A successful project or enterprise relies on organized workflows and approval processes. You can accomplish both with workflow applications that simplify, unify, and automate the tasks that organize mountains of company data. These software programs offer an easy-to-understand interface for your project management needs.
Anyone with a passing understanding of online programs can use most workflow applications. They are designed to be intuitive — much like ordering a pizza on your favorite delivery app. Some applications may require coding knowledge or a more thorough understanding of their inner workings, so choosing the right workflow application for your team is paramount.
What are workflow applications?
Workflow applications are software solutions that automate some or all the processes in a business or project. Depending on your business, each step may need manual input, usually an approval from a manager or equivalent higher-up. These applications can then automate each step between approvals within a workflow, streamlining that process without constant communication between the creator and approver.
If communication is required, team members can leave comments with chat, markup, and message board functions. Maintaining these discussions on one platform is an essential advantage of workflow applications, as it keeps meetings and emails to a minimum — an important selling point to convince your team to transition.
The many shapes and sizes of workflow applications
The term workflow application can actually refer to a number of tools that create digital workflows. For instance, some applications are simply integrators that shuffle information from various sources into one database.
Others visualize a team’s or department’s workflow for easier internal communication. Large businesses use enterprise-level software to automate tedious but integral functions, including expense and new hire approvals.
While it may seem difficult to figure out exactly which application will work for you, many offer a mix of these services to create a centralized workflow platform suited to your needs. Jotform Workflows, for example, works directly with the Jotform Form Builder and offers a variety of templates to get your digital workflow running with minimal effort.
The benefits of workflow applications
Compared to manual processes, workflow applications offer several perks. For one, they reduce the amount of internal paperwork that keeps a project or business on task. Before online applications, teams created and distributed workflows by hand, leading to slower lead times and inviting human error.
While digital workflows are far from infallible and still need a human touch to set up, they decrease the time and resources your team needs to spend on time-consuming, mundane tasks. Any business with a wide variety of clientele and deliverables can profit from these digital organization tools. The fewer employees working on repetitive administrative tasks — as opposed to the project itself — the better.
Applying workflow applications
The great thing about workflow applications is that their utility is universal. No matter your business or aims, you’ll likely find software that can help.
One of the most common features of workflow software is approval automation. Typically, a company’s approval protocols ensure accountability in hiring and spending.
Approval programs like Jotform Workflows offer ready-made templates for purchase orders, budget approvals, leave approvals, and vendor or client approvals, among others. Giving your team access to these Jotform Workflows templates during the approval process saves time and ramps up productivity.
Any company that produces content, whether publications or marketing materials, owes it to their employees to look into robust workflow software. In fact, any creative process can benefit from these tools, as tasks involve a great deal of communication — not only between the creative team and their managers but also between you and your clients.
When properly integrated programs automate each step of the creative process, your team can focus on applying their skills to projects. For example, if a writer can’t start on a piece of content until an SEO specialist researches keywords, that task can become part of the writer’s workflow, and everyone will see the progress to completion.
Workflow software is a valuable tool for human resources as well, giving your HR department the ability to create an automated onboarding process and potentially improve employee retention.
Choosing the right solution for you
When looking for the perfect software for your team, don’t sweat the details. No matter how much time and effort you spend searching, you’ll likely see an exponential return on your investment once you transition your team to a more modern workflow.
While you’re here, check out Jotform’s various products, including Jotform Workflows and Jotform Tables to find out more about how workflow applications can start working for you.
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