Workflow management rules are a set of rules and procedures that regulate the process of completing a workflow. They determine what steps should be taken and when they should be taken, allowing the process to take the most efficient route to the end. If a company uses a well-organized workflow to automate its most repetitive and predictable tasks, it frees up employees’ time to focus on more strategic projects.
Workflows are available in a variety of formats that can be used for any project. A sequential workflow, for instance one that is sequential, means that the next task can’t begin until the previous one has been completed. This is a common feature in expense management workflows, where employee reimbursement is contingent on receipts to be submitted and authorization for payment.
A state-machine workflow is a series of actions on a work product that are performed in a predetermined order, with every action changing the work product data room to different allowed states such as “being written” or “completed”. Workflows for state-machine workflows can also include additional rules, such as if-this, then-that conditional logic which determines the course of the process.
Parallel workflows allow for multiple steps to be taken in parallel to accomplish a goal for example, processing and sending the garment to a customer when the company has confirmed that it’s in stock. All of these can be automated using workflow software.
With the right workflow management tools it is easy to design and manage structured processes to increase productivity, accountability and efficiency. By streamlining communication, and ensuring that all team members are aware of their responsibilities and roles and have a clear map of them, managers can remove the confusion that leads to delays in projects and deadlines.