Originally posted August 14, 2022.
No matter the size of your business, success boils down to having the right workflows. When you can get things done in a smooth and timely way, you can improve everything from desk work to customer interactions.
Of course, to get the right workflows, it’s important to have two things: the right knowledge and the right tools. At Vasion, we’re here to help with both. Our workflow automation platform is designed to help your company optimize all of its workflows and document management. Once you start automating, you’ll notice your company moving from task to task more smoothly and securely.
But what exactly is a workflow? And how can you optimize it with automation? Read on to learn the basics of boosting productivity with workflow automation.
What is a workflow?
A workflow is the process of how work gets done–the steps or tasks you need to take to get from point A to point Z. A lot of factors go into establishing a good workflow. Again, you’ll need the right tools, and that’s where automation tools come in.
Consider all the work that you and your team members put into document management workflows. With printing, copying, updating, and getting signatures, your documents require a lot of work. Tasks such as waiting for a printer or delivering a document can interrupt company workflow and make transitions complicated.
The Benefits of Workflow Automation
However, if you switch to a workflow automation platform, you’ll improve those transitions almost immediately. Employees can make updates seamlessly, so there’s no need to play catch-up between team members. Digital documents reduce the need for printing, so you won’t have long lines at the office printer.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Here are just a few of the ways your company can improve by automating document management workflows:
- Operational efficiency: Streamline complex business processes, making them faster and more efficient.
- Cost savings: Reduce operational costs by increasing efficiency and reducing manual labor and errors.
- Time savings: Eliminate time-consuming manual tasks and allow employees to focus on more value-added tasks.
- Scalability: Handle large volumes of data and transactions as the company grows.
- Data accuracy and integrity: Reduce human errors, ensuring that data is accurate and consistent across systems.
- Security and compliance: Ensure data security and automate compliance checks.
- Real-time analytics and reporting: Gather data in real-time, providing valuable insights into business operations.
- Flexibility and adaptability: Modify workflows to adapt to changing business needs.
How to Boost Productivity with Workflow Automation
Business process automation can improve office workflow in virtually every way, helping to increase operational efficiency and productivity, save time, cut costs, and more. Before you can reap those benefits, you need to know how to get started. Here’s the process we recommend.
1. Conquer the tough stuff first.
When you’re ready to automate document management workflows, we recommend making the biggest changes first. Which department has the biggest workflow improvement needs? Which sector could benefit the most from switching to digital content management?
Choose the big tasks first, and try to avoid multitasking. You may notice a domino effect when you start with the most difficult projects. The bigger changes help to kick off the smaller changes, so each subsequent improvement is easier than the last.
2. Communicate frequently with your peers.
As you work on productivity and developing workflows, don’t forget to communicate with your team members along the way. Find out how they feel about the new changes. Ask them if they have any input.
Some business owners like to schedule company meetings before introducing any new software solutions or policy changes. This way, they can introduce everyone to the new workflow updates at the same time, and they can provide a space for team members to ask questions.
In addition to scheduling meetings, taking breaks and having smaller chats with individual team members is also important. You can learn a lot about your company’s workflows from these talks.
In any case, communication is always important, and it’s especially important whenever a company introduces changes. Good communication helps to strengthen morale, and a strong morale improves workflow company-wide. Once you get the right systems in place, BPA will bring about even better communication and collaboration.
3. Adopt a growth mindset.
Another key to success is to have a growth mindset as you implement company changes. Growing a business requires attention to the people and the product, which is part of the reason workflow automation provides so many benefits to businesses. When your team members don’t have to focus on files, they can focus more fully on the work that matters. They can pay closer attention to customers, come up with exciting project ideas, and think about the big picture rather than the everyday details. The result is improved customer satisfaction and employee satisfaction, and an overall more scalable, flexible company.
When you want to make workflow improvements, focus on the people and projects that your company does well. Think of ways to improve on other projects. Choose an automation process that supports all workers. When you approach all of these things with a growth mindset, you may notice some big changes fast.
4. Encourage open communication at all levels.
Keep in mind—communication shouldn’t just take place between you and your team members; it should happen at every level of the company.
Consider the importance of a culture that values the opinions and lifestyles of all employees within the organization. By using the first three concepts above, business process automation can become a strong part of your company culture and truly enhance the collaborations needed for success. When fewer boundaries exist, there is nothing that can’t be achieved.
5. Find the right experts to help with your automation.
Before you automate a process, consider how the steps above can improve your workflow. Then, find the right platform to help you go further. Remember that not all BPA platforms are the same, and you want the best if you’re going to grow your business with improved workflows.
So, what makes a workflow automation platform better than others? You can look for several factors when you explore software solutions. First of all, your platform should be flexible. Every business has its own unique workflow, and your automation tools should fit yours well.
Your platform should also be scalable. This way, you don’t pay for things that you don’t need, but you also leave room for growth.
Kickstart Your Workflow Automation with Vasion
Vasion offers all of the above qualities and more with our workflow automation platform. If you’re ready to increase productivity, efficiency, scalability, and more, contact us today. We’d love to show you how Vasion drives better outcomes, cost savings, and better customer and employee experiences by eliminating time-consuming manual tasks.