Read more here to find out how workflow automation can improve your company’s processes today. Workflow automation is a method of using digital automation to design a visually represented workflow system for a business team or data set that can be adhered to by a team or software to streamline the completion of a business task or project. Using automation can save time by utilizing digital systems to create the workflow and prevent mistakes or disagreements over workflow details between coworkers. Automated workflow charts are designed in a static fashion, then agreed upon by team members involved in the workflow. After everybody agrees on the automated design of the workflow system presented, moving parts can be added to the workflow chart such as data sent and received and notifications. 
Types of Workflow Automation
There are two main types of workflow automation. The two types are Business Process Workflows and Robotic Process Workflows.
Business process workflows is a way to optimize business process management to better serve customers. Basically, software automates certain features within a workflow to optimize workflow and automate processes that previously had to be manually achieved. Automation in excel spreadsheets was one of the earliest forms of business process workflow automation.
Robotic process workflow automation is where bots are programmed to assist IT workers in managing business software functions. Bots may locate information to help resolve software processing errors. Bots can also serve as virtual help attendants, for banks or online retail vendors. When you first contact the help station at your bank through chat and interact with a bot who filters out your need and directs you to a live help responder, this is an example of an automated workflow process in action.
Workflow automation is often utilized in sales, marketing, manufacturing, finance, information security, IT management, and systems management industries. Sales industries use workflow automation to automate help responders, often utilizing something called Customer Relationship Management technology. This automates internal team communications, as well as communication with the customers to save time and optimize sales processes.
Marketing industries utilize workflow automation for marketing analysis and to optimize communication with clients. Manufacturing industries utilize workflow automation to streamline data upkeep when it comes to supply and product processing. The finance industry utilizes workflow automation for forecasting purposes and to streamline customer payments and communication. Information security utilizes workflow automation to decrease and deal with security breaches. Systems management uses workflow automation to streamline workflow programming, boost team communication, and optimize the use of the cloud for data management.
How Workflow Automation Can Increase Productivity in Your Company
No matter what industry you work in, workflow automation can increase productivity for your company. Workflow automation streamlines data communication and employee operations within your company’s function.
Automating workflow can decrease time spent by your employees on menial tasks such as data entry or increase the number of customers you are able to serve by automating intake form processing and directing customers to the correct branch within your company automatically.
Workflow automation can optimize data management within your company, quickening the pace of sales or client intake. It can also optimize teamwork within your company and the communication and workflow between employees, saving time on task distribution and data sharing between employees.
If your company is software reliant, you can save time with workflow automation when running into issues with program processing errors by having Robotic Processing Workflows to assist your IT team. There are endless ways workflow automation can increase your company’s productivity.
How to Properly Use Workflow Automation
The best way to implement workflow automation within your company is to follow several steps. Firstly, you should identify which tasks within your company could benefit from workflow automation. These tasks usually involve repetitive data entry, repetitive data communication, or systems organization that can be automatically delegated.
Next, you will need to create a map of the flow of the processes and chart the workflow. Often a workflow automation software can help you with this process, just requiring you to adjust and confirm the accuracy of the chart. To do this you will need to accurately define the goals to have a big picture scope of what you want to achieve with workflow automation.
To choose the workflow automation software that is best for your company, you will need to do some research on which software is best suited to your company and have your IT team implement the automation software into your company’s daily task routine.
Cost of Workflow Automation Software
When it comes to workflow automation software, the good news is there are many options to choose from for a variety of price points. Here is a list of some options for workflow automation software for your company.
- Admation Admation is a project management optimization software primarily utilized for marketing. This software optimizes project management and overview and approval processes. The cost of this software starts at $30 per month per user.
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Nifty Nifty is a project management software used to optimize workflow pace. Nifty includes team member communication optimization and task management features. Nifty integrates other interfaces such as Zoom, Github, and Google Drive into its own process management. The cost for Nifty is $39 a month, but Nifty also offers free use for up to two projects with unlimited users.
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Quixy Quixy is a workflow management software that requires no coding. Quixy allows users to design and modify process design visually through a drag and drop interface design. The price of Quixy starts at $10 per month per user.
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Kissflow Kissflow is an enterprise workflow management software that uses a drag and drop interface to allow users to create apps with no coding required. This software unifies processes between different departments, and both manual and automated workflows. Kissflow starts at $360 per month for up to 30 users.
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Process Bliss Process Bliss is a workflow optimization software that improves company processes. It is best utilized for small to medium sized businesses to improve their workflow processes. The price point for Process Bliss starts at $1o per month per user.