Category: Processes

When you first start with new workflow automation software, it’s important to have a game plan for how you will move forward. The best way to get your feet wet with our software is typically to dive in and start building a workflow.

Let’s take a step back – before we dive any deeper into stepping in the software. Let’s go over a few steps that you will want to take when wanting to get started building processes with Integrify. These tips could be used no matter what process you are working on getting started with – HR, Finance, Marketing; these tips will work for you!

Layout The Steps

Typically, your mind might be on autopilot when sending emails for approvals, forwarding a document for a signature, or sending something back to a colleague. But it’s important to lay out what exactly these steps are. Start with the process you’d like to begin on and grab a piece of paper or something you can lay out your thoughts on and make your own flow. Write down the forms included, approvals needed, PDFs used, etc. Lets say for instance, you want to break down the time off process your company does now. You may know that…

• You have to send an initial request to your manager
• Your boss approves your time off
• HR gets involved to make adjustments to your record
• Someone in HR will send you an email with your new time off approval and remaining time off

You’ve started your first step of building out your very first process!

Map Out The Steps

Start mapping out your thoughts above with step-by-step flow ideas of how this current process looks like on paper. This will be beneficial when it comes to building your first workflow. Where are the forms located? What forms would you like to include? What task do you want to come before or after something important? Do you want automation emails to populate and send throughout this process?

Plan Out Rules

When you look at that drawn-out flow, you now have a better understanding of all the steps involved. Do you want to add rules? Of course, you do! In this example, let’s say that your manager needs more information on your time off, for example, you left out the specific end date of your time off. They need more information! You might jot down that you would like to make a rule on step 3 that if they need more information, this rule will send the request off form back to the employee (requester) and have them refill the error on their end. Then after they complete that fix, it will automatically send it back to your manager so they can easily approve and it’ll be on its way to HR.

Have An End Goal In Mind

You always need to have that end goal in mind when laying out these rules, processes, and mappings. Let’s keep using the HR example – what is the end goal? We want it to be as easy as possible for the requester to get their initial form approved and sent to HR. If everything now is just via email, these requests may get lost in management emails and never gets passed along to HR. Our goal is simplicity. Automatic routing allows for documents and forms to be sent without the worry of things getting lost along the way.

You may want to send out automatic emails when you click “approve” or “need more information” this is a goal as well – being able to keep everyone in the loop.

Ready To Automate?

Contact Epic IT Automations and see how we can help you implement and automate business processes.

As a business owner, it’s important to ensure your applications are communicating. Moving business information automatically through your programs removes human error, boosts productivity, frees up time, streamlines communication, and more! But it can be daunting to think about getting started with automation if you are unfamiliar.

Evaluating your internal processes and systems is the first step in discovering where automation opportunities lie.

Some common reasons to automate workflows include:

• Speed up data entry tasks
• Connect people, apps, and processes
• Gather data at scale to make smarter decisions
• Spend less time managing the inbox
• Omit manual tasks that are done by humans

There are many tools available to make automation possible, Zapier being one of them. Zapier is a tool that helps automate repetitive tasks between two or more applications. You can get started immediately with premade workflows, or if you are up for it, build something yourself by connecting your apps. With the ability to integrate over 4,000+ different applications, this do-it-yourself editor allows you to create automations without the hiring a developer: integrate apps, automate workflows, and innovate processes.

Automating tasks is a key component to running an efficient business and doesn’t have to be intimidating. Your first automation doesn’t have to be complex; it just has to work so you can focus on things that matter.

Interested in evaluating your processes and learning where automation fits in? Call us at 608-496-8660 or schedule a consultation and we can guide you through, step-by-step.

For most businesses, having systems in place to keep production on task remains a top priority. Lacking consistent and efficient processing leads to miscommunication, delaying or neglecting essential responsibilities, and missing deadlines. This is where an experienced digital workflow IT consultant can create and implement technology-based solutions designed to streamline operations and generate desired outcomes. Here are several ways these specialists help businesses thrive.

How Can A Digital Workflow IT Consultant Help Your Business?

Help Process Efficiency

IT consultants improve efficiency through establishing operating principle guides or identifying gaps in workflow channels. Eliminating redundant tasks and streamlining procedures will help businesses get the most from their employees. Clearly defining responsibilities keeps digital workflow from experiencing breakdowns, avoiding the stall of production.

Offer Objective Perspectives

In some cases, business owners may be too close to workflow procedures to identify operational issues. This familiarity can affect their judgment on what areas need modification. IT consultants specialize in improving digital systems. They provide objective perspectives aiming to spot critical stopgaps impeding workflow processing. They define measurement needs and recommend unbiased solutions to improve internal operational channels. Having someone on your team who can offer a clear assessment means your business benefits from implementation without pressure or influence.

Establish Open Communication Lines

Communication breakdown between employees can result in costly mistakes and delays. Not being on the same page leads to finger-pointing and low morale. Working with a digital workflow IT consultant eliminates distractions, ambiguous language, and redundancies. This allows communication lines to remain open and accessible. As employees strive toward shared production goals, misunderstandings that can affect customer service follow-ups, product deliveries, and other pressing priorities lessens.

Need Help With Process Efficiencies And Digital Workflows?

Connect with Epic IT Automations today and learn more on how we can help your business streamline your processes and turn those paper processes into a digital workflow. Call us at 608-496-8660  or schedule a consultation to get started.