The Business Case for Workflow Systems
The management of complex workflows can be one of the most difficult tasks facing any business. This is because everything from sourcing material and/or expertise to delivering the final product or service can be linked to a number of different activities, responsibilities and compliance regimes. Keeping the production or service delivery process going therefore involves keeping many different ‘balls in the air’. The inherent complexity of workflows can very easily lead to bottlenecks, duplication or even non-compliance. It is for this reason that workflow systems are gaining in popularity as a way to smooth out some of the complexities and to automate as much of the workflow process as possible. Having an efficient workflow system in place can help modern enterprises in the following ways: Greater Effectiveness in Managing Geographically Dispersed Enterprises:Modern workflow systems make use of a wide range of technologies including cloud and mobile computing. This means that the system can be in operation and updated wherever users go. The benefits for businesses with several locations can be tremendous. It may include: Up-to-date information right at the fingertips of key staff members (e.g. through their mobile devices), real time reporting of important data and the speedy resolution of compliance issues. Labour Cost Savings: A well designed workflow system will almost certainly include the automation and streamlining of certain key tasks (e.g. through the provision of electronic checklists, automatic reporting etc.) This means that staff members will have to spend less time doing these (often deeply disliked tasks) and will be able to get on with what they are actually good at. The tangible (in terms of reduced labour costs) and intangible (in terms of improved morale) benefits of this can be very significant. Better Record Keeping and Monitoring: Just about every single aspect of workflow management will generate a significant amount of data that will have to be stored, analysed and reported on. In some cases the management of data can also have significant implications for maintaining compliance. A streamlined, comprehensive workflow system will ensure that data will not ‘fall through the cracks’ and that critical business information can be accessed at the push of a button. Business Process Improvement: A streamlined and integrated workflow system can lead to significant business process improvement as it can be very effective in getting rid of bottlenecks, duplication and the lack of up-to-date business intelligence upon which to base critical decisions. All of this will quite likely result in cost reductions, product or service improvements and enhanced business agility. Some people may regard workflow systems as an optional ‘nice to have’ that could lead to a few improvements here and there. It should be clear, in light of the above, that such systems can play a very significant role in helping companies to thrive and outclass the competition within the very complex and competitive modern economy. Here at B-workflow we see it as our core business to help you achieve the benefits outlined in this article. Please contact us today to find out how workflow systems can help you to gain the edge!
About the Author
The author is expert in workflow software and works with b-workflow.com b-workflow is a intuitive workflow management software which help to increase business process improvement, and operating compliance with business safety legislation.
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here