workflows in technical activities, you might not achieve value from the system because it is deviating from the way we think. Ideally, the system should let you think in linear loops while it handles the complex activities in the background.

One way of gaging a good automated workflow system is if it has KPI-based reporting. This is important because you will be able to identify and solve the bottlenecks on each step. Apart from this, your system should be able to send notifications to users through mobile or email about approvals.

Naturally, most business would love to automate all their processes. However, the major challenge arises when it comes to managing the progress. In this instance, you should have a system that shows progress through SLA status indicators.

Apart from monitoring progress, you should be able to control access to key information. Sometimes, workflows contain sensitive information that is not meant for all stakeholders. So, you should look out for a system that allows you to customize what each user can access. However, you should be keen on ensuring that the adjustments should not interfere with the operation of the system.

Part of improving business operations is ensuring that processes are integrated. For example, calendars, contacts, sales reports, cash flows, and documents are all important elements that can be integrated to achieve optimal operation. So, having a program that can integrate with cloud-based services such as SalesForce or Google Calendars is essential.




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