Workflows
What is a workflow?
To understand the value of workflow automation, one must first understand the term "workflow". A workflow is the process which encompasses a defined series of steps made up of events, tasks and conditions, that all link together sequentially in order to achieve a desired outcome. Automate enables automation of objects and resources that form the process known as a workflow. An Automate workflow is a graphic representation of objects such as events, conditions and tasks, that are grouped together sequentially by flow control arrows. The workflow can be initiated manually by a user or fired automatically based on the occurrence of an event or condition. It can include conditional branches that can change its course or include objects that allow it to suspend execution at a specific point, but ultimately it progresses from the initial task or event to the final task.
Graphical workflows are the cornerstone of Automate. With Workflow Designer (WFD), you can easily design workflows that describe business processes in a visual, reliable manner by assembling intuitive logical constructs to form a workflow diagram or flowchart. It provides a number of ways to visually express and incorporate logic into automated processes. Using Workflow Designer, you create rules to be carried out by events or conditions, tasks and processes and use flow control arrows to interconnect such objects, making the workflow a cohesive unit (as illustrated below). Once you understand the basic objects in a workflow, you can quickly add logic to your processes.
What does a workflow do?
The common goal of an Automate workflow is to coordinate tasks between departments or divisions and synchronize data between systems, with the definitive goal of improving collaboration, efficiency, responsiveness and profitability. A graphical workflow interface enables you to visually design, control, test and manage workflow processes and provides a means of electronically reproducing and automating such processes from start to finish. With the help of a workflow diagram it is possible to monitor tasks responsible for execution during each stage and inspect associated activities and identified resources that are required for implementation, thus, greatly improving communication and helping team members function more effectively and efficiently.
Because a workflow supports multi-machine and multi-platform execution, it can run programs or batch files that are stored remotely or launch processes that reside on non windows-based operating systems. Overall, a workflow allows processes and procedures to be more compliant, agile and visible and ensures that every stage of action is explicitly defined and optimized for maximum productivity.
What are the benefits of a workflow?
Automate workflows are highly suited to solving business problems by consolidating multiple tasks into a single workflow process. Some key benefits of utilizing workflows are as follows:
- Maintain visibility - Workflows enable managers and administrators to see what is happening with business critical processes at every point along the process, and at any moment in time, providing greater insights into control, compliance and accountability. A proper audit trail shows each work item, what was done, when, and by whom. Designing a workflow forces you to examine and understand your business processes, helping you find areas that can be improved.
- Improve productivity - Workflows reduce the time users normally spend performing manual tasks, freeing them up to concentrate on more pertinent activities. Users no longer have to remember lengthy processes as the workflow will carry out such tasks. If human interaction is required, the workflow can alert those who need to respond. In addition, workflow automation can result in the elimination of many unnecessary steps. Irrelevant work is also controlled and time is not wasted on non-defined jobs.
- Improve accuracy - Automated workflows eliminate the chance for human error and warrants the exact outcome every time it is executed. You can be confident all steps have been followed correctly with validity and audit checks asdefined by the workflow designer. By automating workflows and managing them centrally, you provide a framework of consistency and accuracy.
- Integrate with other systems - Data can be read from or written to legacy systems or other platforms automatically, providing a single point of access for users, saving them time.