What are Automated Workflows?

“Automated workflows” is the term given to the approach in which an established flow of tasks, documents and / or information is converted from a manual process, to an automated process with the help and use of technology.

In order to automate a workflow, an organisation typically first identifies & maps-out those tasks involved in their day-to-day operations.They then apply the overarching logic and rules which govern how such tasks should be completed.

Finally, the appropriate software is then applied to adequately recreate the steps and logic paths involved in a task so that humans can effectively “remove their hands” from the process.

How do you craft a good workflow?

It’s all about “good” planning when it comes to fully automating workflows.

What are the key steps behind crafting a good workflow:

Identifying what is Essential:

  • Although – if many of us could – we’d choose to recreate all of those repetitive, manual processes involved in our daily business activities into a format that allowed us to step away from them entirely. Not everything should be automated.

    It is important to identify what processes require automation, and will inevitably benefit your business in being so. Sometimes, certain ‘high-value’ tasks require that “human touch” element in order to be executed adequately successfully.

Having A Clear Purpose & Goal:

  • When approaching a workflow automation, it is essential to understand what it is you’re trying to achieve when moving from A to B.

    If you try to apply too many steps or cloud the process with multiple outcomes, there is a greater likelihood of instability in the automated workflow that is produced.

    A clear, simplified approach to a single goal is what makes an enduring automation.

Taking the “if” / “then” Approach:

  • This is actually a case of stripping activities back to a series of logic steps, in order to provide a solid foundation for your automation to be built from.

    By recreating those steps involved in a process into a string of “if” / “then” statements, this ensures you’re speaking the same language as the systems responsible for programming your flows. And if you’re speaking the same language as those system(s) caretaking your flows, you’re more likely to get the results you want.

Understanding the Software:

  • There really is a Rabbit Hole of software & tools available on the market to help you automate your workflows.

    You’ll often find these marketed as single, “off-the-shelf” solutions, or in the form of add-ons to systems you already use [such as CRMs].

    Good automations involve systems that are built for purpose; offering you clear access the functionalities you need to get your automations produced, running, and monitored but without the “noise” of any additional tools you don’t need.

Effective Feedback Mechanisms:

  • So you’ve got your series of workflow automations produced, what’s next?

    Next is monitoring and maintenance. You and the members of your business need to have a system that allows you to access and monitor the performance of your workflows, be notified of any changes to expected behaviours and outcomes, AND have the flexibility to adjust the steps involved in a workflow if it’s not performing as you need it to.

    Weaker automations are often one’s that are created with too-rigid a structure and don’t give you eyes on the metrics you need to, essentially, replace Joe (sorry, Joe!).

So, what can Bite Tech do for you?

Because it’s actually sounding a little more involved than you originally thought 🫣.

Although ‘Workflow Automations’ sounds like a big task to take on, we can help you to clearly identify & organise those processes within your business that would truly benefit from automation. And provide you workable solutions to get you there.

Remember, automating a common process can not only help you and your team save valuable time, but can also limit the instance of human error – so you can be comforted that an issue will not occur.

Here’s some examples of common automations:

  • Moving a customer through a sales-funnel or product assessment process [“What product is right for you?”]
  • Re-capturing customer interest in instances of inactivity or cart abandonment
  • Personnel onboarding, contract review and signing
  • Software or systems testing & re-testing [QA]
workflow-planning

Ready to start winning back some time?

Why not ask us to take a look at your system, and see what processes we can automate for you.