What is Workflow Automation?

Eye on Tech

12 Jun 202202:27

Summary

TLDRJamison Cush emphasizes the importance of workflow automation in enhancing business efficiency and accuracy. He outlines the four-step process: identifying the process, defining goals, mapping out the workflow, and implementing software. Workflow automation tools, often low-code, allow businesses to automate tasks without extensive programming knowledge, freeing up employees for higher-value work and reducing human error. The benefits include improved productivity, cost savings, and better communication across departments.

Takeaways

🔄 **Workflow Defined**: A series of activities needed to complete a task, including sending emails, updating software, and managing customer data.
🤖 **Workflow Automation**: Using software to handle business tasks that would normally be done manually, following defined business rules.
🛠️ **Tools Variety**: There are numerous workflow automation tools available, each suited to different business needs.
🎯 **Four Steps to Automation**: Identify the process, define goals, map out workflow, and implement software.
📈 **Goal Definition**: Clearly define what you aim to achieve by automating and how it will benefit the business.
📝 **Mapping and Rules**: Create governing rules and logic for how the workflow should operate.
💼 **Software Implementation**: Choose and deploy workflow automation software that aligns with business goals.
🚀 **Key Benefits**: Automation improves efficiency, accuracy, frees up employees for higher-value tasks, reduces human error, and boosts productivity.
🌐 **Cross-Departmental Application**: Workflow automation can be applied across various departments and industries.
🛡️ **Cybersecurity Example**: In cybersecurity, automation can expedite incident response.
💻 **Low Code Solutions**: Many vendors offer low code workflow automation software, requiring minimal programming knowledge and enabling easy setup with drag-and-drop features.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of workflow automation?
-The primary purpose of workflow automation is to use software to handle business tasks that would normally be carried out manually, following defined business rules to improve efficiency and accuracy in the workplace.
What are the four basic steps involved in workflow automation?
-The four basic steps involved in workflow automation are: 1) Identify the process, 2) Define goals, 3) Map out workflow and create governing rules and logic, and 4) Implement software.
How does workflow automation help in improving business processes?
-Workflow automation helps in improving business processes by increasing efficiency, reducing human errors, enhancing visibility into processes, fostering communication among employees, eliminating bottlenecks, and boosting productivity.
What are some key benefits of using workflow automation software?
-Key benefits include freeing employees to focus on more important and high-value tasks, generating cost savings, and enabling process performance tracking.
In which departments can workflow automation be applied?
-Workflow automation can be applied in any department across businesses, such as human resources for facilitating timesheets approvals and onboarding tasks, or in cybersecurity for speeding up incident response.
What is the significance of 'low code' solutions in workflow automation?
-Low code solutions in workflow automation are significant because they do not require extensive programming knowledge. They offer drag and drop features that allow users to automate workflows with little or no need to involve IT professionals.
How does workflow automation affect employees in a business?
-Workflow automation affects employees by freeing them from routine and time-consuming tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic and value-added activities that require human judgment and creativity.
What is the role of 'governing rules and logic' in the workflow automation process?
-Governing rules and logic define how the workflow should be carried out, ensuring that the automated processes follow the business rules and achieve the intended outcomes.
Why is it important to identify the process before automating workflows?
-Identifying the process is important because it helps businesses understand the current workflow, identify bottlenecks, and determine which steps can be automated for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
How does workflow automation contribute to cost savings for a business?
-Workflow automation contributes to cost savings by reducing the need for manual labor, minimizing errors that can lead to additional costs, and optimizing processes to run more efficiently.
What are some common workflow automation software options mentioned in the script?
-The script encourages readers to click a link to read about four common workflow automation software options, but does not list them directly. It suggests that the choice of software should meet the specific business goals.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Workflow Automation Basics

Jamison Cush introduces the concept of workflow automation, emphasizing the importance of not wasting time on manual tasks that can be automated. Workflow automation involves using software to handle business tasks that would normally be done manually, following defined business rules. The process includes identifying the workflow process, defining goals, mapping out the workflow, and implementing software. The benefits of automation are highlighted, such as improved efficiency, accuracy, employee focus on higher-value tasks, error reduction, increased visibility, enhanced communication, and cost savings. The script suggests that workflow automation can be applied across various departments and industries, including human resources and cybersecurity, and mentions that many vendors offer low-code solutions that require minimal programming knowledge.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Workflow

Workflow refers to the sequence of actions or steps through which a task is completed. In the context of the video, it is the process that involves various activities such as sending emails or managing customer data. The video emphasizes the importance of automating these workflows to enhance efficiency and productivity within a business.

💡Workflow Automation

Workflow Automation is the use of software to automate repetitive tasks that would otherwise be performed manually. The video discusses how this automation follows defined business rules to execute tasks, highlighting its role in improving efficiency and accuracy in the workplace.

💡Business Rules

Business rules are the guidelines or policies that govern how tasks are carried out within an organization. The video mentions that workflow automation tools operate based on these rules, ensuring that tasks are completed in a consistent and standardized manner.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency in this context means the ability to perform tasks with minimal waste of time and resources. The video argues that workflow automation improves efficiency by streamlining processes and reducing the time and effort required to complete tasks.

💡Automation Tools

Automation tools are software applications designed to automate specific tasks or processes. The video suggests that there are numerous such tools available, each potentially suited to different business needs, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right tool for a particular workflow.

💡Human Errors

Human errors are mistakes made by individuals when performing tasks manually. The video points out that workflow automation helps to avoid these errors by taking over tasks that are prone to human fallibility, thus improving the overall accuracy of business operations.

💡High Value Tasks

High value tasks are those that are critical to a business's success and often require a higher level of skill or decision-making. The video suggests that by automating routine tasks, employees are freed up to focus on these more important tasks, thereby increasing overall business value.

💡Low Code Solutions

Low code solutions are software platforms that allow users to create applications with minimal hand-coding. The video mentions that many workflow automation tools are marketed as low code, meaning they can be used by non-technical staff to automate workflows without extensive programming knowledge.

💡Drag and Drop

Drag and drop is a user interface feature that allows users to move items by clicking, holding, dragging, and releasing them. The video uses this term to describe how low code solutions enable users to automate workflows with intuitive, non-technical methods.

💡Cost Savings

Cost savings refer to the reduction in expenses that a business can achieve through various means, such as improving operational efficiency. The video highlights that workflow automation can lead to cost savings by reducing the need for manual labor and minimizing errors that could lead to additional costs.

💡Departments

Departments are divisions within a company that focus on specific areas of operation, such as human resources or cybersecurity. The video gives examples of how workflow automation can be applied across different departments to streamline processes like timesheet approvals or incident response.

Highlights

Workflow automation involves using software to handle business tasks that would normally be carried out manually.

Workflow refers to the series of activities needed to complete a task, including sending emails or managing customer data.

Workflow automation tools follow defined business rules to carry out the steps involved in a task.

There are various workflow automation tools available, each suited to different business needs.

Workflow automation generally requires four basic steps: identifying the process, defining goals, mapping out workflow, and implementing software.

Workflow automation improves efficiency and accuracy in the workplace.

It allows employees to focus on more important and high-value tasks.

Automation helps avoid human errors that can occur when tasks are done manually.

It increases visibility into processes and enables process performance tracking.

Workflow automation fosters communication among employees and departments, eliminating bottlenecks.

It boosts productivity and generates cost savings.

Workflow automation can be applied in any department across businesses and various industries.

In human resources, it can facilitate timesheet approvals, personnel changes, and onboarding tasks.

In cybersecurity, workflow automation can speed up incident response.

Many vendors market their workflow automation software as low code solutions.

Low code solutions have drag and drop features, requiring little or no programming knowledge.

These solutions allow users to automate workflows with minimal involvement from IT professionals.

Workflow automation can benefit businesses by automating processes that are time-consuming or prone to error.