Comindware News Feed

CMW Platform Featured among the Top-Rated IT Workflow Management Software on Capterra

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 16:23:54 +0000

CMW Platform is proudly recognized by Capterra on the 5 Top-Rated IT Workflow Management Software report, which highlights, in alphabetical order, five top-rated IT workflow management software based on user reviews. For each product, the overall user ratings along with the highest-rated parameter, review excerpts from industry professionals, and product pricing has been included.

CMW Platform has been mentioned in this report with one of the highest ratings of 4.6 out of 5.

Well, that’s not all, as here’s what users have to say about CMW Platform:

“I see CMW as one of the best workflow management platforms out there. I like the fact that I can easy use the platform and also control my operations.” [Abasiama A.]

“We wanted a solution that would track end to end process and task management, looked at a variety of alternatives and settled on CMW, totally pleased we did, it delivers on all the features we were looking for” [Martin C.]

“I absolutely love CMW Lab! It’s an incredible tool for managers, providing a comprehensive solution for tracking tasks, time management, and team performance. The ability to set time limits on tasks and generate detailed time reports is a game-changer for productivity. CMW Lab is a must-have for any manager looking to optimize their team’s efficiency and workflow.” [Christian A.]

Want to review CMW Platform? Click here.

“Receiving these high user satisfaction ratings is a testament to the hard work and dedication that each member of CMW Lab team puts into creating exceptional Business Process Management solutions and providing top-notch service. It is great to see that our efforts are making a positive impact on the experiences of our customers.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to all our users who took the time to share their thoughts and experiences on Capterra. Your feedback is not only a source of motivation for us but also a valuable guide as we continue to enhance and refine CMW Lab solutions” Michael Donaghey, Director of North American Operations, CMW Lab

Disclaimer:

To be considered for this list, products had to:
Have at least 20 unique product reviews from users in the information technology (IT) industry, published on Capterra between September 2021-2023. We selected the five products with the highest ratings to feature in this article.
Offer the following core workflow management features: business process automation, workflow configuration, and task management.
To determine which size businesses each product is “commonly used by,” we check if at least 20% of reviewers come from a particular business size, and only then classify the product as having customers from that business size.
Review excerpts are passages extracted from longer reviews written by verified reviewers. We obtain these excerpts by applying an algorithm that considers factors including, but not limited to, length, sentiment, topic coverage, and thematic relevance.
Excerpts represent user opinion and do not represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Capterra or its affiliates. Excerpts are not edited for clarity or grammar.

How to build a reliable document management system?

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 13:27:20 +0000

In today’s digital age, the need for efficient document management is paramount. Businesses and organizations generate vast amounts of documents, from invoices and contracts to reports and emails. Managing these documents manually can be time-consuming, error-prone, and costly. To streamline document handling, improve efficiency, and reduce human error, organizations turn to document management systems (DMS). This article will guide you through the process of building a comprehensive document management system with document process automation, breaking down the essential components and features to consider.

Understanding the Basics of Document Management Systems

In the current digital world, where data is easily shared and papers are produced at a never-before-seen pace, effective document management is critical for companies and groups of all kinds. This is where document management systems (DMS) become useful, transforming the production, archiving, and handling of documents. This section offers a thorough examination of the core ideas underlying DMS, clarifying their meaning and purpose.

1.1 What is a Document Management System (DMS)?

An all-inclusive software or platform called a Document Management System, or DMS, is made to make it easier to create, arrange, store, track, retrieve, and manage documents and information effectively. It provides a range of capabilities to expedite document-related procedures and serves as a central store for all kinds of papers, both digital and physical. Document capture, storage, indexing, retrieval, security, and distribution are some of these procedures. A DMS essentially acts as a digital link between data and documents and the people and systems that depend on them.

Fundamentally, a DMS uses technology to automate processes and replace antiquated, paper-based document management techniques with digital technologies. Although DMS solutions come in a variety of forms, from straightforward software programs to intricate Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems, they are all aimed at improving the effectiveness, security, and usability of document management.

1.2 Why Do You Need a DMS?

In today’s fast-paced company climate, using a Document Management System can yield numerous benefits that are not only useful but also frequently necessary. The following are strong arguments for why your company requires a DMS:

– Efficiency: One of the primary reasons to implement a DMS is the significant enhancement of operational efficiency. Manual document management can be labor-intensive and prone to errors, whereas a DMS streamlines the entire document lifecycle, from creation to archiving, saving valuable time and resources.
– Accuracy: Automation within a DMS significantly reduces the risk of human error in tasks such as data entry and document routing. This leads to consistent and error-free document management, improving data quality and reliability.
– Compliance: For organizations operating within regulatory frameworks, a DMS is crucial in ensuring compliance. It provides features such as document tracking, audit trails, and security controls that are essential in meeting legal and regulatory requirements.
– Collaboration: A DMS fosters efficient collaboration among team members, irrespective of their physical location. Documents are stored centrally, allowing authorized users to access and work on them simultaneously, thus improving teamwork and productivity.
– Cost Reduction: The reduction in paper usage and manual labor that comes with a DMS can translate into significant cost savings. It reduces expenses associated with printing, storage, and document retrieval, all of which are often underestimated.
– Remote Access: With the advent of cloud-based DMS solutions, remote access to documents has become more convenient than ever. This allows businesses to adapt to global work environments, enabling access to documents from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.

DMS offers a comprehensive solution to address these needs and more. In the following sections, we’ll delve deeper into the various components and features that constitute a robust DMS, as well as the steps involved in building such a system to fit your organization’s unique requirements.

Key Components of a Document Management System

A Document Management System consists of multiple necessary parts in order to guarantee effective document processing. Together, these elements simplify the process of creating, organizing, storing, retrieving, and securely sharing documents. Let’s examine the essential elements of a DMS:

2.1 Document Capture

Document capture is the first step in the life cycle of a document within a DMS. It involves the process of acquiring documents and converting them into a digital format that the system can manage. Document capture can take several forms:

– Scanning: Converting physical paper documents into digital images by using scanners. This is a common method for digitizing paper records.
– Importing: Uploading electronic documents, such as Word files, PDFs, or spreadsheets, into the DMS.
– Email Capture: Automatically importing and storing emails, attachments, and email content directly into the DMS.
– Automated Data Extraction: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology is used in automated data extraction to retrieve and modify data from scanned documents.

All document types—digital and paper—can be effectively imported into the DMS with the help of efficient document capture. This element is essential for guaranteeing that papers are accessible within the system for processing and administration.

2.2 Document Storage

Once documents are captured and converted into a digital format, the next critical component of a DMS is document storage. Document storage involves the organization and safekeeping of these digital documents. There are two common approaches to document storage within a DMS:

– Centralized Storage: In this approach, all documents are stored in a central repository. This centralized location makes it easy to manage, search for, and secure documents. It also ensures consistency in document storage and access.
– Decentralized Storage: Some DMS solutions allow for decentralized storage, where documents can be stored in various locations. While this can provide flexibility, it can also lead to challenges in document organization and retrieval.
– Cloud Storage: Cloud document storage is a choice that is becoming more and more popular. Solutions for cloud-based DMSs provide accessibility, scalability, and lower infrastructure costs. Anywhere with an internet connection can access documents kept in the cloud.

The size, security requirements, and unique needs of the organization all influence the storage strategy selection. Whatever method is selected, the goal of document storage in a DMS is to protect and arrange documents for quick access.

2.3 Document Indexing

The process of adding metadata to documents so they can be easily found and searched within the DMS is known as document indexing. Document type, author, creation date, keywords, and any other pertinent information are examples of metadata. Because it enables users to find documents quickly by searching for specific criteria, effective indexing is essential. Important elements of document indexing consist of:

– Consistency: Documents are labeled consistently, which facilitates their finding, thanks to an organized and consistent indexing system.
– Searchability: Documents should be searchable by keywords, document type, author, or date, among other criteria.
– Automation: To minimize the need for manual entry, some DMS solutions include automated indexing tools that can extract metadata from emails or documents.
Effective document indexing simplifies document retrieval and contributes to the overall efficiency of the DMS.

2.4 Document Retrieval

Document retrieval is a core function of any DMS. It involves providing users with the ability to quickly and accurately locate and access documents. A well-designed document retrieval component should offer:

– Search Capabilities: Users should be able to search for documents using keywords, metadata, document type, and other relevant criteria.
– Sorting and Filtering: Options for sorting and filtering search results help users refine their document searches.
– Advanced Search Functionality: Advanced search options allow users to specify search criteria in more detail, ensuring precise document retrieval.
– Document Preview: The ability to preview documents before opening them can help users quickly determine if the document they found is the one they need.
– Integration: Integration with other software, such as email clients and office suites, facilitates seamless document retrieval.
Efficient document retrieval is essential for users to access the right documents quickly, improving productivity and decision-making.

2.5 Security and Access Control

Organizations have the utmost concern for document security. Documents are shielded from loss, alteration, and unauthorized access thanks to a DMS’s security and access control features. Among this component’s salient features are:

– User Authentication: Users must log in to access the DMS, and their actions are logged, allowing for traceability.
– Encryption: Documents should be stored and transmitted in encrypted form to prevent data breaches.
– Role-Based Access Control: The degree of access granted to users is contingent upon their roles within the organization. Only authorized users can view, edit, or remove documents thanks to role-based access control.
– Audit Trails: Detailed audit trails provide a record of document access and changes, which can be invaluable for compliance and security purposes.
– Data Backup and Recovery: Regular data backups and disaster recovery mechanisms are crucial to safeguard documents against loss.

Ensuring robust security and access control measures is essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of documents within the DMS.

2.6 Version Control

Version control is essential for tracking changes made to a document over time. It is a vital component in a DMS, as it helps maintain data integrity and compliance. Key elements of version control include:

– Version History: Viewing and restoring earlier iterations of a document that show who made changes and when is one of its features.
– Collaborative Editing: Allows several users to work together on a document while recording each person’s edits.
– Notification of Changes: To ensure transparency and oversight, users should be informed when changes are made to the documents they have access to.

Effective version control ensures that organizations can maintain the history and integrity of documents while allowing for collaboration and document evolution.

2.7 Low-code workflow Automation

Low-code workflow automation is a significant component in modern DMS solutions, as it streamlines and automates document-related processes. This automation enhances efficiency and reduces manual intervention. Key aspects of workflow automation include:

– Document Approval Workflows: Automating approval processes for documents, allowing for multiple rounds of reviews and approvals.

Document approval process example

– Document Routing: Automatically routing documents to the right individuals or departments based on predefined rules and criteria.
– Notifications and Reminders: Notifying users automatically when there are tasks or approvals that need to be completed.
– Integration with Other Systems: To further improve efficiency, workflow automation can be integrated with other business systems like ERP and CRM.

Workflow automation makes complicated business processes easier to understand and guarantees that documents go through the intended process without human intervention, from creation to archiving.

The key components of a Document Management System (DMS) work in harmony to provide a comprehensive solution for document creation, organization, storage, retrieval, security, and automation of document-related processes. When implemented effectively, a DMS can greatly improve an organization’s document management efficiency, accuracy, and security, enabling it to operate more effectively in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Building Your Document Management System

Developing a Document Management System (DMS) is a methodical procedure that needs cautious preparation and execution. We’ll go over the main processes in building your DMS in this section, from specifying your document types to guaranteeing user adoption.

3.1 Define Your Document Types

Understanding the kinds of documents your company handles is crucial before starting the process of developing a DMS. Documents can take many different forms; they can be reports, emails, contracts, invoices, and more. To effectively manage them, categorize and define your document types, considering their characteristics, importance, and how they fit into your business processes.

– Categorization: Group similar documents into categories or document types. For example, contracts, financial statements, and employee records could be distinct categories.
– Attributes: Identify the key attributes or metadata associated with each document type, such as document title, author, creation date, and keywords.
– Retention Policies: Determine how long each type of document needs to be retained, considering legal requirements and business needs.
– Workflow Requirements: Understand how different document types move through your organization’s workflows. This helps in setting up automation later.
Defining your document types provides a clear roadmap for designing the DMS to meet your specific requirements.

3.2 Selecting the Right DMS Software

Choosing the right DMS software is a pivotal decision that will have a significant impact on the effectiveness of your document management system. Here are some considerations when selecting the appropriate DMS software:

– Scalability: Ensure that the software can grow with your organization and accommodate increasing document volumes.
– User-Friendliness: The software should be intuitive and user-friendly to facilitate smooth adoption by your team.
– Integration: Assess the software’s ability to integrate with other systems, such as CRM, ERP, or email clients.
– Security Features: Verify that the DMS software provides robust security features, including encryption, user authentication, and access controls.
– Vendor Support: Evaluate the level of support and training offered by the software vendor, as good support is essential during implementation and ongoing usage.
– Cost and ROI: Take into account the software’s price and assess the possible ROI in light of anticipated cost and efficiency savings.

Selecting the appropriate DMS software is essential since it serves as the basis for your document management system.

3.3 Setting Up Document Capture

Document capture is the process of acquiring and converting documents into a digital format. It’s essential for ensuring that all relevant documents are accessible within your DMS. This phase includes:

– Scanning: If you have physical paper documents, set up scanning stations or devices to convert them into digital images.
– Importing: Establish processes for importing electronic documents, such as Word files, PDFs, spreadsheets, and emails, into the DMS.
– Automated Data Extraction: Consider implementing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to extract data from scanned documents automatically, making them searchable and editable.

A well-implemented document capture phase ensures that all documents, both physical and digital, are brought into your DMS efficiently, setting the stage for the subsequent stages of organization and management.

3.4 Creating a Structured Storage System

The structure of your document storage system is crucial for efficient document management. Two common approaches are centralized and decentralized storage:

– Centralized Storage: In this approach, all documents are stored in a central repository. This method simplifies organization, search, and access.
– Decentralized Storage: This approach allows documents to be stored in various locations. It provides flexibility but can be more challenging to organize and retrieve.
– Cloud Storage: Cloud-based storage is increasingly popular, providing scalability and accessibility.

Organize your documents logically by creating a folder structure and naming conventions that make sense for your organization. A structured storage system ensures documents are easy to find and manage.

3.5 Implementing Effective Indexing

Indexing involves adding metadata to documents, making them searchable within the DMS. Effective indexing is essential for efficient document retrieval. Key considerations for indexing include:

– Metadata: Define the metadata elements for each document type, including document title, author, creation date, keywords, and other relevant attributes.
– Consistency: Maintain a structured and consistent indexing system to ensure uniformity and ease of search.
– Automation: Utilize automated indexing tools within your DMS to extract metadata from documents or emails, reducing manual entry.

Effective indexing is the cornerstone of document retrieval and can significantly enhance the efficiency of your DMS.

3.6 Ensuring Document Security

Document security is paramount to protect sensitive and confidential information. Key security considerations include:

– User Authentication: Users must log in to access the DMS, and their actions are logged, allowing for traceability.
– Encryption: Documents should be stored and transmitted in encrypted form to prevent data breaches.
– Role-Based Access Control: Different users have varying levels of access based on their roles within the organization, ensuring they can only view, edit, or delete documents as authorized.
– Audit Trails: Maintain detailed audit trails to provide a record of document access and changes, essential for compliance and security purposes.
– Data Backup and Recovery: Regular data backups and disaster recovery mechanisms are essential safeguards.

Robust security measures protect the integrity and confidentiality of documents within the DMS.

3.7 Version Control Mechanisms

Version control is essential for tracking changes made to documents over time, ensuring data integrity and compliance. Key aspects include:

– Version History: Enable the ability to view and restore previous versions of documents, including details of who made changes and when.
– Collaborative Editing: Support multiple users collaborating on a document while tracking changes made by each user.
– Notification of Changes: Notify users when changes are made to documents they have access to, ensuring transparency and oversight.

Effective version control ensures the history and integrity of documents are maintained while allowing for collaboration and document evolution.

3.8 Automating Workflows Automating document-related processes is a core feature of modern DMS solutions. It streamlines complex processes, enhancing efficiency and reducing manual bottlenecks. Key aspects of workflow automation include:

– Document Approval Workflows: Automate approval processes for documents, enabling multiple rounds of reviews and approvals.
– Document Routing: Automatically route documents to the appropriate individuals or departments based on predefined rules and criteria.
– Notifications and Reminders: Automate notifications and reminders for users with pending tasks or approvals.
– Integration with Other Systems: Integrate workflow automation with other business systems to further enhance efficiency.

Workflow automation simplifies complex business processes and ensures that documents follow the desired path without manual intervention.

3.9 Integration with Other Systems

Integrating your DMS with other systems, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and email clients, is crucial for streamlining business processes. Key considerations include:

– Data Flow: Define how data and documents will flow between the DMS and other systems, ensuring seamless integration.
– APIs and Connectors: Verify that your DMS and other systems have compatible APIs or connectors to facilitate integration.
– Data Mapping: Ensure that data in one system aligns with data in the DMS to prevent data discrepancies.

Integrating systems streamlines operations and minimizes manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors.

3.10 User Training and Adoption

User training and adoption are pivotal for the successful implementation of your DMS. Without user buy-in, even the most well-designed DMS can fall short of its potential. Key steps in user training and adoption include:

– User Guides: Create comprehensive user guides that explain how to use the DMS effectively.
– Workshops and Training Sessions: Conduct training workshops to familiarize users with the system’s features and functionalities.
– Ongoing Support: Offer ongoing support to address user questions and issues, ensuring a smooth transition to the new system.
– Feedback Mechanisms: Establish channels for user feedback, allowing for continuous improvement and addressing concerns promptly.
– Change Management: Implement change management strategies to ease the transition, addressing resistance and promoting acceptance of the new system.

To get the most out of your DMS and make sure it becomes a crucial component of your company’s operations, user adoption and training are crucial.

For your DMS to be successful and help your company manage its documents more effectively while improving data security and compliance, each of these elements is essential.

Document Process Automation

A revolutionary method for controlling and enhancing information flow inside an organization is document process automation, or DPA. DPA uses technology to create automated processes and workflows in place of labor-intensive, error-prone, and manual document-related tasks. It includes all facets of document management, including workflows for approval and archiving, as well as document capture and routing. We will examine the nuances of document process automation, its advantages, and the best ways to incorporate it into your document management system (DMS) in this section.

4.1 Understanding Document Process Automation

Document Process Automation (DPA) is a holistic approach that involves automating and streamlining document-centric tasks and processes. These processes often include:

– Data Extraction: Automated extraction of data from documents, reducing the need for manual data entry.
– Document Routing: Defining automated routes for documents to move through various stages of approval, review, or distribution.
– Document Archiving: Automatically archiving documents based on predefined retention policies.
– Notification and Alerts: Setting up automated notifications and alerts to inform users of pending tasks or actions required.
– Approval Workflows: Automating the approval process for documents, including multi-level approval workflows.
– Document Generation: Creating documents automatically based on predefined templates and data inputs.

DPA not only streamlines these processes but also improves accuracy, reduces the risk of errors, and accelerates document workflows, resulting in significant time and cost savings.

4.2 Benefits of Document Process Automation

The implementation of Document Process Automation offers numerous benefits for organizations across various industries. Some of the key advantages include:

– Enhanced Efficiency: DPA significantly reduces the time required to complete document-related processes. Automation eliminates manual bottlenecks, accelerating the flow of documents through various stages.
– Error Reduction: Automation minimizes human errors, particularly in data entry and document routing, ensuring the consistency and reliability of document management.
– Compliance and Traceability: DPA helps organizations adhere to regulatory requirements by providing a well-documented and traceable record of document-related actions. This is crucial for industries with strict compliance regulations.
– Cost Savings: Automation leads to substantial cost savings by reducing manual labor, paper usage, and document storage costs. It also lessens the possibility of fines brought on by non-compliance.
– Improved Visibility: DPA gives organizations up-to-date information on the state of documents and processes, enabling them to track developments and make wise decisions.
– Improved Collaboration: Even though team members may be spread out across different regions, automation promotes collaboration by allowing them to work on documents concurrently.
– Quicker Decision-Making: Automation expedites document workflows, facilitating quicker choices and more flexible reactions to evolving business requirements.
– Customization: DPA solutions can be customized to fit the specific needs of an organization, ensuring that the automation aligns with its unique processes and requirements.
– Reduced Paper Usage: By automating processes that traditionally relied on physical documents, DPA reduces the need for paper, leading to environmental benefits and cost savings.
– Enhanced Customer Service: Quick access to relevant information and documents means that customer service can be more responsive, providing customers with the information they need faster.

4.3 Integrating Automation into Your DMS

Integrating Document Process Automation into your existing Document Management System (DMS) is a strategic decision that can significantly enhance your organization’s efficiency and document management capabilities. Here are steps to effectively integrate automation into your DMS:

– Identify Processes: Start by identifying the document-related processes that can benefit from automation. These may include document capture, data extraction, approval workflows, archiving, and more.
– Select the Right Automation Tools: Choose automation tools and software that align with your organization’s specific needs. This may include workflow automation software, OCR technology, and integration platforms.
– Process Mapping: Create a detailed process map that outlines the steps involved in the document-related processes you want to automate. This will help you define automation rules and criteria.
– Define Automation Rules: Based on your process map, define the rules and criteria for automation. For example, you can specify conditions under which documents are routed for approval or establish triggers for data extraction.
– Testing and Optimization: Implement automation gradually and test it thoroughly to ensure that it operates as expected. Optimize the rules and criteria as necessary.
– User Training: Provide training to users on how the automated processes work and how they should interact with the DMS in the context of automation.
– Monitoring and Maintenance: Regularly monitor the automated processes to ensure they continue to operate effectively. Perform routine maintenance and updates as needed.
– Scalability: Consider the scalability of your automation solution. Ensure that it can handle increased document volumes and process complexity as your organization grows.
– Integration with Other Systems: Make sure the automation works seamlessly with other systems (like CRM or ERP) if your DMS is integrated with them to facilitate the flow of documents and data.
– Feedback and Ongoing Improvement: Request input from users on the automated procedures, and utilize this input to make ongoing improvements. Continuous improvement ensures that your automation remains aligned with evolving business needs.

The effective integration of Document Process Automation into your DMS can have a transformative impact on your document management capabilities, resulting in improved efficiency, compliance, and collaboration. It’s a strategic investment that can lead to significant competitive advantages in today’s fast-paced business environment.

Future Trends in Document Management Systems

5.1 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Discuss how AI and machine learning are being integrated into DMS to automate tasks like data extraction, classification, and natural language processing for improved document search and retrieval.

5.2 Cloud-Based DMS

Explore the growing trend of cloud-based DMS solutions, which offer scalability, flexibility, and remote access. Discuss the benefits and challenges associated with cloud-based document management.

5.3 Mobile Document Management

Highlight the importance of mobile access to documents in today’s remote work environments. Discuss how mobile document management apps and features are becoming increasingly essential.

5.4 Blockchain and DMS

Examine the potential of blockchain technology in document management, particularly in enhancing document security, integrity, and traceability.

Conclusion

For modern organizations, a comprehensive document management system with document process automation is an essential tool. It guarantees information accessibility, increases efficiency, lowers errors, and improves compliance. Organizations can create a strong DMS that meets their unique needs and is ready for the opportunities and challenges of the digital age by following the steps outlined in this guide. Additionally, firms can continue to improve and streamline their document management procedures in the future by keeping up with emerging trends in the industry.

Starting Q3 with New Medals and Recognitions

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:39:56 +0000

CMW Lab, a provider of business process management solutions, is thrilled to announce our latest achievements in 2023. As we design software that aim at process excellence and innovation, we are excited to share new rewards that reflect this commitment. And we couldn’t have done it without the continued support of our customers.

1) Recognized for Outstanding Features and Functionality in 2023

CMW Platform has received the “Best Features and Functionality 2023” award from the review experts at GetApp. With an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5, CMW Platform stands as our dedication to delivering impactful solutions that help businesses succeed.

2) Implementation Speed Award 2023

We’re thrilled to announce that CMW Platform has been recognized for its swift implementation by our clients at G2. In the Business Process Management category, CMW Platform boasts the shortest go-live time, making it the go-to choice for businesses looking to streamline their processes efficiently.

3) Champion Medal in the SoftwareReviews 2023 BPM Emotional Footprint Market Report

CMW Platform is honored to have received the Champion Medal in the SoftwareReviews 2023 BPM Emotional Footprint Market Report. Emotional Footprint Champions are selected based exclusively on feedback provided by real users via SoftwareReviews’ comprehensive online survey. The survey measures user satisfaction across 27 elements of the provider relationship, including strategy, service experience, product experience, conflict resolution, and the contracting process.

“This award highlights the emotional connection we’ve forged with our users, reflecting our commitment to designing solutions that resonate positively. We will continue to provide the problem-solving customer care and regular product updates based on end user experience and transform them into features improvement roadmaps on our side” Michael Donaghey, Director of North American Operations, CMW Lab

4) CMW Platform Named Among the Top 5 BPM Software of 2023 by TechDogs

TechDogs, a tech media platform, has recognized CMW Platform as one of the “Top-5 BPM Software of 2023.” This acknowledgment reaffirms our status, dedicated to helping organizations excel in business process management.

“CMW Platform offers comprehensive and robust solutions covering all the steps from modeling to reporting and everything in between and more. It allows you to design, run and change business processes with an efficient drag-and-drop feature, simplifying the process for non-technical users. Additionally, the platform enables numerous integration options synergizing data exchanges between applications.” Editorial team, TechDogs

Staying Ahead of the Market: Trends in Document Management

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 13:38:05 +0000

Document management is becoming a critical aspect of any business looking to streamline their workflow and maximize the use of their collected data. Integrating a document management system into one’s business can be tricky but, it’s worth it due to the numerous benefits it can bring. However, with the many emerging trends in tech, the software requirements for remote employees are increasing.

As document management software is in demand, you may be wondering what are the main trends in this segment and how they can benefit your business. In this article, we describe to you the newest trends in document management and how they can positively impact your bottom line.

Keep reading to know more.

A quick refresh: What is document management?

Back then, people would have filing cases filled to the brim with papers for all the documents for their business. These filing cases were often arranged alphabetically and required the expertise of an employee who was organized, detail-oriented, and neat. But now, things have changed.

Companies are opting to minimize physical documents because of how it can lead to bottlenecks in a workflow. Surveys have shown that employees can spend up to 2-3 hours a day searching for documents and this may not always prove to be fruitful. To turn to effectiveness, digital documents are what companies are using to streamline their workflow, minimize their carbon footprint, and secure their data.

One of the reasons your business can benefit from document management software is that it can simplify the lifecycle of a document in your company by automating its approval, storage and organizing. A feature that’s critical, especially for companies having business dealings in Europe, where the data privacy laws are stricter.

With document management software, you’ll have a tool that will help you automate your document workflow without significantly increasing your operating expenses. The best part? These platforms are constantly evolving to keep up with consumer demands.

Each document management platform is being augmented according to the trends of the software industry to provide clients with a flawless document management experience.

Document Management Trends

As we’ve mentioned above, document management platforms are evolving, and the best ones are keeping up with the trends to ensure that each customer gets top-notch software.

Here are some of the biggest trends that document management software providers are looking into.

Using cloud storage

The use of cloud storage in one’s process is revolutionizing the way people store and access documents – it’s creating smoother workflows.

Cloud storage is the practice of storing your data on a remote server. This enables your team to access the information they need at any time from wherever they may be. A benefit that can boost your company’s productivity without making huge changes to your digital infrastructure or budget.

Additionally, cloud-based document management providers implement security tools to ensure that your data is safe. Some of their most common security measures are as follows:

Data encryption
Software redundancy
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
High-end firewalls
Top-tier physical security
24/7 monitoring

Adopting AI

Cisco has stated that about five quintillion data bytes are produced daily. In your business alone, you can be sure that the number of documents generated, filled out, and stored are also high. This can lead to certain items falling through the cracks and getting mislabeled or incorrectly filled out.

Some document management software has started adopting AI into their process. This has led to a higher data accuracy rate, speedier manual task completion, and smarter document processing.

By entrusting an AI to handle manual tasks, you can divert personnel’s attention to higher-value tasks that can help grow the business.

In CMW Platform users are free to connect any AI-based third party software via fully Open API to put your document management on another level.

Making it mobile friendly

There are thousands of employees bringing their work with them on their travels as work-from-home and hybrid arrangements become a norm. One should also consider the advancement of smartphones and how employees are using these devices to accomplish their tasks while on the go.

Document management providers have considered this and aside from making their software cloud-based, they’ve also enhanced the structure to make it mobile-friendly for ease of use. The developers of these platforms have ensured that their programs can be viewed and manipulated seamlessly on any operating system, screen size, and browser.

Customers experience as a main priority

Customers across the globe are becoming more protective of their personal information and they’re looking for a company with a process that’s more thoughtful of their experience.

One way to get your clients more involved while also championing business transparency is by sharing their documents with them on a customer portal. It also fosters collaboration and communication, which greatly improves client-agency relationships.

Document management software providers have innovated their systems enough to allow you to share client information with them on a secure channel. This also allows your clients to edit any mistakes on their documents, comment on the project in a private channel, and have access to all the documents uploaded on this portal.

Improving customer experience also includes giving them the information they need to use all of your software’s features. This means writing informative articles about how to convert from PDF to Word and filling out an effective FAQ section.

Advanced search

A feature that the top document management software providers have is advanced search functionalities.

The advanced search functionality enables your employees to find the documents they need in a single interface, even if it’s located on a separate repository. Advanced search functions can increase productivity and boost efficiency with just a few clicks.

Enhancing security measures

Data stored in document management software is protected by stringent security measures that these providers enforce. Now, some of these software developers are taking it a step further by including blockchain technology in their process.

By using blockchain technology for the storage of sensitive data, information can be distributed without the chance of it being tampered with. Blockchain tech uses heavy encryptions to ensure that the information will only be seen by the target audience.

Easing integration

Businesses use multiple software to ensure that their business runs smoothly. This is why document management software developers must consider how easy it is to integrate their software into these other systems.

A seamless integration process can boost your team’s efficiency and foster collaboration between employees who are using different systems.

Nonetheless, it’s also clear that document management platforms that can easily be integrated into other systems can lead to better customer satisfaction due to the way it simplifies their business process.

Some companies have even taken integration a step further by linking their document management software with various communication tools such as messaging programs and emails, to enhance team productivity.

Designing with intent

Having software that’s designed intuitively is another reason why clients choose that document management system.

User experience plays heavily on productivity and with a good percentage of employees on hybrid or remote setup, you’ll want to make sure that they’re working with a sleek interface. This means that developers must lessen unnecessary features and create a platform that doesn’t look outdated.

Finding a document management software that keeps up with the trends

Finding a document management software that takes all your needs into consideration can be hard. You’ll want to make sure that you have an effective and customizable platform that can grow with your company, just like what CMW Platform Document Tracking software can do.

CMW Platform Document Tracking Solution is a flexible tool that allows you manage and control all the types of documents across the company as well as processes and teams involved. With the true low-code technology and powerful graphical engine you can easily create and modify your document processes without any interruption to your operations. Cloud-based deployment and fully Open API let you create a single digital environment for the efficient collaboration and tasks completion.

Take your document management above and beyond. Reach out to us today for a Demo.

Bernard San Juan III is the Managing Partner of Truelogic who comes from a successful career in online companies, where he played a critical role in building & managing workforce groups. He has redesigned the organization’s IT infrastructure to improve order processing and logistics. His skills include managing performance, managing costs and training. He also manages overall sales, customer satisfaction, graphic design, copywriting, and training with first line supervisors.

Top 10 Benefits of Resultive Business Process Management

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 01:27:00 +0000

The definition of business process management (BPM) is broad but it can be slashed to a systematic approach to making a company’s workflow more effective and reliable for better understanding. This short definition highlights business process management importance for business, but not hardly foreground benefits of BPM integration into a business. Below we cover why BPM is needed and how businesses of any size can benefit from BPM technology.

The most tangible benefit of good business process management is Cost Efficiency that can mean decreased costs and increased revenue. While the rest of benefits BPM delivers is intangible in the short term, they add crucial value in the long run, and help both small and huge companies with gearing up for worldwide competition. BPM technology makes any company better equipped to switch gears, respond to its changing business environment faster than competitors, and succeed!

Learn more how BPM software can help you achieve your business goals while it simplifies your business processes management cycle, handle change processes and drive projects to success.

Here are the Top 10 Benefits of good business process management:

1. Cost efficiency

Simply slashing budgets is no longer a viable option in organizations that have become leaner in response to global economic conditions during recent years. There simply is not much left to cut. However, in order to thrive, organizations still need to maximize the efficiency of the costs they do incur and profit they generate. And good BPM is a driving strategy towards maximizing cost efficiency by streamlining business operations and collaboration, automating repetitive tasks, improving product quality and reducing corporate risks.

CMW Platform combines process management and workflow management with task management and built-in real-time reporting and analysis, so teams collaborate more effectively within both routine workflows and profit-generating projects and bring their projects to fruition within budget, with reported cost savings of 30% to 50%.

Get a 30-day trial!

2. Business agility

A trend in BPM is toward more nimble processes that respond to organizational learning in the marketplace. Nowadays flexibility is frequently taken as one of business process management goals in addition to cost efficiency. This has led to a greater demand for ultra-flexible business process management tools that are easy to design, change and deploy. Generally, agility incorporates the following elements, all of which are included to CMW Platform:

Process management: With CMW Platform, process management comes in the form of visual workflows that you can change on-the-fly. You can re-use workflows wherever you need to and customize them as you go.
Rule management: As work management moves into an unstructured, collaborative age, rules management will be the way to stay properly governed, visible, and compliant, while keeping processes on track. CMW Platform features on-the-fly rule configuration for each department, function or project (whether structured or unstructured), as needed. This provides unique flexibility not seen in other work management tools.
Integration and automation: CMW Platform offers comprehensive solutions that support task and case management as well as Project Management. The fact that this all sits on one organization-wide database means that the company has full control, visibility and real-time analysis capability.
Continual optimization and scaling. CMW Platform enables quick-win implementation and non-code addition and modification of running processes. It allows for starting with simple automated workflows and growing incrementally with comprehensive business process management.

Get a 30-day trial!

3. Compliance ease and visibility

Changes to legislation and other factors have meant that companies without a flexible system for handling end-to-end compliance can incur great, unforeseen costs, both in reporting and penalties. Within BPM systems, companies can build compliance into their business practices if department-specific applications are integrated with the organization as a whole. CMW Platform allows for full integration with function-specific, 3rd party applications via Open API that are also tied to an organization-wide database. This makes it possible to produce automated reports that demonstrate compliance in a cost-efficient way.

4. Customer focus

Savvy customers are demanding thorough proof-of-concept (POC) processes that document how their needs will be heard through self-service Web 3.0 capabilities. Business process management helps organizations to combine people with technology to acquire and retain satisfied customers and CMW Platform lets organizations include any desired user (read: customer) with easy-to-program security roles. This paves the way for ongoing, real-time collaboration with customers in a way that proves responsiveness, personalization, customization and access to information.

5. Staff satisfaction

6. Efficiency and productivity

Consequently, BPM plays an essential role in assisting companies in achieving their productivity and efficiency goals. In order to establish baselines and then enhance them, BPM projects give priority on measuring and monitoring processes, establishing process excellence. Process efficiency rises when operations run smoothly and at full capacity. Moreover, the same tasks can be done within shorter terms, making the team more productive and being able to concentrate on business-critical tasks. Process analysis is continually done. The ability to quickly identify and remove tasks that bring little value boosts productivity overall.

7. Reduced micromanagement

Micromanagement might be effective as it anyway leads to getting the task done. However, it is always detrimental to a company in the long run. Sticking to a set of procedures in order to minimize errors is one of the main reasons that leaders prefer to micromanage their workers.

Micromanagement is no longer necessary due to BPM. Leaders and staff members who are aware of their responsibilities clearly document all SOPs. When a certain step is called for, workers complete it clearly without constant coaching or direction.

8. Single digital environment

The appropriate BPM tool can serve as a unified environment for data fetching and pushing to vital software platforms like ERP and CRM. Department-specific software is typically created for distinct use cases, but data access and use for other purposes can be challenging.

The benefits of integrating core applications with an enterprise-wide BPM platform are numerous. Some procedures require human input, while others do not. With the process automation software enterprise can decrease cycle time and manual entry errors, while granting access to the company’s fundamental operations to all the employees or dividing the access levels for security purposes.

9. Measurable results

You can evaluate the results of new processes using BPM. You may estimate how much time has been saved, decide if enhanced processes actually save money, and keep an eye on these findings in real time. With CMW Platform you may automate the process of monitoring and reporting outcomes, and once you have these findings, you can use them to further direct your internal processes.

10. Improved responsibility

Implementing BPM and citizen development in your organization also becomes the driver for employees to take ownership of their work. As soon as the dependency on IT-department minimizes, the processes can be built and completed faster by non-technical users. It means that the power now is in the hands of any employee who sees the bottleneck and wants to bring value.

At conclusion

Could your organization benefit from improvements in the following areas?

Increased customer satisfaction and shorter time-to-market for products and services
Greater efficiency (and cost savings) with existing applications and processes
Greater team satisfaction as collaboration and best practices are improved
Full transparency of all activities across the team and organization

If so, then get advantage of work management software, which delivers a full set of tools and services that apply workflow structure to information and workers so that processes are streamlined and performance is improved. Business Process Management (or BPM) is a core subset of effective work management and the question why business processes are so important doesn’t burn any more. By the way, don’t confuse BPM with BPMN; BPMN is a modeling and notation standard that makes it possible to manage business processes well.

…work management is a set of software products and services that apply workflow structure to information and workers so that processes are streamlined and performance is improved…

Some companies already have BPM systems. But, after the BPM initiative is in place for a year or two, professionals in these enterprises are usually frustrated by how difficult it is to change processes, and are surprised by the degree to which colleagues use “work-arounds” for unstructured projects that arise. When formal business processes cannot be changed easily, or when the team isn’t using the formal processes for all work, then visibility, agility, organizational learning and market response times all suffer. CMW Lab low-code BPM software enables non-technical users (Top-managers) to change business processes easily, making sure that company staff don’t need “work-arounds” for projects that occasionally arise and stay effective!

Get a 30-day trial!

Kamille Nixon is Senior Manager, Product Marketing for Comindware.
A former newspaper reporter, Kamille specializes in database applications, researching how developments in graph databases help organizations reach their goals. Kamille has an MBA from St. Mary's College of California, Global Business.

6 Business Process Examples and Automation Ideas

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 08:20:10 +0000

Business process automation is a crucial element of any modern day business as they bring about increased efficiency and productivity in the workplace. They also help businesses at all levels to serve their customers in an orderly and swift manner. However, the thrust of this article is to provide you with some practical Business Process Examples and Automation Ideas that you can employ to drive your business to the next level. So, kindly read through…

What is a Business Process?

Nowadays the fast-paced business environment requires the implementation of automated business processes, which has become increasingly important due to its numerous benefits. Automated business processes not only improve efficiency but also take errors to minimum and enhance team productivity. By leveraging new technologies such as machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotic process automation (RPA), organizations received the ability to streamline their operations and achieve significantly better results.

Generally, a Business Process is a set of related, structured activities and steps performed by the people or equipment in an organization in order to achieve the basic organizational goals like Profit maximization and Customer satisfaction.

Business processes may be repeated many times at all organizational levels and may or may not be visible to the customers.

A Business process is often regarded as a flowchart or workflow of logical steps, and it serves as a primary foundation for several related ideas like Business Process Management, Process optimization, Process mapping, Process Simulation, Process Automation, etc.

However, it must be noted that a Business Process can either be Manual or Automated. A Business Process is considered manual when the process is achieved by human i.e without the aid of any assisting technology or automation model. While an Automated Business process is that which is achieved using an automation model or assisting technology. What differentiates the two is that Automated is modern and it is more accurate, standardized or optimized compared to the manual method.

One of the main advantages of automated business processes is the minimization of manual tasks, which are usually time-consuming and error-prone. With automation, repetitive activities can be performed seamlessly and consistently, freeing up valuable time for employees to focus on more strategic and value-added tasks. This leads to increased productivity and employee satisfaction. said Michael Donaghey, Director of North American Operations at CMW Lab.

Moreover, automated business processes let organizations achieve a higher level of accuracy and standardization. As automated processes stick to earlier defined rules and algorithms, they ensure more precision in every step. That’s why the companies see an enhancement in the quality of outputs but also improvement of customer satisfaction as they experience a more reliable and consistent service.

Furthermore, automation brings the real-time monitoring and analytics of business processes to enterprises. Teams can easily identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies and eliminate them with the help of data-driven insights. This enables them to make informed decisions, optimize their workload, and drive the culture of improvement throughout the organization.

The importance of Business Processes to small, medium, and large businesses cannot be overemphasized as it helps your business function to be more orderly and streamlined, and thus facilitating Business Process Management as well as improving the organization’s efficiency and productivity. We will discuss more about Business process examples and automation ideas later in this article.

Basic Steps of Business Process Implementation

Step 1: Define Your Goals

At this stage, you will first define the basic purpose of the process as well as the reasons for creating it.

Step 2: Plan and Map Your Process

Here you ruminate on effective strategies you can adopt to achieve the set goals and what resources you need for this

Step 3: Set Actions and Assign People that will handle it

Who are the best individuals to handle the tasks? What are the machines they will need to execute the plan? These and more are what you will make decisions about here

Step 4: Test the Process

The goal here is to first scrutinize the process at a low-key level and see how it fared.

Step 5: Implement the Process

If you are convinced with the results you get after testing the process, then it is time to run it on a global level. At this stage, present the process to all those who will be handling the tasks and train them for better results.

Step 6: Monitor the Results

Try reviewing the process and check for any threats it may later bring, and find a way to mitigate the risk.

Step 7: Repeat

If you were able to achieve the set goals with the process, continue to replicate it and always track its effectiveness and progress along the line

Book a demo

Business Process Examples

As earlier said, business processes occur at all organization levels and it varies from one industry to the other. For instance, the business process used in the mining industry would be quite different from the one in Finance, Health, Aviation, Security, etc. since the nature of their business is not the same. Here are business processes examples of some industries and firms:

INDUSTRY/FIRM	BUSINESS PROCESS EXAMPLE
Manufacturing	Order processing, engineering change control, product assembly, product line process, quality assurance, maintenance
Finance	Invoicing process, expense management process, risk management process, the billing process, CapEx management
Health	Medical assessment process, drug approval process, financial process.
Banking	Customer onboarding process, credit check process, the risk assessment process, claims management
Travel	Agent billing, trip booking, leave management process, business travel management process.
Procurement	Purchasing, invoice reconciliation, account receivable
Advertising	Cost estimating, project approval, cost reviewing
Sales and Marketing	Product delivery process, product development process, the marketing research process, marketing metrics estimation

In CMW Lab we believe that with the right BPM solution, you can not only streamline your existing processes based on the pre-built frames but also unlock new opportunities for growth and differentiation. It’s all about putting the power of app creation in your hands and enabling you to shape your business operations in a way that drives your success. The right software gives you the unlimited freedom of process creativity. said Michael Donaghey, Director of North American Operations at CMW Lab.

What are Some of the Terms Related to the Business Process?

A Business Process can be linked with several business concepts and terminologies, which includes Business Process Automation, Business Process Modeling, Business Process Reengineering, Business Process Simulation, Business Process Monitoring, but to mention a few.

However, in this context, we shall be laying more emphasis on Business Process Automation so as to help you understand how it works, as well as its importance to your business.

Business Process Automation Explained

Business Process Automation involves the use of assisted technology such as software & apps in performing business processes and activities, with the sole aim of minimizing cost and increasing productivity. When a business has its processes automated, it stands a chance to reap some benefits like greater efficiency, minimal error, reduced labor stress, cost minimization, profit maximization, better customer satisfaction, among others. A great example of common process automation found in businesses is the sales process automation and IT process automation.

Visual workflow builder for non-coding business process automation

Book a demo

Business process automation (BPA) allows businesses to organize their personnel and systems through workflows and thus facilitating the move towards achieving the set organizational goals.

Business process automation is not restricted to data management and record keeping alone; it allows you to exercise absolute control over various business issues like facility management, marketing, customer relationships, employee analytics, staff recruitment, standardization, but to mention a few.

Why Automate Your Business Processes?

Do you still doubt the capabilities of Business Process Automation? Consider these:

Business Process Automation brings about Increasing Value Per Work – When you automate your business the workload on the employees will decrease and they will be able to channel their strength and creativity to other essential assignments and tasks. This will, in turn, enhance their focus and productivity.
Business Process Automation leads to Higher Employee Satisfaction – There are some business processes that are extremely complicated and if you leave them for the employees to handle, it may not only put them in the middle of chaos, but also demotivate them. But on the contrary after implementing automated workflows the employees will concentrate on really business-critical tasks.
Business Process Automation Minimizes Human Error – As long as humans beings are involved in a process, the error is inevitable, and some errors can be colossal at times. Automating your business will help eliminate every form of human error, and thus giving you a more accurate result.

Other Benefits of Business Process Automation Include:

Streamlined communication
Cost minimization
Improved workflows
Increased flexibility
Better customer satisfaction
Consistent maintenance of a work standard
Increased product/service quality
Increased administrative control.

Book a demo

6 Amazing Business Processes and Automation Ideas

Numerous automation experts opine that automating a business brings about higher productivity, while it frees both the employees and the managers from most of the hectic and time-consuming tasks in the firm.

Here are examples of how automating your business can help make life easier at work:

Hiring process

No business organization can operate without a set of employees, and this is why hiring is a must for them. Recruitment and selection process is very delicate and critical because it can make or mar an organization.

To make the hiring process seamless, you can make use of Automated hiring tools that will read through applications submitted by the employees speedily. These tools are also capable of searching for related keywords in each application so as to easily identify the candidates that best suit the available position in your organization.

Again, when you automate your hiring process, you will be able to reduce the cost and time incurred in the process.

Employee analytics

You can use automation systems in reading a variety of employee data to improve employee happiness although rather than waiting for the annual review.

Employee help desk support

Customers are the soul of your business, and your ability to provide excellent support to them will determine their level of loyalty. The traditional support system is not that effective compared to the automated systems, especially now that technology is widespread. Therefore, you can automate your help desk support using special tools and systems like live chat, Chatbots, email client, etc. This will enable your customers to reach you faster, and thus giving you an edge.

Task or Project Management

Make use of Task management software to ensure adequate workflow in the organization. This software provides a dashboard that will display the tasks and activities every member of the organization is expected to perform at a specific time. You can use automation tools for various aspects of your business such as marketing workflow, web content workflow, sales workflow, purchase requisition workflow, writing workflow process and content workflow management to mention a few.

Social Media Management

Every business is expected to have a dedicated account on the major social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, LinkedIn etc.

However, operating social media accounts can be daunting at times, because the handler would need to be posting new updates every hour, which could be consuming much time.

Therefore, to minimize the time spent on Social Media Management, you can use Social Media automation tools that will allow you to schedule your posts for let’s say a day, a week, or a month.

Auditing

Perhaps your business deals with complex operations or major investments that demand thorough auditing, you don’t need to put the stress on your employees as BPM tools are readily available to help you out within a few minutes and with fewer errors.

BPM FAQ

Q1: What is the significance of process management and automation for businesses?

A1: Automation and process management are essential for businesses because they increase effectiveness, production, and customer happiness. Organizations may improve workflows, automate monotonous procedures, and streamline operations while lowering errors and more efficiently allocating resources.

Q2: How can businesses identify which processes to automate?

A2: Processes must first be assessed for volume, complexity, and influence on company objectives. Automation is typically an excellent option for repetitive, rule-based, and time-consuming processes. Processes having a high potential for cost savings or mistake reduction should also be taken into account.

Q3: What are the key benefits of process automation?

A3: Process automation offers several benefits, including increased efficiency, improved accuracy, reduced costs, and faster turnaround times. It also enables real-time monitoring and analytics, allowing businesses to identify bottlenecks and make data-driven decisions for process optimization.

Q4: Are there any challenges or risks associated with process automation?

A4: Process automation has a number of advantages, including higher accuracy, quicker turnaround times, lower costs, and increased productivity. Additionally, it offers real-time monitoring and analytics, enabling companies to locate bottlenecks and take data-driven actions to improve processes.

Q5: How can businesses ensure successful process management and automation?

A5: The management and automation of processes must be approached holistically. Prior to automation, it is crucial to perform a complete analysis and optimization of the processes, involving stakeholders and subject matter experts. Success depends on effective communication, change management, and continual oversight. Utilizing the knowledge of automation consultants or specialists can also assist businesses in overcoming obstacles and maximizing the advantages of automation.

Conclusion

Having shown you some of the Business Process Example and Automation Ideas, we guarantee you of increased productivity and efficiency at your workplace, provided you incorporate them adequately into your business.

CMW Platform makes it a snap to model your own business process and get it up and running quickly.

Book a demo

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Retail real estate sector is booming: how digital transformation can help to succeed?

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 14:35:19 +0000

With the end of lockdown, the retail real estate sector showed significant growth in 2022. The forecasts for 2023 prove this tendency with a retail vacancy rate falling to 4,2%. It means the beginning of an even tougher race between real estate agencies than it ever was before. How to stay on top in this highly competitive environment and what technologies can help with it? In this article, we’ll explore some of the ways that digital transformation influences the real estate industry and the benefits it brings.

Impact of the digital transformation on consuming in retail

Digital transformation, no doubts, has significantly impacted retail real estate. First of all, it has led to fundamental changes in the way retailers approach their physical spaces. One of the most noticeable changes is the lockdown shift towards online shopping, which has resulted in the closure of many physical stores and malls. According to a report by Coresight Research, a total of 9,832 stores closed in the United States in 2020, the highest number on record.

However, the booming popularity of online shopping has not spelled the end of retail real estate. Rather, it has transformed the sector, with retailers focusing on creating more experiential and innovative physical spaces that cater to the changing needs and preferences of consumers and real estate agencies — dealing with more customer oriented and even quicker results delivery.

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are two technologies that are creating more immersive and engaging shopping experiences. By enabling customers to virtually try on clothes or see how furniture would look in their home, AR and VR are making it easier for retailers to bridge the gap between online and offline shopping.

Mobile apps are another technology that is having a significant impact on retail real estate. By using mobile apps to provide personalized recommendations and in-store navigation, retailers are able to create more seamless and convenient shopping experiences for customers. According to a report by McKinsey, customers who use mobile apps while shopping are 40% more likely to purchase from a retailer than those who do not.

Digital transformation has also enabled the rise of micro-retail — a trend towards smaller, more flexible retail spaces that are designed to meet the needs of emerging retail concepts and pop-up stores. This trend has been enabled by technology, which has made it easier for retailers to set up and manage these smaller spaces. According to a report by JLL, micro-retail is a growing trend in cities across the world, with landlords and developers recognizing the benefits of these smaller spaces in creating more diverse and dynamic retail environments.

New digital opportunities

Business processes visualization. Source: CMW Platform

Increased Information Accessibility

One of the most significant ways that digital transformation has influenced real estate is through increased access to information. With the advent of online property listings, buyers and sellers can now access a wide range of information about properties, including photos, virtual tours, floor plans, and detailed descriptions. This has made it easier for tenants to find properties that meet their specific needs and for landlords to reach a wider audience.

According to a study by the National Association of Realtors, 93% of home buyers used the internet to search for homes in 2020, up from 44% in 2010. This shows that the vast majority of buyers now rely on digital resources to find their next home. As a result, real estate professionals need to ensure that their online presence is up-to-date and informative to capture the attention of potential buyers.

Improved Efficiency in Transactions

Another benefit of digital transformation in real estate is improved efficiency in transactions. Online tools such as e-signatures, virtual notarization, and online payment systems have made it possible to complete real estate transactions entirely online, saving time and resources for buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals.

In addition, digital tools such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems and project management software have streamlined the process of managing real estate transactions. These tools allow real estate professionals to manage and track leads, communicate with clients, and monitor the progress of transactions from start to finish.

Enhanced Marketing Opportunities

Digital transformation has also brought new marketing opportunities for the real estate industry. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn have made it easier for real estate professionals to reach potential clients and promote their listings. By creating engaging content and utilizing targeted advertising, real estate professionals can connect with buyers and sellers in a more personalized way.

Increased Transparency and Accountability

Digital transformation has led to increased transparency and accountability to the real estate industry. Online review platforms such as Yelp and Google Reviews allow buyers and sellers to share their experiences with real estate professionals, which can help improve the overall quality of service in the industry.

In addition, blockchain technology has the potential to transform the way real estate transactions are conducted by providing a tamper-proof ledger of all transactions. This can help prevent fraud and increase transparency in the industry.

Emerging Trends in Real Estate Technology

As digital transformation continues to influence the real estate industry, new technologies are emerging that have the potential to revolutionize the way we buy, sell, and manage real estate. Some of these emerging trends include:

Digital transformation platforms have made it easier for agencies to manage their operations and workflows. For example, real estate agents can use BPM-software to manage their leads and track their interactions with clients, as well as efficiently manage their properties and tenants. This has helped real estate agencies save time and reduce manual work, allowing them to focus on providing better service to their clients.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning: These technologies can help simplify many of the tasks involved in real estate transactions, such as lead generation, property valuation, and contract management.

Process automation: Dealing with a huge volume of information, brokers have to be sure their operations are error-free. This technology ensures minimization of human errors and enhances customer experience.

5 process automation ideas for real estate agencies

Staying on the top of a highly competitive environment now often means a transition from manual processes to automated ones. According to CMW Lab customer requests, here is the list of the most demanded operations that real estate agencies are struggling with and which are seeking for automation.

Property listing and management: This involves automating the process of creating and managing property listings, including uploading property details, photos, and videos to listing websites and social media platforms. By creating an automated listing creation process, real estate agents can save time significantly. The BPM software can automatically publish property listings to multiple websites, sync the listings across all platforms, and provide analytics to track listing performance.

Customer Relationship Management: This involves automating the process of managing customer relationships, including email and text message follow-ups, lead scoring, and lead nurturing. A BPM software can help automate these processes, providing real estate agents with a centralized platform to manage leads and track customer interactions. It can also provide insights into customer behavior, enabling real estate agents to tailor their approach to each customer.

Property valuation: This involves automating the process of property valuation, using machine learning algorithms to analyze property data and generate accurate valuations. Automating property valuation in real estate involves using technology to streamline the process of determining the market value of a property. This process can include the following steps:

Data collection: this can include information such as the property’s location, size, age, features, and recent sales of comparable properties in the area.
Information analysis: Once the data has been collected, it can be analyzed to determine the market value of the property. AI algorithms can use machine learning to analyze the data and make predictions about the property’s value based on factors such as location, size, and features.
Consider multiple valuation methods: Automated property valuation can incorporate various methods of valuation, including cost approach, income approach, and sales comparison approach.
Verify the results: While automated property valuation can provide a quick estimate of a property’s value, it’s important to verify the results with a human appraiser. A human appraiser can take into account factors that automated systems may miss, such as the condition of the property and any recent renovations.

Contract generation and management: This involves automating the process of generating and managing contracts, including digital signatures and contract tracking. This can help real estate agents streamline the sales process and reduce the time it takes to close a deal. A contract management software can automate the process of contract generation, providing real estate agents with pre-populated templates that can be customized for each client.

Document tracking. Source: CMW Platform

Lease parsing: By automating the lease parsing process, real estate agents and property managers can save time and reduce errors, while also gaining valuable insights into their leasing operations. The automated process can help them quickly and accurately process lease agreements, monitor leasing performance, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their leasing strategy. This process may consist of the above:

Data extraction: The first step is to extract data from the lease agreement document. This is typically done using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) techniques. The software scans the document for relevant information, such as lease start and end dates, rent amount, security deposit, and other key terms and conditions.
Data validation: Once the data is extracted, it needs to be validated to ensure its accuracy and completeness. The software checks the extracted data against predefined rules and templates, and alerts the user if any errors or inconsistencies are found.
Data normalization: After validation, the extracted data is normalized into a standardized format, which can be easily imported into a BPM-platform for further processing.
Data enrichment: To provide additional context and insights, the extracted data can be enriched with other relevant information, such as property details, neighborhood information, and other relevant data sources.
Data analysis and reporting: The final step is to analyze and report the extracted data. The software can generate customized reports and dashboards that provide insights into key metrics such as lease duration, rental income, and occupancy rates as well as further notifications on the lease agreement dates or changes.

Conclusion

Digital transformation has brought many benefits to the real estate industry, including increased access to information, improved efficiency in transactions, enhanced marketing opportunities, increased transparency and accountability, and the emergence of new technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the industry. As technology continues to evolve, it’s essential for real estate professionals to adapt and embrace new digital tools to stay competitive in the market.

According to a report by Grand View Research, the global real estate market size is expected to reach $4,263.7 billion by 2025, with digital transformation playing a significant role in this growth. Real estate professionals who leverage digital tools and embrace emerging technologies will be well-positioned to succeed in this rapidly evolving industry.

Book a demo

Measuring the Effectiveness of Security Controls with Data Analysis

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:24:12 +0000

Most businesses have implemented strategies and plan to achieve going forward. Even though these plans are attainable, provided that the right effort is channeled in the right direction, there is one thing that most stakeholders fail to understand. A business cannot be successful in an environment with poor security and regular cybersecurity attacks. The only thing that guarantees the development of a company is the security status of its data and the well-being of its environment.

It is no secret that the modern business world is highly congested with business owners who have incredible ideas. However, these ideas tend to fail because business owners neglect the power of creating a safer environment for the success of their operations. Every company has a digital footprint that facilitates its operations on different online platforms. The application of security controls with data analysis is one of the innovations invented to guarantee security.

Hackers are developing new means daily that can help them prepare through the company system and access customers’ data. This calls for creating sophisticated methodologies that can help create a reliable security wall that can safeguard the well-being of businesses and the customers’ data. Given that most sensitive information is stored online, there is a need to create reliable firewalls that hackers cannot penetrate through.

The application of data analysis in security control has introduced a new web within the cyber security system. Data analysis helps in analyzing security data sets to discover unusual activities that are likely to haunt the security standards of the business. Even though this is a newly established technology within the security sector, it has proved to be an effective strategy that can help to limit the hackers’ activities when penetrating through the company’s security firewall.

Considering that there is a hike in the number of hackers trying to penetrate into business operations, there is a need to measure the effectiveness of security controls within company settings. This has called for the implementation of different strategies that are specifically designed to measure the effectiveness of the types of physical security controls that have been put in place in businesses. Let’s learn more!

The Need for Security Controls in Business

Scams, viruses, and hackers can have catastrophic impacts on business development. It is vital for the business to safeguard the personal data belonging to employees and customers in order to create a safer environment for business operations. The impact of insecurity activities has forced companies to put in place security controls that can help them develop a safer working culture for the success of their goals.

Most companies have hired data analysts who help in digging through large data sets to extract valuable security-related information to help them create reliable strategies. Data analysts have the responsibility to study various patterns and trends to uncover any unusual activities that need fixing. They also take part in data visualization such as a trend chart, and Sankey diagram to ensure that business stakeholders understand all the technical elements generated from the data.

When data is placed at the forefront of business operations, it becomes easier for the company to maintain its online operations considering the best safety practices. Many businesses across the globe lose millions of dollars every year trying to curb cyber security cases. The application of data visualization can help in fixing such instances by translating massive amounts of data into a simple language that the security department can understand.

Measuring the effectiveness of cyber and physical security controls, such as business video surveillance, with data analysis is considered one of the most challenging responsibilities in tackling an integrated security approach. However, you can easily achieve this, provided you understand the steps taken to complete the work. Below are some of the basic concepts you can use to evaluate the effectiveness of your security controls and possible solutions to fix the problem.

Carry Out Security Audit Against the Company Servers

A cyber security audit is one of the best solutions when you want to understand the effectiveness of security controls. This is a fake attack that is launched toward your business to determine any weak areas that hackers can use to penetrate through. Most hackers use links and other malware solutions to access the company service and penetrate customer data to achieve their goals.

They are hackers who also demand ransom in the name of recovering private information. This is why most businesses encounter threats every day courtesy of hackers activities. The Security department can conduct cyber security audits on regular occasions to discover any weak areas and tailor solutions that can fix the problems.

It advised companies should look for experienced security auditors with extensive knowledge in the field to determine lasting solutions to the weak areas. Note that when all the weak areas are fixed, hackers find it difficult to access the company system. This is why understanding the attack surface concept is key, whether or not you are directly responsible for protecting mission-critical assets. Such knowledge, supported by experts, gives you power against malicious actors.

Track the Incident Response Times and Outcomes

There are different reasons why companies want to measure the effectiveness of their security controls. Most companies always want to understand whether their systems are working and if there is anything that needs to be improvised. One of the best ways to achieve this is to track various activities on a real-time basis. They then document the outcomes from the processes and the amount of time taken.

These activities are done within different parts of the business depending on the security speculations delivered by the intelligence. This is a common activity, especially when cases such as corruption are recorded within the business and an employee is locked out from the company’s email or the entire system. All activities conducted throughout this department can be tracked and noted down for further analysis.

The information generated from the process offers detailed insights that can be used to evaluate the security measures within the company. When the security department evaluates the situation in detail, they can easily note the weak areas within the system and determine possible solutions available.

Conduct Risk Assessments and Offer Training to Your Employees

Note that the employees are the most vulnerable people within a business environment, and they also have what it takes to safeguard the business. Hackers mostly prey on my victims to get access to the business servers. This problem can be solved by training all your team members on security matters and how they can safeguard the business environment. Always remember that knowledge is power, and employees can help you to create a safer environment.

When you monitor your employees keenly, you will realize that most employees experience certain incidents more than others. This is one of the risk assessment activities you need to conduct to ensure that all your employees know about security matters and can do everything possible to safeguard the business. You can also assess your team members and evaluate any high-risk behavior likely to deteriorate the business security standards.

You can also come up with various guidelines, such as instructing employees never to open emails from unknown senders. This will help you prevent hackers’ activities and limit their chances of accessing your company servers.

Investigate the Permissions and Entitlements

Most companies always want to give their customers access to various information on their websites. They end up giving permissions and entitlements to various uses, which ends up becoming a high-security risk. When hackers manage to invade through their entitlements, they also get access to the company’s system. This means that hackers can access the business data, and do anything possible to benefit their efforts.

Business owners can acquire tools that can help them to investigate the permissions and entitlements given to various team members to validate their security standards. There is a need to dig deeper into the entitlements that are given to all employees to prevent cases of hackers penetrating through the company systems.

Final Word

Every business has the power to grow into a bigger brand. However, the power of a business to grow revolves around the security measures put in place to safeguard its safety. Measuring the effectiveness of your security controls can help you to determine all the weak areas that need urgent fixing in order to create a safe environment that guarantees the well-being of the business and the satisfaction of customers.

Note that customers only prefer going to businesses that have proper security standards. Hackers are inventing new methodologies every day that enable them to gain access to companies’ data in order to benefit their efforts. By measuring the effectiveness of your security controls, you can determine the areas that need urgent modifications to create a better operating platform for your business.

Lydia Harper has been in the writing profession for a decade now. She has great experience writing informative articles and her work has been appreciated and published in many popular publications. Her education background in communication and public relations has given her a concrete base from which to approach different topics in various niches.

Recruitment workflow: How to Tackle Effective Employee Onboarding Workflow

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 01:17:46 +0000

Are you running a small or medium-sized business? If so, getting new employees on board is one of the major challenges you might face soon. This is, particularly, if your HR manager will carry out a manual employee onboarding process with onboarding checklist samples. The process is not only flawed and outdated. It is also time-consuming and boring. If you have to depend on humans to recall different hiring dates, they could forget some intervals of the recruitment process. And if some dates are skipped, you can no longer claim to run a dependable HR department. What you require is some sort of automation software that will straighten out your recruitment workflow. Here are more things workflow software like CMW Tracker is going to do for you in addition to new employee process automation.

Protect your brand image

The newly onboard employees are usually very keen to make observations in the workplace. They want to know how you run, how you guide and treat employees, and how efficiently things run. If not careful, your new employees or job candidates might develop a bad impression of your company. This could have a direct effect on your organizational culture and image. With the HR workflow software in place, however, you can appear more organized in the eyes of newly hired employees. It supervises them for you by displaying their workload for each day. If everyone seems to know what they were hired to do, it will give the impression that you are professional and orderly. The automated system speeds things up, ensuring that each step of the hiring process is done in a timely and systematic manner.

Software comes in handy in an emergency recruitment process

If there is a vacancy that needs to be filled in quickly, your business will handle it quickly if it has a recruitment workflow technology. A manual onboarding procedure would be so difficult to run in such a circumstance. The onboarding program consists of two things. First, the HR manager has to develop the onboarding workflow template. This means that they have to breakdown the entire process into small stages and then add it to the workflow automation software. Once this happens, there can be more officers tackling the procedure on the backend. Hence, the HR head would be relieved of some stress and would be more confident that an emergency job positioning would start and end successfully.

Get a 30-day trial!

Onboarding workflow software boosts communication

Modern people are conversant with technological devices, apps, and software. By the time they attend the interview, they expect you to have used a given form of technology to get in touch with them. For instance, you could ask them to send their cover letters via mobile or email. As a result, job candidates will perceive your communication process as streamlined and efficient. The Recruitment workflow software puts all participants on the same page. Thus, every worker will be keen to do what is expected of them as the interview process continues. At the same time, candidates will look sharper rather than confused and lost. There will be clear steps explained to them even before they walk in the interview room. The hired ones will also enjoy the automated job orientation process and new hire onboarding portal.

Get a 30-day trial!

The software simplifies the auditing process

Your HR manager might want to review the original documents gathered during the initial onboarding process. If the process is automated, the documents can be retrieved and audited quickly. The same cannot be said of the manual onboarding tasks handling. The manual filing procedure is less convenient, especially, if the documents you want to review were shared throughout a whole year onboarding program. The HR workflow software saves time that could otherwise be spent searching for old paperwork. With just a few mouse clicks, the hiring official could recover the data they require to proceed with the remaining part of their onboarding program.

This is why you need the CMW Tracker onboarding workflow software. It can be provided to you for 30-day trial period. Do not hesitate to request your trial period today! CMW Lab will automate more than just your recruitment process.

Get a 30-day trial!

Maria Komarova is a Product Marketing Analyst at CMW Lab – a global software company delivering innovative Business Operations Management solutions enabling performance and efficiency optimization.

What does “hyperautomation” mean?

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:47:50 +0000

In recent years the world tech field has introduced lots of different tools and approaches to help businesses increase their results. Artificial intelligence, robots, automation, machine learning, process management – all these serve business purposes. And consequently causes lots of doubts among business people on how to implement and boost performance owing to these tools. So here is when the enterprise first faces “hyperautomation”.

According to Gartner, 80% of companies are planning to increase investment into hyperautomation in the upcoming years despite business instability and supply chain problems. Being a part of digital transformation, hyperautomation helps enterprises adapt to changes rapidly with the best possible outcome.

Defining the hyperatomation approach

Hyperautomation is a result-driven approach when a company automates as many possible processes and operations as possible. It involves the use of many different technologies: robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, business process management (BPM), low-code/no-code. In 2023 all these technologies are being introduced within digital transformation suites letting companies manage all processes and tools in a single environment. As a result hyperautomation became an integral part of a digital transformation, aligning RPA and AI to eliminate most of the manual business work. It gives flexibility in those areas where automation has never been possible before: processes that are not supported by any documentation or do not rely on any structured data.

Today’s digital transformation platforms provide for the agile technologies incorporation, giving a possibility to benefit from more technologies on the go. They effectively merge different tools and software within one environment empowering business people with automation capabilities. Advanced hyperautomation software includes the following functionality:

Robotic process automation (RPA)
Low-code business process management systems (BPMS)
Intelligent data automation
Data-driven process discovery
Software test automation
Analytics and insights

Benefits of hyperautomation

Speed up projects completion

Introduction of automation to everyday work lets involve all the employees into the business transformation process converting their knowledge into workload reductive actions.

Introducing digital workspace

Aligning different technologies within one platform creates a single digital workspace to improve employees performance. It gives freedom to connect business applications, work with unstructured data, optimize processes and find new growth opportunities.

Artificial intelligence power

When RPA works together with AI this is where the hyperautomation magic happens. It lowers the volume of manual control and reduces costs, improves efficiency on the employee and enterprise level, as well as business compliance.

Many companies do not feel ready to start automation because of the lack of data or technical specialists. But here when the low-code BPMS comes to action. Though the market is overwhelmed with products providing low-code/no-code possibilities, most of them will have limited functionality for hyperautomation. The advanced digital transformation platforms consolidate RPA, employees, CRM, bots and data to empower citizen developers for real time changes

Real impact of the hyperautomation

Healthcare

Hyperautomation can benefit the healthcare sector by improving patient satisfaction, boosting revenue, and producing more precise data. Hyperautomation is used to automate client communications, invoicing cycles, and data collection. Additionally, it can deal with managing patient records, gathering information, and producing meaningful output for more precise plans for treatment.

Hyperautomation is frequently utilized to ensure regulatory compliance, which is essential for any healthcare organization. Additionally, it can be used to schedule personnel and other resources as well as manage drug inventories and procurement. Hyperautomation has countless applications in the healthcare sector, and its advantages can benefit the company, its partners, and its clients.

Finance and banking

The banking and finance sectors are under constant pressure to lower expenses, boost productivity, and offer a more accessible and individualized service quality.

Higher data reliability can be made available to staff members through hyperautomation, allowing them to use business process management (BPM) more successfully to give consumers information that helps them decide more effectively. Hyperautomation also offers the side efficiency needed to support online banking and financial apps’ constant availability, as well as the necessary rules and reporting. Large amounts of data are used in the financial and banking industries, which can be difficult to handle. By streamlining the procedures required, hyperautomation enables faster, more reliable, and error-free processes.

Oil & Gas

Energy industry companies are now able to manage the unpredictability and fluctuation that are typical of the industry thanks to AI and ML algorithms. Enterprises aim to foresee, optimize strengths, and minimize weaknesses in sectors like electricity generation, distribution, and trading procedures by using the capabilities and performances of AI-based systems. The fact that enormous processing capacity is now affordable and can be used to speed up the training of deep learning algorithms is one of the main reasons AI has become so popular in the energy sector. The tremendous growth in data availability and storage capacity, which gives businesses superior algorithm training material, is another important factor. And when it comes to energy volume forecasting, power optimization, distribution process set up or upgrade, current risks evaluation, digital transformation platforms give their automation power.

How CMW Lab can help

CMW Lab provides its customer with digital transformation and business process management solutions that are gathered in a CMW Platform – a low-code digital transformation suite unleashing the process automation power for building innovative business apps. It gained the trust of multiple government agencies and companies such as Hertz, Aetna, CVS pharmacy. Supporting digital transformation for more than 10 years on the US market, CMW Lab products are rated #1 BPM Solutions by Gartner Peer Insights.

Our analysts team can help with business process mapping, finding the bottlenecks and improving business results without millions spending on solution deployment and management. CMW Platform guarantees security and flexibility no matter the vertical you represent and can be deployed in cloud or on-premise. Fully Open API lets create powerful integrations with RPA, AI tools for a real hyperautomation happening within one software.

Book a demo

Proven track record: CMW Lab received new industry awards

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 13:07:00 +0000

Since 2012 CMW Lab has been supporting the digital-first enterprise creation providing its customers with the most up-to-date, reliable and user-friendly software for building powerful business apps. 2022 wasn’t an exception as CMW Lab products have received the following prestigious awards and features:

Software Informer Editor’s Pick

This is the second time CMW Tracker is highly rated by Software Informer’s Editorial team. Being named the top workflow management solution, it is defined to cover all the aspects of modern workflow and task management with a high flexibility for end users.

#1 Workflow Software by Techtimes

According to the fresh Techtimes review, CMW Platform is recognized as the best workflow management software. The media noted software’s flexibility that lets building processes or making changes to them on the go as well as its reliability that is guaranteed by multi-tier hybrid SaaS architecture.

One of the best software to use for workflow is the CMW Platform. […] It is designed for a unified and smooth enterprise workflow automation. It is a powerful and flexible platform that encourages businesses of all sizes to go digital safely and efficiently.

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star award is granted to those SaaS products that are getting increasingly popular on the market, are currently getting an impressive traction with the customers and are viewed as a service that’s really efficient for solving problems users face now. CMW Tracker has gained customer’s trust and loyalty with a 97% satisfaction rate and 8.0 score on Finances Online by the end of 2022.

TOP-2 BPM Software by eWeek.com

One more authoritative media recognition that put CMW Platform on the 2d place among the TOP Business Process Management Companies. The main advantages of the Platform defined by eWeek include quick deployment, reliability, and business costs reduction – as a result.

CMW Platform integrates scattered processes into one reliable system using API integrations, drag-and-drop capabilities, and other patented features on process management.

G2 Leader Winter 2023

CMW Tracker is rated as one of the leading business process management software in the G2 Grid and Enterprise Grid Report for Winter 2023. Year to year CMW Tracker is showing a stable growth in customers’ satisfaction on G2 with 4.6 out of 5 score and improves its positions on the BPM market.

We would like to thank our customers whose trustworthy opinion let us be among the leaders in the fast-growing business process automation market. We will continue suggesting the most relevant, customized and highly technological solutions to our clients and help them align workload with strategic goals while building a sustainable digital-first organization.

Michael Donaghey, Vice President of Sales, CMW Lab

How to Choose the Right Workflow Management Software for CapEx Project Management

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:21:50 +0000

Everyday business expenses, such as replacing computer paper as it runs out, are simple to monitor. However, businesses also incur larger expenditures, such as purchasing computer equipment or a new real estate site. These capital expenditures pertain to a fixed, non-consumable asset with a useful life beyond one accounting period.

Large-scale capital projects, known as capital expenditures or CapEx, can involve enormous financial resources. Due to their long-term purpose and capital yields, capital expenditures can be challenging to manage and regulate. If this occurs, mismanaged capital projects could cost your organization thousands of dollars.

However, it is possible to manage capital spending and budget effectively, particularly if you have budgeting software and the appropriate tools. A workflow management system that incorporates CapEx management is an excellent starting point. This approach will assist in budget tracking and spending planning.

Overview of Workflow Management Software

Workflow management tools are essential for keeping teams aligned and on pace, especially in light of the growing complexity associated with rapid expansion. This program can assist you in scheduling activities, collaborating with your team, managing workloads, and evaluating the progress so that your project is completed correctly and its quality is maintained.

According to Grand View Research, the global market for workflow management systems was estimated at over USD 6 billion in 2020 and is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 30.6% between 2021 to 2028.

The business world is in a perpetual state of change, and in such a growth-worthy environment, it is even more vital that every financial choice is subject to several approvals. CapEx requests are an important aspect of fund management that must undergo a rigorous examination and approval procedure to seize new growth opportunities while maintaining the firm’s financial security.

An adaptable CapEx approval system that includes workflow automation for safeguarding investments and requiring shorter process cycles can facilitate fund management. With the right workflow management software for CapEx project management, you can automate your existing process in a matter of days or hours, guaranteeing that each request undergoes a thorough examination quickly and gaining a competitive edge for your firm.

Key Features to Look for in Workflow Management Software for CapEx Project Management

Capital management may also generate time and monetary savings that can be used for other high-priority projects and operations. Owners desire to maximize their financial resources, from site selection to building completion.

However, many owner businesses confront obstacles to achieving this state, including disconnected manual processes and systems that hinder productivity. Moreover, implementing many conventional financial program management systems can take months or longer, making resolving these issues challenging.

Technology can help, and choosing a solution that aligns with your organization’s profile, goals, and timetable is essential.

Using project management tools and techniques, every business owner can control project expenses and risks, share documentation, and collaborate in real-time. Project management tools can help companies organize and complete their projects on schedule and within budget. When the pandemic drove many teams to operate remotely, the need for robust project management tools became even more apparent. Browse through Zoho Sprints reviews to see how it can assist teams in project planning, progress monitoring, and timely product delivery.

Effective CapEx management solutions digitize, standardize, and automate capital asset preparation and execution processes. This technology provides a unified system to control cost, timeline, data, and risk that connects building owners and general contractors throughout their entire project portfolio. Correct execution can expedite the delivery of results that improve collaboration, increase predictability, and decrease risks.

Here are some key aspects you need to consider when looking for the right workflow management software for CapEx project management.

Unified System

According to a study by McKinsey, across all surveyed industries, most businesses struggle to complete projects on time. Compared to initial predictions, schedule and expense overruns usually exceed 50%.

Effective CapEx project management necessitates a comprehensive understanding of cost, timeline, scope, and risk.

As a result of combining enterprise resource planning (ERP) system capability with other financial systems, point solutions, emails, and spreadsheets, many owner organizations’ present methodologies do not produce ideal capital program outcomes. This can cause incoherent data, manual processes, restricted project visibility, and inconsistency. Decisions are made based on fragmented data and frequently without all required inputs.

By utilizing a unified system that provides a picture of the data set at the project level, owners may make quicker and more informed choices across cost, timeline, and scope. This methodology facilitates informed, consistent, and high-quality decision-making across projects.

Look into this model’s advantages when managers evaluate a change in scope and weigh the associated cost and schedule tradeoffs.

Portfolio Level Visibility

During a project’s evaluation and prioritization phase, it is ineffective to rely on disconnected systems and processes. Establishing a company-wide solution ensures that all project proposals experience the same examination and standardized processes.

Using the best workflow app, everybody accesses the same project data structure and format irrespective of the type, contractor, or location. According to The State of Process Automation Report 2020, 51% of workflow automation efforts are intended to boost efficiency and productivity. This is why choosing a solution that provides company-wide consistency while still addressing project-specific requirements is crucial.

On the other hand, a standardized system guarantees uniformity and fairness and assists in coordinating capital planning choices with organizational strategic goals.

Management is drawn to portfolio-level capabilities because they offer a higher-level perspective. Lessons learned, and the capacity to apply cutting-edge best practices across all initiatives benefit the entire organization. Look for a solution that permits project-to-project comparisons to facilitate portfolio-wide reporting and continuous improvement.

Data Insights

Owners no longer have to base their judgments exclusively on past, backward-looking data or wait until an issue emerges. Modern management tools include cost and schedule analytics, including forecasting and configurable rules that highlight instances where costs or schedules are out of budget and demand remedial action.

These standards and governance enable project owners to take preventative measures before affecting their initiatives. Using historical information and actual results to construct projections and to report within a single solution improves forecasting skills.

Owners prefer to spend their time studying and acting on information rather than accumulating data and creating reports. Standard reports and dashboards enable users and management to quickly understand and share what is happening at the portfolio and project levels.

Reporting should include cost, timeline, scope, and risk information. Owners must ensure that the chosen system meets the needed degree of reporting, covering daily action summaries, management, and third-party requirements.

Scalability and Stability

Owner organizations evolve and expand with time. Ensure that your solution is flexible and scalable enough to satisfy your future demands, even if you do not yet recognize them.

In addition, the kinds of projects that business owners undertake may vary based on various factors, such as the business climate, legislative change, customer behavior, etc. It is likely that the kind of project and the business process needed to plan and carry out this work will evolve.

Vendor and system reliability and stability are essential for future-proofing your solution; therefore, when selecting a product workflow management solution, you should evaluate your vendors’ market profile, experience, and longevity, along with their product development effort, system uptime, and hosting.

Transparent Pricing

The top workflow management solutions function monthly pay-as-you-go, where rates include all operating costs, and you pay for the number of users who access the system.

Choose a tool whose upfront pricing will not cause sticker shock when the initial invoice arrives. When maintaining swift and flawless workflows, don’t settle for anything less than extraordinary.

Improve Your Business Operations with the Right Workflow Management Solutions

In today’s fast-paced world, the best workflow management tools are essential for being structured and on the edge of your business and boosting productivity.

A “one-stop shop” solution with a rapid ROI that integrates teams, procedures, and data into a single system is advantageous for project managers. A centralized system assists owners in prioritizing and selecting the proper projects, maintaining schedule visibility, control expenses, collaborating on projects across their portfolio, and concluding their projects effectively.

As a result, owners can be certain that they are selecting the proper projects, completing them on schedule and budget, and handing over a comprehensive project record to support operations.

13+ Must-Have Tools for Marketing Agencies

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 08:32:20 +0000

When evaluating Project Management and Workflow Automation solutions for Marketing agencies, we had a chance to talk to numerous Marketing representatives and industry thought leaders. Our questions were around what online tools are usually used to ensure integrated Marketing services and management of Marketing campaigns – all while coordinating efforts with other teams and reacting to change timely.

Based on the responses, we put together this article in hope to help you familiarize with the 12 must-have online tools your Marketing agency can use to improve your team performance and achieve competitive advantages.

File sharing tools

Evernote

With Evernote you can capture, organize and access your thoughts and information anytime, anywhere, and from nearly any device. Since Evernote can read text within images, you can even snap a photo of existing notes and easily find them later.

Evernote also allows you to save searchable information to share it in virtual notebooks with others, or even with your entire agency.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud-based, shareable hard drive. With Dropbox, you can sync files, photos, videos and projects saved on your work computer to your personal laptop or vice versa. When you make a change to a file, the previous version is automatically updated in Dropbox so you’re accessing the latest version no matter whether you view from your iPhone or PC. If you want to revert to a previous version or undelete a file, you can.

With Dropbox for Teams, your entire agency can also share folders internally or with external clients or contacts, all while maintaining administrative control.

Dropmark

Dropmark provides simple collaboration and file sharing in the cloud, with drag-and-drop facility from your desktop to browser, so your files are automatically uploaded to the cloud. You can invite colleagues to view and collaborate privately, and organize files into collections with sharable short links.

You can view every collection as a fullscreen presentation, mixing images, websites and more. You can even drag in audio or video from YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud or your desktop to create custom playlists and podcasts. With the Dropmark for Mac app you can just drag and drop to your Mac menu bar and upload directly to your account.

Collaboration tools

Trello

With Trello, you can create boards to organize anything you’re working on. This is a Trello board is a list of lists filled with cards, used with a team or by yourself. In your Trello card you can create checklists to keep track of to-dot, add comments to update your co-workers, add photos and videos and see who’s working on that card.

Yammer

Yammer is an enterprise social network provider that is now part of Microsoft’s Office Division.

With Yammer you can organize meetings and events, share them with co-workers, and gauge attendance by collecting responses. The tool also allows to visualize your agency’s org chart so you know who manages and reports to whom and who to contact internally on a particular subject matter.

CMW Project

CMW Project® is an innovative Collaboration and Project Management tool that simplifies planning for project managers and facilitates execution for team members. It provides project teams with a real-time view on project priorities and delivery dates, calculates the actual resource workload and availability as well as automatically tracks task completion progress.

Built on top of CMW Team Network™ — the industry 1st pre-integrated social collaboration platform — CMW Project delivers a unified workspace for data and document sharing enabling highly efficient cross-team collaboration fully in context of work. Free 30-day trial is available here.

ProofHub

ProofHub is a leading project management and team communication software that helps managers efficiently manage their marketing projects and teams. It brings together all the crucial tools required to organize, plan, and deliver projects on schedule.

You can monitor each task’s progress and observe how it progresses through the various project phases using the Kanban boards. Additionally, you can add comments and files as attachments to a task. You and the team members can even conduct a quick conversation or share files regarding a task using the integrated chat feature.

Smartlead

Smartlead is an omnichannel sales email automation software. It helps you scale cold emailing with high-deliverability IP servers and unlimited sender accounts to ensure your email always lands in your lead’s inbox.

You can maintain all your email accounts from one centralized master inbox so you never miss a lead. It offers unlimited email warmups and AI personalization to maintain sender reputation and boost reply rates. Moreover, the custom conditional email sending triggers helps you reach out to your leads faster and 7x their chances of booking meetings. Smartlead helps businesses scale their outreach across email, Twitter, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, etc. You can track reply rates and click-through rates and access in-depth analytics to monitor your campaigns.

Content sourcing, creation and management tools

Clipchamp

Clipchamp is an online video editor that helps you create professional-looking videos in minutes, no matter your skill level with video editing.

With Clipchamp, you can trim your video, add logos, titles, transitions, and even resize it perfect for any social media platform. Creators and marketing agencies love how versatile it is. This movie maker has easy-to-use pro features like green screen effects and AI text-to-speech voiceovers. The browser app also allows you to record your screen and webcam to create tutorial videos and reaction videos.

Invideo

Invideo is a web-based video creation tool that allows users to create professional-quality videos with no technical knowledge. It has a huge selection of pre-made designs, free stock images, and audio files. Also, the platform provides a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that makes it simple to include personalized text, graphics, and animations in videos. Besides, Invideo offers a variety of editing tools, such as clip cutting, cropping, and combining, as well as the exporting of videos in several formats. In summary, it is a fantastic tool for producing professional-level videos for advertising, social networking, or private usage.

Design Wizard

Design Wizard is perfect for high-quality and effective visual content creation. It holds over 1 million images and over ten thousand TV quality videos. Perfect for social media marketers, business owners and party planners, Design Wizard aims to inspire. Standout features include a custom color palette, free font library and resize feature.

Curata

Curata is a business-grade content curation software designed to quickly find, curate, share and analyze content on specific issues or topics. With Curata, you can also measure the effectiveness of content across all channels including websites, newsletters, blogs, and social media in a single location. Curata integrates with a host of marketing automation platforms, web analytics tools, content management systems, and social media channels.

Content Marketer

Content Marketer is a useful tool to build relevant outreach lists, promote content and build relationships.

With Content Marketer you just need to pick a blog post or article that you would like to promote. The tool will scan your content and find the email addresses or Twitter handlers of people you mentioned so that your could outreach them easily and build relationships.

Picsart

Picsart is an incredible photo editing and graphics creation tool that can revolutionize your creative workflow. You can use Picsart’s various drag-and-drop tools to make beautiful photo collages, create dynamic stickers, remove background objects, and add stunning photo effects.

What really separates Picsart from other design programs is its easy-of-use. Using AI algorithms, designers can use the image generator to create unique graphics, the replacer to automatically swap objects, and the writing assistant to scribe compelling copy. But without AI, creators still have full range to design logos, flyers, brochures, banners, pins, and posters that they can use in their business or personal lives.

CMW Tracker

CMW Tracker is a workflow management system that nails down the process involved in getting content out the door, especially when there are numerous stakeholders who need to provide input or review content.

With CMW Tracker you can create customized workflow around getting different types of content done since the process is different for ebooks, blog posts, tweets, Facebook updates, etc. Request free 30-day trial here.

Conversion Rate Optimization tools

Optimizely

Optimizely is a experience optimization platform enabling A/B and multivariate testing for users to enhance their websites & mobile apps.

Unbounce

Unbounce lets marketers build high-converting landing pages without IT pros. You can enjoy 1-click publishing, A/B testing and a suite of best-practice landing page templates.

Meet Unbounce at their mini conference series – Conversion Road Trip !

In partnership with Unbounce, CMW Lab is providing 10%OFF conference entrance fee.

The conference will allow your team to learn about landing page campaigns, PPC, design, copywriting, conversion rate optimization, A/B testing and more from some of the most influential names in the business and walk away with actionable content to take back and implement into their marketing campaigns.

The conference series kicks off in New York City on June 1st with stops in Toronto on June 3rd, Chicago on June 5th and wraps up in Boston on June 8th.

To claim your discount, use the coupon code “CMW” in your shopping cart.

Miscellaneous useful resources

MyOwnConference is one of the most complete video conferencing solutions thanks to premium features. With a market-leading uptime of 99.98%, hosting up to 10,000 attendees in many meetings at once. It’s a solid choice for larger organizations. Businesses can add custom logos and banners to their webinars for a personalized experience. You’ll also get landing pages to direct sign-ups with a countdown page until meetings begin.

Automated email reminders, social media sign-ups, and scheduled meetings are on hand to maximize attendance. For those who missed it, you’ll get Ultra Full HD cloud-stored recording free.

Collaboration features include video, keynote, and screen sharing along with whiteboarding, quizzes, polls, and participant chat. Store and share your resources and recordings on the provided cloud.

For anyone looking for a professional, complete solution, MyOwnConference ticks all the boxes. They support most devices and have one of the best levels of customer service on this list. The best part is you can start with 20 attendees free!

OSI Affiliate Software helps you not only engage with your current customers but find new members to sign up for your referral system. Our competitive pricing gets you to access a number of features. Unlike other services on the market, there are no surprise fees; there are no transaction fees for using the service.

Turn your best customers into your top promoters! It would be easy for you to recruit and empower customers, affiliates, and influencers to promote your brand. OSI has everything you need to start an affiliate program to allow your customers to promote your brand across social networks. By enabling social sharing, you can add pre-written posts with graphics for your customers to share on all the major social networks. This makes it super easy for them to promote with very little effort.

To find out who your most loyal and satisfied customers are, OSI has included a FREE bonus survey tool that will allow you to find out who will be prime for referring others. You can send out an email to all of your customers and ask them how likely they would be to refer to others. Based on their response, you can automatically sign them up for your referral program.

A Resource for Agency Owners – immediate actionable steps you can take right now to make a difference in your business by Jason Swenk and adding value agency owners community.

Fuel Lines – new business resources for Advertising, Digital, Media and PR Agencies by Michael Gass. The blog has been rated among the top 100 marketing blogs in the world, according to Ad Age’s Power 150.

Inbound.org – The Community for Marketing Professionals. In a Marketing Agencies Group with members from 35+ countries you will find tons of information helping you run your agency better.

Marketing Agency Insider – Developed by Paul Roetzer, Marketing Agency Insider is the hub for marketing agency news, information, resources, training, education and engagement.

Agency Post – HubSpot’s blog for the Agency Professionals.

MAGNET Global Network – a collaborative network of the world’s top marketing and advertising agencies. This organization and its member agencies represent more than 800 clients worldwide.

Agency Search Portal – Sortlist provides you with free tools to showcase your agency and connect the Sortlist community of marketers seeking for your service.

The marketing landscape is constantly shifting as new strategies and tools arise. Agencies that don’t adapt their services to meet the demands of timely and relevant inbound marketing will simply get left behind.

Stay ahead of the curve and succeed!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

What is CapEx and OpEx

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 12:00:37 +0000

If you want to run a successful business, there are financial terms you should familiarize yourself with them. For instance, you should understand the difference between CapEx and OpEx before you dive into strategic investments and CapEx project management.

What is CapEx and OpEx?

CapEx refers to a Capital expenditure while OpEx refers to an Operational expenditure. Capital expenditure is incurred when a business acquires assets that could be beneficial beyond the current tax year. For instance, it might buy brand new equipment or buildings. Also, it could upgrade an existing asset to boost its value beyond the current tax year. CapEx is also known as a Capital expense.

Operational expenditure consists of those expenses that a business incurs to run smoothly every single day. They are the costs that a business incurs while in the process of turning its inventory into an end product. Hence, depreciation of fixed assets that are used in the production process is considered OpEx expenditure. OpEx is also known as an operating expenditure, revenue expenditure or an operating expense.

Understanding CapEx vs OpEx difference is crucial for any business struggling to optimally utilise finance by making sure that the correct mode is used for capital expenses and other types of expenses. Below you will find a complete guide to Capex vs Opex, explaining the benefits and disadvantages of both, and how to manage them effectively.

How CapEx and OpEx are Treated in Accounting

CapEx – Capital expenditures are not fully deducted in the accounting period they were incurred. In other words, they are not fully subtracted from the revenue when computing the profits or losses a business has made. However, intangible assets are amortized over their lifespan while the tangible ones are depreciated over their life cycle. All monies spent to get new inventory, including machinery or intellectual property, are grouped under CapEx spendings.

OpEx – Operating expenses are fully deducted in the accounting period they were incurred. All funds spent when converting inventory into throughput falls under OpEx. This includes employee wages, repair and maintenance of equipment, rental fees, and utility bills and so on. If a business invests in real estate, this spending is approved as CapEx budget and the expense is grouped under CapEx. However, all the costs incurred when managing such an income generating building falls under OpEx.

CapEx Summary

Purchase of fixed assets.
Preparation of the purchased asset so it can be appropriate for business use.
Fixing of asset’s problems,
Restoration of an asset’s value through upgrading
Adapting a machine to a different use

Get a 30-day trial!

Operating Expenditures Summary

License fees
Advertising costs
Legal and attorney fees
Telephone and power overheads
Insurance fees
Property management costs
Property taxation expenses
Vehicle fuel and repair costs
Leasing commissions
Salary and wages
Raw materials and supplies
Office overheads

Get a 30-day trial!

IT Spending – CapEx or OpEx?

Traditionally technology investments most often were considered for capital expenditures over OpEx, because CFOs could take advantage of amortization these expenses over an extended period of time. Nowadays, more and more companies switch IT investment from CapEx to OpEx and they have a reasonable argument for this switch – moving company IT infrastructure to the cloud. Once this moving happens, additional CapEx benefits fall as far as the company no longer needs static investments for the hardware, software and resources. Services and options are purchased as needed, costs are fluctuating and OpEx works better for such expenses type and supports necessary scalability.

What Do Most Businesses Choose Between the Two?

Now you can answer this: What is CapEx and OpEx. But which one of the two would you prefer? From the income tax perspective, most entrepreneurs prefer OpEx to CapEx. A case in point is when a business opts to lease rather than buy equipment to be able to deduct its full cash expense for leasing when computing its taxes for that accounting year. The benefit of having the ability to deduct expenses is the fact that it minimizes the income tax that is charged on your net income. Besides, you will only incur an operational cost once you lease the item again.

Get our PDF Case Study to learn how Hertz has leveraged CMW Tracker to create a modern CapEx approval application, which replaced complex Excel files and dramatically reduced the capital expenditure approval cycle time, decreased operational expenses and minimized financial risks.

Get Case Study!

When a Business Can Opt for CapEx

A business that wants to boost its profits and book value can opt to incur a capital expense by purchasing a new machine rather than leasing one. It will have to deduct a small portion of it as an expense in that accounting year. In such a case, the business’ balance sheet would indicate a higher value of assets and net income. It also means that it would save very little on tax.

Capital expenditures entail huge investments in goods that are placed on the balance sheet and are then depreciated over the life of the asset. On the other hand, operating expenditures appear on the profit and loss A/C. They relate to costs incurred on a continuous basis. If you are in an organization that anticipates quick growth or technological changes, OpEx should suit you best. Instead of purchasing a capital good and then getting stuck with it, you will be better of leasing one. Once you pay your leasing fee, there will be no further financial obligation on your part. But if you cannot avoid CapEx, and have no limited access to capital investments (sounds like a CapEx controller dream), you should go for it and make sure that you have a CapEx project management professional on a full-time basis. Now you have the answer to this, what is CapEx and OpEx, and it is upon you to decide which one to go with.

CapEx and OpEx Management in Post-COVID-19 Times

The COVID-19 pandemic caught the world off guard, impacting not only how humans live, work, and communicate but also how they run their businesses and manage capital and operating expenses. But, the worst is over now, bringing in new challenges, opportunities, and post-pandemic transformations in the realm of CaPex and OpEx expense management. So, what are the emerging CapEx and OpEx trends and strategic approaches that organizations across industries are massively embracing? Let’s find out below.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations

In the post-pandemic world, ESG considerations are critical factors, impacting operating and capital expense decisions. This indicates that when making financial management choices, businesses focus on addressing sustainability issues, adopting small business social responsibility (SBSR), and adhering to a defined set of company governance rules and practices. Among them are transparency, ethics, accountability, stakeholder engagement, and many others. Prioritizing ESG factors, organizations allocate and utilize their resources more sustainably, boost operational efficiency, and enhance their brand value in the arena of capital projects, establishing a sound reputation among prospective talent and customers.

Digital transformation

The post-pandemic times have accelerated the process of digital transformation (DX), which has become a massive trend for capital expense and operating expense businesses. Focused on the adoption of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), DX helps streamline a wide range of tasks and get a significant pool of benefits. By embracing digital technologies, CapEx and OpEx businesses migrate to cloud-based IT infrastructure, reduce long-term investments in on-premises hardware and software, minimize relevant maintenance costs, enhance operational efficiency, improve scalability and flexibility, and facilitate decision-making in financial planning.

Hybrid work and remote teams

Another trend in the after-COVID-19 times is the shift toward the hybrid work model or fully remote teams. This means that CapEx and OpEx businesses are heavily adopting a wide array of digital collaboration tools and virtual communication platforms to facilitate remote work and maintain employee productivity, engagement levels, and flexibility. Transitioning to hybrid work and remote teams, businesses ensure prudent cost allocation by cutting overhead office-related costs, all while increasing efficiency levels and achieving their long-term budgeting goals.

Enhanced cybersecurity

As multiple CapEx and OpEx businesses have recently embarked on their DX journey and tapped into the power of hybrid and remote work, ensuring enhanced cybersecurity levels is becoming not merely a trend, but rather an urgent necessity. To guarantee all corporate information is securely and tightly protected against all potential cybersecurity breaches, companies implement a wide range of relevant solutions for network and endpoint security. These solutions include next-gen firewalls (NGFWs), intrusion detection systems (IDSs), intrusion prevention systems (IPSs), and more. By integrating these solutions into OpEx and CapEx processes, businesses guarantee the comprehensive protection of all their systems while ensuring the safety of all corporate assets and maintaining long-term business continuity.

Considerations of regional characteristics and specifics

Both regional characteristics and specifics are becoming a significant CapEx and OpEx trend in the post-pandemic era. This means that local legislative regulations, cultural specifics, and existing economic environments influence how OpEx and CapEx businesses manage their expenditures and fixed assets, including cash flow, tax deduction, asset acquisition and depreciation, amortization, and more. To optimize their financial strategies and ensure efficient cost control during a specific accounting period, businesses need to consider a wide range of regional factors, including the current state of the economy, regulatory compliance pertinent to a particular region, market fluctuations, and more.

Strategic planning and forecasting

Strategic planning and forecasting is another trend related to the field of efficient CaPex and OpEx management. It involves using advanced data analytics and predictive modeling tools that empower companies to strategically plan and efficiently allocate their capital and operating expenditures, including long- and short-term costs, profit and loss statements, and overall balance sheets. Adhering to the strategic planning and forecasting trend, companies align their financial strategies with desired business objectives, ensuring long-term business growth and success.

Taking Control of CapEx and OpEx

It is obvious that operational expenses and capital expenses together account for a fairly large percentage of the company annual budget. When you’re trying to cut costs and improve the bottom line, it is a better catch balance between CapEx and OpEx, than cutting either or both budgets. When managing huge CapEx projects and juggling CapEx and OpEx it is vital to have expense approval processes streamlined and transparent, so that you have full control. CapEx Approval and Opex Management Software by CMW Lab delivers all the necessary tools for thorough expenses management, workflow automation and improved employees collaboration.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Comindware to invest in digital transformation technologies in US and open Laboratory in 2022

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 13:18:33 +0000

Comindware Inc. announces an upcoming major milestone in its commitment to accelerated digital transformation and sustainable digital foundation for the future in the US. With reference to plans established last year to develop an innovation laboratory, Comindware confirmed it launched a world-class lab with the aim of promoting the application of Low-code, Business Process Management (BPM) and related technologies in new corporate solutions, as well as empowering businesses with reliable technology on their way to a sustainable digital future.

CMW Lab, short for Co-Minded Work Laboratory, is composed of software developers, data scientists and specialists in business process management. The team will focus on developing proofs of concept, prototypes and use cases that explore new opportunities in digital business from the application of Low-code and BPM technologies.

Comindware invests into CMW Lab a wide range of resources and assets, including a workflow management product – Comindware Tracker, which is to be renamed to CMW Tracker on August 22. The new name reflects CMW Lab’s strong belief that every business will become a co-minded team, able to automate quickly and keep their digital transformation trackable. While the name is changed, the product and its road map remains the same.

On August 22 the company website and product domain, logos and marketing collateral will be changed to reflect the new company name, CMW Lab. This change will not affect any existing customers’ product instances or performance. It is designed to offer current and future clients more options as Comindware moves into the next phase of Business Process Management.

We realize that our success in the highly competitive area demands our contribution and investment in a scalable, resilient and secure digital foundation for the future. This will allow us to make use of our own graph technologies, integrate that with third party technology such as Artificial Intelligence and Business intelligence, and increasingly deliver value to US business Michael Donaghey, Vice President of Sales.

KPI dashboards to manage your business efficiently

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 15:37:31 +0000

As an owner of a small or middle-size business, you will always make long-term and short-term goals. To assess your progress toward the achievement of those goals, you should use various types of KPIs . A KPI (Key performance Indicator) is used to track the success level of a contract or project. In addition, this benchmark can be used by each department within an organization. Maybe you are still asking this question: What is kpi? To understand more about this measurement tool, and how it is used to measure service delivery and projects, read on.

KPIs tracking software

Manual tracking can be erroneous and tiring. Instead, you should adopt KPIs tracking software that could save time and eliminate guesswork and errors. Our real-time KPI control software is CMW Platform. This is workflow management software that could automate your business operations and track each of your Key performance indicators.

CMW Platform doesn’t require coding. Hence, business users can access and edit the workflows and other web resources without the assistance of Information Technology professionals. Moreover, you can control various workflow activities from your Microsoft Outlook interface. Our software boasts higher analytics, and it is capable of offering insights into certain types of KPI indicators.

Get a 30-day trial!

It can interpret data visually by releasing tables, charts, presentations and gauges that are easy to comprehend. With CMW Platform, decision making is going to be quicker, easier and fun. It will help you track all kinds of KPI you have set. Our software can be deployed in various ways. All you need to do now is to ask for your CMW Platform 30-day trial version.

Different Examples of KPIs

KPI categories are generally four: enhanced customer satisfaction, revenue improvement, process cycle-time improvement and cost reduction. These are broad categories and so we will provide just a few examples. Note that use of KPIs will not only reduce your business costs. They will also eliminate delays, errors and overheads.

SLA (Service Level Agreements) KPIs

A Service Level Agreement between departments or units could underperform because the current KPIs are irrelevant and ineffective. Hence, good KPI ideas may include some of these.

A given percentage of arriving customer issues must be well responded to within a certain period of time.
The amount of downtime available.
The quantity of unanswered calls per a hour
The number of customer complaints received within the measurement period.
Percentage of unavailability in relation to business hours due to execution of anticipated changes.
Minimum, average and maximum amount of operator activities per phone call.

Service delivery KPI Examples

To gauge the quality of your service delivery, you need service quality KPIs. These will measure your ability to deliver the standard of service spelled out in your Service Level Agreements. Here are key examples.

The volume of calls that each call centre representative has answered.
Quantity of customer grievances
The number of reminders, including those at risk
Amounts of escalations and the bad ones among those.
The time to answer a single call
The degree of customer satisfaction based on customer ratings.
The amount of delayed or late activities.

Compliance KPI examples

Any company could go bankrupt simply because of not affording a settlement from a serious lawsuit that is filed against it. To avoid the strain on your company’s compliance structure, it’s wise to come up with suitable and sustainable KPIs. These could reveal possible legal suits before they happen, and assist compliance officers make sound decisions. Examples include:

How often to conduct compliance reviews
Average waiting time from when external legal issues are detected to when they are solved.
Business Process KPIs
Some KPIs are generated as a result of the business process itself or by an activity within the process flow. Examples include the following:
Average process past due time
Fraction of processes whose completion is within or outside the estimated deadline
Average process duration
Total sum of costs incurred due to stopped processes.
Average time to finish each task
The fraction of processes that consumed a less number of resources than those they were initially assigned.

Apart from the above, there are other KPIs you should know about: budget, efficiency and success among others. Now you know more about the KPI definition. The thing left to do is to apply this knowledge in your own business. Use the KPI software recommended above and it will simplify your workflows.

Maria Komarova is a Product Marketing Analyst at CMW Lab – a global software company delivering innovative Business Operations Management solutions enabling performance and efficiency optimization.

Common Administrative Workflows That Need Automation

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 14:54:38 +0000

Running an office takes numerous parties, all working in tandem, to ensure smooth operation and timely management of various business tasks. One of the most underappreciated elements of business operations is administrative tasks.

An administrative assistant wears a vast variety of proverbial hats to ensure the smooth running of an office or business. Their tasks may involve checking email, answering phones, dealing with office supply orders, managing employees, and much more.

It is easy to see how having so many different tasks can become daunting. This is where new software can really reduce some of the important, but tedious, burdens often placed on the administrative assistant.

There are two main types of software, that can reduce the burden and streamline administrative operations. Low-code workflow management software, like CMW Tracker, provides easy-to-use software tools that allow you to create custom processes and workspaces with drag and drop simplicity.

With this type of software, you can easily manage different aspects of a task easier. All information can be gathered into a single workspace that all relevant parties can access. You can create custom notifications and allow for document sharing remotely.

Automation software is another important tool that can really improve the efficiency of administrative workflows. This software allows you to automate various aspects of business operations, which takes the burden off the administrative assistant and allows them to spend their time on other, more important tasks.

Let’s take a look at some of the most obvious workflows that will benefit from workflow management software as well as automation.

Correspondence Handling

One of the most common tasks an administrative assistant is correspondence handling. This can take a range of forms from actual physical mail, to phone calls and emails. This can take up a significant part of someone’s day and thus this is another area, which can greatly benefit from automation.

Automation software can provide form responses to common interactions. You can use the software to create custom templates that make it easier to send out professional responses without a ton of time involved. Automation software can also make it easier to discern between correspondence that needs immediate attention and that which can be put on the proverbial back burner.

CMW Tracker makes it a snap to design and automate your common administrative workflows.

Get a 30-day trial!

Schedule Management

Another common task that often falls to the administrative assistant is responsible for is the setting of meetings and appointments for various parties within the business. It is important that the administrative assistant has access to all employee calendars so as to ensure no scheduling conflicts with meetings.

Say, for example, a boss communicates to the administrative assistant that numerous clients are coming in for meetings on a given day. Once this information is given, the administrative assistant will need to note this and then provide reminders to all parties involved.

With automation software, this can be done far more quickly and with far less effort from the administrative assistant. They can enter details about meetings and appointments and the software will automatically put this on a master schedule. The administrative assistant can even automate reminders as well.

Managing Databases

Though not all administrative assistants manage databases, it is common for assistants to be responsible for keeping customer information and other important data up-to-date.

It isn’t uncommon for a supervisor to hand their assistant a sheet of paper with data on it from a call or meeting. This information then needs to be entered into the database.

With automation software, you can more easily import this information into a centralized database, where it is properly organized and kept current and accurate. Especially when it comes to digital information, automation software can dramatically improve the efficiency of this process. It can automatically pull in new information and add it to the appropriate databases without the need for manual entry.

In Closing

These aren’t, of course, the only aspects of administrative workflows that can benefit from automation and other workflow management solutions. These are just some of the most common and obvious areas where this software can be incredibly useful. Software solutions that use low-code offerings to allow people to more easily create custom workspaces and workflows, as well as automation software, can really improve the efficiency of an administrative assistant.

Administrative assistants are often tasked with a wide range of different job responsibilities, all of which are important, but some of them are more redundant and time-consuming than others. Using automation and workflow management software can allow the assistant to better handle their varied tasks and automate different elements to reduce the amount of time they spend on redundant tasks like data entry.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

5 Reasons Why e-Commerce Workflow Management is So Vital

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 09:08:13 +0000

Just think about the explosion of online shopping we have seen in the past decade. What was once the purview of the brick-and-mortar store is not the purview of the e-commerce platform? Today more people shop online than ever before and for many this is the primary option to obtain goods and services.

While this is, of course, a boon to any e-commerce site, there is a lot that goes into operating a secure, effective, and efficient e-commerce site. Especially in light of the competition one faces from huge companies like Amazon.

This is why e-commerce companies need to use every tool at their disposal to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their business operations. This is where e-commerce workflow management software can prove so beneficial.

E-commerce workflow management software takes a wide range of forms from comprehensive and complex suites of software that require a lot of technical knowledge, to Low-code solutions that are more versatile. CMW Lab workflow management and automation software is a great solution for companies large and small.

Let’s briefly take a look at the top 5 reasons that you need effective and efficient e-commerce workflow management solutions.

Easier Management of Vendor Accounts

Regardless of our business, it takes resources for it to operate. This means we have financial relationships with outside providers and this requires management and tracking.

For an e-commerce site, vendors play a much larger role and need to be onboarded as quickly and efficiently as possible. Using workflow management tools to handle vendor management is a great way to dramatically streamline this process and make it more transparent as well.

You can upload contract templates to a workflow server that acts as a centralized workspace for all involved parties. This gives everyone access to all the documents and information they need to initiate and approve a vendor onboarding or make some sort of change.

Automate Your Listings

Most e-commerce sites regularly update their listings when new products are added or older products are discontinued. Automating this process saves a ton of time and hassle and helps to ensure that your e-commerce site is also up-to-date and accurate about your inventory.

Workflow automation software allows you to automate many aspects of this process with ease, from managing inventory data to updating listings on your e-commerce site.

Automate Returns and Cancellations

Sometimes people make mistakes when they place an order or the product they ordered wasn’t to their liking. This is when a process of order cancellation or return is initiated. Major e-commerce sites like Amazon have an automated process to manage this and there is no reason you shouldn’t as well.

Having automated cancellation and return policies allows you to offer the security and convenience that large stores offer, even if you are just starting out. This is important when the competition is so stiff.

You can automate this process by having notifications sent to the warehouse in the event of a return or cancellation. This will, in turn, update your inventory and provide notifications to the appropriate parties to ensure timely completion of the process.

Customer Feedback and Complaints

No matter how good we think our business runs, there is room for improvement and customers may have comments or suggestions. These are invaluable and shouldn’t be ignored, especially if you want repeat business.

A delay in a refund or a response to a relevant query can negatively influence your reputation and the likelihood that someone will shop at your e-commerce store again.

Automating the process of complaints and comments, sending the correspondence to the appropriate party, and responding to customers in a timely manner is an incredibly important part of customer service and client retention.

Streamline Internal Processes

E-commerce workflow management software can also help you streamline and enhance the efficiency of the underlying processes of an e-commerce business. Software automation can prove very useful for a wide range of internal business functions.

For example, using automation software to automate invoice approvals if certain standards or conditions are met helps ensure that accounts are paid in a timely manner. This reduces the number of labor hours that go into the approval process and helps it come to fruition far more quickly.

Get a 30-day trial!

In Closing

E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing retail sectors. More people than ever before rely on e-commerce solutions for many of the products and services they use on a daily basis. This is why it is so important for any e-commerce store to have solid e-commerce management plans. Using software that allows for centralization and automation allows an e-commerce establishment to run far more efficiently, effectively, and securely. It provides us with the tools we need to create processes that will allow us to compete with larger operations.

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

CMWLab Named a Leader in Business Process Management by G2

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 09:07:41 +0000

We are excited to announce that Comindware Tracker, the workflow management software that empowers non-technical users to design, run and modify processes, was named #1 for the second consecutive quarter in G2’s Best Business Process Management Software.

The product was also named the High Performer for high customer Satisfaction scores in Small-Business, Mid-Market and Enterprise 2022 Grid® Reports.

Quarter over quarter, users rate the company as their preferred BPM software. As for now, 98% of users rate Comindware Tracker either 4 or 5 stars.

The Grid® are democratic reports built for a high-level overview of a category on G2, including which products have the most satisfied customers and largest presence in the market. G2 pulls data from validated reviews shared by users, and data aggregated from social networks and other online sources. With that data, its algorithm calculates the Satisfaction and Market Presence scores in real-time, so that G2 visitors could objectively assess what software is best for businesses and make smarter decisions.

Here at Comindware, we are constantly improving our product and customer service, and we’d like to sincerely thank our users for their reviews and valuable feedback. Please, visit Comindware Tracker’s page on G2.com to check our user reviews and submit your own one!

Quick Guide to Electronic Invoice Approval Process

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 13:21:32 +0000

The finance department of any organization works with a wide range of parties. Some of these are internal to the company and some are external. Different departments have different requests and these requests must reach the correct desk for approval, then be ordered, and the purchase paid for.

It doesn’t seem like this process should take a great deal of time, but when it is done by hand, using paper and pencil, there is a lot of room for unnecessary delay and confusion.

For most companies, invoices are approved as they come in. At the end of the month, the finance department should inventory all their invoices and process them at the same time, if possible. This is where invoice approval workflow software, such as we offer at Comindware, can really come in handy.

Benefits of Approval Workflow Software

This software provides you a single place where all elements of the approval process are managed. Many of these software suites make it easy to automate the importation of invoices. This saves a ton of time and makes the processing of multiple invoices at the same time far easier.

These systems allow you to create unique processes that fit the needs of your business. Not only does using this type of software save time, but it also creates a more transparent and solid process for approving invoices. The software allows you automatically import a wide range of data, which saves data entry time and reduces the likelihood of human error. This creates a more transparent and efficient means of managing invoices.

This software can also make the process safer and more transparent. These suites of software allow you to create permissions and approval steps that must be completed in order for the invoice to move to the next link in the proverbial chain. This helps to ensure that all invoices are managed quickly and efficiently and that all relevant parties have access to the information they need to approve an invoice and send it on.

This will help to ensure the timely payment of invoices, which will be greatly appreciated by your vendors. It also makes it easier for you to track business expenses and to ensure the efficient use of business funds.

How to Create a Solid Invoice Approval Workflow Process

The first thing you need to do is create a template for your invoices. This is where you will document all information and data about a given vendor. This will require a great deal of data collection, but once a good template is in place, creating a new invoice for approval is incredibly simple.

Not all invoices have the same approval process. Small items like office supplies may have fewer people in the approval chain than those purchases that are more significant. You will want to create a detailed process for the approval of different invoices.

You can create a workflow process that takes the conditions required for approval for a given process into account. It can also provide relevant parties with information as to where the invoice needs to go after they’ve done their part.

Since you can set different conditions and terms, you can ensure a quality chain of approval that is more transparent and efficient than when done manually. For example, some areas of the invoice may be read-only. This means that only a certain party is able to actually change or alter portions of the form.

Workflow software by Comindware makes it a snap to create and automate your invoice approval process.

Get a 30-day trial!

This reduces problems and provides an additional layer of security to your invoice approval process. Since this is where money is flowing out of a company, we want to ensure that it is as accurate and secure as possible.

In Closing

Electronic invoice approval processes are vital to ensure the timely payment of vendors and the ability to audit and manage the funds that go out of your business. Manual process not only take a lot longer than something electronic and largely automated, but it also leaves a lot of room for human error, which can cost the business. It is time to move away from manual invoice management.

High-quality invoice approval workflow systems make it easy to create a unique process for the completion of the workflow approval process. It gives all relevant parties access to the information they need to approve the process and provides a trail that shows each and every step taken. With automatic notifications and the ability to collect large amounts of relevant data easily, the invoice approval process will become more simple and efficient than ever before.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Getting Started with Workflow Automation Software

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 05:24:10 +0000

Business leaders and founders often get puzzled with the many ways to streamline all the different processes empowering the team members to achieve the same goal. They perfectly know the importance of efficient communication and collaboration between departments or groups across the organization. The demand for efficient intercommunication tools is driven by a crucial problem — division and individuality in the different areas of a company. The lack of interdepartmental coordination could be disastrous, as employees only think about solving particular issues rather than getting a complete vision of their place in the workflow. Acknowledging the importance of management software for workflow process automation offers your task-solving team members an incredible opportunity to visualize their work impact, value, and effect on the other business areas and the company’s main goal.

Read this article to learn more about the workflow automation basics and the workflow automation software benefits for your business.

What is Workflow Automation?

Workflow automation is a set of activities ranging from workflow analysis and design to process automation, where tasks, data, or files are routed between people, bots, or systems based on the pre-defined business rules.

The “workflow” term is also frequently used to describe the methods, patterns, and activities organization and structure for the group members and the steps, that allow getting the task done. Workflow automation is defined as structuring the duty to fulfill it and consequently achieve the goals. For individuals, a workflow is a set of steps to get the results successfully. For small and big groups, a workflow is understood as a set of responsibilities assigned to each member, which they must accomplish to receive the group benefits or to achieve common objectives that can benefit the team. There are many workflow automation examples, and they can widely vary from following a cooking recipe to establishing office tasks. Companies that apply workflow management techniques and workflow automation in industries such as sales, marketing, and HR, get significant benefits since this approach involves organization, commitment, and discipline to fulfill the duties.

To compile a useful and efficient workflow, you need some indispensable components. First, you need to know the required data and materials for each process step. Second, you have to determine an algorithm — a process — for the people or software (in the case of workflow automation) to follow. Finally, you should define a result that justifies the effort, time, and data used to complete the process. Knowing the importance of these workflow automation components, you should carefully and thoroughly set up each element, as wrong calculations lead to invalid results.

Workflow Automation History

The first «workflow automation» term usage can be traced back to the 1920s, but it had been studied before by Frederick Taylor and Henry Gantt – both were mechanical engineers and management consultants. Originally they focused on this concept for manufacturing, and over the years it became omnipresent, it was used even in the family affairs domain. After the work of W. Edwards Deming and Joseph M. Juran, a bigger new concept of workflow started to develop in the 1980s. Since its theorization, workflow management development has been increasingly supported by technology. For instance, new workflow approaches were designed with the dawn of typewriters and photocopiers as they revolutionized communication, goal setting, and productivity. The internet was also among the drivers to design the new workflow management methods.

The first workflow automation systems created in the 1990s efficiently replaced the basic paper-based processes with electronic ones. By the end of the 1990s, advanced features like modeling tools, business rules, and more became a must-have for workflow automation tools. In 2005, the BPM (Business Process Management) methodology was developed, which started a modern workflow automation era, still ongoing.

Workflow Examples and Ideas

There are many processes samples in which workflow automation can be used to efficiently achieve a goal. Finance, human resources, and marketing are some of the fields where you can form a structured workflow of different steps some of which can be performed by a digital tool. For instance, employee onboarding and offboarding, purchase requests, and client intakes can be easily organized to obtain high-quality results by following the workflow efficiently.

Approval management workflow example. Made in CMW Tracker — give it a try:

Get a 30-day trial!

At this point, we get to appreciate the workflow automation value. Workflow automation, therefore, implies using digital tools to automate repetitive tasks. Digitizing data and creating steps for software to follow is commonly deemed to be difficult, but you can easily learn how to use the workflow automation software to boost your team productivity and performance. Getting used to the digital format and applying it to all the data and workflow steps can take a bit of time but is relatively easy. Make sure that every workflow automation improvement iteration brings you additional benefits. Besides, all the tangible benefits the users get from workflow automation software usually motivate them to master the software and make the most out of it.

In some industries workflow technology might have been slow to get traction. No matter the case, the situation is changing once and for all. Many business areas are capitalizing on new technology and report great workflow automation experience:

Accounts payable workflow automation is a reliable way to avoid invoice approval delays and late payments due to inefficient, outdated processes. Learn more about the reliable accounts payable workflow essential elements, and eliminate the inefficient manual invoice and document matching.

Marketing automation workflows empower time-strapped teams with effective collaboration and enable marketers to track and manage marketing campaigns and activities, build better customer relationships, boost lead generation, and dramatically increase revenue.

Legal workflow automation is a proven approach to improve performance, cut costs and error rates, and make your legal department a responsive contributor to corporate success. Using a workflow software like CMW Tracker, you can easily embed best legal practices in the legal department workflows, and enforce compliance, process visibility, and efficiency across your entire company.

Insurance workflow automation helps to speed up claim processing and perform other insurance operations more accurately and efficiently. Workflow management software verifies form data and collected information while ensuring that every stakeholder can respond to a claim and approve the necessary documents as quickly as possible.

Government workflow automation drives operational efficiency and citizen satisfaction. Nowadays many government agencies digitize their services and ensure that every citizen request triggers a specific workflow basing on the set business rules. Once triggered, an automated government workflow handles all the necessary notifications, payments, and approvals, ensures back-end efficiency, and speeds up service delivery.

Mortgage workflow automation and compliance solutions are widely used by mortgage originators and servicers to ensure loan data accuracy, completeness, and compliance, streamline the mortgage origination and loan servicing processes, and differentiate their service quality.

Property management workflow automation ensures process transparency and improves insights on your real estate business. Workflow-based property management software helps you keep property management operations and facilities maintenance resilient and discover new opportunities for effective space utilization and tenant experience, thus improving your real estate ROI.

Clinical workflow automation solutions deliver huge advantages in enhancing patient care and safety and help clinics address the increased patient inflow due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising need to curtail healthcare costs.

Education workflow automation reduces routine work and saves the staff time for more important tasks, cuts the human error margin, which has tangible consequences for both students and administrators. Workflow automation solutions for education help to handle admission, financial aid, course scheduling, and other critical processes properly and as quickly.

Contract management workflow automation implies running your contract processes using contract management software rather than manually moving contracts through each step of the workflow. With automation, legal and other teams involved in contracts can save time, improve collaboration, enjoy quick and efficient contract creation, and instant access to contract data.

Key Benefits of Workflow Automation

The idea of these digital tools is to work with all the data offices have about clients, tasks, and their services to perform routine activities without human effort. The purpose is not to eliminate employees who did the repetitive tasks, or to replace them with software, but to take advantage of their talents, experience, and knowledge and focus them on new activities to achieve the goals sooner. Workflow automation has brought significant benefits for those who apply it in their daily work. One of the benefits is improved team efficiency as monotonous tasks are done by digital instruments while humans focus on non-repetitive tasks that need their abilities to get done. This efficiency translates into better productivity and quality in the long run and more workflow automation advantages.

Workflow tasks management is made easy with the CMW Lab workflow automation software

Get a 30-day trial!

Workflow automation also helps teams coordinate their efforts better, to get rid of any disorganization. Finally, workflow automation can improve the output accuracy, thanks to minimal or no errors from the software output. Hence the necessity for meticulous input data control. Seeing these benefits more and more entrepreneurs, team leaders, SMBs, and big companies adopt workflow automation in their business.

All these benefits come in handy for every small business or larger company striving to stay in the market. The competition is tough in every industry, there are always competitors who could beat your business. So, a structured workflow distributing similar tasks between the team members can make the difference between a successful company and one that is on the brink of its existence. As previously said, workflow management systems are designed for the teams to work like a well-oiled machine that will not stop even if one member fails. Thanks to different specialists collaborating on the same project with the help of digital tools, the amount of manual repetitive and tedious work is reduced and people can focus on achieving the business goals.

Therefore, embracing technology and the daily advancements it brings to our society can help your business succeed. Some companies and businesses still work using traditional work approaches, but these are simply not efficient enough to cover the massive potential client base. At this point, the company faces a dilemma of embracing the technology or being overwhelmed by the clients constantly trying to get more. Those who persist are ready to embrace the new.

How to Work With and Without Workflow Automation

Resource Management

Manual workflows: expensive human resources handle too many mundane tasks, prone to missing the deadlines and mistakes.

With workflow automation: un-billable and repetitive tasks are automated and the employees focus their efforts on high-value work. Automated workflows notify users when they need to carry out a task.

Transparency and Traceability

Manual workflows: different teams and departments frequently build their manual workflows that are difficult to track and audit and not visible to the rest of the business.

With workflow automation: a complete audit trail becomes a snap, as all interaction is fully logged and you can easily check who did what and when. Even more, an automated workflow is transparent for all the stakeholders, meanwhile, all workflow complexity is taken away from the end-users — employees are assigned the tasks automatically when they have to complete a workflow step.

Compliance and Risk Management

Manual workflows: processes can be circumnavigated with ease, which poses high risks to businesses that require reliable and compliant procedures.

Manual workflows are difficult to track and their complete audit trail is difficult to obtain.

With workflow automation: automated workflows always match your business procedures and ensure compliance with business rules, mandatory steps, and security settings. Even more, you can easily standardize best practices to benefit your business.

Efficiency and Productivity

Manual workflows: gathering information from people is difficult and slows down the process, there is no single source of truth, and employee collaboration is disintegrated across emails and messengers.

With workflow automation: forms capture and validate the required data defining the necessary workflow path. Team efficiency and performance are increased thanks to a centralized workspace for employees, automated workflows, and knowledge.

This workflow mechanism has brought tremendous transparency in many tasks throughout the organization. CMW Tracker provides a huge set of workflow options, designating team members to different tasks, tracking issues, requests/approval management, etc. In short, I can say that CMW Tracker has made many tasks simplified and raised their efficiency organization-wide. — Technical Support Executive, Communication | Read the Full Review

How to Implement Workflow Automation

Step	What to do	How to do
Step 1	Start small but early	Don’t try to automate everything. Select a single process and jump-start your automation. At CMW Lab, we know the best 5 ways to do this and have 6 general recommendations to choose the right process automation pilot. Read the CMW Lab blog for best practices that ensure that within 1–1.5 months you will see the demonstratable workflow automation benefits for your business. Moreover, your test run will take minimum time and funding.
Step 2	Identify stakeholders and agree on who does what and when	The best way to analyze the workflow and learn what’s working and what’s not in the current setup is to interview the actual users. Your questions might look like these: What is the exact outcome of the workflow? What’s the step sequence? Which steps are optional and which are dependent on business rules? Which employees are involved at each step, what decisions do they make and when? What content, including documents and media, is being created or modified? How long does each step typically take versus the expected duration?
Step 3	Design a workflow diagram	Visualize the workflow, share the workflow diagram with your stakeholders and consult with them. Design your first workflow diagram version quickly in a visual workflow builder or simply draw it on paper.
Step 4	Implement the workflow using a simple automation software	Now, it’s time to automate the workflow. Fortunately, low-code workflow automation systems like CMW Tracker empower non-technical users to design, run and modify processes with drag-and-drop simplicity.
Step 5	Test the workflow, deploy it, and train users	Test your digital workflow to ensure it meets its design and doesn’t produce errors. With low-code workflow management software, workflow rolling out is as easy as clicking a button. So, your next challenge is training people to use the automated workflow and addressing some resistance — most people don’t like changes. Make sure to articulate the benefits automation bring to every real user.
Step 6	Get feedback and iteratively improve your workflow	Once people have used the automated workflow for a while, ask them and learn what works well and what needs an improvement. Using the feedback, address the issues as quickly as possible and ensure the users notice the improvements so that they are more likely to share their feedback next time you ask for it.

Best-practice organizations ensure their processes are reviewed consistently to ensure optimization and identify further improvement opportunities (although employees across the organization can submit improvements opportunities for consideration). The process improvement portfolio process will include strategy-related criteria for prioritization and selection, standardized performance measures, forecasting based on historical trends, and structured project/portfolio reviews. Holly Lyke-Ho-Gland, a principal research lead at APQC
Specializes in best practices in business processes, change management, corporate strategy, and R&D

Questions to Ask Before Starting Workflow Automation

Why Workflow Automation Is Used?

Workflows are usually automated for numerous reasons. Key drivers are faster operations, increased efficiency, and accuracy. Other improvements, driving workflow automation adoption:

Cost savings
Visibility
Communication improvements
Better customer service
Increased customer engagement
Ridding the redundancies
Overall product improvement
Easier workflow tracking

Are There Any Differences Between SMB and Enterprise Workflow Automation?

While the workflow automation goal is the same — to make people more productive, small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMB) and enterprises have different business structures, workflow scope, and automation needs.

Briefly speaking, when automating workflows, SMBs tend to focus on automating the most essential and simple workflows, notifications, and data entry. Besides, at SMBs automation advantages usually benefit individual employees, rather than the business as a whole. In contrast, enterprises usually manage workflows at a larger scale than just automating notifications or updating databases. Enterprise workflow automation tends to include building powerful workflows that can map out the entire business and bring long-term business advantages.

At the end of the day, both SMBs and enterprises can use the same workflow management software, while having different approaches to implementation and development. For example, CMW Tracker is widely used in companies of all sizes, across all industries, departments, and workflow scenarios to streamline operations.

Are There Any Statistics on Workflow Automation I Should Be Aware of?

Many businesses across different industries enjoy the automation benefits, and the workflow automation statistics validate this point:

These workflow automation statistics show the immense growth of automation, as more and more workflows are digitized and office workers seek more efficient ways to handle their workloads.

How to Automate a Workflow Quickly?

If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near. Jack Welch,
Chairman and CEO of General Electric

Nowadays there is only one constant — change. The digital revolution changes the business environment dramatically and quickly. Businesses must be ready for getting digital and addressing changes faster than competitors.

The most important ingredient in successful workflow automation projects is an effective collaboration across people with different skill sets. Projects that are driven by business domain experts, who can both consult on the requirements and help to develop the workflow solutions, succeed at a higher rate and much quicker. It happens because the people involved in solution development and implementation clearly understand the workflows. Low-code workflow management software like CMW Tracker empowers non-technical experts to quickly design workflow app prototypes with drag and drop simplicity and to drive workflow automation projects effectively, engaging IT staff when required and fostering the type of collaboration necessary for these projects.

Workflow Automation Trends

The key to success in achieving LOB (line-of-business) and workflow efficiency has evolved due to different trends that company leaders should embrace. Some common trends allow to enhance effectiveness and get the most of a workflow system. The key workflow automation trends to keep in mind:

Many businesses use robotic process automation (RPA) and workflow technologies together. In this scenario, some tasks are done by bots, some — by humans, while task assignment and flow are managed by a workflow automation app.
Businesses start to realize that simply changing from paper-based workflow to digital workflow doesn’t bring enough benefits for the business. Hence, they tend to consider modern workflow management systems capable of processing data efficiently during the approval process, obviating the document exchange steps.
Gartner encourages CIOs to implement integrated digital platforms, that can consolidate a wide range of digital technologies and give even more synergetic benefits.

The most important workflow software trend in 2021 is the technology “democratization”. Nowadays workflow technology democratization expands widely thanks to low-code platforms, which empower non-IT professionals to build their business workflow automation apps and make them available in the cloud.

Low-code Workflow Automation

You can switch to a low-code workflow software such as CMW Tracker to manage your business processes correctly. Low-code solutions offer the line-of-business leaders a chance to relieve some pressure and solve problems along the way. This trend helps to identify a workflow that works best in your scenario and makes the automatization efforts such as cross-product endeavors easier, allowing managers to better see core insights in the system. Low-code workflow software allows power-users without coding skills to adjust running workflows and ultimately makes department challenges more visible to the leaders, offering an instant solution that drives efficiency and success.

Low-code workflow solutions have a very tangible impact across the company. This is management approach interconnects the line-of-business leaders to all the different departments and team members. This connection improves efficiency and productivity in almost any working scenario. With low-code workflow tools, the responsibility is not put on a single team member who could jeopardize project success. This management approach decomposes decision-making between every team member, which ensures rapid and parallel problem-solving. Each department can now solve any problem while considering widely how the solution will help others in completing their next task. This insight expansion is the key to company success, as employees get to fully invest in their objectives thanks to appreciating the importance of their work. Business owners adopt low-code workflow automation because they understand that their employees are important gears that need to function in unity and drive the machine — the company or business — to productivity.

8 Must-have Features of Every Workflow Automation System

Since workflow consists of several steps that must be followed to complete a process, or responsibilities that must be shared between the team members to achieve a common goal, the workflow automation software you choose should be able to visually represent these steps or responsibilities. This makes structuring and organizing the tasks easier thanks to a visible map of what and when to do. The diagram view eliminates disorganization as everybody sees the same data the leader sees, which improves productivity and instills order.
A workflow automation system should also be easy to use. Well-designed web forms assure the necessary clarity, straightforwardness, friendly interface, responsiveness, and accessibility that the users need to perform well. Any digital solution for workflow automation must have these features.

Drag-and-drop web form builder in CMW Tracker

Cloud-based workflow automation software is a perfect choice for small and big companies alike. Employees can access the software anywhere and anytime, without worrying about losing all their files if their device malfunctions. Note that SaaS workflow automation software is usually cloud-based and additionally lowers up-front costs in comparison with building a private corporate cloud.
Another feature this software should include is SLA status indicators allowing the leaders and staff to see the current tasks progress that you’re all working on.
The twenty-first-century generation has gotten used to receiving information in an easy-to-digest visual way. The progress of your company tasks should be visible in a graphical view, allowing you to measure, appreciate, reward, and encourage the team’s collaborative effort. Constant notifications are always necessary. Whether it is on your mobile, or via e-mail, you should always receive notifications when tasks are completed, meetings are coming, and more. You must be aware of all the things happening, and notifications are efficient reminders of what has been done and what still needs to be done.

Notification settings in CMW Tracker

But notifications mean nothing if no reports are produced. Your business progress must be periodically shown in charts and statistics. This provides you an organized and accurate overview of the employees are currently working on. These two features combined will help you to be in control of everything that is happening.
Parallel workflows are an excellent way your workflow automation software can show current progress because it breaks with the traditional step-by-step approach. Developers have understood that in most cases individuals who want to achieve a common project goal do complete tasks at the same time. Therefore, a parallel workflow will show the progress of several tasks to understand the progress of the whole project.
But even though there are common goals and achievements, not all the information that is being handled is meant to be shared with all your business or organization staff members. This is the reason why role-based access control is one of the greatest features your workflow automation system must come with. An excellent software should have the option to change user access rights at any time. You, as a business or company owner, can choose with whom you want to share information.

Last but not least, your ideal workflow automation software should be able to integrate your automated workflows with other services to organize activities better.

Why Choose the CMW Lab Workflow Automation Software?

Among several options for business management, CMW Tracker stands out from the crowd. It is an incredible next-generation software that will help your team complete their tasks and make your company departments truly interconnected. Naturally, this software has an elegant and easy-to-use graphical workflow modeling tool to better visualize the workflow and supports Excel-like formulas. CMW Tracker also features a top-notch web form designer to design intuitive interfaces with adjustable tabs and fields; data export to Microsoft Word or Excel. A secure cloud-based technology ensures your peace of mind and robust data storage. SLA status indicators show the status of the ongoing project. Convenient Outlook-style visual hints help you master CMW Tracker. You can create reports, statistics, and analytics to measure the current work progress; create sequential and parallel workflows; set different access levels for each role; share documents with stakeholders to improve communication between different parties. The software boasts many other services that can be integrated. No surprise businesses chose CMW Tracker to improve workflows and improve or establish intercommunication. Its many features ensure that business owners get perfect results.

I have used CMW Tracker for almost two years now to automate workflow across the Engineering business unit in our organization. This software is used across almost every single business unit in Upper Trinity. It has enabled teams to reduce the time taken to calculate expenses on projects as well as time incurred on business processes. – Sr. Electronics Technician, Upper Trinity Regional Water District | Read the Full Review

CMW Lab offers a 30-day trial to experience the highest level of quality and efficacy of the product. For many people, this cloud-based workflow automation system will mean gradual working environment improvement as tasks can be done by more employees. By doing less routine work and focusing on areas where specialists are needed, achieving goals will be easier.

Conclusion

Workflow management automation is the right step towards growth and success. It relieves the line-of-business leaders from pressuring tasks and can distribute them between team members while giving them a sense of importance in solving the issues. Workflow management is used for almost a hundred years, with new techniques and improvements being developed. It allows everyone, from entrepreneurs to company owners, to achieve their goals based on organizing and structuring a process into different steps that can be done by humans and workflow automation solutions. Workflow automation widens the angle of view for leaders and personnel, so they can accomplish the goals quicker and better. Every company should embrace workflow automation services and management software. This technology not only increases the success rate but also improves product accuracy and quality by reducing the time and effort spent on each task.

With the development of new technologies, workflow management systems and theory can be further improved. All this allows increasing customer satisfaction, while workers get better self-esteem and business owners get peace of mind. It is never too late to change the way your office, business, or organization works. Workflow automation system integration would mean positive changes and outcomes.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

4 Workforce Related Processes That Can Be Automated In Any Business

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 15:14:47 +0000

With new technologies steadily emerging, the way workforce processes are managed by businesses has evolved. Technology adoption in business processes has often been motivated by an aim to increase efficiency and productivity while reducing operating costs. When done right, this can simplify and optimize the workflows of almost any business.

Known as Business Process Automation (BPA), BPA is the use of software or a computer to automate the execution of tasks. It is an umbrella term that encompasses both human-driven automation and robotic process automation (RPA). BPA systems often automate time-consuming, repetitive, and manual tasks in order to make them more efficient.

For example, Chargebee’s subscription management software automates the recurring billing process, freeing up valuable resources and reducing manual efforts for businesses.

In this article, we take a look at 4 workforce-related business processes that can be automated in almost all sectors.

4 Business Processes That Can Easily Be Automated

Team Communication and Management

Keeping team members, customers, and business partners up to date on important information is essential for any organization. With the number of stakeholders involved, it is easy for information to get lost or to forget passing the right information over to the right person. In its simplest form, automating your teams’ communication can be as easy as setting up repeat meeting reminders or staff alerts.

Furthermore, if your business deals with digital files or document transfers, most aspects can be pre-programmed, such as permission levels. Yet, many businesses still rely on traditional pen and paper or excel sheets, especially for roster management. By default, managing employee schedules is a tedious and resource-draining task for your human resource department. If you are looking into optimizing and streamlining this process, you should try employee scheduling tools which will tremendously reduce the workload while boosting your efficiency.

Key takeaway: 97 percent of employees feel that a project or task’s outcome is greatly impacted by a lack of alignment. Automation can improve collaboration and enhance team synergy.

Recruitment and Employee Performance

Workforce recruitment is a multi-stage process that requires a lot of time and labor to be effectively performed. A report by Capterra reveals that 75 percent of recruiters make use of a recruiting or applicant tracking software (ATS). The same report highlights that 94 percent of ATS users report an improvement in their hiring process.

Along the same line, another area that is known to drain resources in monitoring employee performance. Evaluating how your staff performs over time is not only time-intensive but may also be met with biased opinions. This in turn may lead to poor employee engagement, which directly impacts your business productivity. Instead, relying on automated solutions to manage new recruit and employee data helps you save on resources and safeguards against potential bias.

Implementing automated solutions for tracking employee hours not only streamlines the evaluation process but also eliminates potential biases that may impact employee engagement and overall productivity. By relying on objective data collected through tracking employee hours, organizations can make informed decisions and ensure fair treatment of employees. This approach saves valuable resources, promotes transparency, and contributes to a more productive and equitable work environment.

Key takeaway: Automating employee data management makes decision making easier and brings more insights on hard-to-calculate figures, such as staff turnover cost.

Employee Payroll and Benefits Management

Regardless of the size of your business, managing employee payroll and benefits is a time-consuming process for any HR department. This is mainly because payroll and benefits management often involves multiple manual steps, such as salary calculation or clock-in monitoring. According to the PayStream Advisors’ 2018 Payables Insight Report, around 55 percent of organizations still process their accounts payable (AP) manually.

Similarly, managing staff benefits can be very resource-intensive, especially if you have hundreds of employees. Laws and policies vary drastically depending on the geographical location of your business, and maintaining compliance can be tough. Automating benefits management makes billing, tracking, and reconciliation easier and saves your business valuable resources, and leads to more accurate accounting.

Key takeaway: Automating employee payroll and benefits management ensures fewer human errors and mitigates compliance risks.

Claims Processing

Claims processing is another very time-consuming and expensive exercise for businesses that handle it completely manually. This process is often an arduous one for the claimant, the HR department, and the insurance company. Moreover, the process often leads to frustration for the different parties involved, since these claims are traditionally processed one at a time.

For these reasons, many organizations are turning to robotic process automation (RPA), a technology that enables them to automate their claims processing by connecting computers to systems such as e-signatures, spreadsheets, and document management systems. Turning to RPA speeds up claims processing and requires minimal human intervention. A study by McKinsey reports that businesses opting for RPA systems can see up to 200 percent return on investment (ROI) within the first year of implementation.

Key takeaway: Using an RPA for claims processing takes the pressure off the claimant and enables organizations to handle multiple claims and transactions at the same time.

Off you go

Business process automation appears to be an essential component of long-term sustainability. With 78 percent of business leaders stating that automation can increase productivity, we may soon see mass adoption of BPA technology. Whichever industry you are in, automation can increase efficiency and help save resources. Moreover, automating your business processes can give you an edge on the competition through greater savings on labor costs, increased customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.

Derek Jones spearheads key initiatives at Deputy, a global workforce management platform for employee scheduling, timesheets and communication. With a focus on workforce, Derek helps business owners and workforce leaders simplify employment law compliance, keep labor costs in line and build award-winning workplaces. Derek has over 16 years’ experience in delivering data-driven sales and marketing strategies to SaaS companies like MarketSource and Griswold Home Care.

What is Visual Workflow Management and How Can It Help Your Business?

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 10:18:59 +0000

Visual workflow management is a technique, and it is adaptable to any organizational setup. One essential component of visual workflow management is developing processes that can be visualized from a “top view,” so that all steps in a process can be seen at once. It’s similar to how a flowchart works, but better because you can build automated steps into visual workflows.

By taking the time to make workflows visually-oriented, you lay a foundation for better information exchange, faster resolution of conflicts, easier near- and long-term planning, and an overall more productive and effective team.

Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning. Benjamin Franklin

Business process management isn’t like a task with a defined start and end date. To get the best results in growing and adapting your business, you need to continually improve your business routine.

So lets’ dive into visual workflows and see how they can help your business.

Visual Workflow Management Demands Outstanding Visualization Tools

Transparency in workflows boosts efficiency and morale.

Get a 30-day trial!

Don’t think of a visual workflow designer as just another way to create flowcharts. While visual workflow management used to involve flip charts and handwritten lists, today it may communicate actions step by step and incorporate various rules to change what happens next. For example, a rule may state that if an invoice total is above a certain dollar figure, it must gain the approval of the department head. And the right visual workflow software will automatically determine that the invoice total is above the threshold and route it to the correct person. A visual workflow offers authorized users a “snapshot” of project status and progress at any given time and lets everyone know what the next steps are.

How your team can benefit from workflows:

Get your team organized
Simplify your processes and keep the projects on track
Check project status
Get more tasks done in less time

By implementing a visual workflow, you are creating a solid ground to improve communication, data exchange, short and long-term planning. It will obviously result in increased productivity.

Don’t hesitate to make the first step in business process management. Request free trial – banner with a button

A Visual Workflow Is a Workflow That Makes More Sense

When a workflow is visualized using a visual workflow designer, it’s easier for all project or process participants to see not only what they need to do, but where it fits into the overall project. Suddenly, steps that may have seemed to have no purpose make perfect sense. Modeling and visualizing workflows is typically done in a web-based interface that allows the non-technical user to drag and drop workflow elements and steps into place and incorporate business rules where necessary when decision points are reached in the process. Ideally, your visual workflows should be mobile-friendly for the increasing number of people who use tablets on the job.

Example of a workflow scheme

Get a 30-day trial!

A visual workflow empowers managers to evolve the workflow and improve it on the fly. It has a high level of adaptability and ensures that a workflow has the maximum possible sense for business.

The Right Visual Workflow Designer Gets Everyone on the Same Page

Visual workflows help everyone see their contribution to the overall product.

When everyone involved understands the game plan and strategies, processes and workflows take place with far more precision and efficiency. You don’t want team members feeling as if they’re nothing more than a cog in a complex machine, repeatedly completing certain tasks without ever knowing how they affect the final product. Visual workflow management gets the entire team on the same page, so to speak, and that alone can be great for motivation and morale. Furthermore, visual workflow management allows both management and front-line employees to detect problems and inefficiencies, so they can be rooted out and addressed promptly.

Maybe you have tried a bulk of project management methodology and some of them have made your projects even more complicated for a team – then visual workflow management might be the solution. Visual workflow designer is all about simplicity and makes it a snap to build a simple process, avoid mess and get more tasks done in less time.

Monitoring Workflows Is Easier with Visual Workflow Management

What is visual workflow management?

It is an efficient project management approach and technique. Key feature: it makes use of visual cues and flows to aid project implementation and management.

What is visual workflow modeling?

A design feature that allows non-technical users to drag and drop the sequence of events and steps in a workflow along with the various business rules to be met.

Learning the status of even one aspect of a project used to require unacceptable levels of time and effort, but visual workflows help change all that. Has an electronic approval form been completed and forwarded to the approving authority? The right visual workflow automation designer shows you instantly whether it has. Who was the last person to edit a section of the annual report? Visual workflows make it easy to find out. When you can monitor workflows easily, you can identify bottlenecks and problems before they can fester. If a step in a process needs to be modified to make it better, visual workflow management software should allow you to do so easily.

Standard Features and Functions of a Visual Workflow Designer

Features	Functions
Global template creation	Creating and assigning actions or tasks
Process overview	Collaboration on tasks
Visual consistency due to standard toolset	Creating parent and child processes
Automatic line and shape drawing	Implementing business rules
Linking to switch between tasks and processes	Low-code design with drag and drop functionality

Build Your Visual Workflow Foundation Quickly

For those struggling to lay a solid foundation for improved business process, communication, information exchange, rapid problem solving, and boosted productivity it is vital to get a visual workflow foundation built within days or a couple of weeks, not months.

Building visual workflows are logical and easy with CMW Tracker — workflow software. The workflow builder lets you create and manage every step of a business process while incorporating any necessary data and forms. And you don’t have to be a programmer or an IT expert to use it. Simply drag and drop steps into the workflow creator and connect them using data, forms, and business rules. With easily-visualized, logical, repeatable workflows, your organization will be more efficient in its use of time and money and will set the stage for a more engaged, motivated workforce.

Get a 30-day trial!

Artem Kulik is responsible for PR & Content creation for Comindware. He currently explores product development trends, contributes to www.cmwlab.com and provides tips for better use of Comindware BPM-software

How Low-Code Drives Digital Transformation

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:55:43 +0000

Businesses are investing in the digital future and many companies are aiming for digital transformation. Maximizing the business is not only about enabling a bunch of tools to automate routine processes. Business owners should also consider implementing a digital strategy fully integrated into business operations at all levels.

Why your company needs digital transformation

Digital transformation is viewed as a way to apply modern technologies for understanding the customers’ needs.

This is one reason, but digital transformation can help achieve much more:

Reinforced data collection
Better resource management
Data-driven insights and decisions

What is low-code?

Enterprises are searching for the easiest and most effective way to empower digital transformation with no coding effort.

The low-code approach utilizes a set of tools. It replaces classical app development with modeling in a graphical interface, skipping hand-coding. It helps to maximize ROI from the currently existing tech stack. Such applications connect data from various sources, and allow non-IT users to act on it and build new features which help businesses to “meet the moment”.

The next question which comes to mind is what is low-code development?

It’s a visual approach to software development. It allows to easily automate each stage of the development lifecycle.

And finally, what is a low-code platform? It’s a framework that provides a programming environment for building and configuring software via graphical UI. The basic elements help detach from the code and “draw” the workflow.

Technical features

Drag-and-drop Functionality is used to create an entire app from scratch.
Visual Interfaces allow quick design and implement a solution using model-driven environments and custom rules. No hand-coding is involved.
Multi-Platform Experience. The desktop version is convenient to build and design an application that afterward can be quickly launched on any mobile device.
Repeatable Applications. It’s possible to efficiently reuse pre-existing apps or their parts to configure similar processes.

Advantages of utilizing low-code

Most importantly, it is a way to accelerate product development. It is vital in the digital era when businesses have to evolve and compete fiercely to meet customers’ expectations.

Low-code tools allow non-IT staff to create customized solutions that cover the everyday needs of the company. On the other hand, professional development teams can adopt low-code to create apps or enrich the existing ones with new features in a blink of an eye.

Now we’ve figured out what low-code development and platforms are. It is clear they have enormous potential but what are the best options for businesses to solve daily tasks? This is where intelligent business process management (BPM) comes in handy.

What is iBPM?

iBPM empowers collaboration through the entire enterprise including employees, partners, applications, and systems.

Let’s take a closer look at the key components of BPM. Intelligence in BPM has numerous forms: setting up business rules, configuring virtual assistants, data mining, and structuring. A proper BPM solution can fully automate recurring tasks.

An iBPM platform is capable of modeling, executing, and monitoring all routine processes.

iBPM is more than just a modern technology or a buzzword. iBPM software radically changes all business processes and fuels digital transformation. The tool guides business process management. Also integrates it with project management, CRM systems, people management, and every other tool the company needs to use. As a result, all operations are tracked and performed on a single platform. All company departments have common standards, pre-defined by iBPM. Thus, the transition to digital is simultaneous.

Conclusion

Low-code is an important part of the innovation agenda. The benefits rapidly change the overall IT strategy. It enables the fast build and deployment of business software. An app can be kicked off in a matter of weeks. New functionality can be deployed much faster with a truly agile approach to software development.

Low-code iBPM systems are meant to facilitate digital transformation. Non-IT personnel is capable to set and optimize processes. Companies can reach business objectives without the support of complicated development.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

The Best Software for Remote Employees

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 13:36:09 +0000

Working remotely requires constant communication and an increased level of cooperation between members. It can be quite challenging to achieve this, especially with a geographical difference in the picture. Fortunately, there is plenty of software remote teams can use to make their workflow more efficient.

Below are examples of software that virtual teams can use to get their work done effectively and efficiently, regardless of how many miles there are between them.

Communication Software

Slack

Slack is one of the best communication tools in the industry today. It’s relied upon daily by millions of remote workers. It’s excellent for remote teams in large part thanks to its intricately designed features. The platform provides teams with:

Channels where teams can communicate and share files
Voice and Video call function
App Integration with other platforms such as Google Suite
A workflow builder which automates processes such as communication.

Slack offers remote teams better and faster communication, more efficient organization and decreases the reliance on email.

Microsoft Teams

Teams is the core communication product of Microsoft, specifically developed to streamline communication between remote teams. It allows you to chat with team members, video call, and even collaborate on projects through Excel and Powerpoint.

Users can share files, easily arrange online meetings and host webinars. It also offers a workforce management feature that makes work more seamless. Managers and employers can also use Teams to monitor their teams’ performance and optimize productivity.

Zoom

Zoom is a popular video-sharing application used by both virtual and in-house teams. The application became quite popular during the Covid-19 lockdown because it efficiently facilitated communication between people in different locations.

Zoom has revolutionized the way we communicate, connecting people across different locations. Today, remote teams use it to host online meetings and webinars. It’s user-friendly with a simple yet elegant design and is available on desktop and mobile.

Productivity and Time Management Software

Workpuls

Workpuls is an employee productivity tracking software designed to optimize and streamline employee performance by monitoring productivity and time efficiency. Employers enjoy features such as:

Screenshots and real-time monitoring that provide insights into how employees use their time
Automated time and attendance that eliminates timesheets
Productivity metrics and benchmarking
Time tracking for individual employees, projects and tasks

Workpuls allows managers and team leaders to more effectively manage, improve performance and support greater productivity.

Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a productivity and time tracking tool used by employers to monitor virtual employees’ performance. The platform equips users with features such as:

Automated time tracking
A dashboard where you can monitor the entire team
Inbuilt to-do list where users can schedule pending tasks
Employee timesheets.

Hubstaff offers clients a desktop and mobile version allowing them to track performance from any location. Hubstaff integrates seamlessly with Quickbooks so you can sync the time tracked in Hubstaff as well as pay rates and pay periods to Quickbooks. This makes it easier for you to run your payroll in Quickbooks Online.

ActivTrak

ActivTrak is a notable productivity tracking software used by employers to monitor and evaluate performance insight. It features a dashboard where users can view trends in performance and workflow efficiency.

What’s more, you get access to productivity reviews which help identify and resolve bottlenecks. Lastly, ActivTrak provides employers with real-time activity reports, which allow you to keep tabs on your remote team without disrupting their workflow.

Collaboration tools

Google Suite

Google Suite, now known as Google Workspace, is a collection of Google products designed to optimize workflow and collaboration. It’s a perfect addition to any remote team’s selection of software. It comprises:

Gmail – for communication through email
Docs – to create and edit documents
Sheets – for making and editing spreadsheets
Slides – for PowerPoint presentations
Drive – for document sharing and storage
Meet – for videoconferences
Chats – for communication
Calendar – for scheduling events and tasks.

These features make Google Suite a mainstay for remote teams. The functionality Google Suite offers can act as the foundation for effective remote work.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is another noteworthy collaboration tool. It allows remote teams to collaborate across various file formats, take and share notes, communicate, and store files in the cloud. Users can also share files and integrate other apps available in the Microsoft store. The most popular Microsoft 365 collaboration tools include:

Excel
Word
OneNote
Outlook and,
OneDrive.

Teams can also use the Microsoft suite to schedule tasks and keep track of their performance. The all-encompassing functionality of Microsoft 365 makes it the backbone of many remote teams.

Onboarding tools

Remote

For a remote employee, the initial onboarding process can often feel tedious and time-consuming, with various HR necessities to be ticked off and training-related tasks to be completed. That’s particularly true if you’re a remote employee working for an employer based in another country — as there are additional complexities to consider — but that’s where the employer of record provider Remote comes in, streamlining remote onboarding and taking care of essential compliance requirements.

Remote enables businesses to:

Hire full-time remote workers legally in other countries
Run payroll for international employees in their local currencies
Handle benefits for global workers
Comply with international tax laws and regulations
Manage international contractors

Project Management tools

There are so many different kinds of project management solutions available online, which can make it difficult to find the one that suits your business the best. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 great project management tools that you need to include in your workflow.

Jira

Over 65,000 companies use Jira. It’s an efficient project management software that pioneered the project management software movement. Today, Jira is used by thousands of agile remote teams to:

Plan and organize tasks
Keep track of performance
Create and execute workflows

Jira’s scrum and kanban boards allow team managers to monitor and evaluate staff productivity based on the insights generated in real-time. Another defining feature is its automation capabilities which enable users to automate work functions.

Trello

Trello is a kanban-based project management software popular with remote teams for its efficiency in planning and managing projects. It’s available on desktop and mobile (iOS and Android). The platform’s drag and drop project and task cards make it incredibly user-friendly.

Trello allows users to collaborate on tasks, monitor performance, and integrate with other apps. It has an automation tool that makes completing tasks much more accessible. Users can even customize tasks, adding a personal touch to their work.

Asana

Asana allows remote teams to organize their projects while collaborating on tasks through its fantastic range of features. Team members can plan and assign tasks amongst themselves and also automate repetitive workflows.

Asana has over 100 integrations that remote teams can use to communicate and collaborate on tasks. It also offers real-time reports where you can check to estimate your team’s progress.

Comindware Tracker

Comindware Tracker is a drag-and-drop workflow management software that allows teams to speed up the creation and automation of workflows and forms without the need for a tech team. It also includes a number of workflow management capabilities and tools that make it a solid choice for teams looking to create high-impact business apps that support their needs. The software can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud.

Xebrio

Xebrio is a project management tool with a complete requirements management ecosystem that can manage your whole project or product development process from start to finish. Instead of using different tools, Xebrio has everything you need in one place.
Xebrio has a vital collaboration feature. It involves all stakeholders in the requirements approval process. This ensures everyone is updated on the project’s progress and can work together regardless of the team’s location.
Xebrio’s real-time collaboration feature is intended to increase remote teams’ productivity and keep all project-related discussions structured and open.
It also integrates seamlessly with GitHub and Jira to ensure your projects get completed without missing a beat.
Xebrio offers a free trial for 14 days so you can test out all the features.

Wrapping Up

There has to be communication and a sense of fellowship for remote work to be seamless without any hitches. What better way to facilitate these qualities than with efficient software and apps designed to automate and optimize functions? With constant use, you will notice significant improvements not only in communication but time management and productivity.

How to Deal with a Bottleneck in Business Process

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 14:06:44 +0000

A bottleneck is a frustrating and troublesome element that many businesses will face. Basically, a bottleneck is a part in a business process where, for whatever reason, there is a delay in the progression of the process. Not only does this mean less efficient operations, but it can also cost the business money. It is easy to see why avoiding and quickly addressing bottlenecks in business operations is so important.

Rather than waiting for bottlenecks to occur, it is helpful to have a more proactive plan of action for dealing with bottlenecks. One of the ways you can do this is to use workflow management software such as Comindware Tracker to evaluate and better streamline processes to avoid future bottlenecks in the workflow. This puts you in control and helps ensure that you don’t suffer from unnecessary delays which can be frustrating for employees and consumers alike.

Using Workflow Software to Detect Bottlenecks

Using tools to analyze your workflows is a great way to avoid or address bottlenecks at any point in your business processes. If you notice that there are unpredictable areas of your workflow, these need to be addressed. It is in these areas where a bottleneck is most likely to occur. You can use the tools to identify bottlenecks and find effective ways to address them.

You can use visual tools in workflow management software by using things like checklists or task cards. Using these tools makes it easy to see where exactly work is piling up. This will show you where your bottleneck or potential bottleneck is and you can then address it.

You can also use this software to visually map activities and elements of a business process. Having these steps laid out in the form of a map or diagram can make it easier to understand how all the steps work together and can make it easier to locate areas where a bottleneck could occur.

What to Do If You Find a Bottleneck

It is all well and good to find areas where a bottleneck might occur and to address it before it happens, but this isn’t always possible. Say, for example, you notice an area in your business process where work is continually piling up. Failing to address this could cause a ton of additional problems you might not expect. It is best to address a bottleneck as soon as possible, otherwise, you could have a cascading effect.

If you find a bottleneck, you may need to rethink how your business process is designed. What is causing one area of the process to get so bogged down as to cause delays in other steps? Perhaps you need more people working on this step or you need to rethink the order a process is completed.

Using batch processes can also be an effective solution. Some things are connected or can easily be bunched together for a batch processing session. This can be a good solution to help avoid unnecessary delays and bottlenecks.

A workflow will continue to change and adapt, just as a business will. It is a huge mistake to think any business process is a set it and forget it kind of thing. They need to be monitored and updated as issues arise or changes need to be made.

Having a visual representation that includes the detailed steps and approvals that are required in a given process makes it far easier to see where potential problems may occur and will allow you to determine where in a process a bottleneck is taking place. You can then take a look at that visual representation to think of ways to redistribute work or to change the order of a process to reduce the chances of bottlenecks in the future.

Comindware Tracker makes it easy to visualize your workflow, automate it and keep track of possible bottlenecks.

Get a 30-day trial!

Timeliness

One of the things that workflow management software like Comindware Tracker can do is make it incredibly easy to locate and deal with a bottleneck. When it comes to the world of business, time is money. You want to be able to address any bottlenecks as quickly as possible and part of this is quick identification. Workflow management software allows you to easily track a wide range of processes and can alert you to any bottlenecks or areas where a bottleneck could possibly occur.

It cannot be overstated how important it is to quickly identify and address a bottleneck before it causes issues with other processes. Delays in on part of a process can quickly cascade into bigger problems in other areas. Using this software makes it simple to keep track of your processes, identify, and address, any bottlenecks that might come up along the way.

In Closing

Bottlenecks, or delays caused by work piling up in a given area of a process, can cause huge headaches for any business. Not only does it reduce the efficiency of your business operations, it can also cost the business money in terms of additional labor and dealing with unhappy clients. This is the last thing a business needs, especially in today’s competitive business world.

Using workflow management software can make it easier for you to identify where bottlenecks are occurring or may occur. This information can then be used to restructure the process to reduce the burden on certain areas and reduce the likelihood of future bottlenecks.

Get a 30-day trial!

Mobile App Development Workflow – Steps to Success

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 14:21:53 +0000

Applications are now more popular than ever before. Whether it is a game, a sales application, or something used to stream our favorite programs. This allows us to make our ideas come to life in the digital realm and provide an enhanced product or service to our customers. In the old days, if we had an idea for a product or service, we would have to handle it all by hand. There was no way to manage or implement these things digitally.

Fast forward to today and there are options for building applications that even allow people with little to no technical experience the ability to create their own application. And when paired with no- or low-code workflow management software like CMW Tracker, the process of development and implementation becomes a lot easier.

With no- or low-code workflow management software, you can easily manage the various aspects of application development, release, and updating, without the need for a ton of coding knowledge or technical ability. Let’s look at some of the proven steps to creating a solid app development workflow, which will help streamline and simplify the process of development, testing, and ultimately, the release of your mobile app.

Create a Functional Prototype

You don’t want to release an untested app to the public. This increases the likelihood that your app will be a failure. You need to create a basic, functional prototype of the mobile application that you can test and try out to find any potential bugs and issues. There are things you can find out about an application, such as issues with the user interface, when you have a prototype you can actually manipulate.

Additionally, it is highly recommended that you test your app out on a wide range of devices. This means different tablets, smartphones, laptops, and the like. This way, you can find any issues in the rendering of the application on specific devices. You don’t want to be surprised with these things after release.

Manage Your App Development Workflow

Workflow management software can help you simplify the process of mobile app development. With this software, you can create a custom workflow where you lay out a detailed list of step-by-step instructions as to how the process needs to be unveiled. This helps ensure that all parties involved are working from the same knowledge base.

Design and automate any workflow with ease and get your processes streamlined.

Get a 30-day trial!

The automated development process is a highly important part of your app development project, but especially when it comes to mobile apps. People have high expectations for how user-friendly and easy to navigate an application should be. Creating simple prototypes and using these environments to test and retest your app will help you identify areas where the app can be improved and any areas where you might need to go back to the proverbial drawing board. You want to make sure it renders well across devices and that it is as easy to navigate for the user as possible. It needs to have an interface that makes sense, is intuitive, and looks good regardless of where it is accessed from.

Use Workflow Software to Track and Improve the Application

Once the application has been released, workflow software can still play a hugely important role. You can use information and metrics to set up a solid, well-defined workflow that will ensure that your app runs smoothly and takes user experience into account. You are likely to need to update or add to your application at a future time and with workflow software, you can more easily create a solid process for how to do these things.

You can also use metrics to help you troubleshoot any issues users may have with your application and fix them. It will also allow you to see how well your app does among different demographics of the public and you can use this information to update, upgrade, and better streamline your mobile app.

In Closing

Creating a mobile app is easier than ever before, but at the same time, users have higher expectations about functionality and ease of use. This is why it is so important to have a solid development process and to use things like workflow software during the development and testing of the application. This helps ensure that when the app is ultimately released, it will have fewer issues.

This software and a solid plan of action allow you to create simple prototypes of your application that you can then test out for the user interface as well as how it renders on other devices. You can also use these tools to create solid workflows around the development, testing, and ultimate release of the application. The software is also valuable in helping you track metrics and other data that gives you an idea of how users actually interact with the app and how you can improve their experience.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Basic Workflow Software – Must-have Features and More

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 13:14:05 +0000

When it comes to workflow management software, there are tons of options to choose from. In fact, it can quickly become overwhelming. But the thing is, this type of software is incredibly important to modern business operations. It can allow you to streamline many aspects of your business process and some of this software also allows for the automation of a range of different tasks.

All of these things allow our business to operate more efficiently and transparently. But how do you know which software is the right option for you? We recommend no- and low-code workflow management software like Comindware Tracker, as it doesn’t have the learning curve that other software has. Additionally, it is a powerful suite of tools that allow you to streamline and better manage various aspects of your business.

Let’s take a look at some of the most important features that basic workflow software should have.

Low- or No-Code

There are a lot of powerful, versatile workflow management systems, but not all of them are created equal and this doesn’t just mean the variety of features they offer. Some workflow management software is highly technical. This means that only those who have a detailed understanding of coding and technology can really make the most use of this software. If others at the business are to use at least basic workflow software, generally someone with expertise must first set everything up. This is a bottleneck that is unnecessary.

Like we mentioned earlier, Comindware Tracker is a low-code workflow management tool. What this means is that you don’t need a ton of technical or coding knowledge to use all the features of this software. This makes the software far more versatile and relieves your IT department from having to take part in every step of the workflow process development.

Get a 30-day trial!

Importation of Documents and Data

If possible, you want a suite of software tools that will easily allow you to access important data, documents, and other information. More businesses than ever before are moving to a paperless office. This means that all their records, plans, and documentation is kept digitally. In days gone by, to digitize our office would take many days or weeks of scanning and data entry. Not only does this take a ton of time, but it can also leave room for human error.

With software that imports this information automatically, you can really streamline the process, improving efficiency and reducing the chance of human error.

Custom Workspaces

It is vital that the basic workflow software you choose allows you to create custom workspaces. With this feature, you can create a space where all relevant parties can access the same information and data. These workspaces allow for secure communication between relevant parties and will also facilitate the transfer of data, documents, or other information like approval forms.

Mobile and Email Notifications

Today’s office is busier than ever before and most of us are inundated with communications, some of which need our immediate input, others can wait until a later time. But how do we know what is important and what isn’t? Bottlenecks in processes often come because someone is unaware that a process is waiting for their input and approval.

Software that allows you to create custom email notifications makes this all a lot easier. You can set up notifications that will alert relevant parties that something needs their input.

Ability to Integrate with Other Software

Most of us don’t use just one suite of software to manage our company. The last thing we want is to get stuck with a suite of software that is incompatible with other important tools. You want to make sure that the workflow software you choose is one that allows for easy integration with outer software and third-party tools.

In Closing

It can be intimidating to choose a workflow management software suite since there are just so many options out there. Knowing the most important features to look for in basic workflow software will make the process of choosing the best tools for your business a lot easier. Looking for software solutions that don’t require a ton of coding knowledge makes the tools more versatile. You also want to look for software that has the ability to create a custom workspace, set up notifications, import and automate document and data collection, as well as integrate with other tools.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Workflow Notifications to Empower Simple Process

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 14:18:48 +0000

No matter how well we streamline our business processes and rely on technology and automation, there is still a huge reliance on human power and ingenuity. Managing this human power, especially if employees work large distances from one another, has become a bigger problem.

More work is done remotely than ever before. More offices are spread out throughout different parts of the world. However, despite these challenges and distances, employees and other parties need to be able to communicate and have an effective and reliable means to reach relevant parties.

Some of the most common ways we communicate are through email or text messages. Some of the communication we receive is important and needs a timely response, whereas other communications can wait. But how do we tell the difference without getting a notification each and every time we receive a communication?

Workflow Notifications

This is why businesses are turning to workflow notifications. Using workflow management software like Comindware’s offerings allows you to create a set of notifications that alert the relevant party in the event that a workflow inbox message is received. Low-code software solutions like Comindware’s workflow management software can easily be utilized to create custom notifications that meet the exacting needs of each project or process.

A workflow inbox is one that is designed for your important communications that require a timely response. This will help ensure that you get a notification when you get a communication you need to quickly respond to, but not when you get something in your junk email box or a text from the kids.

Different Notifications

Most technology allows for notifications whether you are on a smartphone, a desktop computer, a laptop, or a tablet. Using workflow software to create a special notifications element can dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes employees to respond to important communication.

This is for more than just email notifications. With a well-designed workflow inbox, you can choose to be alerted every time someone sends you a file, makes a comment on a file, has a document that needs approval or has some need for correspondence. It ensures that your employees only receive notifications for important communications, document shares, or other office needs. It reduces the amount of time spent attending to communications that can wait and that are not as important as more time-sensitive ones.

Benefits of a Workflow Inbox

It should be easy to see how beneficial an automated workflow inbox can be for a business, regardless of size. With these notifications, employees can receive a notification through email or on their device that alerts them to something that needs their attention.

Low-code software makes it easy to customize your inbox and notifications to the exact needs of your project or employees. The ability to send these notifications through email or SMS makes it easier to get in touch with employees traveling or on the road.

Get a 30-day trial!

You can easily attach documents using email or SMS, which reduces the amount of time it takes to share relevant information. You can submit approval or rejection for a process with a simple response. It doesn’t require you to log into your office software to make your decision. This can save a ton of time.

In Closing

There are a lot of things that technology can replace human labor, but there is still a need for human communication and input in various steps of a business process, no matter how advanced the process may be. Employees get tons of communications throughout the day. Some of these communications are time-sensitive, whereas others are simply junk or can at least wait until a later time.

But how do employees differentiate between communications and requests that need a timely response and those that can wait? This is where workflow notifications can come in really handy. Low-code workflow software makes it easy to create custom notifications for all or relevant persons in your office.

This notification system allows relevant employees to receive an email alert or SMS notification when a document, comment, message, or approval needs their attention. This helps to ensure that important processes get the attention they need and helps reduce employee distraction from communications that aren’t important or pressing.

The ability for everyone to easily get notified whenever there is something that needs their attention helps to streamline business processes, reduce the time it takes for approval, and more.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Healthcare Workflow Management and Benefits

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 14:13:53 +0000

The healthcare system in the United States maybe some of the best and most advanced in the world, but it is also complicated and, at times, convoluted. Just the simple process of billing insurance can be incredibly complex.

Billing, for example, is one of the most complicated parts of managing the healthcare system. And it is here that the system can most benefit from better workflow management using software tools that help automate and/or streamline processes for increased efficiency.

Say we have a patient that has an insurance policy. They will need to use their insurance number to access their policy and use this policy with a doctor that is in the insurance network. The insurance number the patient provides is what the healthcare professional must submit to the insurance company to be paid for their services.

Once a healthcare professional requests payment from the insurer, it is now part of accounts receivable. From here, the patient’s portion of the bill is sent out after the insurance company gives the amount they approve.

It is easy to see how complicated this is and all we’ve done is make a claim to an insurance company for an individual going to an in-network doctor. So just imagine how difficult things can get if the person is uninsured, or happens to visit a doctor that is out of network.

Keeping all this straight and ensuring that medical systems receive timely payment for services rendered is a vital part of the healthcare system and bottlenecks here can dramatically impact the bottom line.

Better Managing These Workflows

Now that we have introduced this common, but complex scenario, it is a wonder that doctors get paid for their services and that the bills actually get paid. To close even a single account requires the healthcare manager or financial specialist to contact an insurance company, and from there, send the remainder of the bill to the patient. This means if all goes well, containing two different people and coordination payment.

This is where workflow management software comes in. Workflow management software such as Comindware’s Health Insurance Claims Management software makes it easy for IT professionals to create processes and workflows that lead to the more efficient resolution of patient accounts. This software can automatically send payment requests to insurance companies, bills to patients, and payment reminders as well. The ability to do this automatically reduces the amount of time actual people have to spend dealing with the basic paperwork associated with medical billing.

Get a 30-day trial!

Benefits of Management

The benefits of having an effective healthcare workflow should be obvious. First and foremost, this will simplify the billing process for all parties involved. Automated reminders and payment requests can help ensure more timely receipt of payment from patients.

The ability to immediately submit a claim to an insurance company and get their approval also speeds up the time between request and payment.

Additionally, choosing the right medical spa software can streamline administrative tasks and enhance patient management, further optimizing the efficiency of healthcare operations.

This software makes it easier to collect payment. Reducing the time an account is unresolved is so much better for the bottom line. Time, effort, and money are spent trying to collect on medical bills, and the ability to automate this part of the process can save time and labor. Detailed workflows will also help to reduce redundancy and allow you to see areas where you can approve the efficiency of your operations. This alone is invaluable information that can really help a healthcare system improve various parts of its operations.

And workflow management software is not just useful for billing. There is a wide range of applications for this software in the healthcare industry.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Boost Lead Generation with Workflow Software

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 11:35:46 +0000

No matter what your business, marketing, and lead generation are incredibly important. It doesn’t matter how great or innovative your product or service is if nobody knows you are there. It is with marketing that word of our brand reaches the ears and eyes of those who may have an interest in what you have to offer.

Just think about the world around us. We are advertised pretty much everywhere we turn. On our phones, visiting a website, or driving down the highway, we are bombarded with advertisements and other marketing messages.

With this inundation in mind, it is also important to learn how to use your marketing skills to stand apart from the proverbial crowd and build branding equity. You have to make people actually want to see what you are all about via your marketing policy.

The Value of Data

There are so many aspects of our business operations that are tightly managed. We have detailed processes and likely use a wide range of technologies to manage and streamline these aspects of our business. But we often fail to do this with our marketing campaign and this is a mistake.

The data we can glean from metrics of those who visit our website and the demographics of those who have shown interest in our product or service is invaluable to deciding where to put your marketing dollars. Especially if these dollars are limited, you want to make the best use of them.

Using the data, you gather to target your marketing is a key.

The Marketing Workflow

Many of us are familiar with the concept of a workflow. This is a step-by-step breakdown of a given task. However, most of us don’t associate these techniques with marketing and it can be really valuable.

Low-code software like Comindware’s workflow management software makes it easy to create customized workflows to help better manage your marketing campaign. Through this software, you can use the data you gather to make smarter marketing decisions about when, where, and how you reach out to potential customers.v

While some aspects of marketing may require creative pursuits like writing ad copy, much of it can be broken down into steps like a traditional work process. Some of this software will allow you to automate certain parts of your marketing cycle, such as when new content is submitted or uploaded.

Boosting Leads Through Efficiency

The use of workflow software to enhance your marketing campaign and improve your lead generation capabilities can have a dramatic impact on the amount of business you get. Some suites of software have powerful AI tools that can help you generate leads and manage a database of consumer information with ease.

With this software, you can automate many aspects of your social media, posting of articles and other content, and the unveiling of new marketing campaigns. Having this automated will help ensure that you have timely and meaningful engagement with potential customers.

Workflow management software can make it easier for relevant parties to access marketing data and the ability to communicate with other parties, such as content creators and the like.

The ability for all relevant parties to access the data and workflow processes and share content and other relevant information across the marketing team.

These suites of software can be tailored to the exact needs of your company and a given marketing campaign. Making use of these tools in your marketing campaign might not be an obvious thing to do, but it can really streamline your marketing campaign and also help you to get your product or service in front of the people who are most interested in your products or services.

Modern workflow management software makes it easy to build and automate your marketing workflows and ensure that every team member is engaged properly

Get a 30-day trial!

In Closing

Marketing is something that we fail to properly address at our business peril. You can have the most innovative and cutting-edge product or service in the world – far better than any competition – and your business will still fail if nobody knows your name. You have to utilize marketing techniques to get your product or service in front of those who may have an interest in it.

No matter how large or small your business is, you can benefit from a solid marketing camping and benefit even more from utilizing workflow software in the said marketing plan. Low-code workflow management software makes it easy to automate certain elements of your marketing campaign, such as automating social media posting. Workflows help bring all information into a single space that all relevant parties can share information, look at data, and communicate with ease.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

4 Best Practices for Your Vendor Workflow Management

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 12:59:08 +0000

There are many elements of business operations that don’t get the attention they truly need and deserve. One of these areas is vendor management. All companies require products and services to operate, regardless of the business field they are in.

This means that there is management required to ensure the timely flow of materials and payment of accounts. Failure to properly manage your vendor workflow can be a huge mistake that can cost the business dearly.

You can use things like low-code software such as that offered through Comindware to create a vendor workflow system that is efficient and transparent. There is a lot of software available that can dramatically improve the efficiency of many areas of your company. They may help you automate certain processes and/or give you a visual representation of steps required to complete a process. This gives all parties involved the information they need, and the same information as others have, to help ensure smooth operation.

Let’s take a look at 4 of the best practices when it comes to managing vendor workflows.

4 Best Practices for Your Vendor Workflow Management

Streamlining Your Processes

Traditionally, the process of onboarding a new vendor was done by hand. This means it takes days or weeks to complete the review process. However, the use of software such as a low-code option by Comindware can reduce the amount of time this process takes significantly.

This software makes it easier to manage information that is required to complete the vendor onboarding process. Notification systems and reminders for approval also help reduce the amount of time it takes relevant parties to review and approve new vendors.

When the process is standardized and much of the information is collected automatically, it takes a lot less time to complete the onboarding process. The notifications will help ensure that parties who need to take a look at the documentation do so in a timely fashion.

Managing the Approval Process

As we mentioned earlier, when vendor onboarding or other approval processes are done by hand, it takes a lot of time. This is also true when you are waiting on one or more people to approve the process so it can move forward.

You don’t want these processes lagging behind as this reduces the overall efficiency of the company and can be a real headache to your vendors. Vendor workflow software makes it easy to automate data collection and to provide notifications and reminders to relevant parties to ensure more timely completion and approval.

The software makes it easier for all parties involved to supply the necessary information and to ensure the approval process works as smoothly as possible.

It has never been so easy to design your own approval workflow and ensure that it is automated and works as smoothly as possible.

Get a 30-day trial!

Improve Efficiency

Purchase orders as those that deal with any materials or other resources that are necessary to the functioning of your business. Too often, this process is archaic and incredibly inefficient. A failure to properly understand the purchase order can mean that redundant or unnecessary products are purchased and things the business needs fall by the wayside.

All of this can create delays and make this element of business operations more costly than it needs to be. You can streamline and automate much of this process using low-code workflow software. Not only will this ensure timelier order and payment, but it can also reduce redundancy and the time it takes for orders to be placed and payment completed.

Simplify Processes

Not only do you want to make sure your ordering process is streamlined, you also want to make sure the payment process is as well. It isn’t fair to your vendors to make them wait an inordinate amount of time to receive payment for the products or services rendered.

Sometimes these processes are complicated, and when done by hand, this not only takes more time, but leaves more room for error. In order to ensure proper payment and approval for said payments a workflow process needs to be created to ensure that this is done in a timely manner.

When you use workflow management software, you can create processes that streamline and simplify this process. It gives all parties involved access to the information they need to approve payment and enhances the ability of relevant parties to communicate with each other in more transparent and timely manner.

In Closing

All businesses must have relationships with vendors. These are the people and companies who provide the products and services your business needs to function and operate. Too often, these are outdated and inefficient processes. This means it takes way too much time for vendor orders to be managed approved, and paid for. This reduces the overall efficiency of the company and can leave vendors frustrated as well.

Low-code software solutions like Comindware make it easy to create a comprehensive vendor workflow management process that gives all relevant parties access to the information they need. This makes the process more transparent and ensures it is completed in a timely fashion.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Build a Generis Workflow

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 12:57:04 +0000

Workflow process design is one of the most important parts of creating and running a streamlined and efficient business. There is evidence that having a solid workflow design can improve the efficiency of your organization by more than 80%.

This shows just how important this process is, but sadly it is often overlooked by business administrators. This is a huge mistake. Workflow design allows you to lay out a process, step-by-step and locate points where decisions or changes may need to be made. This helps create a template for how to go about a given process.

When broken down like this, it is easy to see how important this is. Current and new employees benefit greatly from a solid workflow design. There needs to be attention paid to detail and different decision points marked along the way.

This doesn’t mean this has to be done by hand though. Doing this manually leaves a lot of room for error and it takes a lot longer than it needs to take. Software like Comindware’s workflow design and management software gives you the tools you need to create streamlined processes that give you the flexibility and details of each process.

Designing Good Workflows

All workflows have a starting point. Just think of a process. What is the starting point? This is the initiation. It may happen in a variety of ways. Someone might make a web query, filling out a form, or the importation of information like a spreadsheet.

With workflow management software all information and data move along with the process. Automation software allows you to easily capture and use this data. These tools provide a powerful set of tools that allow you to enhance and improve the efficiency of any process. It also allows for transparency, which can help with strategic goals and planning.

One thing this software allows you to do is to create a visual representation of a workflow process. This gives you the ability to see how each step flows to the next and how the process flows from start to finish.

Best Practices

Just like with anything, there are best practices when designing a workflow. These are steps that you can use to help ensure that you have a solid, well-considered workflow that will benefit the process. One of the best ways to handle workflow design is to start simple. Not all processes are simple but this is a good way to begin with the design process. Try a process that has just a few steps that are easy to understand.

From here, you can begin to develop more complicated processes that have more steps and parties involved. You should also focus on newer tasks and those that need approval from multiple parties. By doing this, you can reduce the amount of time it takes to get all the different approvals and verifications.

At any point in a process where a decision needs to be made, you should create a node. This will give a prompt that something needs to be more closely addressed and managed. There may be processes that have multiple nodes that need different parties to approve or make decisions.

Any task that has been completed should be marked as done. This will reduce confusion and show where in the process you are.

Workflow management software by Comindware makes it easy to build your generic workflow like approval and get it automated quickly and with minimum efforts.

Get a 30-day trial!

Basics

If you know how to create a flowchart, you have the basic tools you need to create a simple workflow. Prompt approvals are incredibly important. For example, if you are trying to manage client or vendor payments, you need to have multiple prompts that require approval or contact with the client or vendor.

This will help ensure that all payments are paid or collected in a timely manner. This is not only better for the bottom line; it can improve relationships with clients and vendors by ensuring timely payment and receipt as well as regular communication.

Being able to look at your workflow in a flowchart style is incredibly helpful. It gives you a visual representation that shows you the business process in a way you might not otherwise be able to see it. Prompts and automatic notifications to stakeholders and relevant employees help reduce inefficiency in the process or decision train.

Workflow software dramatically simplifies that process of creating streamlined, efficient, and easy-to-understand processes. This helps keep the business flowing smoothly, it improves transparency, and the ability to create prompts helps you keep your obligations in a more timely manner, improving your relationships with customers and vendors alike. This software also enhances transparency and the data stored in this software is vital in strategic planning and to see how you are doing to reach any business goals.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Travel Request Management in Comindware Tracker

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 06:01:37 +0000

A travel request approval workflow is among the most imperative businesses processes a company should have. It is specifically needed by companies that permit employees to travel for business. Without a flawless workflow, you can expect to see one or all of these challenges. First, effectivity of business travel management in your company will depend on spreadsheet and email for your travel request management tasks. Spreadsheets can produce errors while email approvals can delay ticketing and trigger additional fees. Another disadvantage is that you could make your travel plans at the last minute and this could raise your ticket costs. Without a properly-run approval workflow, you might find that you no longer have control over your employees’ travel costs, travel request approvals and budget limits.

What’s the solution for reliable travel request management?

The way out of the challenges discussed above is the automation of your travel request approval workflow. In other words, you need a HRM software that could track your employees’ travel requests with ease and a high degree of accuracy. Consider choosing online solutions for automation of a request management process, which ensure better system availability and lower maintenance cost.

From the time a travel request is created, to the time it’s approved, an online travel request system will control the entire process. It will ensure that there is no room for errors and then speed up the process. As a result of using an automated business travel request form, you can expect the following advantages:

Pre-defined approval patterns and notifications
Reduce the costs related to late travel request approvals
Enforce logical travel policies
Easier tracking of employees’ travel patterns
Regulate and rectify your travel request approval workflow
Meet your legal requirements.

It is usually easy to automatically approve your travel request. As long as certain requirements are met, the approval process is easy and quick. First, make sure that the corporate travel management requests for estimated travel expenditure from the employee who wants to travel. Second, ensure that the stated travel expenditure is lower than the maximum allowed cost. Finally, the travel advance requested by the employee should be lower than a pre-set value. If there is a condition that is not satisfactory, your travel request management should receive the travel request.

The travel request process

The requester submits a travel request.
The manager in charge reviews and approves the request.
The request is received by the rules driven management department for further review.
Final approval is done
Notifications are sent.

An example of a travel request approval process built in Comindware Tracker.

Get a 30-day trial!

After the corporate travel management approval process pushes through, the team responsible for making travel arrangements will be consulted. Then the finance department will provide the requested travel advance. It is not all travel requests that are approved fast. Those requiring international travel might be vetted twice. Still, there may be employees in your company that doesn’t have to be approved before they travel. For instance, senior management staff could travel without further delay. If there are late travel request submissions, further consulting to know why this happened might be done prior to approval.

Building your travel request approval workflow

First, you should make travel request capability accessible to all employees. But if it’s only members of a certain department that travel often, you should assign access to travel request to them only. Just specify the lists of people who can use the travel request feature.

Next, ensure that you have well-designed business travel request form for employees. It should have blank spaces where users can add their names, travel details, project details, itinerary, accommodation needs and ticket costs. Users’ travel ID and traveler’s name are automatically updated via software formulas. Itinerary details are so imperative, especially data on departure and return dates, travel allowances, accommodation and so on.

Business travel request form template created with drag and drop simplicity in a workflow software by Comindware.
Get a 30-day trial!

Third, you should define your travel request workflow. The best workflow should follow the process/steps we enumerated above. The software is already set to carry out all the steps effectively and send notifications at the end. Visibility permissions of the business travel request form should also be configured. By default, the whole form should be seen by all users. But the approvers could view it in a read-only format.

As for the expenses section, access and visibility could be granted only to the travel team, although “book tickets” option should be shown to users. Finally, you should publish the travel request workflow so it can be seen by all the designated people within the company.

Benefits of automated travel request approval workflows

Companies or HR departments which automate approval request processing usually report the following benefits:

Effective travel requests collection and routing.
Easy task hand-overs.
Convenient management of related data and documents.
Easy approval status tracking for both requestor and workflow stakeholders.
Ability to evaluate workflows performance and optimize them.

In a nutshell, travel approval request automation significantly increases the accuracy, transparency, and handling speed of your business travel related workflows.

What to do now?

If you are ready to automate your travel request management with Comindware Tracker. This workflow management software makes it easy to create business travel request forms and processes travel requests in an error-free and quick manner, allowing you to save time and money. So, you should request your 30-day trial period from us now.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

3 Types of Business Process Management

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 12:47:33 +0000

Running a successful business takes far more than simply having a good product or service. There are so many other aspects of successful business operations and too often, we fail to take these into account. This can lead to inefficiency and even, ultimately, to the failure of a business.

All businesses have processes. These are step-by-step operations involved with a given task or aspect of your business. Managing these processes effectively is vital and you don’t have to do it by hand. There is a ton of high-quality business management software, such as we offer at CMW Lab, that can really streamline your business process management. There are a ton of benefits to this software, which we will discuss below.

What is Business Process Management?

A business process refers to the step-by-step tasks that are part and parcel of completing the said activity. Most often, this process will have underlying documentation to ensure that the process is performed the same way, every time. Business Process Management (BPM) refers to the management of all business processes for a given company.

Basically, a business process refers to the steps, rules, and conditions by which a process is initiated and completed. A solid business process management plan is part and parcel of running a successful business.

You need solid, well-documented plans that will help you towards your ultimate business goals. This is not a process you do once and then never go back to it. This is a process that will be regularly updated and changed as inefficiencies are noticed or changes and improvements are made.

There are numerous types of business processes, but let’s take a look at three of the most common types of BPM. Not all of these categorizations are common, but they will show you the varied ways you can use this software to better understand and manage a process. It can really help you drill down to what exactly your business or a given process may need to be successful and efficient.

Document-Oriented BPM

Some types of BPM are fully automated, but others, due to the nature of the process, cannot be. A document-oriented BPM is one that, as the name implies, is used in processes that are largely or entirely based on paper or digital documentation.

For a large number of businesses, this is the primary mode of BPM, but some have a combination of multiple types. With a document-oriented BPM, the goal is to provide accurate and current documentation to relevant parties.

Automating aspects of this process will reduce the amount of correspondence required to complete an approval process. With workflow management software, you can create a centralized workspace where all the current and relevant documents are stored. This makes it easy for relevant parties to access said data and ensure that everyone is working from the same, up-to-date information.

Human-oriented BPM

Again, as the name implies, this is a type of business process management suited to tasks and processes that are completed largely or entirely by people. Since human input is required, this is an area of BPM that is less suited to automation than the others we describe here.

The bulk of this type of BPM relates to decision-making. While this cannot be automated, notifications and collection of information that plays a role in these processes can be. The idea behind a human-oriented BPM is to make it as user-friendly as possible.

For example, using software that has common features like drag and drop and a visual interface makes it more accessible than code-oriented software. Choosing software like this allows more people in the company to use and benefit from this type of software, without the need for a lot of technical know-how.

These processes directly impact your workforce, how they perceive their jobs, their job satisfaction, and their productivity. Given this, it is easy to see why we should give a lot of effort to creating solid human-oriented BPM.

CMW Tracker is designed as a human-oriented workflow management tool which covers all necessary document-oriented requirements and integration needs.

Get a 30-day trial!

Integration-oriented BPM

This type of BPM focuses on streamlining the flow of information and data between networks, people, and different software tools. For businesses with more complex operations that have a combination of human- and data-oriented processes, this is highly important.

Using integration and automation tools will reduce the amount of data that must be entered by hand. This not only saves time, but it also reduces the likelihood of human error. This can create a more productive and efficient workforce.

In Closing

Business process management (BPM) is a vital part of a business’s operations. BPM refers to managing the wide range of business processes your organization undertakes. Business processes are detailed plans about how to initiate, approve, and complete a given task. Business process management software tools can help you create better BPM plans, regardless of the type of management you need. Most commonly, businesses will need document-oriented, human-oriented, or integration-oriented BPM plans, or they may need a combination of all three. Software tools can really streamline this process and help you to have a more robust BPM plan.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Asset Management Workflow Problems and Solutions

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:55:39 +0000

IT asset management is an area of business operation that allows you to manage the devices and other technological elements of your business. This might not seem all that important, but a poor IT asset workflow can lead to lag times and inefficiency in your operations. Failure to address this can have an effect on your bottom line.

This is a common area that people fail to give proper emphasis to. Just think about the typical office space. It has tons of computers, computer accessories, printers, copiers, phones, speakers, projection equipment, and so much more. Failure to properly manage all these assets can lead to bottlenecks and lost time.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common problems people have with their IT asset management and how they can be fixed.

Poor Early Planning

Especially when it comes to new and smaller businesses, IT asset management is something that often falls by the wayside. Even if you have just a few employees, this is a mistake. Chances are, you are looking at ways to manage workflows in other areas of your business and IT asset management should be no different.

You have to consider that your company is going to grow and therefore, start your management from the very beginning to ensure you streamline your processes. This will help reduce chances of repeated expenses and other issues that arise when there isn’t a good accounting for all the devices and other technological assets of a company.

Workflow management software, such as the low-code solution offered by Comindware, allow you to easily create solid IT asset workflows that can grow with your business.

Poor Asset Management

It is easy to see how money could be wasted on duplicate technology if you don’t have a good accounting for the devices and technology your business has at its disposal. Poor documentation or failure to properly document assets is just as bad as having no asset management plan at all.

To add to all this chaos, many of our devices come with warranties or may be repaired, rather than replaced. You miss many money-saving opportunities by failing to document the various warranty plans your technology falls under. Documenting what can be repaired as opposed to replaced can also help save you money and ensure proper working technology.

The key to fixing this failure is detailed and solid documentation. And this isn’t a one-time process. Each and every time you add a new technology asset to your business, you will need to document it. You will need to denote whether it is under warranty and if and where replacement parts can be obtained.

No Paper Trail for Audits

Failure to have an IT asset management plan, or having a subpar plan can cause problems in the event you need to audit any area of your business operations. During an audit, expenses and assets may be an important part of the paper trail.

If there is no paper trail, or it is a trail filled with holes, it is difficult to audit a situation to determine what went wrong or how a process may be improved. Auditing can be an important part of business operations and may be required by the state or federal government.

If you find yourself in the middle of an audit without a proper IT asset management plan, you will regret it. Using things like low-code workflow software allows you to create workable solutions. With this software, you can create IT asset management plans that are detailed and regularly updated.

This will ensure that whenever you or someone else needs to perform an audit, the information needed will be current and easily accessible.

Comindware Tracker makes it easy to build and automate any workflow, from simple approval to complicated asset management and audit workflow

Get a 30-day trial!

In Closing

No matter what business we are in or how small our company is, a solid asset management plan, whether it is for technology or other business resources, helps reduce wastage, redundancy, and makes it easier to perform an audit. It might not seem like we need to track our assets, especially if we are a small company, but this is a huge mistake. No matter the size of the company, a good asset management plan is imperative.

Workflow management software can simplify this process by giving you the tools you need to create a largely automated asset management plan. This can be a detailed plan that is regularly updated. It will include basic information, as well as information about warranties or repair information. This helps you improve efficiency, keep track of assets, and avoid pointless expenditures.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Tips for CMS Workflow Management

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 12:07:46 +0000

Updated, quality and useful content is an incredibly important part of a business that is too often overlooked. The need for regular, new, and informative content for business users is a vital part of the success of an endeavor.

However, the acquisition of quality content, while important, isn’t much if you don’t have a good strategy for how to sustain and manage a consistent content workflow.

For most businesses, the first thing you will need to do is ensure that you have a number of content writers that can create consistent messaging and useful content that meets your standards. Relying on one writer can be dangerous as if they drop off, your content creation will come to a halt.

Having a team of quality writers, however, isn’t enough, you will also need a Content Management System (CMS) workflow that will help aid in adding, publishing, and editing content as needed.

If all you needed was a writer who could publish content, there wouldn’t be much need to create a special workflow for content creation; however, it is really more complicated than it might seem.

Workflow management software like Comindware Tracker can be used in the content management system process to help manage roles and approvals, to assign content to different writers, to assign editing and reviewing, and the like.

Let’s take a look at the considerations you will need to take into account when you are creating a CMS workflow.

Tips for Creating a Solid CMS Workflow

First, you will need to develop a content strategy. What type of content do you want to provide and why? What type of audience are you speaking to? Who will write this content and where will it be distributed?

The answers to these questions will greatly inform your CMS.

One way to do this is to talk to people who actually use your website or products and services. What type of information are they looking for? Asking the actual user what they need and expect is something that, sadly, not enough businesses do. By asking the people actually consuming the content what they are looking for will help you create useful content for your audience.

Setting CMS roles is also important. This is where you will assign the various parties involved in content creation and publishing their tools. This will usually involve the content writer, the editor or reviewer, and the person who is responsible for publishing and distributing content.

Don’t forget to audit your own processes. After you have implemented a CMS process, you will want to review it to make sure that you are covering all necessary steps and that you aren’t doing anything redundant.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Salesforce Workflow Integration: Use Case Examples

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 14:46:35 +0000

Many companies use powerful CRM software like Salesforce, however, there are other pieces of software that can be integrated into this powerful suite of tools for enhanced versatility and usage.

The biggest problem with Salesforce is that it doesn’t have all the tools available that really let you streamline your operations and automate a range of functions. This is why so many people use other workflow management software like Comindware Tracker, to get enhanced usage out of their Salesforce software.

Ways to Integrate

There are numerous ways you can use Comindware Tracker to enhance your workflow management and improve the efficiency by which your business operates. For example, you can use this software to create custom notifications.

The great thing about these custom notifications is that they are sent to the appropriate person via email, SMS, or within the custom work environment you create using the software.

Since this software makes it easy to capture information and data, you can easily keep your information updated within Salesforce as well. This can be done automatically, which not only saves time but ensures that everybody is always working with the same, current information.

You can use this integrated software to create rules, approvals, and other decision-making points for new workflows. And you can also use this software to help create a number of different, very useful templates that will save you time when sending out alerts or reminders.

With a suite of software like Comindware Tracker, you can easily create a custom workspace that allows relevant parties access to vital information in a safe and secure environment. You can use this software to better map out workflows.

Having a visual representation can also make it easier to improve and enhance a given process as well. When you pair this software with an already powerful suite of tools like Salesforce, you have at your fingertips a wealth of powerful tools that give you everything you need to implement, troubleshoot, track, communicate, and update a process.

Integrating this software into Salesforce also gives you the ability to automate different elements of your business processes. This not only improves efficiency, but also reduces the likelihood of human error, which can cause lags, bottlenecks, and costly delays.

Pairing a powerful tool like Salesforce with high-quality workflow management and automation software is an excellent way to give your business all the tools they need to compete in today’s cutthroat business world. You need to be able to easily and quickly address any bottlenecks or issues your business may face. You need to have the ability to quickly integrate new information into your system to ensure that everyone is working with timely and current data.

Get a 30-day trial!

In Closing

With a powerful suite of tools like Salesforce, you have much of what you need to create, maintain, and update a given process or workflow. But this software works better when integrated with another workflow management and automation software like Comindware Tracker. When you integrate these two powerful pieces of software, you get everything you need to run an efficient, safe, and secure business process, regardless of its level of complication.

You can use the software to easily create custom workspaces where relevant parties can gather to communicate and share information. You can also use these tools to create custom notifications that are sent to relevant parties via email, SMS, or even within the workspace itself. This helps ensure that processes and issues are addressed in a timely fashion and with care.

You can also use this software to help automate a range of processes for your business. This further enhances the efficiency by which your business operates. But more than that, it frees up employees to focus on more important aspects of business functions. Since it is automated, it also reduces the possibility of human error. No matter how diligent we are, we are human and prone to mistakes. In a business process, this can be a huge problem. When you automate these processes, you take the potential for human error out of the equation.

The ability to integrate powerful tools like Comindware Tracker into Salesforce is a great way to get the most out of your tools and set your business up for success.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Is Creative Workflow Evil?

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 14:24:51 +0000

Creative project management is a difficult and complicated part of any business structure. The creative staff doesn’t necessarily work in a structured, organized way, and trying to shoehorn these employees into a standardized way of doing things can create tensions and problems. So, we have to ask ourselves, is creative project management evil? What are the upsides and downsides and should we utilize these strategies within our own companies?

Let’s take a look at these questions in a bit more detail.

Creative Workflow Management Benefits

Before we touch on the benefits of creative workflow management, let’s quickly define what creative workflow management even is. This refers to a process whereby the creative elements of the business (writing articles, creating logos or designs, making videos) are structured into a process that can be broken down into individual steps. This allows creative managers the ability to better oversee the creative employees and help keep their endeavors within the framework of the developed process.

Creative workers often strive to create the best content that meets the needs of the business and provides something of value for the customer. Given the nature of perfectionism, it can make it difficult for the creative to let a project go. The ability to set a hard deadline can reduce the issues with a project never being done.

Creative management helps ensure that content is delivered on time, within the allocated budget, and that it also meets the needs of the client.

There is also transparency in creative workflow management that gives all parties a clear understanding of what is expected of them and when. It creates a goal of the creative end product and defines the steps that will need to be taken to achieve said goals.

The Downsides of Creative Workflow Management

The downsides of this may be fairly easy to see. Creatives, by their nature, do not work within a rigid framework in the same way as most other workers. They may feel stifled if there are too many rules, steps, reports, and the like. If you choose to use creative workflow management, you will need to find a way to balance their need for creative freedom with the ability to produce creative work in a timely manner that meets the needs of the business.

Many creative employees don’t like standardized and report-heavy work and following an organized workflow requires regular communication, reporting on progress, and the like. Many creatives feel that this constant reporting reduces their ability to concentrate on the creative work assigned to them, interrupting their creative process.

Creatives also often have trouble with meeting rigid timelines and goals as for many, creative work isn’t something that can be done in as structured of a way as other forms of work. This doesn’t mean they cannot take direction and meet deadlines, but there shouldn’t be an excessive amount of management interference with the actual creative process if possible.

The Verdict

So, knowing the main pros and cons of creative workflow management, we return to our initial question: is it evil? The frustrating answer is it depends. If the creative workflow management isn’t designed with input from the creatives or is too rigid for them to be able to perform their creative endeavors, then yes, it is evil because it stifles the creative and ultimately makes them less able to provide for the company what they need.

However, if the creative workflow management is well designed and takes into account the varied needs and abilities of the creative workers, it can be a great way to help keep creatives on task and also provide a way to better oversee this content production in a way that ensures the timely and budget-appropriate provision of creative content. Creative workflows can be created using workflow management software, such as that offered by Comindware, which allows you to customize and automate many aspects of the process.

Get a 30-day trial!

Whether or not this is something you will want to implement into your workplace will depend on the type of work you do as well as the creative talent you have on staff. Understanding the pros and cons and how to make the best of this management style will give you the information you need to know whether this is something you should introduce to your workplace or not.

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

4 Workflow Solutions to Try in 2021

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 14:38:41 +0000

Workflow solutions are software suites that help with improving and optimizing a range of different business processes. The main way this occurs is through the standardization of workflows. Not only does this software help to create standards by which future processes can be created, but it will also automate many functions, furthering the efficiency of the process.

Software like Comindware provides is a low-code workflow management platform that doesn’t require an in-depth knowledge of coding and technical aspects to use the software. With workflow software like this, you can build custom workflow apps that meet the specific needs of the work done by a company. You can use this software to digitize a range of business functions as well as creating customized workflows that meet the varied needs of your business.

Workflow Solution Recommendations

Meeting Prep

One of the biggest benefits of workflow solutions is the ability to use the software to create pre-meeting preparation. This will allow you to create a meeting agenda that can guide your meeting. It will help to ensure that you cover the topics that need to be addressed, without a lot of wasted time spent due to lack of planning.

Many workflow solutions will allow you to integrate into various calendar software so that dates and agenda are automatically updated and shared with the necessary parties.

Exiting Employees

Whenever an employee leaves, for whatever reason – be it to move to another job opportunity or to retire – there is a range of tasks that need to happen in the process of their exit from the company.

This might involve things like revoking access to certain software suites or accounts. It will also involve the deletion of certain accounts and the moving of records. It may also entail things like turning in equipment provided to the employee.

Using workflow solutions to create a check-list and automate revoking permissions and requesting the return of hardware can help make the process a bit less frustrating.

Overtime Pay Management

Overtime pay is an important part of human resources and payroll. One thing employees don’t like is having to contact numerous people to ensure that their overtime actually gets paid. Workflow solutions can allow employees to initiate the overtime process of approval.

An app that allows the employee to request overtime can then calculate what they are owed and automatically pass it on to the payroll department for approval. This helps to reduce the amount of time it takes for employees to get paid and provides a transparent process.

Workflow management software by Comindware makes it a span to build your own process and get it automated.

Get a 30-day trial!

Party Scheduling

You can use workflow solutions to automate the planning of company birthday parties. This can be done by creating an automated process that sends requests for cash collection for gifts, assigning people to get cake or cards and set up a time for all the employees to get together without interfering with schedules.

This solution is also a great way to handle various holiday and other company-wide gatherings that may occur throughout the year. You can use the software to create reminders and to schedule these events at times that are suitable to all the employees at the company, helping to ensure that nobody is left out because of scheduling difficulties.

In Closing

Workflow solutions are powerful ideas that allow you to use new technologies and tools to automate as many aspects of your business as possible. There are plenty of obvious places where workflow solutions provide benefit to a company, but there are also other areas of business operation that can benefit from automation and other workflow solutions.

First and foremost, you can use workflow solutions to create well-planned and efficient meetings. You can create automated reminders and send out checklists or agendas that show participants the topics to be covered in a given meeting. Workflow solutions can also help streamline the process of an employee leaving the company, whether it involves removing permissions or ensuring the return of company equipment.

You can use this software to create applications and other processes that allow employees a more transparent and efficient way of managing things like overtime pay. This will ensure that the entire process of requesting overtime is transparent and timely. These solutions are also useful for scheduling any number of gatherings, from birthday parties to company-wide holiday parties.

Using a comprehensive suite of software tools like Comindware Tracker you all the benefits of management and development, in a single platform. You can use this software to create and manage workflows and implement new solutions with ease.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Procurement Contract Approval Process

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 14:20:15 +0000

The contract approval process is vital but sometimes complicated, but it is incredibly important to have a solid, easy-to-understand process. This ensures that everyone has access to the same information and is on the same proverbial page. Not only does this help keep employees on track, but it also improves the efficiency of the entire process.

Common Issues with Contract Approvals

Most often, contract approvals are still done manually. Any process that is done manually will be less efficient than those that can be automated using the software. When you manage your contract approvals manually, other involved parties may not have access to any information about the approval process. What this does is leave important parties out of the loop and unsure of where in the process of approval a given contract is. Some contracts and processes are more important than others. When they are done manually, vital time can be lost.

Another problem with doing this manually is that there is often missing information. When you automate something, you have a solid trail that allows for an audit after the fact. When you do these things manually, this isn’t the case.

Using procurement management and automation solution allows you to streamline and increase the efficiency and transparency of the process. CMW Lab low-code workflow management software makes it easy for to build your own procurement management solution quickly and make sure that every element of your procurement process is managed properly and work flows effectively. Countless companies around the world use this software to streamline and improve the transparency of the procurement process.

Benefits of Automation

The procurement process, or the process whereby materials and resources are gathered, is one of the most important parts of any business. It is what allows you to provide timely and reliable service to your clients or customers. Automated processes make this entire process far more efficient and streamlined. Software that provides a dashboard for all relevant employees allows all parties to see where in the process a contract approval is. They can get vital information about the processes and use this information for future strategic planning and business goals.

Today, transparency is incredibly important in any type of business. You need to have the ability to document the entire process of a contract or procurement. With a dashboard, you can see where in the process the contract is and whose desk it is sitting on. This lets you know who to contact if you need to speed up the process.

Not only does transparency help guide the approval process and make it go more quickly. It also allows for auditing. Most processes have room for improvement and the ability to track a contract from start to approval can give you an idea as to where you can improve efficiency and reliability.

Many suites of software have drag and drop features that make the entire process visual and allows parties to see how the flow of the approval works. A visual representation of the process gives all parties involved the ability to see how every step works. This makes it easier to understand where in the approval process a given contract is. It can also give administrators and other ideas of how to improve efficiency and reduce the time it takes to approve procurement contracts.

Get your procurement contract approval workflow and other processes automated with drag-and-drop simplicity.

Get a 30-day trial!

In Closing

Some parts of business operations are fundamental to the running of the entire business. The procurement process is just one of these fundamentals. All companies need resources and materials to operate, even if what they provide isn’t a tangible product. This means that there will be contracts with suppliers, utility providers, and the like. This is a process in itself and hiccups in this process can slow down business and reduce the efficiency of the entire operation.

Manually handling procurements or other contracts is an archaic and inefficient way to handle these processes. It isn’t transparent and it can make the process take a lot longer than it needs to be by creating unnecessary bottlenecks. Software suites such as those offered by CMW Lab, allow a business to increase the efficiency and transparency of the procurement process.

With this software, you can completely automate the process. There is a dashboard that all relevant parties can access where they get a visual understanding of the entire process, who is involved, and where in the process each contract is. This can let employees know who to contact to move the process along or to find ways that the entire process can be improved and made more efficient. Having this trail of activity makes it easier to audit and further improve this process.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Organizational Structure and Workflow Design

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 11:59:02 +0000

Workflow design and analysis are two things that will go hand in hand in managing business functions, planning, and goals. It is imperative to understand how a task is completed, the steps that are involved, as well as the parties that are assigned, said tasks.

The organizational structure breaks down labor within an organization. This may be into teams or different departments and this information can be incredibly useful in helping create a more efficient and thoughtful workflow design that will improve productivity and outcomes.

What is the Relationship Between Organizational Structure and Workflow?

It can be said that workflow analysis and design are the microelements of the more macro-organizational structure. Let’s break this down a little more.

There are horizontal and vertical organizational structures. These will denote the relationships between departments and management within each department.

The people who power the organizational structure are the people who will be relied upon to carry out workflows for various business functions. It allows management to better streamline operations, reduce redundancy in tasks, and create greater transparency in responsibility and reporting chains.

All businesses have a division of labor that denotes different specialties, responsibilities, and levels of authority. A good structure has all labor well organized into groups or departments that can then be subdivided to work on particular projects or tasks. These smaller groups will then report their work and result back up the chain.

Since workflows will often entail interdependencies between different parts of the organizational structure, you will need a good workflow design and this can best be handled through the implementation of well-developed workflow automation software. Offerings like CMW Tracker give you a wide range of options that let you customize the software and use the tools to design efficient and logical workflows that will help you complete projects and reach goals easier.

Types of Organizational Structures

There are a few main types of organizational structure: functional, divisional, hybrid, and matrix-like, and oriented-process structures. Let’s take a brief look at each of these in turn.

A functional structure delegates processes to employees or team members that handle related tasks. For a workplace that has a stable workforce, this is a great way to organize routines that make organizing tasks easier and more efficient.

Divisional structures involve grouping people or tasks based on factors like the product or service being developed or the region of the world or country they are working in. This will group people based on a product or location.

A hybrid structure is one in which both product/service and location are used in developing the division of labor in the organization.

Matrix-like structures use both functional and divisional structures at the same time. This generally means that a lower employee will report to both a function and product manager.

Finally, oriented-process structures provide the most versatile way to manage organizational structure. Units work together towards a common project goal and are categorized as such.

In Closing

The type of organizational structure you use will depend on the nature of your business. However, whichever type of structure ends up working best for you, will help create a workable division of labor that dictates who works on what task and also determines the reporting and authority chain. This division of labor can also make it easier to create thoughtful workflow designs that utilize technology and organizational know-how to better organize the company and ensure that tasks are completed in an effective and efficient manner.

Workflow management software by CMW Lab makes it a snap to design your own workflows and automate them quickly.

Get a 30-day trial!

Designing a quality workflow that takes into account the varied nature of your particular organizational structure will help ensure that you complete the project faster, the correct parties are involved and in the proverbial loop about where a project stands and what is expected of them. Utilizing workflow automation software in this process can further reduce the amount of time spent on redundant or time-consuming tasks and can help a company become better organized and develop strategies that help them more effectively reach their goals.

Businesses that understand the complex, but important relationship between organizational structure and workflow design can use this information to develop a more logical and useful organizational structure and develop workflow strategies that will best prepare employees to reach strategic goals and plans.

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Timesheet Management Basics

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 13:34:18 +0000

Keeping track of employee hours – when they arrive at work, when they leave, when they take breaks – is a big part of business management. This is why so many businesses rely on timesheets of varying forms and have done so for many decades. This not only helps human resources manage payroll, but it also helps track employee attendance and more.

What Are Timesheets?

Timesheets come in a variety of shapes and forms, but in essence, they are information tables that document when an employee arrives at work and when they leave. If necessary, breaks may also be documented on timesheets as well. In the old days, timesheets were often manually managed, using a sheet of paper and pen.

As technology adapted, timesheets became things like punch-in cards or digital systems that employees could log into from the workplace. Fast forward today and many businesses manage timesheets digitally.

In addition to daily hours, timesheets may also be used to track how many hours a person or group of people spends on a particular task. You may use timesheets to evaluate a new project for analytic purposes or for payroll purposes.

Using a consistent timesheet provides a wide range of benefits for businesses and employees alike. It allows the employee to ensure all hours worked are paid. For the business owners, it can help the business meet deadlines and stay on budget.

Advantages of Timesheets

While we touched briefly on the basic benefits of timesheets, let’s take a closer look at some of the key benefits, including time-saving, improved project management, and payroll transparency.

Using software to manage employee timesheets is a fast and effective way to manage employee work hours as well as tracking how long a project takes to get to completion. There is software that can allow you to create digital, easy-to-use timesheets that are easily accessible to employees and human resources.

Tracking the number of hours employees spend on a project can better help you manage the overall project. It can help you predict how long a project should take and help ensure that you meet deadlines. Knowing where each person is on a project and how long they have spent can help management find ways that they can improve the efficiency of future projects.

When you use a standardized, easily accessible means for employees to track their hours, there is peace of mind that the process is transparent and employees can trust that an hour worked will be an hour paid. Employees that feel the payroll process is transparent and fair helps improve overall morale.

In Closing

In various aspects of business, streamlining, digitizing, and automating are great ways to improve the efficiency and transparency of your operations. You can automate a wide range of your business functions and adapt them to better manage things like timesheet approval or payroll using workflow management software like Comindware Tracker. When it comes to employee management, timesheets are a highly-effective way to provide an efficient and transparent way to handle payroll as well as track productivity.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Comindware Tracker Named Best Business Process Management Software of 2021

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 09:26:28 +0000

The company was highlighted among the most flexible solutions for modeling, managing, and measuring business processes

Foxboro, MA – June 04, 2021 – Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services, has named Comindware Tracker among the best business process management (BPM) software of 2021. The top systems were selected based on three main criteria and customer feedback.

Comindware Tracker and other software solutions were required to provide third-party integration tools and detailed reports. Experts at Digital.com evaluated platforms with process mapping, modeling, and automation features. These tools are designed to manage business processes, redistribute resources, and modify tasks to fit each project.

Digital.com’s research team conducted a 40-hour assessment of over 130 solutions. To access the complete list of best business process management software, please visit The Best Small Business Software, Service, and Technology Reviews.

ABOUT DIGITAL.COM

Digital.com reviews and compares the best products, services, and software for running or growing a small business website or online shop. The platform collects twitter comments and uses sentiment analysis to score companies and their products. Digital.com was founded in 2015 and formerly known as Review Squirrel.

6 Healthcare Workflow Automation Benefits

Mon, 31 May 2021 11:45:27 +0000

One of the most important elements of the healthcare market is the ability to transmit up-to-date, accurate data to the necessary parties in a timely manner. The ability to effectively provide information is part and parcel of creating more successful and positive health outcomes and will improve overall patient care.

As businesses move more fully to electronic health records, more and more important patient information is stored digitally. This means that, unlike the days of paper files, the information can be easily and quickly transmitted to other health professionals, providing patients with more timely care and better outcomes.

The ability to quickly transmit vital health information not only needs to be done in a timely manner, but it must also be secure. There is very personal and sensitive information that is required, by law, to be kept protected and secure.

There are many different workflows that deal with the management of patient health information and electronic health records. This means that these workflows can be effectively automated, which can improve efficiency, and even increase the amount of revenue a healthcare provider brings in.

6 Benefits of Healthcare Workflow Automation

Workflow automation tools provide a wide range of benefits. Tools like Comindware’s workflow automation software can increase the efficiency and flexibility of your healthcare operations. Let’s take a look at six of the biggest benefits.

Improved Patient Communication

Automating elements of healthcare such as setting appointments, sending reminders, and automating prescription refills help keep the patient current and on their health journey. Reminders are known to reduce the number of missed appointments and also helps to make sure that patients use proper medication practices.

The ability to improve communications without the need for actual people making phone calls is a great benefit for healthcare institutions.

Better Patient Outcomes

Automating many elements of patient records will help keep these records current with the patient’s latest health information. This can include things like automatically uploading test results, which get to the doctor faster, so they can make faster and more informed decisions.

Pathway can integrate seamlessly into these workflows, providing clinicians with quick access to relevant guidelines and algorithms, further enhancing patient care.

There is analytics that comes with automation software that can be useful at identifying patients that may not be following their health guidance so that the doctor knows who may need additional services.

Easier Scheduling

Using software that automates appointments and keeps schedules current will help ensure that there are fewer scheduling conflicts. With the ability to automate reminders, staff responsible for scheduling have to make fewer calls while still ensuring that patients get much-needed appointment reminders.

Reduce Billing Errors

Automation can increase the speed at which payments can be collected. Software that provides reminders to patients that bills are due saves the staff time that would otherwise be spent making these reminders calls or messages. There are ways to help group patient billing to help reduce discrepancies like overcharging or undercharging for services. From the healthcare business’s viewpoint, workflow automation systems can also offer significant benefits. A quick glance at the revenue cycle management definition shows that automation is essential to streamline the entire financial process and track patient care episodes. Besides saving time and boosting the patient experience, these systems are necessary to ensure that your healthcare business remains financially stable and hit its triple bottom line.

Ability to Verify Insurance

Automating your healthcare processes can also help improve the ability to verify patients’ insurance information and correctly determine their copay so it can be collected at the time of service.

Automate Coding and More

Automatic coding will help improve the efficiency by which claims can be made to insurance companies and payments rendered. Having the proper codes will reduce the issues with being denied payment, verifications, and can actually reduce the amount of time from bill to payment, which reduces the lifecycle of a bill.

Billing submissions that are automated also ensure that the process starts immediately and improves the ability of the healthcare provider to collect on services rendered.

In Closing

The field of healthcare is rapidly digitizing and the implementation of automation software can further help improve the efficiency with which a healthcare institution operates, and can also improve patient outcomes and experience as well.

Workflow automation software can greatly improve patient communication and health outcomes. The ability to automate reminders to patients about upcoming appointments and medication refill reminders help reduce the number of missed appointments and improves the patient’s following of prescription practices.

This software can help healthcare institutions to deal with fewer scheduling conflicts without the input of front office staff.

Automation can also help to reduce billing errors. It can help to verify insurance so proper copies can be collected immediately. It can also help ensure that insurance companies are provided with accurate information for quicker resolution of bills.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

An Executive’s Guide to Business Optimization

Wed, 19 May 2021 10:35:55 +0000

The phrase “business optimization” may mean different things to different people. For many, any process or tactic that is used to help streamline a company, such as the implementation of workflow automation software such as that offered by Comindware.

For others, however, they have something more specific in mind. Business optimization, in this sense, is a step-by-step process that helps you reach strategic goals while cutting waste in the process.

Important Steps in Quality Business Optimization

There are a few steps that will help you develop a more streamlined business that is efficient and well-tuned towards meeting specific goals. Waste is reduced and there is a definable process by which this takes place.

Firstly, you will want to create a solid platform of analytics tools. Data is incredibly important and will guide processes and decision-making in various processes. You need to make sure that all parties are working with the same, accurate, and up-to-date information.

Without quality data that is current and accurate, it is hard to make sure that any plans you create are solid and actionable. Not only do you need quality, accurate data, you need the tools that allow you to make sense of all this data.

Next, you will want to determine which data matters. Which data informs performance? There are performance indicators that might be specific to your industry. You will need to be able to sift through a mass amount of data and determine which numbers matter and which don’t.

You will want to develop both long- and short-term plans and goals. In order to have successful business optimization, you need testable and actionable goals. Your short-term goals may help you reach your long-term goals or they may be separate from overall strategic goals.

A key to business optimization is the ability to be flexible in pursuing specific goals. Some goals may not really help you reach your long-term goals and thus may be wasteful uses of your time and resources. You will need to be able to shift resources and time to be able to focus on goals that will get you closer to your long-term goal.

Another key element of optimization is using the data you have to make changes and improvements to your long-term and short-term goals and plans. While we may have quality data that allows us to make solid plans, as we put the process into action, we may be faced with new information that requires us to change our process or tactics.

One of the key benefits of business optimization is that it makes you more efficient, yet flexible. In an ever-changing world of business, that is always integrating new data and technologies, having a static, unchangeable set of goals is not realistic.

A business needs to be able to adjust and optimize workflows in order to reach operational excellence, stay relevant and able to compete with other businesses. The one thing that is hard to plan for, but needs to be planned for, is flexibility. Your business has to have the ability to make adjustments and changes on the fly when data presents itself that warrants these actions.

Comindware Tracker makes it easy to design your own workflows, automate them and optimize on-the-fly.

Get a 30-day trial!

In Closing

It is helpful to understand what all is entailed in real business optimization. Knowing the different steps and elements you should focus on will help guide your optimization to help you get the most out of your efforts.

This process is highly data-driven and with the use of new technologies, you can use current, accurate data to help guide your planning and decision-making processes. It will help your business to develop and reach both short- and long-term goals and allow your business to remain flexible and versatile, which is so important to the business of the future.

With the integration of technologies and tweaking of your data and processes, you can be sure that the data you are using is accurate and current, which will better help you in your goal planning and decision-making processes. You must determine what data and metrics are the most important parts of meeting your stated goals and how you can tweak and optimize other processes to help you reach these goals. The idea is to improve your ability to take data and make actionable plans that will move your business closer to your goals.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Comindware Tracker Named Best Workflow Management Software Company of 2021

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 10:49:06 +0000

The company was recognized among the most effective solutions for automating and streamlining routine business processes.

Foxboro, MA – April 21, 2021 – Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services, has named Comindware Tracker to its list of the best workflow management software companies of 2021. The highly rated platforms were selected based on three key criteria.

Comindware Tracker and other solutions were expected to support integration with file storage systems, communication apps, and other tools. Research experts at Digital.com evaluated systems with core features, such as customizable dashboards, task management, and calendar management. The final list prioritized systems with reporting tools to help users assess and improve their workflow management practices.

Digital.com’s research team conducted a 40-hour assessment of over 120 solutions. To access the complete list of best workflow management software, please visit The Best Small Business Software, Service, and Technology Reviews.

ABOUT DIGITAL.COM

Workflow Optimization as a Key to Operational Excellence

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:22:34 +0000

Workflow processes are part and parcel to every successful business. This is where you document and clarify basic steps in a given process so as to find ways to improve efficiency or to troubleshoot for errors. Finding ways to do task “x” in less time, with fewer errors, and with fewer human labor hours involved can really streamline the way a larger, more complex process runs, as well as reduces redundancy and the potential for error.

The whole business operation can be broken down into processes or sets of tasks that are required to complete a particular step in a larger process and move on to the next. It can be a bit tricky to visualize these at first, but once you get started, you will likely always be thinking in steps to find ways that a system can run more smoothly or reduce the likelihood of bottlenecks somewhere in the process.

Workflow optimization is the process of going through already existing processes to find ways to increase efficiency and reduce the potential for delays or errors. For larger businesses that already have a ton of processes in place, this can seem incredibly daunting and out of the question, but it really is important to the overall success of the enterprise. The truth of the matter is that you should always be looking for ways to improve workflow processes to make them more seamless.

Workflow Optimization

Though this sounds like a daunting task, there is actually some great software out there, such as offered by Comindware, that can be used to automate workflow optimization and reduce the need for human input in the process. Optimization of processes will improve the efficiency of the process, increase transparency, reduce the risk for error, allow all employees more of a stake in the process, and can even simplify the adoption of new processes or routines.

Since workflow can involve a number of steps and seemingly-unrelated processes, it might seem like using software to manage this would be pretty complicated and require a decent amount of technical knowhow, but this isn’t the case. It should be stated that some automation and workflow software does have a bit higher of a learning curve than others, but there are plenty of options that allow even those without tech-savvy to utilize the program.

Benefits to Workflow Optimization

Machine learning has improved to the point where the software is intelligent and can learn with time and experience, much like a person, thus making it an incredibly powerful and useful tool. When properly configured, it can make real-time decisions on whether or not to move a process forward. You can use this software to manage a range of complicated tasks with ease.

Even if you work in an industry that will require some human input to move a task forward (say, for example, a person needs to ensure the safety of a process before moving on to the next step), workflow automation software is designed to handle this and will notify the appropriate parties when the process reaches a point where human input is needed. Computerized tasks are very simple to automate and with cloud-based solutions, the information can be accessed anytime, from anywhere.

Get your workflows automated within days, not months, and enjoy better team productivity.

Get a 30-day trial!

Considerations for Choosing Workflow Software

A well-designed set of workflow optimization tools can even integrate software and other systems within its processes, allowing you to automate and more easily manage outside software or other systems. These systems can improve coordination between departments and even outside resources that may be stakeholders in a given process. With a bit of experience, you can maximize the ability to integrate with other software suites and stakeholders.

Not all workflow optimization software is created equal though. Some are easier to use than others, so the skill level of the people expected to use the software needs to be kept in mind when determining which solution to go with. It will need to have the ability to integrate with all the important systems within your organization and to make real-time decisions that might slow down a process and leave room for error. The software will have great data analytic tools that allow users to monitor the progress of a given process as well as to make strategic plans and decisions based on the information provided by the software.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Complete Basics of Business Process Management (BPM) Software

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:18:26 +0000

In today’s world of business, it isn’t enough to have an excellent product or idea, or a well-run company, you also have to provide timely, accurate, and actionable information that allows a company to plan for the future. This means that business professionals must be flexible to new techniques and technologies that can better help them stand apart from the proverbial crowd and keep their business running as efficiently and smoothly as possible.

What is BPM?

Business process management (BPM) is a set of methods that are used to model, measure, analyze, and perhaps, even automate various processes within a given business. In essence, it refers to the methods people use to develop, monitor, and manage different processes.

This can be done in many ways and can be rigidly structured or highly variable. While this doesn’t have to include the implementation of new technologies, it most often does in the form of automation software or machine learning and AI-based software that can help improve efficiency and reduce errors or redundancy.

The basic idea is to have a proper model of a given business process in order to streamline and automate the process so as to relieve employees of repetitive data entry tasks and to maximize the efficiency by which the business operates.

There is a business process lifecycle that includes designing a given process, modeling potential outcomes, executing the implementation of said process, monitoring the success or failure of said process, and optimizing the process when new information is provided that shows where weaknesses may lie.

All BPM is designed to do is to help improve the usefulness and applicability of processes and to ensure that they run smoothly, efficiently, and provide useful metrics and data that can be used to improve processes.

BPMS (BPM software): What’s Inside?

As we noted above, if you utilize automation technologies or other software, you can design a detailed, step-by-step list of every step within a given process. By mapping out the various steps involved in managing and implementing a process, you are likely to see areas where the process can be improved, find areas that need to have a troubleshooting session, and find ways to make the process more efficient.

When using BPM software, there are four steps that you will take and each of these is important. These steps are modeling, automating, managing, and optimizing a process. It will be helpful for us to take a look at each of these steps in turn.

Modeling

This is one of the most important steps in the business practice management field. This is where a process is broken down into individual steps. This will involve making assumptions about the use of time or resources, which can then be tried out and improved if necessary.

Once a process has been fully mapped, you will have a better idea of what type of resources and time will need to be dedicated to a process. Having a detailed breakdown of the process can also show you ways in which you can better streamline the process and can also show you where potential issues might come into play.

Automating

Repetitive tasks are not much fun for employees and they leave too much room open for human error. With the powerful new software, processes that were managed manually can be automated. This frees up human resources for other projects and tasks that require more sophisticated and complex thinking.

We also know that a human being is more prone to mistakes than a machine and a machine can do rote tasks like repetitive data entry far faster than a human can. There are tons of ways that you can easily implement automation functions into your business processes.

Say, for example, you have a form on your website that is used to collect various pieces of customer data. This process can easily be automated using workflow automation software and can provide advanced metrics in addition to saving employees tons of time that would otherwise be spent on repetitive data entry or data collection.

Management

Once a process is implemented, this doesn’t mean the work is done. There are always factors that escaped notice in modeling. Sometimes issues aren’t found until a process goes live and actual customers or employees are interacting with the new software.

You can gain really important insights and understanding during the management process. The data can be used for strategic planning and setting business goals, it can be used to find ways to better design a process, and it can also help you see what processes are effective and which need work.

Comindware Tracker empowers people without coding skills to design and automate workflows with ease.

Get a 30-day trial!

It is important to understand that no matter how well your initial model was created, there are going to be factors that weren’t considered or that don’t come up until a process is live and has been implemented. This is just part of the process of developing better and more efficient processes for the future.

This part of BPM is incredibly important as it gives you access to invaluable data that can be used in planning and setting goals. It can also show you how effective or ineffective a given process is and this will give you the opportunity to improve the process and provide a better experience for all parties involved.

Optimization

You get a lot of information and data during the management and monitoring part of BPM and this information is incredibly valuable for shaping future decisions and coming up with ways to better optimize processes that are already in use.

Looking at the data provided through monitoring and management, as well as taking into account any issues or problems that have been found in a given process will give you the tools and information you need to make necessary changes that will improve the efficiency and value of the process.

Sometimes we will find redundancies, errors, or holes in our process that are bogging things down. At this stage in BPM, you can take the information gleaned during the other steps in the process to improve the process and troubleshoot problem areas for improvement as well.

Optimization is an ongoing process that really never ends. Things change, problems come up, we find inefficiencies, and our job during this part of the BPM process is to take all the information we are given and turn that into actionable and useful tips or ideas on how to improve part of all of a given business process.

What are the benefits of BPM software?

Using BPM software, tools, or strategies confers many benefits to a company. These tools can help the company better reach its business goals and create more value in the processes they utilize. The key goal of BPM is to create efficient, useful, and workable processes that provide value for the customer and that make management and optimization a priority.

With BPM, you can focus on the lifecycle of a business process and better see how you can use technology and other strategies to improve the efficiency and value of the process for all parties involved.

These tools allow for flexibility, which is important for a future with unknown technologies and that is ever-changing. Today’s business management strategies must be flexible and nimble, able to be adapted to the changing needs of customers and businesses, as well as the use of new technologies.

Along with the invaluable data and future scaling that is made possible by solid BPM strategies, other benefits include:

The integration of third-party technologies into the web of already used technologies, creating more options, choices, and different management controls that can be scaled as needed.

Reduce the amount of money that is spent on redundant data entry and other processes that could be automated at a far less expensive cost. Cost reduction can also help to facilitate growth and make it possible to reach strategic planning goals.

BPM gives employees in various departments access to and a voice in the development of processes and how to fix any problems that may arise. Having more minds involved means you are more likely to get positive contributions and enhance the business value of the entire process.

Using solid BPM also allows you to be flexible in the face of changes. Laws, rules, norms, and regulations are always changing and so a business process that is static is one that will quickly become obsolete. With flexible BPM, you can easily update your processes in light of new rules, laws, or regulations, allowing you to stay in compliance without having to completely rewrite all your processes.

BPM Software features above basic

When deciding which BPM software suite of tools will work best for you, you will need to take into account the features that are offered within the software suite. BPM and automation tools come in a lot of shapes and sizes, with different features and levels of functionality. These software suites can be expensive, so you want to make sure you are getting a product that provides you with the tools you need before you expend the money. Let’s take a look at some of the most important features in BPM software that you should look for when choosing the best choice for your business.

Visual Tools

One of the biggest benefits of quality BPM software is the ability to use said software without having a background in IT or a detailed understanding of coding and other backend skills. The idea is that people from various departments can utilize these tools and bring their unique knowledge and understanding of the development of processes. Unless you plan on making IT the exclusive party that will manage BPM, having a software suite that can be utilized, even by those without a ton of technical skill, is a great idea.

Drag and Drop Designer

This is a bit of a continuance of the above principle. The easier a piece of software is to use, the more people can use it and the more effective it is likely to be. Choosing software that has an easy-to-use interface and utilizes tools like drag and drop features simplifies the process and doesn’t create a steep learning curve for the ability to use it.

Mobility

More and more people work remotely or on the road and for this reason, you may need software that can be easily accessed, regardless of where you are. Cloud-based software solutions can be a great way to implement BPM and allow employees access to the tools, even if they aren’t physically in the building.

Metrics and Analytics

Perhaps as important as the ability to automate and streamline processes is the data and metrics you get with many of these suites of software. Enhanced data analytics can make compliance reporting and basic reporting far easier than ever before. The information can also show you where inefficiencies or problems may lie, or what processes are working well, and how you can take what you learned from creating one process and apply it to others.

Integration

Most companies are already using a range of software tools for other parts of their business operation. The implementation of BPM software should not mean that all other software is now obsolete. There are a lot of great BPM tools that can easily be integrated into third-party systems, allowing you to essentially add on tools without having to learn or implement an entirely new operating structure.

Adaptation

Some processes will be pretty straightforward and cut and dry whereas others will require flexibility and cannot be rigidly structured. This is where adaptive case management features can be very helpful as they provide enhanced features that give you a range of solutions that can help you better manage unique or non-traditional processes.

Data and Document Management Tools

Today’s business is inundated with more information and data than ever before and is expected to process, analyze, and manage that data as soon as it arrives. With individual people managing data, this is next to impossible and if you can’t work fast, you are likely to be left behind. This is why this is such an important part of any quality BPM software package.

You need to choose software that can handle a large volume of data and can manage it in an effective and efficient way so that it is accessible when and where it is needed. This data can be an invaluable resource for improving business processes and troubleshooting, but it ceases to be useful if it is in a jumbled and unorganized mess.

Role-based Controls

Since security is a vital part of any business process, and many people may need access to the software for a variety of reasons, you want to choose software that has good security protocols. A lot of software allows you to provide access based on roles, giving only advanced access to those employees who need it.

This can help ensure we are following data security protocols and will keep unnecessary parties away from private or sensitive data.

Ability to Collaborate

Chances are, to get the most out of BPM software, you are going to need parties from a number of different departments to work together to create a solid business process. The ability to collaborate within the software will reduce the problems with communication that are entailed when having to move from platform to platform to perform a task or ask a question.

One-time Process Capability

While much of what you use BPM software for will be more detailed processes, some aspects cannot really be called processes but they are important nonetheless. These smaller projects may still need to be adapted and streamlined and having a suite of software tools that can also help with the management of separate, one-time projects, is also incredibly helpful.

BPM Software evaluation checklist

When choosing the BPM software that will work best for your company and its individual needs, it is helpful to ask yourself a number of questions. These will help you narrow down your options and choose the suite of software that will fit your budget and needs.

What goals are you trying to achieve by implementing this software?
How much money are you approved to spend on a suite of software tools?
Are you looking for on-site or cloud-based BPM solutions?
Do you want a fully paid version, a free version, software with free trials, or an open-sourced, fully free suite of tools?
Have you considered all the costs associated with the software such as hosting or monthly fees?
Are your customers experiencing difficulty with any aspect of your business operation and can these tools solve the said problem?
How long does it take the software to pay for itself, are there other customers that use the software and have had success?
What level of technological aptitude do the people who will be tasked with using the software have?
Can the software be scaled?
Will you need to train employees on how to use the software and how much effort will this take?
Have you looked at customer reviews, especially with an eye towards customer support after purchase?

Comindware Tracker difference

Comindware Tracker provides a wide range of tools that will help improve efficiency and allow departments to work more effectively with one another to develop, monitor, and improve a given business process. This software suite provides a variety of tools that will help automate processes, make interconnectedness far more manageable, and improve the efficiency of all processes.

The software allows for:

setting up workflows without the need for IT help or advanced technological know-how
easy changes to processes, workflows, and forms
Outlook-style interface for ease of use
advanced and unified data and document management solutions
enhanced analytics for reporting and optimizing workflows and processes
your choice between on-site or cloud-based deployment solutions

This powerful suite of tools makes it easier than ever before to improve workflow management, automate various processes, and provide for better BPM so as to improve efficiency, provide flexibility, and reduce overhead.

Get a 30-day trial!

In Conclusion

Business process management (BPM) is an important concept that should be implemented into any company, large or small. BPM refers to the methods or strategies that are used to model, analyze, manage, and adapt a given business process for enhanced efficiency and utility.

Each process a business undertakes involves a series of steps that are required to implement the said process. BPM involves detailing these steps and finding ways to help better streamline these processes, to automate them, and analyze changes to help continue to improve a given process.

In today’s business environment, being efficient and flexible are part and parcel of success. This is why it can be so valuable to implement BPM tools and strategies that will give you better metrics for analysis, improve the efficiency of business processes, and make it easier to comply with ever-changing laws and regulations with far more ease than would otherwise be possible.

BPM software can provide a powerful range of tools that allows a business to optimize, monitor, and adapt a business process based on key metrics and user input. This software comes in many shapes and sizes, with different features, levels of sophistication, and more.

Investing in BPM software is a great way to improve the efficiency of your business and to better prepare you for an increasingly technology-reliant future. It can be helpful to choose software that can be used by the average employee, that features an intuitive interface that has drag and drop features, and other tools that allow those without a ton of IT skill to participate in using the software.

You want to make sure that the software provides high-quality analytics that can provide you with data that will guide actionable changes and allow you to better reach your strategic goals.

More sophisticated software will also have tools that are meant for more flexible, less rigid processes, that cannot be defined in a step-by-step manner, with all elements of the process entailed. This can be really helpful for the future, where flexibility and the ability to alter plans or processes on the fly is so important.

Buying BPM software is an investment, so you want to make sure that you know what it is, what features you are looking for, and what aspects of this technology are most important to you when trying to choose the software that will work best for you. Take a look at your business processes, the people who will be involved in implementing and managing said processes, and this will help guide you towards the right software for the specific needs of your business.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

5 Tips for Effective Release Management Process

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:07:42 +0000

The development of any process, whether it be a new user interface or the development of backend technology that makes data collection and collation easier, requires many different steps. Many of these steps occur before any coding or actual building of a new environment occurs. While this initial part of the planning process might not seem very important, finding ways to better track, plan, and prepare for even these steps can help a project run more smoothly.

What is Release Management?

Release management is a subfield of process management that is rapidly growing in importance. This is a process by which every aspect of a project is laid out and monitored to help better control the building of a given process throughout all stages of development.

With the growing importance of and reliance on web applications and software suites of varying sorts, we need better ways to manage complex processes that may change as our business becomes larger or more sophisticated.

Basically, with a release management process, you are able to improve the efficiency of a project by prioritizing the most important elements, facilitating the release of information, and managing any resources that are needed, whether a process is in development, testing, or is about to be deployed.

Software suites like Comindware’s Software Development suite allow you to easily update projects that are ever-growing in complexity. It also allows for the inclusion of additional stages in the development process and more easily collaborate with parties across different departments as well. The workflow management software allows you to remain flexible in an ever-changing environment.

Automate your workflows quickly and implement changes on-the-run easier than ever.

Get a 30-day trial!

Many managers want to know how to implement release management into their workplaces, so we have collected five of the best tips we’ve been able to find.

5 Tips for More Effective Release Management

Make Sure You Focus on Infrastructure

Making sure that the infrastructure you plan to use during the release of a new process should be one of the first things you have your team focus on. It helps to know in advance when building a new interface or another process, the elements and structures you want the finished product to have in place and go ahead and work on this.

It can really slow things down if, at the end of the development cycle, you find areas of the infrastructure that you failed to properly consider or plan for.

Have A Regular Release Cycle

It is important to have a cycle for releasing a new process or project that is regular and where all the stakeholders understand the process. Having a regular way of managing processes can help simplify the rollout and keep everyone on track.

When you have a regular release cycle, people have plenty of opportunities to discuss, collaborate, and still stay on task for the release of the process. It also creates a timetable and a routine for everyone to follow and gives your customers or clients the peace of mind that you will get the process developed and rolled out in a timely manner.

Have Realistic Expectations and Solid Goals

Your team needs to know when a process in development is vital so they understand that they need to put their best effort into it. All members of the team should go into a release management process knowing what is expected of them and when. If the importance of the project is made clear and everyone knows what their role is and the schedule they will need to follow, it is easier for everyone involved to get the process complete, properly, in a timelier fashion.

Understand the Importance of People

While software and technology are important, it is vital that you remember just how important the people who use the software are. To get the most out of software or techniques to improve release management processes requires a team of people who understand the goal, can communicate well and can deliver when they need to. No matter how much technology you have and use, this will always be of the utmost importance.

Use Automation and Standardization

The more elements of a process you can automate the less you have to rely on your team to perform redundant and time-consuming tasks. Having a standardized process makes it simple for team members to learn the steps in a given process and reduce confusion.

When you can automate, you improve efficiency, reduce the likelihood of error, and free up team members for more important tasks. Creating solid standardization will help ensure that processes remain consistent.

Using best practices and good software when working to improve your release management process will help ensure that new development and roll-out will take less time and run more smoothly.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

End-to-end IT Help Desk Workflow Best Practices

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:04:24 +0000

The help desk at a company is an incredibly important source of assistance and information. It is a direct link between the IT department and the end-user. The help desk seeks to provide support and troubleshooting for the myriad of end-users of a given process or service.

Help desks are an important conduit between employees and the software systems they must work with on a daily basis. The help desk provides basic information that can allow users to troubleshoot and also connect users with the appropriate parties to help with a specific need. A solid suite of help desk automation software can help improve workflow and increase the efficiency and productivity of a company.

[button]

Help Desk Best Practices

Since the help desk is designed to help end-users with a range of issues, and these end-users are often customers or employees, it is important that the IT personnel in charge of the help desk follow best practices to ensure the best outcomes for end-users.

Main Point of Contact for Issues

One of the most important roles the help desk performs is to help users who are experiencing issues or trouble. The help desk needs to provide a one-stop-shop for user’s questions and needs.

The help desk needs to provide real-time help and a single point of contact is important as it keeps the user with the same assistant throughout the life of their issue. This helps with continuity and also makes the process more transparent.

Have A Set Response Time

One of the most vital aspects of a help desk is its ability to provide timely help in resolving issues. Many businesses guarantee a 48-hour response time, giving users the peace of mind that they won’t be forgotten and their issues will be addressed in a given period of time. It also gives the IT personnel tasked with solving problems a specific window of time with which to solve a given issue or respond to a query. Not only does this help the user have peace of mind that their problem will be solved, but it also gives the IT department a regular time window that they need to comply with, keeping the problem-solving process moving.

Design your help desk process with drag’n’drop simplicity, automate it and ensure effective help desk ticket handling

Get a 30-day trial!

Help Desk Best Practices to Streamline Workflow Management

Since the help desk is a primary point of contact for users, they are part and parcel of creating an efficient workflow management system by facilitating support resources and solving problems in a timely manner.

One best practice is to automate as much data collection as possible. This will help reduce the amount of redundant data entry is required to complete the resolution of a support ticket.

Quality help desk software suites will help facilitate communication between different parties and can expedite the process of handing off problems and issues to the relevant parties. Delays in handing a problem off to the party who can solve the issue or take the next step result in unhappy users and ultimately lengthens the amount of time it takes to solve the issue.

Service level agreements are also an important part of developing best practices. This is the means by which expectations are set about how long a user should expect it to take for their problem to be solved and what steps are taken to aid in the resolution of a given problem.

In Closing

The help desk is a critical part of any business operation, as it helps provide key assistance to customers and other users who may experience issues with a given process or system. Having a help desk with solid software that can easily integrate with other services you use, like automation software or workflow management software, will streamline the troubleshooting process and help ensure that all issues are resolved in a timely fashion.

Best practices are those that help to streamline this process and ensure quick and effective solutions to user issues. Whether this is the use of workflow automation to help reduce the amount of time spent entering redundant data, having a set turnaround time for solving issues and responding to queries, and having a clear and concise service level agreement will help all parties understand the process and what they should expect. This will help ensure a consistent resolution of issues, as well as an efficient means by which potential problems, are identified and handed off to the part responsible for fixing them.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

What is Security Assessment Process and How Does It Works

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:01:08 +0000

As more of the world goes digital, virtual security becomes even more of a pressing issue. In our business life, most of us use anti-virus software, our networks have firewalls, we encrypt private information, all to help keep our networks and data safe and secure.

While it might seem like these protective measures are enough, today’s threats are far more sophisticated and complicated and that means you need a more complete security assessment to ensure that you are as protected from potential threats as possible.

What Isn’t Basic Security Enough?

If all you have in place are basic precautions, your business is still prone to attack. It isn’t enough just to have a basic firewall and require employees to use anti-virus software. You need a solid information security risk assessment process in place to have a flexible plan in place to protect all aspects of your business from threats.

We hear about major data breaches all the time and not only does this reduce customer trust in your ability to protect their information, but it can also leave you at risk for lawsuits and the like. This happens to major businesses that have far more available resources at their disposal to protect themselves against threats, so where does that leave a small- or medium-sized business owner?

Think about it. not only do small businesses have far fewer resources to protect their information and data, but they are also far more vulnerable to lawsuits, as they are less likely to be able to incur the costs and fees. This means the cybersecurity threat assessment process is not only vital to protecting data and networks, it can also keep your business from ending up in court over a data breach.

Not only are small businesses easier targets because they lack resources, but they are also easier targets because they tend to have systems far more vulnerable than those of large corporations.

What is a Security Assessment?

Security assessments refer to regular tests of the preparedness of a company against potential threats. This might mean looking for areas that may have vulnerabilities, as well as coming up with fixes to any potential issues that are discovered.

When you regularly revisit your security protocols and test your systems for weakness, you ensure that your security is kept up to date.v

Some may want to go beyond an in-house assessment, and if you have the money, you can pay a third-party company to test your systems and find any potential weaknesses or problem areas in your security protocols.

Why Businesses of Any Size Need to Consider Security Assessment

The sad fact is that most data breaches and other security issues are a result of human error. Something got overlooked in the development process and a security threat made its way into a live system.

Today, more and more businesses rely on third-party software, such as Comindware Tracker, which can help aid in the process of conducting security assessments. The software can be used to help track, automate, and streamline the security assessment process, ensuring that your information, data, and processes stay protected, and also save time in the process.

Workflow management software by Comindware makes it easy to design and automate your security assessment process.

Get a 30-day trial!

In Summary

Compliance requirements are also regularly changing and failure to properly comply can lead to fines and other headaches. By regularly revisiting security assessment protocols, you can ensure that they also stay updated with the latest changes in compliance reporting.

There are also always new and evolving security threats that regularly assessing your security measures can help you stay on top of.

With the use of a security review and security testing, you can help keep your business safe in the face of ever-changing threats to data and network security. Proper security assessment entails regularly reviewing your security protocols and using in-house or third-party testing to find any potential areas of weakness and address them.

The ability to find vulnerabilities before they can be exploited can save a company a lot of time and effort. It can also help keep the company current with the various and rapidly-changing rules of compliance reporting as well.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Automate Document Approval Workflow

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:55:54 +0000

Most companies have an approval process that must be undertaken before new projects or processes can be developed or unveiled. This is to help ensure that all projects follow the appropriate process and that all aspects are approved by the appropriate parties before they begin.

What’s Involved in the Approval Process?

The short answer to this is it depends. Companies go about formalizing and approving projects in different ways. It could be as simple as defining the process and the steps that need to be completed. This is the initial steps in most new projects and with automation software, this aspect can be more streamlined and efficient, allowing new projects and programs to be implemented in a timely fashion.

Process typically goes through a number of steps for approval, all of which can benefit from automation, which we will touch on later. The first step of the process is usually the submission of a project for approval.

Next, people will need to be assigned to the potential project to look into whether it meets the standards for approval. Each person who is assigned to the approval process should be given an appropriate level of permissions and timeframes should be used to ensure that the process can continue in a timely manner.

Automating the Approval Process

Just like workflow management, approval process can also be automated which reduces the amount of human input required to keep this process going and increases the efficiency by which processes can be approved and started. It can also help reduce the likelihood of error and create a documented set of steps that must be followed for any project to obtain approval.

There are many software tools designed to help automate and better streamline the approval process that can be used as standalone software or integrated into other software suites. Popular suites include SharePoint and Microsoft Flow, but there are a great many options available to choose from.

This software allows you to create clear, well-defined steps that make the process concise, easy to understand, and consistent. Many of the suites also include templates, which save you time in creating new workflows.

When looking for the best approval automation software, it can help to look for options that allow for customization. This will let you build your workflow specifically to meet your needs and gives you the ability to update or change elements if necessary.

Design document approval request form easily and add necessary fields with drag and drop simplicity, with no need to stop your automated approval process.

Get a 30-day trial!

If you have a lot of remote workers or people who do a lot of traveling, it may be helpful to look for a workflow management software that has mobile features that allow people to use the software from their mobile device, whether they are in the office or on-the-go. This is why so many people love cloud-based solutions as it gives relevant users access to the software, regardless of whether they are in the office or not.

Some software features signature collection features, which can make it easier and less time consuming to gather the appropriate signatures need to fully approve a new process or project. This can make it easier to verify and get a project approved, even if the party that needs to approve the project isn’t in the office at the time.

Many suites of software will also allow for easy editing and the ability to solicit feedback. Users of these systems will have different experiences and their feedback can be used to better streamline and create a system that is accurate, efficient, and follows all the necessary steps needed for process approval.

In Closing

Document approval is just one of the many things that need to be approved before they can be acted upon and while this is an incredibly important step, it can be time-consuming and tedious. With automation software, you can easily define and set up steps to getting document approval without the need for regular input by many different parties. Automation software allows you to use templates to create a well-defined set of steps that need to be undertaken in order for a document or a process to receive approval.

There are a wide range of software options that will allow you to create a customizable and easily edited process for approval. If you have a lot of remote employees, you may wish to choose a cloud-based solution that has mobile features which allow users to access the system on the go. Software systems that allow for customization, easy editing, and user feedback are flexible to the changing needs of a company, whether large or small.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

4 Steps to an Excellent Basic Restaurant Workflow

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:51:35 +0000

The workflow of a restaurant might not seem like something that needs to be automated or streamlined, but more and more restaurant owners are learning the benefits of streamlining back of the house workflows. Whether they use CMW Tracker or some other workflow software, this can really increase the efficiency with which the restaurant operates.

4 Ways You Can Improve Restaurant Workflow

1. Streamline Profits

The best way to attract people to your restaurant is to have efficient, quality service, from the front of the house to the back of the house. If you provide your customers with well-prepared, quality food, and they don’t have to wait forever to get it, they are more likely to want to come back.

In order to offer this enhanced service, you need a very precise workflow that all involved understand and know how to follow. Software that is used to keep proper inventory, monitor equipment, and ensure that there are always enough employees on hand for the job will help to streamline profits and allow you to offer that five-star service that keeps people coming back.

2. Focus on Inventory

Your food offerings are likely what is going to bring people through your doors and it is imperative that you have a menu that you can offer, no questions asked. There is nothing worse than someone coming to your restaurant for a specific dish, only to be told that the restaurant is out of a key ingredient.

This is why a good, well-streamlined inventory process is so important. You need to make sure you know what you need, how much you need and make sure that you always have that amount on hand. It is also important to reduce waste, which is why knowing precise quantities of needed ingredients is also important. Waste is unnecessarily lost profit.

3. Consider Employees When Designing A Workflow

Your employees are a key part of your workflow process and they need to be taken into account. Streamlining service should not come at the expense of the people providing said services. Employees, whether front or back of the house, can provide insight into a given process that can help you better develop your process to be more effective without overtaxing your workers.

Design your restaurant workflows in a visual tool and get it automated quickly.

Get a 30-day trial!

4. Inventory Equipment and Put it On A Maintenance Schedule

One way to really improve the workflow of your kitchen is to make sure it is properly equipped and that your equipment is in good order, you have the right stuff, and that the back of the house is well-organized for efficiency. You can use workflow software to manage inventory, whether it is foodstuffs or tools.

Part of this will involve creating a list of equipment needed or used and documenting the maintenance schedule each of these tools will need. You may also need to keep a separate pool of money dedicated to replacing anything that is in disrepair or breaks. It can really hurt your business if a major piece of equipment goes out and you don’t have the money to fix or replace it.

Consider the layout of the back as well. How you choose to store products and tools can really slow down the process of getting the food from the kitchen to the customer’s table. You want to make sure that tools are within reach of where they are needed. You also need to make sure that things are stored safely as an injury is not only bad for business, it can also lead to real delays in serving customers that may be waiting for their food.

In Closing

Running a successful restaurant takes a wide range of skills. Ensuring you have an efficient and logical workflow can help streamline the process of getting food from the kitchen to the table in the fastest, most effective way possible, while also ensuring quality and good service. You can use workflow software to help make this process easier, but it will involve thinking through the various functions that are necessary to creating five-star service for your customers.

The best way to improve your workflow will be to focus on profits when choosing your menu and developing your inventory. It will also require that you take a closer look at your inventory to make sure that you have what you need on hand to provide for what your customers want, without having too much which will lead to waste. It can also be beneficial to detail your storage and tools, as well as put them on a maintenance schedule to help ensure that you always have the products and tools you need for the job at hand.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

BPMN Basics: Elements and Symbols

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:41:07 +0000

When developing a new process, whether using CMW Lab software or some other third-party software for business process management, mapping the steps is a key part of determining the best approach. This is why so many businesses use business process modeling software as a means to expedite and make this process as simple as possible.

When using this software, you will need to familiarize yourself with something called business process modeling notation (BPMN) as this is a very important part of understanding how this software works and how to get the most out of your mapping.

What is Business Process Management Notation (BPMN)?

Business process management notion refers to the method by which a business process is planned out from start to finish. It is a visual flow chart that shows you each step in the process that needs to be met and what follows or comes out of said step.

Having a visual model can help improve the efficiency or streamline a planned process as you can actually see the steps in front of you and discuss ways in which they could be made more efficient or improved. As this type of mapping has become more popular, there has been an effort to standardize terms within BPMN to make it more effective for all parties who use it.

The benefits of using BPMN are myriad, but one of the most important benefits is that it provides and simple, visual means to show the various involved parties what all goes into a given business process so all are on the same page and understand what is involved in the development or implementation of a process.

Having a good map laid out easily shows people what steps are involved, what leads to what in the process, in a way that is often far easier to understand than a long monologue or block of text would.

In order to get the most out of BPMN, you need a good understanding of the elements and symbols that will be used within the map.

Elements and Symbols

In BPMN, there are four main elements used to create process maps and these are flow objects, connecting objects, swimlanes, and artifacts.

Flow Objects

Flow objects will include events, activities, and gateways. An event is something that begins a process, for example, a timer or an error message. They will be shown using circles on the map and may have other symbols within the circle to show the different functions of a given event.

Activities will refer to a specific task that is a step in the process. It will be denoted by a rounded-corner rectangle. There may be further symbols used, such as double or dotted lines that will denote a subprocess.

A gateway is a point in the business process where adjustments to the rest of the process can be made depending on what has occurred up to this point. Gateways will be denoted in diamonds. There will be further symbols within the diamond that give more information about the decision point, such as an exclusive or parallel even based decision point.

Connecting Objects

Arrows will denote the order that the steps that will need to be performed. A dashed line depicts “pool flows” which are discussed below. Dotted lines are used to associate an artifact with flow objects.

Swimlanes

The “pool” features “lanes” that depict major stakeholders in a business process. From these lanes will flow roles or activities for relevant parties.

Artifacts

Artifacts are any added information that provides necessary detail about a step or part in a process. There are three main types of artifacts: data object, group, and annotation.

A data object indicates that a certain bit of data is necessary for a step in the business process. A group shows common sense groupings, but this will not change the flow or direction of the steps that need to be followed. The annotation will give more detailed information about a part of the diagram if it is complex.

In Closing

Business process management software can help provide an easy-to-understand means of showing the various steps within a business process. It provides a visual mapping that is far easier to follow than a block of text or a long speech. This mapping uses specific elements and symbols to denote different parts of the process and further information that may be useful to those involved in a given step in the process. Having a key understanding of the basic elements and symbols that are used within one of these diagrams will help make the process far easier and more streamlined for all involved.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Write a Winning Workflow Process

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:19:02 +0000

Workflow processes can really help you improve and streamline many aspects of your business. There are great software suites that can help you create a well-crafted workflow, including Comindware’s workflow software, but it will still require you to understand what a workflow is and how to write a quality workflow for your business.

What is a Workflow?

A workflow is just a step-by-step rendering of the steps involved in a given process. It is a way to map out the steps that are required to complete a given task most efficiently. What will be involved in your workflow will depend on the type of business you are in.

Though at first blush, this might seem like a waste of time, it actually turns out to be incredibly important and can make a world of change in the efficiency your business operates. Most of us take part in creating workflows, even if we don’t realize it. Any time we look at a process and break it down into its constituent steps, we are creating a mental workflow. Creating an actual workflow will give you a visual way to ensure consistency in the process and to find ways that you can improve the workflow to be more streamlined and logical.

How to Write A Winning Workflow

Not all workflows are straightforward like opening a door and walking through it. Many of the processes we use in business are complicated and have many steps and substeps. When writing a workflow, you want to focus on the three main issues: what, who, and how.

What. This is where you determine what is being done. What job or task are you creating a workflow for? What other departments, stakeholders, or dependencies may be involved with this workflow that you will need to include.
Who. Next, you will need to define the responsible parties. There may be multiple departments or people who are involved in a given step in the process. Make sure you know all of the parties that will need to be involved in a process.
How. After you know what you are creating a workflow for and who is involved in each step in the process, it is time to move to the how. This will include how long it will take the project to get done, as well as how you will actually go about achieving the said end goal.

By focusing on these three main steps, you have the beginnings of a solid workflow. It is imperative that you have a clear understanding of the what, who, and how if you want to create a useful workflow that will help improve the efficiency, productivity, and improvement in your company. Whether you do this manually or you use workflow software, it can really show you places where you can improve the process or areas that may need more focus. It can also help to ensure consistency as everyone involved can have access to the standardized workflow which shows them the processes and steps that are entailed in a given process. This can also really help streamline and improve workflow.

Visual workflow designer built-in Comindware Tracker makes it easy to design your winning workflows.

Get a 30-day trial!

With a good workflow, you can see an improvement in your processes. Since everyone has a consistent understanding of processes, all parties know what to do and there is no guesswork involved.

Responsibilities are also clearer when you have a well-written workflow as all parties involved are thoroughly documented. With everything so much more regimented and planned out, it can be easier to determine how long a process or a project is going to take.

You can also find potential problems or risks when you create a workflow as you will see, visually, the steps that go into a given process and may notice areas that are weak and could use some shoring up.

Additionally, having a solid workflow provides enhanced transparency to all people involved. Everybody can look at the map and it makes it easy to see where you are in a process and what is supposed to happen next. Everyone is on the same page and this can really make a difference.

In Closing

Creating a workflow, whether you do it manually or use workflow automation software, has a range of benefits that can make your operations more streamlined, can be easily improved, and are well-understood by all. A quality workflow will have a detailed by easy-to-understand documentation of the what, who, and how of each business process. This provides for consistency and increased transparency that helps ensure that every process is more streamlined, effective, and open for all involved to see.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

IT Help Desk vs. Service Desk: What’s the Difference

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:06:47 +0000

IT help and service desks are services that are designed to offer support for users and businesses. This is where users go when they are experiencing issues with the software or a particular process, as well as where people can go to find basic information and ask pointed questions.

What is an IT Help Desk?

A help desk is often a standalone service that provides user support. The help desk assists with a variety of common issues. Most often, these are basic issues such as having difficulties with Outlook or with a Zoom feature, but they can also be more complex as well.

Help desk software helps IT teams better manage troubleshooting tickets, issues in a process, as well as the timely answering of specific questions by users of the software or other processes.

With help desk software, you can manage the lifecycle of service requests or troubleshooting incidents. There are also self-service portals that provide basic information about common problems and issues and how to solve them without the need of an IT team member.

This software can also have more features like asset management for software assets, as well as project management modules and contract information.

Depending on the type of software you choose, help desk software often features the ability to automate certain aspects of the help desk process (like the self-service portals), as well as for enhanced customization to tailor the software to your specific business needs. The service desk can often be integrated into other workflow management software, such as Comindware’s offerings. This software can be used to help streamline the functions of an IT Help Desk or Service Desk, reducing the overall workload of the IT department, while still ensuring people get the assistance they need.

What is a Service Desk?

A service desk is business-centered, as opposed to user-centered like the IT desk. This doesn’t mean that they do not have interaction with end-users, but rather that they also deal with more macro service requests for the business as a whole.

In essence, the service desk consists of a team of IT members into a communications center where they provide help services to employees and the business as a whole.

The service desk is typically better equipped to handle more complex and a wider variety of tasks that a business and its customers may need.

Get the full help desk or service desk request lifecycle automated within hours.

Get a 30-day trial!

Key Differences

The biggest difference between a help desk and a service desk is the focus of the software and IT members. With help desk software, the focus is on the user, whereas with a service desk, the focus is on the business as a whole.

A help desk provides a narrow array of help services, but service desks are often integrated systems that can provide technical assistance for a much wider variety of issues. Basically, a help desk is only for the end-user of the system. A service desk is able to help both end-users as well as technicians who work on the more technical and back-end aspects of a system.

With a help desk, you get assistance for a problem when it occurs. A service desk is a bit more proactive in that it aims to provide continual business and technical support for the business and its various support networks.

In short, the help desk can be seen as a subset of a service desk. Many service desks will have a help desk that is designed to focus on end-users, but they will also have more complex abilities that are designed to facilitate technicians and the business as a whole.

In Closing

Both help desks and services desks provide a very important resource for a business. A help desk is user-oriented, focusing on issues that an end-user might face, and is the service most people will use when they are having trouble with something in a given system or process. A service desk is a more complex and comprehensive set of software tools and IT specialization. The service desk not only provides assistance to end-users, as the help desk does, but it also provides assistance and resources for technicians and behind-the-scenes IT personnel.

A help desk is a great way for users to get assistance for any issues that might come up when using a service or software, but a service desk is vital to provide assistance to the technicians and other skilled professionals that keep businesses operating and functioning on a daily basis. These services give users and technicians valuable resources to solve problems when they arise or to find proactive solutions to help ensure that problems don’t arise, to begin with. There are powerful suites of software tools that can help streamline and even automate many aspects of these functions, reducing the workload for IT professionals while still ensuring smooth operations.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Handle ERP Workflow Effectively

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 13:00:52 +0000

Enterprise resource planning, or ERP, involves the management of the most important business processes in an integrated manner, most often through the use of advanced software. Just thinking about an ERP for a basic process, there are tons of different workflows, or steps, that are involved in the process. These steps may also involve other departments as well.

Each process will relate to important information stored in the ERP, but the workflow may be particularly complicated for some processes and a lot of basic ERP software may not be up to the task of handling such complex functions. It may lack the ability for different forms of automation.

How Workflow Automation Can Help

One way to handle more complex processes that may be beyond the functionality of ERP systems, workflow automation is a great addition that can help. Automation software can be used independently or integrated within the ERP system.

In this type of solution, the ERP will remain the backend database but the automated systems can obtain data and connect said data to the right people in the process with ease. This automation software makes it easier to handle more complicated processes that basic ERP software often just cannot handle.

Benefits of Pairing ERP and Workflow Automation Software

Separately, each of these software suites may have uses, but their benefit may be limited depending on their implementation. However, when you use ERP and workflow automation software in tandem, you get a range of very useful benefits for your business operations.

With this pairing, you can create multiple types of the approval process, whether it is a single or group approval that needs to occur for a given process. You can run parallel workflows with this pairing, which improves the efficiency by which processes are initiated.

You can set up a range of reminders, notifications, and even things like a time-out to simplify the process and make sure all parties are on the same page. With this pairing, you can more easily track the progress of the process or an individual step within the process.

This pairing will also allow you to create a range of powerful dashboards and other mechanisms of tracking and checking the performance of different aspects of the business process. You will also have a comprehensive documentation process, which helps with compliance and in the event you need to audit part or all of a process.

You can use powerful automation and logic tools with this pairing that cannot be used with ERP alone. It also allows for the incorporation of CSS, which can allow for easier creation of charts and spreadsheets.

By combining ERP and workflow automation software, you will have better access to more reliable information. Information can more easily be shared and thus tasks can be completed in a more effective and time-efficient manner. With this pairing, you can handle more complex processes that would otherwise be too difficult to manage with an ERP system alone.

Extend your ERP’s workflow capabilities with workflow management software and get both processes and forms flexible.

Get a 30-day trial!

With a document trail, you also have the peace of mind that there is proper documentation in the event that a process needs to be revisited or audited.

In Closing

ERP is a highly important part of business operation as it involves the management of the most important business functions. This is a powerful repository of information and when used in tandem with other software, can be a very useful and powerful means of managing even the most complicated business processes. When combining the use of ERP software with workflow automation software, you can easily manage information and the various tasks that are involved with even the most complicated business processes.

While these software suites are powerful on their own, their use individually is limited. When used together, you can create varied approval processes, depending on the type of process it is. You can run parallel workflows, which will improve efficiency. You can set up reminders and notifications that keep all parties on task and working towards the ultimate goal of process completion.

It is easier to track the progress of individual steps and you can use the pairing to create logic tools to make better sense of the information. Pairing these technologies helps to create an important document trail that can be incredibly important as a part of compliance reporting or in the event that a process is audited. Having all this information readily available makes the process of auditing far easier and far more effective. Combining these technologies really improves your ability to better manage workflow and important processes.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Web Application Development Software vs. BPM Platform

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:55:41 +0000

When it comes to managing processes, there is a running debate as to whether custom applications or improved business process management software is the better way to go.

We all know how important customization is. We need tools that will fit our company’s individualized needs and that can be changed or updated to our needs whenever necessary. This is highly important, especially since today’s business processes are more complicated than ever before.

With this emphasis on customization and personalization, it isn’t surprising that the custom application market is larger today than it ever has been before.

Web Application Software Pros and Cons

Custom-built applications are a fast-growing marketplace as a solution to the need for personalized applications. Forrester Research found that in 2013, $542 billion was spent on the development of custom software and applications, showing just how large this business sector is.

The benefit of this is evident. The software or application can be built to your specific needs with your business in mind. It is software or an application that is made especially for what you need it for.

But have you ever fully estimated all the costs associated with developing a custom-built application, including a software engineer hiring cost? No doubts you will see: custom application or software development is incredibly expensive, and it doesn’t usually stop at the development of the software. Companies will also need support services that can only be offered by the person who developed your software or application. This greatly adds to the cost of using custom software or applications.

The costs associated with maintaining, optimizing, and providing support for custom applications or software continues to increase at an alarming rate from year to year and there is no expectation of this changing any time soon.

Are BPM Platforms A Better Solution?

Business process management (BPM) or automation software is an alternative to custom software and applications. Offerings such as Comindware’s business process automation software can be used in tandem with other tools as a means to better improve and streamline functions.

But what of customization? Isn’t that why so many people use custom development rather than a sophisticated BPM platform? Well, the answer to this question is a bit complicated. It must be noted that a BPM system will never be as perfectly suited for your business as a custom application, but many BPM platforms provide a range of ways to customize and personalize the system to meet the needs of many businesses and is a much more affordable solution.

Most BPM software is flexible enough that it allows customization within the framework that is suitable for most businesses. As time has gone on, BPM platforms have been improved and become more useful, even in complicated or complex business processes.

Flexible software for easy no-code workflow app development and quick addressing your business challenges.

Get a 30-day trial!

Much new BPM software is designed to be flexible and allow you to integrate these services with existing technology and systems. When you purchase a BPM platform, you usually get access to comprehensive customer service that can help you troubleshoot, develop, and learn to best use this software to meet your business’s individualized needs.

With a custom application or software suite, there may be issues with integration with technologies or systems already in use, which can increase the cost of these customized services. Whereas, with BPM software, it is designed to be used in tandem with other technologies and suites of software so integration into your already existing system will not be as difficult with BPM as it is with custom software or applications.

In Closing

There are, of course, certain instances where customized software or applications, regardless of cost, are going to be the best solution for a business need. But the growing reliance on custom technologies in recent years does not represent a sudden need for super-specific types of software, but rather a desire for customization and the ability to adapt software or applications to the needs of the company.

Custom software is not the only way to get this customization and it is often a far more expensive form of technology than is necessary. Modern BPM platforms are complex, comprehensive systems that can easily integrate with already existing software and applications and have the ability to be customized to the needs of most businesses. BPM platforms are not only more affordable, but they are also more flexible and adaptive than custom software is as it is already designed for use with a range of other technologies.

In our judgment, BPM platforms make more sense for most businesses than do custom applications or software suites. BPM provides for customization, while also placing an emphasis on the ability to integrate with other software or applications. It is a more cost-effective tool that has greater versatility and flexibility than custom software or applications.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

7 Steps to an Excellent HRO Process Workflow

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:40:56 +0000

Human Resource Outsourcing (HRO) is a fast-growing part of streamlining businesses functioning and operations. The outsourcing of various business tasks and functions has continued to grow over time as this becomes a more efficient, affordable, and effective means to manage a range of business functions.

In short, HRO is usually an agreement between a business and a third-party whereby the third-party takes responsibility for some function of the business. This commonly includes things like payroll and compliance reporting.

Using these third-party services, along with other workflow management software like Comindware Tracker, will allow you to better streamline the services you offer, providing high-quality services and finding ways to improve efficiency and cut costs in the process.

Let’s take a look at the steps involved in creating a high-quality HRO process workflow.

Key Steps to an Excellent Process Workflow

If you want to manage and measure the effectiveness and quality of your HRO activity, there are a number of things you will need to do. What follows are our top seven steps that will help you create a highly-effective HRO process workflow that will improve and streamline your operations and even cut costs along the way.

People and Technology

You don’t simply want to choose the cheapest option of HRO. You want to choose a company that has a history of providing high-quality processes and technology and that has good people working for them. It is recommended that you use your best HR talent to work with HRO to help ensure that you have chosen a company that will meet your needs.

Implement in Stages

It might seem like you just want to switch to using a third-party service, but it can actually be more useful to slowly implement new processes a little at a time. Doing it gradually will allow you to avoid huge risks that could come from issues with a huge implementation. It will also allow you to measure the effectiveness of different elements of implementation.

Keep It Simple

Simplifying aspects of your business process will not only allow for better streamlining of processes, but it can also reduce costs. This can be done by limiting the number of ways that a transaction can be processed or reducing paper.

Design your own workflow with drag and drop simplicity and get it automated within hours.

Get a 30-day trial!

Consistency

You want to create a consistent platform that provides access to current information. Having the main database with current information will help reduce costs and improve the accuracy of reporting, decision-making, and compliance. Using the main database will help ensure that all parties are using the same information in their various processes and functions. It will reduce errors and improve the efficiency by which decisions can be made and new processes implemented.

Technology Integration

Chances are, you will need to integrate a range of different third-party software into your systems. You want to make sure you choose an HRO supplier that has the ability to integrate third-party technologies across different processes and platforms. This is a key element that many people fail to take into consideration when choosing the best provider.

Don’t Forget About Governance

You want to make sure you have a high-quality governance team as this will help to ensure the quality of your processes and operations. It is helpful to make sure to set clear permissions and designate key people for these roles. Having one or two people who are dedicated to the governance and oversight of your outsourcing may seem like an unnecessary cost, but it is incredibly important to ensure quality.

Measurement and Support

It is helpful to use management tools that can help you determine how much improvement you are seeing from a process or your third-party providers. This helps you determine whether or not your outsourcing efforts make financial sense and shows you where you can find further benefit and improvement.

In Closing

Many businesses swear by the use of Human Resources Outsourcing (HRO) as a cost-effective means of streamlining business functioning and reducing operational costs. While this is an incredibly important part of modern business functioning, you need to be sure you understand the steps involved in making sure your process workflow is as efficient and valuable as possible. The seven steps we covered here give you the information you will need to help ensure that the HRO process workflow you create is as well-suited to the needs of your business as possible.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Set up Reliable Content Workflow Management

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:34:10 +0000

You may think that once a business’s website is up and running, that the job is done. But that’s not how today’s world of business actually operates. In order for a company to do well and stay relevant, they need to provide regular content. There is always a need for new content.

The constant need for content leads to the need for content workflow management, which is a process by which the creative content used on most websites is managed. Creative work is a little different than cut and dried business processes, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be standardized and turned into a process that allows you to create a basic set of rules to manage this part of the business.

Content Workflow Cycles

There is a lifecycle of a content workflow that will be followed each time new content is created, even if the details are different in each case.

The first thing you will need to do is determine what content your website needs and why. Think about the audience and how you can best reach them with your information. If you don’t, you will want to find out the means by which you want to distribute this content. Some people will post individually on each medium, others will use tools and software that will post content across a wide range of different platforms.

Next, you will need to create the content. Providing your creative content team with detailed expectations will help ensure they create the content you need without a lot of oversight. Once the content has been written, there should be someone who reviews the content to ensure that it is of high quality and meets the needs it is intended to.

You will then publish the content on your main website, but this isn’t the end. You will also want to distribute your content to as many different mediums as possible. This might mean creating posts on social media that direct people to your new content, or actually publishing your content on other websites.

Once the content has been live for a given period of time, you will want to audit the content to see how well it performs. It will also indicate where people access your content, which can give you a better idea of the best mediums for your content for it to reach the maximum audience.

While the process of content creation is a creative one that cannot necessarily be broken down into a step-by-step process, you can use workflow software, like Comindware Tracker, to help you manage content more easily.

Workflow management software will allow you to assign tasks to different parties and create an approval process that can be monitored and show you how the content creation process is proceeding.

This type of software gives you the ability to provide approvals and even give added detail to the various parties involved to help ensure that all content meets the highest standards and provides the information needed in a timely fashion.

Get your content workflow designed and automated quickly, with drag and drop simplicity.

Get a 30-day trial!

You want all people involved in the content management cycle to be informed and have access to the latest information about where they are in the process.

In Closing

No matter what your business, content creation for your website and other platforms is an incredibly important part of business success. Successful businesses know that you always need new, relevant content. Perhaps there is a new keyword performing well, or you have a new offering that you want to stand apart from the competition – whatever the reason, your company will have a need for regular, new, and high-quality content.

While creative endeavors are less suitable for creating a strict process than other business functions, it doesn’t mean that you can streamline and better manage content creation. Content workflow management is a great way to help ensure that you always have new, up-to-date content and that all parties are well-versed in what is expected of them, when the content is due, and that there is a strict review process to ensure that all content meets the exacting needs of the business.

You can use content workflow management to streamline not only the creation process but to better assess the usefulness of the content. Once your content is published and distributed to various other platforms, you can use metrics to determine how well the content performs and where you have your greatest reach.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

What is MDM Workflow Management?

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:30:21 +0000

The process of workflow management was once a little-understood process that has now become an imperative focus for business management across organizations large and small. Business managers look for Master Data Management (MDM) as a means to streamline and standardize the process of workflow management.

In the old days, one might need to get a separate software tool in order to use MDM-based solutions, but today, many workflow management software come with MDM features built-in.v

What Exactly Is Master Data Management?

This is generally a combination of technologies that are used to increase the uniformity of processes, improve the accuracy of data, and contribute to consistency in business processes within an organization.

This is a way to manage master data in a centralized way that follows the strict rules of your strategic goals or operational strategies.

In essence, MDM is a process whereby technology is used to create a master data record that is used across all parts of a company. This ensures that the processes are all using the same, updated, and accurate information. Consistency of data is incredibly important to a wide range of business processes.

Today many people use workflow software that has these tools built-in, but this may not be an option in the system of tools you currently use. Whether you use one of powerful options of CMW Tracker, or another third-party software source, you can easily integrate MDM technologies into the existing system, allowing you further functionality without having to purchase and implement a completely new system or software.

Get your business data gathered properly and easily available for key business processes.

Get a 30-day trial!

Benefits of MDM Workflow Management

There is a range of benefits associated with MDM. Having a master database of regularly-updated information that all parts of the business users perform their business functions helps to ensure that all parties are using the most current information and that everyone is working from the same set of data.

Having everyone work from a master source of current data helps to eliminate bad data or information that is out of date. It also works to improve the efficiency of processes by ensuring that all parties necessarily have access to the same set of information with ease.

The ability to trust that a master data set is up-to-date and accurate helps the decision-making process as well. You will be using current, accurate data that will allow you to make better and more informed decisions.

Master Data Management also makes it easier to fully comply with the range of compliance and regulatory reporting most businesses are required to do.

In Closing

Better managing workflow across different aspects of a business is an important part of creating a streamlined and successful business. Master Data Management is an excellent way to help improve efficiency, streamline operations, and reduce errors in various aspects of a business’s operations. Some workflow management software already has these tools built-in, but older tools may not but will allow for the integration of third-party software that will provide this functionality.

In essence, MDM allows for the creation of a master set of data that all parties within the organization use for the various needs of the company. This will be a current, accurate, and up-to-date database of information that all parties can use to run processes, inform decision-making, and respond to basic compliance reporting. Everyone working from the same set of consistent data is incredibly useful and will help reduce the likelihood of errors or issues within a given process.

Having a master database of information allows all parties within an organization easy access to the same information and data that can be used for a wide range of business functions. There are a wide range of benefits to the implementation of Master Data Management including increased efficiency and transparency, the ability to provide accurate and up-to-date information across the business as a whole, the ability to access said data remotely, and more.

Whether you are using workflow management tools that have MDM functions built-in, or you are looking at getting a third-party option to integrate within your existing system, this is a really important and useful way to help improve the accuracy and efficiency of processes within pretty much all elements of a business. Using these tools will help aid in a range of important business functions and give you better data that will help you make smarter decisions.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Low-code Development Platform CMW Tracker

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 14:53:08 +0000

Create Low-code apps to support quickly growing business needs. Minimize hand-coding and long IT development cycles. Optimize IT resource and cost spend.

Low-code Application Platform Distinct Features

Capture and Organize Data

CMW Lab Low-code development platform enables drag-and-drop data management including data collection, tracking and change.

Visually design data capture and presentation with CMW Records and Forms
Change and extend your data on-the-fly with no interruption to ongoing processes, tasks or cases
Load, export and synchronize your data using built-in Excel import/export capability as well as open and secure API’s

Configure User Interface

Low-code software enables customization of the UI and the user workspace through mouse click – all navigation elements are fully configurable.

Configure your UI to facilitate data access, task execution and social collaboration
Dynamically assemble role-based user portals customizing functions necessary to perform your work
Allow your users to personalize their portals and workspaces to their preferences

Work Automation through Tasks and Cases

Leverage Low-code work automation and optimize group activities. Use Tasks and Cases of CMW Lab low-code platform for business applications development to quickly set up non-formalized processes.

Unify tasks, data and documents in a single application
Add cases for non-formalized business processes
Use process prototyping to evaluate process management efficiency

Integration and Administration

Low-code applications platform supports enterprise-grade integration and administration scenarios.

Fully open API’s and Enterprise Service Bus
Unified administration and security across all built applications
Management of custom application and system settings within the same environment

5 Workflow Management Best Practices

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 14:55:26 +0000

There is a range of new technologies, such as workflow management software, business practice management suites (BPMS) or enterprise content management (ECM) that are designed to help improve efficiency, transparency, interconnectivity, and more. But it can be difficult to know how to get the most out of these solutions. What are some workflow management best practices? We have compiled our top five below.

Let’s take a look at each in turn.

Include records management and information lifecycles in your workflow.

Compliance reporting when it comes to high-risk information, that is information that contains personal information or identifying details, is constantly changing and is something that you will have to contend with more than once.

A workflow best practice is to design your workflow with this in mind. Knowing that automation saves time, but that protocols might change, might seem like it is next to impossible to create a coherent and useful system, but with proper structuring and document management, you can easily update changes in protocols or reporting requirements. Good design will also allow you to automate many of these functions, reducing the potential for error and saving employees valuable time spent on repetitive tasks.

If you are using BPMS, use a two-step process. Digitize, then automate.

Implementing new software will always have its share of issues, but with BPMS, it can be helpful to breakdown the switch into two steps. You will first start with paper-heavy tasks. Digitization can be a large project, but it is well worth the effort.

It can be helpful to first digitize, then spend a period of time getting used to the new environment, and then implementing automation software to help streamline the process. This can help reduce issues with poor design from not really knowing how the electronic environment will work when designing.

Digitizing before moving to automation allows you to become familiar and comfortable with digital information so that when designing automation workflows, you reduce the likelihood of missing basic issues.

Non-coding workflow software for business process modelling and quick workflow automation.

Get a 30-day trial!

Consider cloud-based issues with workflow management.

While the cloud is a great way to access software tools from a remote location or without the need for information or software stored on the physical system using said software, there can be issues in it as well. You want to ensure that all information remains secure and confidential.

You will want to consider alternative forms of backup and ensure that your information and business process will be backed up and safe even in the event of an emergency.

The ability to customize and create unique processes that work for your specific needs is incredibly important, and you want to make sure the service you choose allows for this.

The 3-Year Rule

This is a pretty simple rule that can help you determine whether you are choosing the right structures or systems when designing workflow. Ask yourself if any of the company’s offerings have been successful in the past three years.

You want to choose a service that, rather than being full of useless bells and whistles, actually has a history of providing successful production.

This helps you control risk and is an easy way to help ensure that you are only choosing products that have stood the test of time and proven to have value for their customers. This will save you time and money on trying out products that have no record of success and are just different approaches to the same old tired processes.

Design processes with failure in mind.

vAll software will have its own set of issues, that is just something that comes with the proverbial territory. Failure to understand that there are going to be issues, no matter how well thought out or designed a process is will lead to potentially grave issues down the line.

No software or process will work exactly as one plans it. That is just a reality. It is helpful to keep this in mind and design partial failure into your production processes. Allow yourself to stop at different steps in the workflow process if necessary. Make sure you have alternative plans that are built into the design so that you don’t have to start from scratch when an issue inevitably comes up.

Workflow management software can be highly beneficial to businesses large and small, reducing time and effort spent on tasks that can be modeled and automated. However, just having these tools isn’t enough. You need to understand workflow management best practices in order to get the most from any suite of software you choose. At Comindware, we offer a wide range of automation and workflow solutions that can help businesses large and small. Start your free trial today.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

All You Need to Know About Business Process Transformation

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 14:08:12 +0000

The ability for a business to streamline its operations and find more efficient ways to function is part and parcel of a successful modern business. Business owners and their colleagues need to find ways to improve processes, to create new ones as needed, and the like. This is why business process transformation has become such an important part of the business.

Business process transformation provides businesses with the ability to reformulate important business processes, reducing the amount of time it takes to get a product or service to market. It provides a unique way to look at business functions, technology, and how to better manage workflows.

What is the Purpose of Business Process Transformation?

The purpose of business process transformation is to find new and better ways to provide a product or service through the streamlining of processes and the development of new offerings, new uses of technology, and improving the efficiency of important business processes.

Digitizing and automating more elements of your business is one of the most common ways that a business will use tools to reach business process transformation processes to enhance its overall operations and functioning.

The aim of business process transformation is not only to help find ways to streamline operations and improve efficiency but to stay innovative and enhance your ability to grow and thrive in an ever-changing business world.

Another key element of business process transformation is how it helps keep you up-to-date and compliant with the latest rules and regulations required by the state, federal, or local governments. Since compliance reporting is such an important element of business operations, the ability to stay on top of these changing regulations is incredibly important.

The two main reasons for business process transformation are the implementation of new business innovations or to optimize the processes that are already in use. You can use this transformation to help your strategies stay in line with strategic goals. It can also make it easier to make the switch to a more fully digitized system, which is incredibly important for modern business.

You can use innovation as your key focus for the future and using business transformation, you can help ensure that you are always on the cutting-edge. Innovation, in today’s cutthroat business environment, is more than smart, it is vital to success.

Business processes often go out of data as new technologies are developed to help deal with basic processes or tasks. Failure to adopt solutions that can improve the operational efficiency of your business is a horrible mistake. Business process transformation can help you modernize your processes, which can reduce costs and wasted time.

Implementing Business Process Transformation

To best implement and reap the benefits of business process transformation, you need to have a clear understanding of processes that are in need of change or updating. Are you currently using automation or workflow technologies to help improve operations? If not, this is one of the first places to look to streamline operations.

You will need to set forward clear goals that you wish to reach with your transformation. Are you looking to fully digitize your operations? Automate important functions? If so, make sure these are clearly stated goals.

It is also important that you have a solid way of gathering data and other metrics. This will help you see how well you are progressing towards your goals and can also indicate if there are areas within a given process that need a closer look.

If, for example, part of your transformation process involves the development and implementation of new user services, you will want to test these processes before making them go live. This will help reduce the chance of problems once the system is live and you may be able to find areas that need correction.

Software like Comindware Tracker provides a low-code platform that allows businesses to easily automate and digitize a wide range of operations. For example, this software can be used to manage the order-to-shipment process, Service Desk management, and to create document approval workflows, all of which will streamline operations.

Automate even complex processes with ease and without coding

Get a 30-day trial!

In Closing

Business process transformation allows you to streamline and create new and innovative ways to offer a product or service that improves the efficiency of processes while also keeping up with the changing times. Most often, this transformation is used to help streamline and automate functions of the business as a means to become a more efficient and modern operation. It is also often used as a model for innovation, allowing businesses to enhance and optimize various aspects of their business functioning for a better experience for their customers as well as more efficient backend operations. Software like Comindware’s workflow management platform can be one of the tools that help you reach your transformation goals.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Top 4 Workflow Integration Benefits

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 10:17:39 +0000

Workflow, and related automation software, like Comindware’s offerings, is just one part of effective business operations management. To really get the most, you need to use a process called workflow integration.

Workflow integration is a process whereby tools like automation systems, that connect with other important informational systems like ERP, accounting, and the like are implemented to improve process efficiency. The ability to integrate with other software and important databases improves the functionality of existing systems and connects the different systems to each other in a way that allows for more timely and efficient process completion.

Workflow Integration Benefits

Using automation software to create better workflow integration has a wide range of benefits for businesses large and small. Let’s take a look at four of the biggest benefits of workplace integration by way of automation. Keep in mind, automation is a tool that is used in the process of workflow integration, not the integration process itself.

Set Yourself Up to Better Reach Strategic Business Goals

One of the most important aspects of managing a business, regardless of the size, is helping to ensure that your employees have what they need to achieve your strategic goals and plans. With workplace integration, data management and other tasks can be automated and the appropriate systems connected, which reduces the amount of time it takes to complete these vital, but repetitive tasks.

It also helps reduce the chance of error, which is most often a result of human error. Not only does this software save you a ton of time, but it also reduces the likelihood that your team will need to halt everything to address an avoidable error.

It Can Enhance Profits

The more efficiently your operations run, the better that is for your ultimate bottom line. Automation and digitization technologies often pay for themselves very quickly, reducing the amount of human labor needed to handle basic tasks. Integration of a workflow software with other software tools can empower business executives to implement innovative approaches to business operations and help with adding more value to your clients, which can also enhance profits.

Improved Efficiency

This might be the most important benefit of workflow integration. By automating many aspects of your business operations, employees have to spend less time on repetitive activities and can pursue productive and innovative pursuits, which can be a further benefit to the company.

Workflow automation reduces redundancy and streamlines the process of data entry, taking far less time than it takes for humans to enter data. Another benefit of improved efficiency is that there is more transparency in every process.

Get your workflows automated and transparent quickly with Comindware Tracker

Get a 30-day trial!

Improve Employee Experiences

Most employees don’t like doing repetitive data entry day after day, nor do IT professionals enjoy sitting in front of a computer to monitor a process. With workflow integration, you can reduce the burden on your employees, all the while reducing the amount of time it takes to do these tasks. These systems operate in real-time, giving employees information and notifications so they know if they need to take any sort of action in a given process, without them having to babysit the entire time.

In Closing

Workflow integration is a process to improve the efficiency of various workflow processes, saving you time effort needed by IT and other professionals. This process often quickly pays for itself by way of enhanced efficiency of various processes, particularly those that require a lot of data entry or monitoring a given process. By using this process and a range of tools, you can automate many repetitive, but important aspects of the business process and also enjoy a range of other benefits as well.

Benefits of workflow integration include an enhanced ability to meet strategic goals and plans. The more employees can focus their time on how to reach said goals, rather than on repetitive tasks, the more likely they are to find ways to achieve the goal. Using workflow integration can also help enhance profits by reducing labor costs and allowing you to add value to certain processes that might not have otherwise been possible.

Using workflow management software, like Comindware Tracker, and integrating it with your resource management, accounting and other IT-systems, can also save a lot of time that would otherwise be spent on data entry or process monitoring that can easily be managed by automation software. This helps to increase company transparency and can also help to improve employee satisfaction with their jobs, as they aren’t spending as much time on rote activities.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Top 5 Workflow Marketing Apps for Effective Boost in 2021

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:18:28 +0000

Marketing is, of course, a very important part of any successful business, but how streamlined are your processes, and did you know that they can be automated and better managed with intelligent software?

Just like any other aspect of a business, marketing is a process that can be broken down into its constituent steps to see exactly what goes on within a given process. Over time, these processes may become inefficient as new technologies are introduced or new ways of doing things are employed. It also takes time to perform these tasks and this also reduces efficiency.

These inefficiencies can make a difference and streamlining this process allows you to get the most out of all marketing efforts. All business processes involve a workflow which, using the latest software, can be automated for more efficient marketing practices and provide information to help direct future efforts.

What is Marketing Workflow?

First, let’s take a look at what a marketing workflow is. Take any task a marketing department is assigned to manage. This task is referred to as a process and can be broken down into all the subtasks required for completion. Not only does this help with training new people, it gives you a good way to look at how a certain process is completed. The thing is, it shouldn’t stop at simply knowing and documenting the steps in a process.

Pretty much any process will have room for improvement, whether it be increased efficiency or reduction of potential issues or errors in the process. It might be getting clearer as to how important optimization of these processes really is. Workflows show all interested parties the steps it takes to complete a given process, increases transparency, and allows for suggestions as to how to further streamline a given process.

Comindware Tracker makes it a snap to design workflows and automate them

Get a 30-day trial!

Marketing Workflow Software

Now that we have a basic idea of what a workflow process is and how it relates to a marketing department, the value of optimizing these processes, and the like, let’s take a look at a few pieces of software that you can use to better optimize your marketing workflow. While this can be done manually, most businesses are moving away from that and switching to powerful tools that can be automated and configured for the exact needs of a given process.

Ahrefs for Workflow

Chances are, your business has some sort of online presence and thus you are familiar with basic SEO. This software suite combines a range of powerful tools that can really enhance marketing efforts through the use of sophisticated and targeted SEO.

MailChimp

This was, at one time, a simple email marketing platform, but they have greatly expanded their offerings since they first emerged. Many businesses utilize email marketing as part of their marketing efforts and MailChimp has proven to be a powerful and effective means to maximize the results of these efforts.

The software features pre-made templates and a range of design tools that allow you to create visually appealing and highly effective marketing emails. The software also features enhanced analytics and reporting metrics that can be incredibly helpful in determining what efforts to scrap, which work, and how to improve their usefulness even more.

StoryChief

This is a powerful and unique set of software tools that allow you to create a wide range of personalized and customized content and can manage pretty much any type of marketing effort.

With this software, you can easily publish across various platforms and gives you access to a huge range of different metrics and analytics tools that will help inform what marketing efforts to enhance and which aren’t performing well.

The software even comes with a built-in calendar which makes it easy to schedule content far in advance. It also features an SEO assistant which can help you further optimize your content to reach more people.

Hootsuite

This is a very popular and powerful tool that is specially designed for social media marketing. With this software, you can more easily manage social media marketing efforts across platforms.

You can use this software to schedule content and have it post to a range of different platforms. It also has a great number of analytics tools so you can see how your efforts are performing, ways they can be improved, and what sites your content is performing best on.

Comindware

Workflow software by Comindware makes it easier than ever before to collaborate between involved parties. It makes achieving marketing goals take a lot less time and allows for collaboration which will often lead to better results. With this software, you can easily see what each employee is doing and how they are working towards reaching your marketing goals.

[button] Get 30-day trial

There are, of course, many more tools out there to consider, but these are among the most popular and highly rated. They allow you to see where you can improve your efforts, what works, and what doesn’t, and even helps you to automate this process so it takes less time to complete. With powerful analytics tools and reporting metrics, you can easily see where you can improve and where you are hitting the proverbial mark.

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Business Process Simulation Basics

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 14:58:23 +0000

Say you are working on a process for your business that isn’t running smoothly and raises a lot of problems and delays. It makes sense to change the process, but you want to make sure that the ways you are thinking of changing said processes aren’t going to make the problem worse. You want to know that it will actually solve the issue. This is where business process simulation comes in and though you may not have heard of it, it is incredibly important.

Not only do you want to find any potential problems with a new process, but you also want to try it out before you make it live on your system. This can lead to a host of different issues and cause untold problems along the way. This is why you want to use business process simulation to test out any potential new processes or changes to an existing process before you make it go live in your system.

Business Process Simulation Explained

With business process simulation, you can test new processes or changes to existing processes in a virtual environment before you make it live in your actual system. This gives you the ability to troubleshoot any potential problems and ensure all kinks are worked out before you make it go live where it could raise issues with other aspects of the system.

The simulation gives you a realistic environment to test out new processes without the risk that it will alter or change facets of your existing system. This means that you can try major changes without the risk of causing tons of unforeseen problems with your live system that is up and running.

Using software like Comindware Tracker allows you to create processes and assign them to yourself. This allows you to simulate how a process or fix might work without the risk of causing problems with live processes. You can use the software to test each step along the way and help troubleshoot any problem while also improving the efficiency of the process. While this isn’t a full-on simulation, it does provide a means for testing ideas without causing issues with live processes.

With a stable virtual environment, you can run potential processes, make changes, and streamline the functionality before it ever goes on your live system. This will give you a ton of information as to how to improve a process and test it again before actually implementing it and can even give you the ability to try some dramatic changes just to see what happens.

Get a 30-day trial!

Too often, we need or want to make changes in a given process but are concerned that it may cause issues within the already existing system that we hadn’t accounted for. This is another great use for business process simulation.

Patches and Fixes

Business process simulation is also a great way to try out patches or fixes on a process that is too critical to stopping, that way you make sure any and all kinks are worked out before you apply it to the important process. The software will give you metrics and analytics that are very helpful in creating better processes.

There are tons of options out there, some that require coding knowledge, and others that rely on the drag-and-drop interface. What you choose depends on the skill level of the people tasked with using said software. You will want to consider the metrics and information you need to evaluate and figure out what changes or additions you want to make to an existing process or create an entirely new process.

Benefits of Using a Simulation to Test

When you run the simulation, you can see how well the process runs and any potential issues that might arise in the process. If there are issues, you can change or debug them in the virtual environment, then retest them to see if they have been fixed. It is incredibly valuable to be able to fix any bugs or issues in a process before it goes live.

Many people on your team may have ideas on how to improve a given process, but it doesn’t make sense to try these changes in a live environment and so good suggestions may fall by the wayside. With business process simulation software, you can test out suggestions in a safe and secure environment to see what happens. With this flexibility, you can tap into more minds within your team and find innovative solutions that may not have been possible when dealing with a purely live environment.

With this software, designing new processes is not only less likely to result in error and issue when the process goes live, but it also makes the entire process cheaper. Changes to a live system that cause critical issues can result in the system itself going down for a given period of time, which means delays and possibly business loss. It is also far easier to test potential changes or improvements to a process without the fear that it will cause issues within the larger live system as a result.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Design a Workflow Online

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 14:03:12 +0000

Automated workflow software can dramatically improve the efficiency of so many elements of your business. It provides a powerful suite of tools that make it easy to automate certain processes, track and monitor data, increase transparency, improve efficiency and so much more. Not all software is created equal, however, as some tools are better suited for those with more technical skills than others.

Benefits of Visual Interface

If you want to maximize the benefit and access employees get from automation software, choosing a suite of tools with a visual interface is likely to be your best option as it will open these tools up to more than just those in the IT department. Drag-and-drop features are a great tool as most people are familiar with this type of software interface.

Visual interfaces can also make the process a lot easier, so let’s take a look at designing a workflow using a visual interface with Comindware Tracker. While creating a workflow from scratch might seem a little intimidating, this guide should give you the information you need to make it work.

Most of your setup will take place in the application settings of the software suite, so you will first need to locate these settings. It is here that you will create workflows, define processes, break them down into constituent steps, and more. It is like the dashboard of the tool, so it is important to get comfortable with the options shown in the settings.

Applications and Processes

Different applications and processes will have slightly different needs and definitions. In the settings, you will be able to see all processes and look at each individually and make any necessary changes from this screen. There will be an icon next to each process or application that you can click to see specific details for said process and make changes if necessary.

Workflow app management interface in Comindware Tracker

Get a 30-day trial!

You can also customize workflow schemes by using a workflow scheme builder found in the settings. This is where you can define each step of the process, create the flow, assign due dates or dates when progress needs to be tracked, and more.

Setting Up a Workflow

To set up a workflow, you will need to create a detailed step-by-step for each process and make sure all terms and conditions are clearly defined. You will want to connect each process with every relevant element of workflow and any other processes it might be associated with. Some businesses have very complex and detailed processes and with the visual interface, it is easy to map and define all elements of even the most in-depth processes.

Drag’n’drop workflow builder in Comindware Tracker

Get a 30-day trial!

You will want to drag and drop statuses in the proper area. You can pre-define these and use them again later, which will reduce the time it takes to create a new workflow. If you need a status that isn’t there, you can create one using the “new statuses” button. Once you have chosen all the status you need, you will need to make any connections between related statuses. There is a “draw transitions” button that will allow you to create these connections where needed. These transitions will help determine the flow of a given process.

The steps will be shown in different colors, green indicating where the process starts and red where it ends. You can only have one starting process. Blue steps are intermediate steps and in a complex process, there could be a lot of these. There may be more than one way a process can come to completion, so you may have multiple red steps. The software sets the steps to intermediate by default and if you need to change the color, simply double click on the step.

More Complex Tasks

Some tasks are complicated in that there are multiple people responsible for different tasks in the process chain. With this workflow software, you can break these tasks down into subprocesses that will make the tasks a lot easier to understand and manage. Click the “add gateway” function from the panel of icons and choose your gate. You can create a “fork” where the process may branch out into subprocesses, as well as a “join” where the sub-processes come back together to the main process. This part of the software can be a little tricky at first, but stick with it and keep trying and you’ll be a pro in no time.

Creating parallel workflow branches in Comindware Tracker

Get a 30-day trial!

While it will still take a bit of time to learn where all the buttons and submenus are, knowing the basics will help you get started and learn your way around the software more quickly. With visual tools to create workflows, you can easily drag-and-drop and create connections between sub-processes with ease, even for the most complex processes. Not only will this help keep the process flowing and running with ease, but it also provides tools that allow you to track these processes and find room for improvements in efficiency or to spot errors and brainstorm as to how to rethink the process to resolve said issue. Click here to learn more about Comindware Tracker or start your free trial of Comindware Tracker today.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Top Workflow Management System Trends and Features

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 09:23:01 +0000

New year has come and we believe it is the right time to get insight into workflow management system trends shaping 2022 and suggesting valuable ideas for improving your business effectiveness. Recent years it has become common for CIOs to delve into workflow management through the lens of digital transformation, which is all about ensuring your business is ready to welcome the future and succeed.

In 2022 having focus on digital transformation, Gartner and other research and consulting companies predict the next logical step, which is expected to improve the quality and the efficiency of digital experiences for both businesses and customers. In a word, the next step and a large IT trend is hyperautomation. In this article below, we’ll dive into the key workflow management trends with respect to hyperautomation context and bring to recollection 2018-2021 trends which are still actual.

Hot Workflow Software Trend in 2022

Hyperautomation is a business-driven, disciplined approach that organizations use to rapidly identify, vet and automate as many business and IT processes as possible. It involves the orchestrated use of multiple technologies, tools or platforms. Gartner

Hyperautomation, which is a huge 2022 trend, brings together technologies like Artificial intelligence (AI), Machine learning, Robotic process automation (RPA) and a vast range of decision, process and task automation tools. It’s hard to imagine a future where all these technologies still operate independently and low-code platforms with advanced workflow management features don’t play a crucial role – they definitely will.

In 2022 a powerful workflow management and BPM (business process management) systems become the control center of your successful hyperautomation strategy.

A workflow system orchestrates all of the employees and technologies that complete that entire sequence of tasks autonomously and make sure all the resources work together effectively. So, you can easily deploy any of the hyperautomation technologies mentioned above at any waypoint in the workflow and be sure that the entire process will keep generating expected results. So, in 2022 a low-code workflow software, like CMW Tracker, is the beating heart of your hyperautomated, traceable and effective business.

The Key Workflow Software Trend in 2021

In 2020 we highlighted that businesses are switching to a new document management approach and prefer to handle data in document cards instead of getting stuck in scan copies or Word files. This trend stays actual in 2021 as surely as the trend of migrating to an integrated digital business platform instead of standalone applications.

The key workflow software trend in 2021 worth your attention is the technology “democratization”. This trend emerged in the 20th century when Apple introduced the Macintosh with a radically new user interface. Do you still remember that at the dawn of the personal computer era users controlled the machines via text commands? Since then, everyone’s got a device that can even respond to your voice commands and help whenever you need it to. Nowadays low-code and no-code technology democratization expands and empowers non-IT professionals to discover and effectively apply specialized skills beyond their expertise. Right now, low-code platforms are a basis supporting the democratization trend to put the power of digital tools into the hands of non-technical users (often named “citizen developers”), so they could develop and design business apps, gain knowledge from expert systems, and do even more.

For instance, technology democratization would enable employees to automate workflows without having programming skills. They would instead rely on a low-code / no-code platform like CMW Tracker to generate the business app and ensure proper workflow operation.

The synergetic effect of the recent technology democratization and integrated digital business platform adoption trends is rapidly bringing us into the new world:

Smart spaces build on the people-centric notion. A smart space is a physical environment in which people and technology-enabled systems interact in increasingly open, connected, coordinated and intelligent ecosystems. Multiple elements — including people, processes, services and things — come together in a smart space to create a more immersive, interactive and automated experience. David Cearley, vice president and Gartner Fellow.
Specializes in emerging and strategic business and technology trends
and explores how these trends shape the way individuals and companies
derive value from technology

Workflow Software Trends in 2020

Documents Without Documents

The paperless office mantra has made executives’ mouths sore and a significant number of them claim that their companies started heading toward digital transformation and became paperless or lowered their paper footprint. It brings tangible benefits, but many executives report that changing paper-based documents to digital versions in MS Excel or Word doesn’t make enough difference for business.

On the way to the much quicker document approval processes businesses tend to consider modern workflow management systems capable of processing data effectively during the approval process, obviating the document exchange steps. For example, in CMW Tracker you can create a document template with all necessary data fields and get the document automatically generated when all data is reviewed and approved by a proper person. Such an approach dramatically improves and speeds up the approval process and fuels digital transformation.

Switching From Standalone Solutions to Platforms

The ongoing digital revolution brought up a whole bunch of new technologies – Big Data and IoT (Internet of Things), neural networks and artificial intelligence, RPA (Robotic Process Automation) and additive technologies, natural language processing, chatbots, and counting. The new technology pilot projects look promising for digital businesses and are expected to bring even more benefits when scaled in the enterprise environment. All these technologies are also perfectly combined with workflow management systems –there are more and more examples of synergy in recent years.

Integrated platforms will be implemented, allowing us to consolidate a wide range of digital technologies and get even more benefits from their synergy. Gartner names this new type of platform a Digital Business Technology Platform and encourages CIOs to consider building such a platform to get their companies ready for obstacles and continual change, all while integrating systems and adding new technologies. Experts note that workflow management systems and BPM systems efficiently working in convergence with numerous technologies are expected to be a reliable core of an integrated digital business platform.

The above workflow management system trends are emerging, and it’s worth considering them together with the notable 2019 trends that are gaining momentum.

Workflow Software Trends – 2019

A workflow may be a simple sequence of work activities or a complicated collection of processes that take place in parallel. During the past few years, executives realized that workflow automation is vital for business competitiveness, and the BPTrends Report confirms this fact. Year after year businesses report that integrating a workflow management system capability within the company’s methodology can bring tangible and even impressive overall efficiency gains and cost savings. No surprise that companies report their intention to increase spendings on business process management and workflow automation:

How do you expect our organization’s investment in BPM technology is going to change over the course of the next two years?
	2017
Increasing by more than 100%	9%	16
Increasing by less than 100%	46%	84
Unchanging	40%	73
Decreasing by less than 50%	4%	7
Decreasing by more than 50%	2%	3
Totals	100%	183

The State of the BPM Market – 2018
BPTrends Report

In recent years the business world has been inundated with talk about the benefits of innovative features needed in the right workflow management solution. In 2019, workflow management matured. Now businesses stop thinking in terms of features when choosing a workflow management system and instead focus on strategic advantages a solution delivers.

More businesses are looking to embrace digital transformation, which means blending digital and physical business while improving operational efficiencies and performance. If you’re among the businesses working to reimagine and enhance existing processes, open the door to dynamic, agile workflows and build a digital strategy. Here are the strategic workflow trends to consider in 2019:

Trend 1 – Transforming Customer and Employee Experience

Unarguably, when a person gets used to the convenience of mobile apps for hotel, ride, or flight booking they will never accept the old experience. Expectations from interfaces and overall service experience rise. So, serving customers the usual way would kill your company’s competitiveness. Meanwhile, 84% of organizations working to improve customer experience report an increase in revenue (Dimension Data). Not surprisingly, Gartner surveys confirm customer experience is the new battlefield, with 89% of businesses expectedly soon to be competing mainly on customer experience.

In the meantime, employee expectations rise too, and serving employees in an old-fashion way will ruin their loyalty, resulting in high employee turnover and related costs.

New employees who went through a structured onboarding program were 58% more likely to be with the organization after three years.

SHRM Presentation” by The Wynhurst Group

Taking into account new employee expectations, many companies build an automated onboarding process supported by workflow management software to streamline and speed up the employee assessing, hiring, training, and onboarding workflows. It is also worth noting that in addition to a modern onboarding process employees expect to have a one-stop shop for IT-, HR-, procurement and other internal services.

So, there’s a trend to converge user-friendly interfaces, easy access from various devices, customer mapping, artificial intelligence, and many other features in concert to serve customers and employees in an ever-improving way. When choosing a workflow management tool, make sure that it is capable of supporting your service improvement initiatives.

Trend 2 – Synergy of RPA and Workflow Management

RPA (Robotic Process Automation) is gaining momentum as bots can be leveraged quickly and can displace humans in low-level and redundant work. According to Deloitte Global RPA Survey, 53% of respondents have already started their RPA journey and the benefits of RPA adoption are significant across multiple dimensions including:

improved compliance (92%)
improved quality/accuracy (90%)
improved productivity (86%)
cost reduction (59%)

Meanwhile, it is important to remember that bots can’t work with implicit processes while humans can. So, in 2019 many businesses use both technologies together: RPA and workflow management. The tasks to complete a workflow are done by bots or humans, while task assignment and flow control are managed by a workflow management solution. This approach becomes more popular and there may come a day when you need humans and bots to work together. So, ensure that your workflow management software has an open API for easy integration with RPA systems and supports human-bot intimate cooperation.

Trend 3 – The Shrinking IT Department Role

In the digital era, the IT department still plays an important role in every company. Meanwhile, according to Gartner Research, the modern IT infrastructure is very different from the one used in the 90s. As more business solutions, including workflow management tools, run in the cloud, have more user-friendly interfaces, and allow no-code changes to the solution business logic, there’s no longer a need to rely on the IT department for all the IT tasks. Modern workflow management software is expected to ensure that employees with basic IT skills can address most of their issues and build workflow applications quickly. A 2017 low-code adoption survey shows that in three-fourths of companies at least some business apps are developed by the civil developers, not the IT departments.

Conclusion

CMW Lab is the company behind one of the most powerful no-code workflow software on the market. With CMW Tracker, you can easily create workflow graphical models, define role-based access, and design workflow patterns with tremendous flexibility. Furthermore, you get features like form pre-filling, easy-to-use status views, and powerful reporting, all in a cloud solution that takes away the worry of on-site server and software maintenance.

Get a 30-day trial!

Look ahead by looking back

Below you will find a retrospective look at our evolving understanding of the must-have workflow solution features, which have progressed as new technologies have matured.

Workflow software features you needed in 2018

1. Easy-to-use Graphical Workflow Builder

The first step to understanding and potentially streamlining a process is to create a graphical model of the process. It is a formal description or a diagram that defines the process steps and each step’s results. Intuitive visual modeling is one of the most valued workflow management software (WMS or WfMS) features. With a graphical model, you can see the process and activity definitions, resources, individual and department roles, along with the expected outputs from all process steps. By capturing and depicting the process flow, you get all team members on the same page and help everyone understand why they’re doing their tasks. Here is an example of a workflow created in CMW Tracker with simple drag-and-drop:

The right workflow management system keeps everyone in the loop and makes tracking complex projects easier.

Get a 30-day trial!

2. Access Control Based on Participant Responsibilities

The fact that modeling and transparency are desirable workflow management system features doesn’t imply that anyone should be able to alter the process or access workflow phases in which they’re not involved. Your workflow management software should allow you to define who is supposed to do what. People with various process roles should be able to update their status but shouldn’t have access to the entire workflow. At the same time, a project or workflow manager should be able to reassign roles when needed. Administrators should be able to do this quickly, and with ease.

3. Flexibility of Workflow Patterns

Some workflows are simple sequences. Some consist of multiple sequences working in parallel. And some workflows contain several process tiers that must be accomplished in a particular order or a mixture of process types. (What is a workflow?) The flexibility to design and model workflows in different ways is one of the features workflow management software should not skimp on. Ideally, a workflow management system should define and guide processes, but not constrain them. Every organization has particular workflows, and workflow management software shouldn’t stand in the way of creating the exact patterns and workflows that are necessary.

To support the execution of workflows in a restless world with shortening cycle times, workflow management tools must provide reliable support for flexibility in easy and simple ways. CMW Tracker ensures benefits in the long run and delivers dynamic, adaptive, and flexible workflows thanks to the support of on-the-fly changes to workflows, forms, and data with visual tools and without coding:

Create your workflows and quickly change them on the fly and without coding using a visual workflow builder.

Get a 30-day trial!

4. An Option to Pre-Fill Forms

This may sound like a nice convenience, but once you use workflow management software that allows pre-filled forms, you won’t want to go back to doing it any other way. One of the greatest workflow management software benefits is being able to automate repetitive processes, and pre-filled forms can go a long way toward accomplishing this. When data is entered once, it can populate multiple forms, cutting down duplication effort significantly and helping keep error rates down as well. Pre-filled forms may not sound like a big deal, but it is one of the most important features workflow management systems can offer.

Pre-filled forms go a long way toward streamlining work processes.

Get a 30-day trial!

Workflow software features you needed in 2017

1. Easy-to-Interpret Task Status Visual Representation

Workflow management software (WMS or WfMS) should let project or workflow participants check on task status at any time. Features like automatic email alerts, which can tell the next person in a sequence that the process is ready for their input, help keep things on track. But being able to check at any time whether a particular step has been accomplished can save a lot of time and phone calls to project participants asking the step statuses. Knowing where everyone is in a workflow helps your team members plan their activities effectively, for maximum efficiency in executing the workflow steps.

Enjoy task flow transparency and get full control over daily activities

Get a 30-day trial!

2. Visual Form Builder

Every workflow is expected to be associated with a proper web form for convenient and reliable data collection. And nowadays it is difficult to accept a scenario when you have to rely on IT guys with programming skills whenever you need to add a new form field. In 2017 it is common to have a workflow management system that delivers a drag-and-drop form builder to create your perfect forms and correct them on the run without coding skills.

Create as many fields as needed, add tables, group related fields into sections, and empower your forms with business rules.

Get a 30-day trial!

3. Reporting Features Workflow Management Software Should Have

Reporting features, particularly when coupled with strong workflow analytics, are among the most valuable workflow management software features. Automated workflows are designed to make it easy to understand the performance. But when reports can be generated easily to show who is doing (or has done) what, when the next step is likely to be accomplished, and what workflow participants are still waiting on, everyone has a better understanding of their accountability. Plus, it’s empowering to look at a workflow report and see the actual results of your work. Look for a workflow management solution that offers a dashboard interface that facilitates easy report creation.

A role-based dashboard of your workflow management system adds value

Get a 30-day trial!

4. The Cloud Hosting Convenience

While there are still some businesses that need their work management software running on their on-premise servers, most businesses can take advantage of the many benefits a cloud-hosted solution offers. Cloud solutions are cost-effective, easy to scale up or down, and offer employees the flexibility of working from any number of devices and locations. If you have work team members located elsewhere or telecommuting, a cloud workflow management system is the only way to go. Cloud systems ensure the latest patches have been installed by the vendor, and that everyone working on a project is using the latest version of the workflow management system at all times.

Give a try to a workflow management software by CMW Lab and make sure it is as user-friendly and flexible as this digital era demands.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Key Features Business Process Solutions Need in 2021

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 14:29:12 +0000

Business process management may be a term you have or have not heard of, but it will become ever more important as time goes on. Also referred to as BPM, this is where improvements in efficiency, reduction in error, and innovation in business processes are initiated. This is an incredibly important part of business, that has long taken a ton of time to think about, implement, and manage.

Business Process Management Explained

Every task a business undergoes in the process of providing a product or service to its customers is a process that has many different steps involved in its completion. Just think about a typical business and imagine all the different tasks the employees must take part in for the company to operate and function. Each task is broken down into constituent parts and together, these form a business process.

Depending on the size and nature of your company, there could be just a few or countless processes that are involved. To help improve efficiency and find ways to do a certain task better, management creates business process documentation where the steps in each task are laid out, step-by-step, and can be evaluated for efficiency or simply better ways of achieving the same thing.

It is easy to see both how important this part of business operations is as well as how much time it can take. Not to mention, anything that involves human management will be open to human error, which can reduce efficiency and cause a lot of issues.

This is why so many companies, large and small, are moving to automated business process management tools. These are powerful tools that make it easier to document, track, manage, and change any part of the process to streamline operations and make the business run more smoothly.

Key Features to Look For

There are tons of automation tools out there and they aren’t all created equal. When considering automation software for business process management, there are some key features you will want the software to have so you can maximize the benefit it provides to the business. Software suites such as those offered by Comindware will include these important features.

Automation

Though there are tons of software suites designed to help streamline business process management, not all of them automate these functions. Automation will help dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to create and analyze these processes, find places they can be optimized, and then re-evaluate them. Any tool you consider should have an automation feature.

Easy Interface

Drag-and-drop builders use a visual interface for business process modeling. This makes it easier for all parties involved to use, as the learning curve isn’t nearly as steep. It is structured intuitively and is open to use for far more people than just those who are tech-savvy. Most people are familiar with software that utilizes the drag-and-drop function and will be far easier to train new employees on as no technical skill is necessary.

Drag-and-drop process modeling in Comindware Tracker

Get a 30-day trial!

Rules-based Workflow

Business process management entails creating a detailed breakdown of a specific business task into its constituent parts. This will be accompanied by data collection to manage the effectiveness of a process and determine any areas where it can be improved.

With automation software that utilizes rules-based workflows, the software will move through the various steps logically based on rules that will be laid down by the various users. This will help determine how a process should be undertaken and can guide a process.

Workflow Monitoring

Since you are looking at efficiency and ways to improve it, you need some way to track the specific task. You want software that allows you to easily monitor progress on a given process so you can easily see how well you are sticking to deadlines if there are any issues in the defined process and more.

Cloud Technology

By now, most people at least have a basic understanding of the cloud. It is an off-site means of storage that provides remote access from a range of different places and protects it from any potential issues with the business site itself. Meaning, if something happens at your business, say a leak, you don’t have to worry that the machine that has the software installed may be damaged. All information is stored offsite, which increases its security and accessibility.

This is not the entire story. Feel free to check a full list of business process/ workflow management features and trends in this blog.

Conclusion

Business process management is an incredibly important part of business management in general as it helps you understand how the processes involved in the business are undertaken as well as showing you areas that could be improved. Enhanced efficiency is part and parcel of a successful business and with powerful automation software, this aspect of a business is easier to manage than ever before. Information can be logically defined, monitored, and securely protected offsite to ensure the safety of your data and information. Don’t trust, but check your own how workflow automation software can benefit your business.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

5 Ways Workflow Analysis Helps Your Business

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 08:32:40 +0000

Technology, markets, and customers change, and workflow monitoring is necessary so that business processes continually meet the needs of a competitive marketplace. The first step in accomplishing this is workflow analysis, so you can accurately evaluate current workflows. Workflow analysis basically includes continuous workflow monitoring, analysis of individual steps in workflow automation processes, and how those steps are connected to each other. Sometimes a single change in one part of a process can accelerate (or slow down) subsequent parts of a process. Workflow analysis benefits businesses in numerous ways. Read on for 5 of the most important of those ways.

Workflow analysis benefits businesses in numerous ways. Here are 5 of the most important of those ways.

1. By Increasing Overall Efficiency

People tasked with improving a workflow analyse each aspect of a work process and look at the entire process mapped end to end. What steps can be automated, or changed from paper-based to network-based? Workflow analysis tools assist with taking a fresh look at the many individual steps that make up a workflow so that inefficiencies can be identified and technology upgraded as indicated. The result is an organization that runs more smoothly, wastes less time and money, and is poised for better revenues.

Whether you make steel beams for bridges or wedding videos, efficient workflows are essential.

2. By Optimizing Utilization of Physical Space

It’s possible today to use workflow analysis tools to help facilities managers make the absolute most of an organization’s physical space. Are printers located too far from the people who use them most? Could rack servers be replaced by micro-servers to keep the size of your data center under control? Workflow monitoring tools make it easier on facilities managers when it comes to assigning office space, locating major office equipment, and making decisions about how to implement changes when necessary.

3. By Making Customers Happier

Workflow analysis ultimately results in happier customers, if it’s implemented properly. For example, a workflow analysis could be used to better understand the operations of your contact center. Then, when choices need to be made about hiring or technology, they’re made on a foundation of strong workflows and designed to improve workflows even more. When your customer base feels understood and knows that assistance is just a phone call, email, or live chat away, they’re more likely to remain loyal to your business.

4. By Making Regulation Compliance Easier

If you’re ever audited, you’ll be glad you invested in workflow monitoring to ensure all necessary workflow analysis steps are taken to ensure compliance.

Workflow analysis tools can be put to work ensuring that all steps that are necessary for compliance with applicable regulations are completed, logged, and reported as necessary. The healthcare industry and the various financial services industries are bound by numerous regulations and reporting requirements. By building accountability and the logging of steps into affected workflows, audit trails can be created on demand, you always have information to reassure you of compliance, and creating annual reports is far easier.

5. By Boosting Employee Morale

Nobody likes feeling like they’re locked into antiquated, inefficient work processes. Some people may actually propose technology or work process changes, and then feel as if nobody listens. But workflow monitoring reassures both front-line workers and management that inefficiencies can be identified, causes for them determined, and changes made to remedy them. When an employee knows that his or her area of responsibility is being carried out efficiently, with minimum risk of error, workplace morale increases.

What is the First Step in Workflow Analysis?

You are likely to ensure convenient monitoring of the automated workflows. Take into account that workflow analysis approach is unique for every business and usually change in course of time, so there is no workflow analysis example or best practice that would fit all. So, spare neither efforts nor time and ensure that workflow software you choose is flexible enough and can be easily adjusted to your new approaches and business needs. Get ready to your long and fruitful workflow analysis and improvement journey and ensure success. We designed a super flexible workflow software for those who need reliable and easy tools on their way.

Why workflow software by Comindware?

Rare is the workflow that can remain static in the face of changes in technology, market forces, and the customer base, but workflow monitoring reassures organizations that they’re keeping up and staying competitive. Understanding, fine-tuning, and monitoring workflows helps prevent organizations from falling into inefficient processes, which is especially important in industries where regulation is heavy and constantly subject to change. Comindware Tracker is designed so that non-IT personnel can map, assess, improve, and monitor workflows, whether in a single department or across the entire organization, and can make all the difference when it comes to remaining competitive.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Top 5 Leave Management Best Practices to Up Your Game

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 12:31:24 +0000

One key part of employee dissatisfaction is using old techniques that waste time and money, leaving more work for employees than is necessary to deal with a given process. This is still often especially true when it comes to leave management.

Leave management simply refers to the management of employee leave, whether it is sick leave, vacation time, or some other form of leave. Outmoded tools mean this process takes way more time and effort than is necessary, especially when there are so many great automation tools that take all the frustration and guesswork out of the process.

Paper trails, bad data, and the like make this process way more frustrating than it needs to be. Timesheets, emails, phone calls, it can get out of hand pretty quickly. Managing employees’ time off doesn’t need to be this frustrating and complicated endeavor and with workflow management software by Comindware leave management has never been easier or less frustrating.

Five Common Problems and How Automation Can Improve the Process

Human resources departments are tasked with managing a lot of different activities and functions, so software that can make their job easier not only helps to improve employee satisfaction, it increases efficiency and reduces lag time and errors.

1) Who is off and when?

Especially when it comes to team projects, there being darkness surrounding when and how long an employee may be off work for vacation, sick leave, or otherwise can put a damper and halt on a project in progress. Finding out that people on your team will be gone for “x” amount of time, smack dab in the middle of an important project is incredibly irritating.

With leave management software, this information will be easily accessible for all employees and the software helps take into account important or timely tasks that may coincide with the time an employee wanted off.

2) How long do I have to wait to get approval?

HR staff is notoriously overworked and everyone has different ways of email inbox management. There isn’t much more irritating to employees than sending out a request for time off and then waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for the HR person in charge to get around to responding to an email or phone call

With leave management software, this process is automated. There is no middle man. Multiple people requesting the same day off will be readily apparent and scheduling gaps and issues are less likely to occur. So not only do employees not have to wait forever, but there are fewer issues of too many people being off at the same time.

Get a 30-day trial!

3) How much time do I have off?

HR professionals answer this question far more often than they would like to. It is redundant and repetitive and takes time out of their day to provide this basic information. Leave management software makes all that information easily accessible to the necessary parties.

4) What happened to all my leave?

One issue that employees often face is not knowing that they are requesting more leave than they have available to them which can cause them to go without pay or be denied for time off because they simply don’t have enough for their vocation/sick leave request. With leave automation software, this information is easily accessible and allows the employee to manage their own time off.

5) Why does it say I took a day off when I didn’t?

Sometimes the unexpected happens and people have to take a day off without planning to do so. This can lead to confusion as to the number of days off an employee still has. Further, issues can come up with an employee who may dispute that they took a given day off. This can all be easily dealt with leave management software where everything will automatically be documented and available for the respective parties to see and use.

Human resource professionals have to wear so many different proverbial hats that it is easy to see why it is such an overwhelming job that many can get burnt out on. With automation software like leave management software, some of these processes can be made much easier. For example, Comindware Tracker allows for automatic requests and approval for time off. It makes it easy for both human resources and employees to check their time balances and what has been taken already. This reduces confusion, streamlines the process of requesting and getting time off, and more.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Top 10 Best Procurement Practices for 2021

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 12:55:00 +0000

To get ahead and achieve success in the world of business today, one has to be willing to innovate, try new things, and remain flexible with the ever-changing times. There is a lot of impetus to reduce costs and increase efficiency and that tends to be the focus of many successful and growing businesses. Learning how to get the results you want, while improving efficiency, lowering costs, and increasing transparency might seem like a far too daunting goal, but it is not.

What is required is good procurement practices. This is vital to business success. As the costs of doing business continue on their upward trajectory, finding ways to reduce cost and improve efficiency are incredibly important aspects of the procurement process. This department is vital in an organization since this is where the bulk of the money is spent.

Sadly, there are still businesses that rely on a physical, paper, procurement manual to guide their processes and that is woefully out-of-date and inefficient. Overhauling the procurement process can be a key step towards improved efficiency and with automation software suited to the task, this has never been easier.

What follows are ten best practices that will work to improve the procurement process in your business and keep it on the path to success.

Top 10 procurement practices detailed

1) Create a procurement team: this will not involve everyone in the procurement department, but having a small, select team of professionals from within this department will help determine strategic planning goals, identify potential issues, and help further the overall goals and needs of the business at large. This will need to include several higher-ups from the procurement department, and maybe even some additional resources such as company leaders, shareholders, and other managers.

2) Make sure you have the right staff: Hiring can be a difficult and tricky process, but when it comes to the procurement department, making good hiring decisions is paramount. You want people who have the knowledge and skill, as well as the technical aptitude to make the needed changes and management of any new procurement process that may be used.

3) Don’t forget about technology: One of the biggest mistakes a business can make is failing to use valuable technology that can improve efficiency, transparency, and reduce error. Workflow automation software, such as the procurement offerings we have at Comindware, can dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to resolve accounts, track down payment, manage payments, and so much more. This software provides a great return on investment (ROI) as it increases the speed of the process and reduces error, all while increasing the transparency of the process for key stakeholders within the organization.

Get a 30-day trial!

4) Don’t forget to collaborate: There are many great minds within your organization and department. There may also be good partners to have outside of the organization as well as within other departments. You must bring in trusted individuals that can have great results by getting more people from different backgrounds involved in the process and even how the process operates and functions.

5) Think about the return on any investment, not the initial cost: say you are investing in some rather costly new automation software. It can be easy to see that as a huge expense that may or may not pay for itself at some point down the line. The amount of time spent tracking down, managing, troubleshooting, and the like can almost be eliminated with the implementation of some solid software, but this will entail an outlay of capital. However, when the result of that outlay of capital results in streamlined and more efficient processes with greater transparency, the cost is most certainly worth it.

6) Rely on the cloud: cloud-based tools provide powerful and flexible solutions for procurement departments. This type of software allows users to work remotely or on-site and provides the tools needed to automate data entry and other repetitive functions and can integrate into a variety of other software tools.

7) Embrace transparency: The best way to achieve strategic goals and business success is to have an open and transparent organization that values the input and assistance of many different actors within the organization. Transparency can help optimize and streamline processes, as well as the use of any software or automation tools that may be employed.

8) Engage any suppliers you may have: getting your suppliers involved in the procurement process at a deeper level can open up avenues for more beneficial relationships with suppliers. Fast payment and an open relationship can make it easier to receive specialized services, get needed repairs, and even just be more responsive with scheduled maintenance.

9) Optimize everywhere: one of the keys to business success is efficiency and that means streamlining various aspects of the business and this can be especially crucial in the procurement department. Keeping too much inventory can be a big mistake for a business trying to run optimally. Holding inventory comes with its host of costs and with good automation software, you can determine what is the optimal amount of any given item to retain on-site at a given time.

10) Make an effort to improve corporate social responsibility: There are many issues in the modern world, from income inequality to climate change, and more and more people are looking to the corporate world to do their fair share to help solve the problems. Whether going green and reducing the carbon footprint of the business or phasing out the use of a certain non-renewable resource, these things can have an immensely helpful. Investors and consumers alike look towards these issues more closely than ever before and is a trend that experts expect to continue. By improving the efficiency of operations, reducing the amount of floor space and energy you have to dedicate to material, and other things that can be achieved through streamlining and automation, are not only green solutions, but they make more financial sense as well.

These practices will help to dramatically improve the efficiency and reliability of the procurement process which can lead to savings in overhead as well as the ability to take advantage of certain buying opportunities. Cloud-based solutions like Comindware Tracker allow you to get enhanced functionality and improve the entire procurement process by reducing lag time and the potential for error. Software like this allows for greater transparency within an organization and allows all involved players to add their input as a way to further improve the process.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Alternatives to Traditional Employee Timesheet Templates

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:08:16 +0000

Though most of us work at places that have a slightly more sophisticated system of employee timesheet management than the old punch card, the concept is still largely the same. Some might use badges, fingerprint scanners, and the like, but it is still associated with a system that must be managed by human beings, which takes time and leaves room open for delays and error. Timesheets are clearly an important part of any work environment, but the technology we use to manage this part of the business can be lacking.

Many parties need easy access to information about the number of hours they have worked, any time taken off, and the like. This will determine how much the employee earns during a pay period and helps the finance department with payroll. However, when a human being is responsible for managing this task, there is room for error and it can take time. Say you want to check on your time off or you see an issue with your timesheet. For many, the only option is to get in touch with human resources or whatever department is in charge of this task, inquire, and wait for an answer.

It is the waiting part that causes issues as there can be significant delays in getting queries answered and lag in fixing any potential issues there might be with an employee’s timesheet. Thankfully, there are more modern and convenient ways to manage timesheets.

Reasons to Change the “Old Ways”

There are many reasons to modernize parts of your business operations, whether it be to improve efficiency or to stay ahead of the proverbial curve. When it comes to timesheets, well, paper is a technology of the past. It has to be stored and managed and kept in a location where any party that needs to can have access to them. You can already see how this can cause trouble when these departments are awash in this type of documentation.

There are a number of problems with using paper or even card-based timesheets. These are manual and an employee can forget to clock in. Not to mention, people in human resources must look at each timesheet and this takes time and can leave room open for error. This is inefficient and should an error be detected, it will take even more time to resolve the issue.

Automate for Efficiency and to Reduce Error

Thankfully, there are powerful software tools that allow you to reimagine how to manage employee timesheets. Automation software, such as offered by Comindware, can completely automate this process. This will make timesheet management far more transparent to the employee and any other party that may need access to these documents.

Automation software, as the name implies, allows businesses to automate timesheet management which frees up human resources for other tasks that cannot be done by a machine. This gives them more time for other important aspects of their job and will also reduce the amount of communication and back and forth they have to do with employees to answer questions about timesheets.

Get a 30-day trial!

With automation software, errors are largely non-existent and it takes a fraction of the time to produce employee timesheets than when done by hand. Increasing efficiency is one of the best ways to help a company stand apart from the proverbial crowd. And this software also means fewer errors, which reduces the amount of time needed to manage timesheets, as well as frustrations with employees over errors.

This software usually involves the use of an app where employees can easily track and manage the hours they work. All necessary parties will have access to the information entered into the app for each employee. If everything checks out, the timesheets can even be approved automatically, meaning no delays in pay, which everyone likes.

Managing the hours employees work to ensure they get paid and know the status of their time off is just one of the many functions human resource professionals must manage. Using automated timesheet management software reduces the amount of work and effort it takes to efficiently and properly manage this aspect of the business. Knowing that the process is streamlined and accurate gives everyone the peace of mind that they will be paid for the hours they work.

With automation software, you can dramatically increase the efficiency of timesheet management, cutting down the time it takes to perform this vital task significantly. It also helps to reduce delay and error in reporting of hours worked to ensure that employees are paid for the time they put in, without delay. The associated app allows both employees and human resource professionals to keep an eye on the timesheet and can address any potential issues as they come up far easier. Not to mention, machines make far fewer errors than humans do.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Business Process Analysis: From Definition to Examples

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 14:55:04 +0000

Business process analysis is an important and not well-understood aspect of business management. The term refers to a set of methods used to track and learn about the efficiency of various business processes. It is a means by which one can determine how well their strategic planning is working and how well they are meeting any set goals.

Without a good business process analysis, there is a lot of wasted time, inefficiency, and delays when it comes to meeting specific goals. When you have a good means of business process analysis, you can easily see how well the business is working towards goals, where inefficiencies may lay, and even determining potential problems and how they might be addressed.

What is business process analysis?

It is important to understand that there is a difference between business process analysis and business analysis. The latter refers to overall business operations and macro issues, whereas business process analysis refers to steps within a specific process. This is typically used on the core functions of any business and can help troubleshoot, solve problems, as well as improve various parts of the process. How well does the process meet the needs it is designed to address? How can it be improved? These are questions that can be answered with business process analysis.

Some key ways business process analysis can help:

Determining aspects or areas causing issues or delays
Learning what does and doesn’t work in a given process
Deciding whether to scrap, change, or completely redo a business process
Determining whether the process is as efficient as it can be

There are tons of great choices when it comes to business process analysis software and much of it, such as that we offer here at Comindware, helps to automate and dramatically increase the efficiency of this process, providing untold benefits to businesses large and small. One can see the myriad of benefits that can result from using this software and it is a great way to troubleshoot processes that seem to be running inefficiently or regularly causing issues, errors, or delays.

Get a 30-day trial!

With software like this, you can work to identify where delays are occurring, what aspects of the process are running slowly or inefficiently, what processes need to be revisited or edited, and more. A good, thorough analysis can be helpful for employees or other people involved in the process that are struggling to visualize or understand a given process.

Business process analysis examples

While it can be easy to understand the value of business process analysis conceptually, it might be a bit more difficult to figure out in the specific context of the work you are doing. There are several common business process analysis examples that are regularly used by businesses large and small that we will briefly touch on here.

Root cause analysis: this type of analysis is used to determine what caused a process not to work and what aspects can be addressed to fix it.

Observation: as the name implies, this allows you to simply watch a process and see how it plays out to determine whether there needs change. There is also a subset of this that is often called experience observation, which entails watching and talking to those involved in the process being analyzed to get their input and see what issues they have noticed.

Value-added analysis: this lets you determine whether a particular process or aspect within a process adds value and if it doesn’t, it may be removed.

Gap analysis: this allows you to determine whether there are aspects, functions, or tasks in a process that are missing so they can be fixed.

These examples show how this software can help streamline, improve outcomes, and give warning that a process is not functioning optimally. It provides for greater transparency and sharing of information between parties within the organization. It allows one to see how a process is performing, troubleshoot, and even provide better new employee training and guidance.

In closing

It is vital to ensure that any process your business runs is performing the function it is designed for in an efficient and meaningful way. Business process analysis refers to looking deep into each aspect of a process to determine whether it is the most efficient means of achieving a goal or not. Analysis also helps you find and root out inefficiencies or issues within a given process that could be slowing the entire process down. Process management and analysis software provides invaluable ability to improve the effectiveness of strategic planning and make it easier to achieve the desired goals.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Choose the Best Expense Management Software in 2021

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 15:25:44 +0000

Tracking and managing expenses are some of the most important and vital aspects of running a business. Finding ways to make the process more efficient and transparent is incredibly useful to business success. With expenses from different organizations and money coming in and out of the business at different times, it is easy for delays to occur when humans are responsible for management. This is why many are looking towards automation software as a means to streamline and reduce errors in this process.

With the advent of the cloud and advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence, automation software is now incredibly powerful and can provide an immense benefit to businesses large and small. These are powerful and innovative suites of software that take a lot of the tedium and headaches out of managing business expenses.

How to choose expense management software

To choose the best software for one’s company and its specific needs, you will need to do a bit of planning and consideration. What types of business does the company do? Is in national or international? Is there a lot of employee travel? What types of expenses does the business most often deal with? These and other questions are vital to helping guide your ultimate decision. You want to make sure that the software you choose is up to the task, but you also don’t want to spend a ton of extra money on features or elements that aren’t relevant or useful to the business.

You will also need to consider the technological capabilities of the company, as well as how employees typically interact with business functions. For employees that still use a lot of paper in their tracking and management may require different software than those who are already using smartphones or tablets to do parts of their work.

You must be familiar with the accounting software, if any, that is used by the organization to ensure that any expense tracking software you get is compatible with what you already use.

Automate key workflows with ease and get expense management simplified

Get a 30-day trial!

Benefits and features of expense management software

Regardless of the product you ultimately choose, there is a learning curve involved in the implementation of expense tracking software. It has to be integrated into your overall business operations in a way that is not only useful and effective, but that also makes sense to everyone tasked with using it. That can be a lot easier said than done.

Any software suite you consider should be one that is a quality service that can meet the needs and technical aptitude of the people who will be tasked with using it. The point of using this type of software is to save time, money, and reduce errors, so those are vital things that any software was chosen will need to provide.

Any software you choose will need to abide by current laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which addresses expense abuse and manipulation. Most expense management tools comply with this and other important and relevant legislation, but anything chosen must take these rules and laws into account.

Expense management software should dramatically simplify the expense reporting and management workflow. Say, for example, you have a company that does a lot of business travel and thus manages travel expense reports regularly, good software that will allow for mobile integration such as through the use of smartphones to input receipts and other spending, takes multiple people and layers of bureaucracy out of the reimbursement process.

This software will reduce error, help resolve expenses far faster than when multiple people have to be involved, reduces error, and streamlines the entire workflow with the use and integration of basic technologies most already use like smartphones and other mobile devices. There are a lot of options out there at different price points and levels of sophistication and it does take some reflection about the individual needs of the company to make the right choice. With our workflow management software, a business can easily manage their expenses simply and efficiently.

Get a 30-day trial!

In closing

Managing expenses is one of the most vital aspects of running a successful business. This process needs to be efficient, transparent, and flexible to the needs of the future. Doing this with paper and pencil or on a computer manually by a person not only reduces the efficiency of the process but leaves room open for error and delays. With quality expense management software, the process can be managed automatically and with dramatically reduced lag time. With many of expense management software options, you can easily integrate the software into your existing structure and expand its use for greater remote availability, such as via a smartphone.

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Top 7 Workflow Apps for Automating Your Business in 2021

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:45:58 +0000

Workflow automation apps continue to gain in prominence and popularity with business across industries. These powerful tools allow businesses to automate various aspects of their daily operations, and with machine learning and artificial intelligence continuing to advance, the tasks that can be automated continue to be more sophisticated and complex.

There are tons of different suites of software designed to help businesses take advantage of automation and improve efficiency, and it can be hard to choose which one is best for the needs of your specific task, industry, or business. While we can’t make the ultimate choice for you, we have narrowed the myriad of software down to our picks for the top 7 types of automation apps of 2021.

This list is, of course, by no means exhaustive, but it covers a range of software tools of varying sophistication, utility, functionality, and cost. For most businesses, one of these pieces of software will be more than enough to dramatically improve the efficiency of many aspects of business operation.

Not all businesses will, of course, have a use for some of these tools, but it goes to show the wide range of functions that this type of software can perform.

Compliance and Policy Management Software

In many industries, a big part of administrative work is ensuring that the business complies with various state, federal, or even international reporting and compliance rules. Depending on the industry, there will be a whole range of things that you will need to report either internally or externally. This is the aspect of business that is charged with keeping records safe, providing transparency and information to various agencies, and for managing the utility and outcomes related to various business policies.

This part of business typically relies a lot on manual data entry and communication which leaves a lot of room open for error. With applications like Comindware’s compliance and policy management software, businesses have a powerful set of tools that can manage, automatically, this all-important part of doing business.

CapEx Approval Process

Business operations need to be transparent and efficient to achieve the greatest level of success. Cost containment and management are also of vital importance. With automated capital expenditure approval process software, called CapEx, this process is more transparent and efficient than ever before.

It has never been so easy to design CapEx approval workflow and automate it.

Get a 30-day trial!

With this type of automation, businesses can create and manage web forms and basic financial workflows with ease, and without the need for technology-savvy people to oversee the process. This makes the process much less time-consuming and allows you to create unique, customized expenditure requests in an easy-to-use interface.

Time off and Extended Leave

Everyone needs a day off on occasion and sometimes we have the opportunity to go on a nice, well-deserved vacation, but this needs to be properly handled in the workplace and can take up a lot of time in administrative work. In the past, when someone wanted a day off, they requested it from a supervisor, who may have then sent it to human resources or some other administrative office, before it ultimately gets approved and the employee gets the go-ahead. It is easy to see that this is an inefficient process that takes an unreasonable amount of time.

Just think, at any point in the process there could be a bottleneck because someone didn’t check their email in time or perhaps someone else forgot to copy an important party on an email. To figure it all out, there will need to be a lot of communication and email, which takes time that the employee may not have. With automation software designed for this task, the process of requesting and getting approved for time off is incredibly fast and pain-free.

Purchase Requests

One of the most important parts of a business is managing money that comes in and money that goes out. All businesses need supplies and materials to operate, which they have to purchase from elsewhere. Automation software streamlines this process and rather than requiring the communication and input from multiple employees before a purchase can be approved, the software does it automatically.

Employee Onboarding

Employee onboarding refers to the process of hiring new employees and getting them through proper training and orientation. Anyone who has participated in the hiring process knows how much paperwork is involved. These are vital processes, as they help a new employee learn the proverbial ropes of their new position. Automation software for employee onboarding takes a lot of the confusion out of this process and provides for a comprehensive and cohesive means of getting a new employee up to speed.

Travel Requests and Reimbursements

Business travel is part and parcel of most operations. It involves a lot of planning and legwork in terms of making sure everyone’s travel plans are solid, hotels have been booked, and the like. Once back from business travel, employees will turn in their receipts and other forms of proof of purchase to get reimbursed for the expenses they took out-of-pocket. With automation software designed to handle this part of business, the process is far more streamlined and time-efficient. Employees get reimbursed faster and less time has to be spent on arrangements.

Purchase Orders

Purchase orders refer to any purchases that are made concerning the business. This can happen when an employee is on the road or in the office. Often, the person who is in charge of this task is managing purchase orders in various states of completeness and this can get confusing. With automation software, this process is simplified and means that accounts will be resolved in far less time.

It is easy to see how automation software can dramatically benefit businesses of any shape and size. There are tons of tools in a workflow management software by Comindware for various aspects of business operation that provide powerful tools that reduce the time it takes to perform certain tasks, as well as reducing the likelihood of error or a bottleneck in progress.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Digital Workplace and Advanced Workflow Capabilities

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 15:48:10 +0000

The world of business is changing quickly before our very eyes. New technologies that are revolutionizing and redefining the ways we manage every aspect of business are now common and some of these technologies are changing what it means to even work. There have been dramatic advances in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and the like, which has led to the development of a wide array of powerful automation tools that streamline business processes and reduce error.

In today’s incredibly competitive environment, any sort of “leg up” is vital to success. Highly successful businesses, in any industry, are those that are flexible and adaptable to changes in technology and even the way people interact to perform their daily work. To create the successful work environment of the future, one must take into account these new technologies and determine how they can best be implemented into one’s specific business process flow to provide the best results.

Tomorrow’s workplace

One of the most difficult, but also most important, parts of business planning is determining what one thinks the future of the business will hold. While, of course, many aspects of this cannot be accurately predicted, some trends give us a good clue as to at least some of the changes we can expect.

An area of change that we can pretty accurately assume will be the norm of the future is the digital workplace. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have had to learn how to do their job remotely, from home, and this requires the use of new technologies that can allow for this to happen. Additionally, business process management and workflow automation technologies are sophisticated and powerful tools that can streamline various business processes, utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence, along with the ability to manage basic data entry and other repetitive tasks.

This calls for employees that are flexible and able to learn new skills and technologies as they are introduced into the workplace. A dynamic workforce that can change with the needs of the time is imperative to the successful business of the future.

Design workflow apps and digital workplace with drag and drop simplicity and adjust them with easy when needed.

Get a 30-day trial!

Decentralized centralization

The name of this section may, at first, seem to make little to no sense, but stick with us for a minute. With an increased reliance on technology and remote working, the future of business will be one the one hand largely centralized. What this means is that there will be a core of the business where all processes are managed and assigned, as well as the main work hub that employees will do their work. The decentralized part refers to the employees.

As the pandemic has shown many of us, the business can often be run remotely and there are many practical advantages to doing so. In the future, many expect more and more job positions to be done remotely, from home, meaning that employees are decentralized in their literal location as they do work, but they are centralized in that they are all working in the same workspace, managed by the same group of people.

While this will present some challenges and, of course, a learning curve, it is the direction more and more businesses are moving towards. The workspace that people can access remotely needs to be comprehensive and adaptable as well. Workflow technologies and other automation tools that can integrate with other software can help reduce the number of different applications that must be run to complete a process, further simplifying things.

We must embrace automation

A lot of businesses have successfully integrated at least some automation software into their business, most often in areas where manual data entry is key. However, as artificial intelligence and machine learning improve, automation software can handle more and more complicated tasks. Machine learning tools, as the name implies, learn over time from performing various business processes, making them more like a fellow employee than simply a piece of technology.

As these tools continue to improve, they can handle more complicated and sophisticated tasks that reduce the need for manual human entry and management and can free up human employees for more creative and innovative pursuits within the company.

In summary

As the way we work continues to evolve, business owners and managers have to find ways to adapt and stay ahead of the proverbial curve. While the future of business cannot be predicted, there are some aspects of it that we can prepare for, such as the increased use and reliance on automation technologies and the digital workplace. These tools will help create a sophisticated and powerful workspace that allows employees to manage their tasks, even if they are working remotely. Workflow management software can help a lot with quick business processes automation and building a foundation of a digital workspace that would boost your employees effectivity, whether working in the office of remotely.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Alternatives to ProcessMaker in 2021

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 20:13:30 +0000

ProcessMaker and Comindware Tracker are two popular and well-known workflow automation software suites that provide a wide range of powerful tools for automation of any number of workplace processes. There are key differences between these two software suites and one of the main ones is the price.

ProcessMaker Alternatives

For those who are looking for an alternative to ProcessMaker that has excellent reviews, powerful tools, and a proven track record, Comindware Tracker is a great choice. The software has received incredibly user reviews, which are highly appreciated as feedback helps us to improve the product. It is a fraction of the cost of ProcessMaker. With ProcessMaker, you are looking at over $1000 a month, along with a fee levied per user.

With Comindware Tracker, you can use the software for a flat rate of about $25 a month, per user, without the ridiculous fee as well. Business process management and workflow software are incredibly versatile but that doesn’t mean that you have to break the proverbial bank in the process.

Users across a host of different industries, large and small, swear by Comindware Tracker as a great alternative to the pricier ProcessMaker. Users love the easy-to-use interface that provides powerful tools that can be integrated with a variety of other technologies.

Benefits of Comindware vs ProcessMaker

You can easily set your own rules and controls, customizing the software to each company, and the project’s individualized needs. Users of ProcessMaker point out that the software doesn’t have much in the way of compatibility, whereas Comindware allows for easy integration. ProcessMaker has no mobile app and remote interface, which Comindware does have. ProcessMaker takes a long time to load and there are issues with its auto-posting functionality, leading to bottlenecks and inefficiency.

Another key difference between Comindware Tracker and ProcessMaker is the skill level needed to use said software. With Comindware, even a computer novice can make use of the tools and metrics, whereas with ProcessMaker, you will need at least a basic level of understanding and ability to code. This dramatically reduces the number of employees who can use and take advantage of these software tools.

Create workflow diagrams and get then automated with drag-and-drop simplicity

Get a 30-day trial!

User Experience

Those who use Comindware love its control panel which provides access to all business processes, making it easy to track progress and change anything that may need adjustment along the way. These user reviews have helped us learn what works with this software and what areas need improvement. Companies that have integrated Comindware and similar software suites swear by the increased productivity and the reduced amount of time spent on repetitive activities like data entry.

With this type of software, you can automate and streamline a whole host of business operations, from simple to complex. This reduces the number of times employees must spend on repetitive tasks that leave room for human error. Companies who have integrated this type of software into their organization reduce error and streamline operations. This leaves more time and opportunity for innovation and creativity.

Comindware Tracker is also lauded for coming with excellent customer service and support, available anytime, day or night, to assist users with any issues they may be experiencing. The workflow software allows for easy customization so you can tailor the software to the exacting needs of your company and a given project. While this is also possible with ProcessMaker, users will need to have a level of technical proficiency that isn’t required for users of Comindware.

Comindware Pros

While cost, for many organizations, is the biggest deciding factor in choosing which software suite is right for a company, it isn’t the only factor in the decision-making process. When it comes to cost, Comindware wins, hands-down, costing a fraction of what ProcessMaker and other software suites cost monthly. However, there are other reasons to choose Comindware as an alternative to ProcessMaker.

Firstly, it has an easy-to-use interface that makes the software accessible to many more people within an organization. With software suites like ProcessMaker, users will have to have at least a low-level proficiency in coding and understand how the individual processes work. This limits the number of employees in an organization that can benefit from or even uses the software. Comindware is accessible so employees across the organization, not just IT, can utilize these powerful tools. The software can be easily customized to meet the needs of each organization and even the individual process being automated.

Organizations that utilize business process management and workflow automation software see dramatic increases in efficiency across many areas of their business operations. Processes that used to require actual people to enter in data by hand, or start and end certain basic processes, can now be handled automatically. This saves a ton of time and also helps reduce errors, which is unavoidable when humans are entering data or managing processes by hand.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Purchasing Department Software

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 01:46:49 +0000

Purchasing Manager’s day is full of efforts to handle purchase order requests, verify the details of requisitions, ensure policies compliance, correcting errors and finding out what went wrong. It is hard work and we should do something about that.

Before reading on, answer the following questions:

Do you often need to approve a purchase?
Does it cause delays when someone is on vacation or out of the office?
Have you tried to use purchase management software and been disappointed?
Do you still exchange files by email instead of using traceable online items for each purchase?

If you have answered yes at least twice, we have good news for you: you’re about to discover an online solution that can finally streamline your purchase request approval process, get rid of manual errors correction, and make your work transparent and more efficient.

Comindware Tracker finance management solution allows creating web forms for purchase requests with drag-and-drop simplicity and provides a template for the purchase request approval process. The template includes the workflow and the business rules for automated purchase request management. Here is how this workflow template looks like:

Get a 30-day trial!

The automated purchase request process template is fully customizable with simple drag and drop. You need to have administrator rights to have access to this function. Then, you can modify form fields, purchase order approval process steps and business rules. For example:

“…purchase requests with an amount lower than N go for approval to the purchasing manager, whereas requests with an amount larger than N go to the purchasing director. Or, purchase requests for different types of goods are approved by specific managers…”

Nowadays businesses either small or big prefer online purchase order approval systems in comparison to on-premise ones. Stored in the Cloud, if you choose the SaaS implementation, your purchase requests are submitted via web forms all available online at any time: thus no important financial data can be lost or forgotten. Here is an example of a purchase request form advanced with optional menu created in Comindware Tracker:

Get a 30-day trial!

You can use this purchase request form template for quick start and adjust it according to your needs.

Role-based access to the workspaces makes it possible to share specific parts of work data with specific employees. The strict rules of the purchase request approval eliminate the possibility of unapproved purchases. The streamlined automated request requisition approval process reduces paperwork and sends notification to relevant team members at the right time.

With online automated purchase request approval workflow you never doubt whom you need to go with your request for approval, you don’t need to ask someone: the request goes to the right person, carried by Comindware Tracker finance management solution. This reduces time to process requests, eliminates mistakes and speeds up your work. Even more, Comindware Tracker is more than just purchase request software and empowers business to start from purchasing department automation and easily scale the first success by automating workflows in other functional areas.

Save time on formalities, clear your agenda for more meaningful activities rather than paperwork.

Comindware Tracker finance management solution comes with a set of templates for different financial activities and you can try all of them for free during 30 days. You are one click away from obtaining your trial keys for the product.

Get a 30-day trial!

Anastasia Chumakova is Product Marketing Analyst and Workflow Automation Expert at Comindware.
She currently explores online process management product development trends, contributes to www.cmwlab.com and provides tips for better use of Comindware Tracker and online work management solutions.

Accounts Receivable Tips: Get Your Customers to Pay in Time

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 12:11:05 +0000

One of the basic elements of business operations is the function of sending and receiving payments. These departments are usually called accounts receivable and accounts payable, respectively. The accounts receivable department is, due to its very nature, one of the core aspects of business functioning. Doing business is a process of transactions whereby a business provides a product or service and a customer pays for said product or service.

While this seems simple on its face, it can get a bit more complicated than that, especially when large or digital payments are involved. Inefficiency is often rampant in accounts receivable departments because so much is done by hand or manually entered and people have to keep track of who knows how many accounts. Managing paper invoices or even trying to manage a digital system manually leaves a lot of room for error and inefficiency. One of the ways that companies are improving this area of business is through the use of accounts receivable business process automation technology.

Ways that automation software can benefit the accounts receivable business process.

Paper invoices are still alarmingly common but that is likely to change in the future. Not only do paper copies require more in the way of physical resources for storage, but they often require people to manage, send, and file them as well. It is easy to see, especially the larger a business is, would leave open the door to error and inefficiency. This is why so many businesses are digitizing as many aspects of their business as possible since it streamlines operations, reduces time spent on manual data entry tasks, and also reduces the likelihood of human error.

There is a huge range of automation software tools that work for any and every aspect of business operations. These are so helpful and effective that many companies find that these technologies pay for themselves in a remarkably short period.

Due to the nature of the department, accounts receivable is one of the most important parts of any business. The faster and more efficiently a business can receive payment for services rendered and resolve the account, the better. This usually involves sending out payment invoices, processing payments, and resolving accounts as they are paid off. For accounts receivable, invoice processing is one of the main and most important tasks, this is how a business gets paid for the products or services they provide their customers.

Tips for improving the efficiency of the accounts receivable process.

Simple invoicing: one problem that businesses fall prey to is putting too much information on an invoice. Invoices need to be simple and as short as possible so the customer is clear what the payment required is and when it is due. This information needs to be clearly and prominently visible. Confusing invoices can create payment delays and thus make it take longer to resolve an account.
Accounts receivable invoice processing should have an automated reminder. Many automation software suites give you the option of sending out an email or text-based reminders to customers in advance of when their payments are due. This simple reminder can reduce the number of late payments significantly.

Get a 30-day trial!

Incentives to pay early or in full: many companies will provide a financial incentive to customers who resolve their accounts early or in full, rather than making payments over time. This is a great way to encourage customers to completely resolve their accounts in a more timely manner. Determining some sort of discount for early or in full payment is a great way to help resolve accounts faster and more efficiently.
Don’t let past due accounts fester. The longer it takes to get payment from someone, the more likely it is that they won’t end up paying in full. You don’t want to keep a lot of past-due accounts active if at all possible. This means that you need to stay on top of your accounts receivable business processes to ensure that unpaid accounts aren’t slipping through the proverbial cracks. Contacting past-due customers via phone, mail, or electronic communication can be an effective way to get an overdue account resolved in a more timely fashion.
ACH and same-day payments can make a difference when it comes to resolving accounts receivable invoice payments. This means that the money comes out of a customer’s account the same day that they pay their balance. ACH payments are payments that are automatically withdrawn from the customer’s bank account on an agreed-upon day of the month, meaning they don’t have to remember to pay their bill since it is done automatically.

In summary

An efficient and well-managed accounts receivable department is part and parcel to a successful business. It is this department that manages payments that come into the business through the sale of products and services. There is a lot of work involved in the accounts receivable process and many can be dramatically improved through the use of a workflow automation software that can send out automatic reminders to customers, clear invoices, and manage automatic payments. This software can help you resolve accounts much more quickly, with less room for error, and can also help you reduce the number of past-due accounts as well.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Flexible Partner and Supply Chain Management Software

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 09:52:02 +0000

In today’s global competitive environment, businesses need to stay on top of their operational efficiencies and deliver the best possible experience to their customers. This means the need to work with a variety of partners, from those providing you with product components and spare parts, to those co-delivering and co-maintaining your solutions. Such complex communications and data need to be orchestrated within a single supply management solution that also covers:

Purchasing, manufacturing, distribution process automation
Product design, marketing, delivery and support
Partner communications management
Contract approval management

Workflow technology helps a lot with making the most of your partnerships thanks to effective supply chain management.

Supply Chain Management Solution by Comindware

Common partner and supply chain management challenges:

Lack of real time product support capabilities
Disintegrated business systems of customers, suppliers and partners
Complexity of IT landscape

Partner and supply chain management tool based on Comindware Tracker was designed to automate the flow of information, materials and money downstream (from the supplier to the customer) and upstream (from the customer to the supplier) that is usual for supply chains. It emphasizes the process approach concerned with how a product or service is delivered to the customer, and provides comprehensive supply chain management software with business process management and optimization capabilities coupled with adaptive case management. Comindware supply chain management system enables end-to-end tracking of partner and supplier data – such as proposals, assets, contracts, resources – in a unified work environment.

Key benefits of the solution:

Track, analyze and manage your suppliers and partners in a single system
Leverage social collaboration to increase your entire team productivity
Connect and reconcile your corporate systems with those of your partners

Workflow-based supply chain management solution by Comindware can be easily extended in order to handle lead to cash process and effectively process service requests from partners in the same system. Comindware Tracker is also widely used for addressing cusrtomer order management challenges when being focused on effective collaboration across the company.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Automate Lead-to-Cash Process

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 09:43:02 +0000

Whether your business is big or small, your sales agents use a bulk of both paper-based notes and technologies on a daily basis and it is crucial to ensure that every lead is handled properly and quickly. As your business grows or welcomes a work-from-home option, it becomes even more important to make sure that your sales agents are effective and deliver as many sales as possible.

Run, Manage and Control Your Business Critical Processes in a Unified System

The lead to cash process is one of the most complex and business critical processes in the majority of companies. It spans marketing, sales, product development, delivery, finance, and supply chain departments with multiple supporting systems involved at different process stages. Workflow-based lead to cash solution provides management of processes and data required to support all stages and kinds of Lead to Cash business operations, including:

Assemble to Cash
Engineer to Cash
Lead to Order
Order to Cash

Common challenges companies address by lead-to-cash automation:

Multiple sources of truth across systems and functions
Lack of process visibility and control
Data duplication and confusing document versioning
Complex and sometimes manual processes along the value chain
Inability to assess efficiency or forecast activity results

Lead-to-Cash Solution

Lead to cash solution based on Comindware Tracker allows for automation, management and optimization of complex interconnected business operations in a typical mid to large corporate environment. It provides Business and IT users with unlimited capabilities of designing, operating and optimizing highly changeable processes such as proposal, order and contract management.

Lead to cash solution by Comindware ensures its effectiveness through bringing together data, process and resource management across all departments and providing a digital collaborative workspace for all employees.

Key benefits of the solution:

Single source of truth enabled by unified digital workspaces
Quick and easy process configuration and capability to change it on the fly
Streamlined Data and Document management
Full process automation and efficiency control

Get a 30-day trial!

Workflow-based lead-to-cash solution by Comindware can be easily extended in order to handle customer order management in the same system. Comindware Tracker is also widely used for addressing service request management challenges and Chief Financial Officers enjoy using it as a flexible financial management software focused on effective collaboration across the company.

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Keep Idea-to-Product Process Effective

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 09:36:27 +0000

As your business grows, you welcome new ways of revenue generation, from better customer order management and up-selling to welcoming new marketing channels and penetrating new markets. COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on customer behavior and demand are forcing businesses to pay much more attention to new market opportunities. And it becomes even more important to make sure that your team is able to transform ideas into revenue-generating offerings quickly.

So, the Idea to Product process becomes one of the most complex and business critical processes in any company rivaled only by Lead to Cash. It covers product management, marketing, sales, engineering, support & maintenance, finance and legal departments and involves numerous interactions within working groups and close team collaboration on every step of the product development process from the idea origination to the first sale.

The whole idea-to-product process includes among other:

Idea capture and iterative discussions
Project management including resource and cost estimates
Process management for approvals and overall workflow
Collaboration across multiple departments for product launch campaigns

Common challenges companies face on their way from idea to sales ready product:

Discussions done in multiple systems (e-mails, Skype, etc.) – difficulties tracking context
Project and process management done in dis-integrated applications – difficulties tracking progress
Inability to see resource and time spend real-time and make necessary changes

Idea-to-Product Management Solution

Idea to product solution based on Comindware Tracker provides centralized project, process, data and resource management for handling any activities related to product development process starting from idea origination to customer delivery.

It supports all steps of the product design and product development process and significantly enhances team productivity through bringing together all information, documents and communications in a unified digital workspace.

Key benefits of the solution:

Fully trackable, traceable and actionable discussions
Projects, processes and tasks in a single systems
Enhanced collaboration and facilitated knowledge sharing

Get a 30-day trial!

Workflow-based idea-to-product solution by Comindware can grow with your business as your needs change. Start from automating the single workflow, then easily adjust and optimize the process and succeed with it, and scale your service management success to the entire company via automation of partner and supply chain management and other business functions.

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

How to Manage a Small Team: 3 Ways to Ensure Effective Tasks Completion

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 01:08:02 +0000

This article reviews the essentials on how to delegate tasks and manage a small team.

Consider this scenario:

You’re spearheading a research and development project. A problem crops up, and the client wants the cause investigated. You tell her she’ll get the details in the next monthly meeting. Because your plate is already brimming, you assign the task to a team member. The next meeting comes, and the client asks for the details you promised. Sitting next to you, quite visibly shaken and all color drained from his face, is the person you assigned the task to.

Even without uttering a single word, you know that the task hasn’t been carried out, but, in your mind, the more pressing question is: How could you possibly have forgotten about this very important task?

To steer a project to success, project managers must always keep their eyes on the big picture, making effective delegation a vital skill. But delegation isn’t just about handing a task off to someone else and crossing it out of your to-do-list. As a matter of fact, while it’s no longer on your list of personal to-dos, being the manager, it remains your responsibility. At the end of the day, the task needs to be carried out as planned, and it’s your job to ensure the person you assigned it to is working on it as expected.

To do just that, here are three tips to consider when managing small projects and, as a cherry on the cake, a recommendation on what to look for in a task management and workflow automation software.

Assign the task to a single owner

A task may need to be carried out by a group of individuals. However, there has to be somebody responsible for its execution and completion, a team leader managing a small team within a larger team, so to speak. This is to ensure that when things go off course, a key person is available to step up and keep things on track. It’s also worth noting that for a task handover to be considered a success, the task owner must understand what the task is about and the responsibilities attached to it.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

There’s this thing called “status-ing people to death,” a situation you wouldn’t want to heap upon your team members. Then again, under-communicating is venturing into dangerous territory, largely because it’s crucial that your team members are aware of their duties, responsibilities, deadlines, and task dependencies on a daily basis.

To propel a project forward (whether managing small projects or larger endeavors is secondary), every bit of relevant information must be put out there. It’s one way for people to trust you. Besides, you don’t want anyone in your team, particularly those who’ve been assigned essential tasks, to operate on incomplete information.

Balance, therefore, is key when communicating the important points.

A few things about communication to keep in mind:

Explicitly communicate deadlines.
Be specific with your expectations. Leave no room for guesswork.
Encourage people to ask questions.
Ask for suggestions on how to more easily and speedily complete the team’s tasks.

That is vital to have a full set of collaboration tools for effective information exchange within your small team and workarounds within a single work area. Here you can check how the most used collaboration tool in Comindware Tracker look like:

Get a 30-day trial!

Use a collaborative task management tool when managing small projects

Globalization and the growing complexity of most projects have warranted the use of task management and workflow automation software to manage team tasks and projects, as successful project completion entails that project managers must effectively manage small teams – and larger ones, for that matter. There are numerous collaborative management tools a team leader can use to help to manage a team more effectively and it might be a challenge to choose the best fit.

Cloud-based tools, like Comindware Tracker, afford teams and their members from various parts of the globe a single repository where they can communicate, update the status of each task assigned to them, and upload and share files and documents on a real-time basis, among others. It allows project managers a snapshot, as well as a detailed view, of how each task is faring, and whether or not the team is anywhere near the achievement of its goals. Even more, Comindware Tracker makes it possible to automate repetitive tasks flow and get sure that they are completed properly on a constant basis and increase team productivity. Here is an example of a workflow that can be easily created and executed in Comindware Tracker for better idea:

Get a 30-day trial!

Final word on managing a small team

The fundamentals in succeeding with managing small teams lie with the understanding that it’s just as difficult to manage small teams as it is midsized or even large teams. Project managers often mistakenly believe that managing a small team is easier, but that is not always the case. And unless the key principles, which include appropriate software implementation, are applied, you may actually be destined for failure.

What is the best way to manage a team? What other tips can you recommend?

Maricel Rivera works as a financial researcher for a multinational financial firm. Outside of her full-time work, especially when the financial reporting season isn’t at its peak, aside from online marketing, she also does freelance writing, specializing in the business and technology field. One of the topics she has already extensively covered and keeps exploring is work management. She currently explores product development trends, contributes to www.cmwlab.com and provides tips for better use of Comindware Tracker workflow software

iBPMS and BPMS: Difference, History and Future

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 11:41:13 +0000

Technology continues to advance at a rapid rate and with it, we must expand our knowledge base and vocabulary along with it. Many people are familiar with the concept of business process management, or BPM, but in today’s business environment, it is important to become familiar with intelligent business process management or iBPM.

Differences and Similarities

There are a lot of similarities between the two and the main difference is the means with which the processes are managed, evaluated, and changed. iBPM utilizes powerful technology, such as workflow automation, integration with social media, streamed analytics and real-time decision management and other tools gathered in iBPMS (Intellectual Business Process Management Suite). In essence, iBPMS is an evolution of BPMS utilizing new tools and technologies. This type of management utilizes machine learning tools and other powerful technologies.

Benefits

The main benefit of using iBPM as opposed to traditional BPM is the ability to great smarter business processes. But it goes a lot deeper than that as well.

All types of business process management require the creation of detailed process workflows as well as the collection of data for monitoring and improving a given process. With traditional BPM, this meant that actual employees are tasked with gathering, integrating, evaluating, and managing all the data associated with a given process. It is important to keep in mind that most businesses will have multiple processes going at the same time.

With both types of process, data can be easily gathered automatically and integrated into a variety of applications and even make logical decisions based on the workflow process. The software can process and make sense of data far faster and with more accuracy than humans ever can.

Value of Data

The data can be used for insights into how to make a process run smarter. You get information that makes it easier to make smarter, better decision and find ways to best optimize a given process using real-time data. The biggest benefit of iBPM is the ability of involved parties to use the software and data to make more informed decision about a business process that will lead to better results or a more optimized process.

Unique Features

Another great feature of iBPM is that it can be connected with a variety of processes and applications making the implementation of new outside technologies a lot simpler than ever before. It can create synchronization and manage a process across multiple applications and platforms with ease. This cuts down the time it takes to get usable data for analysis significantly.

Not only can iBPM make it easier to connect processes across different applications and systems, but it can also process various events simultaneously and can even take part in real-time decision making. No human can take part in all these tasks at the same time, whereas sophisticated and intelligent software can.

Most iBPM software utilizes the cloud which means the software doesn’t need to be directly installed on each system. It can be accessed remotely and keeps your data safe and secure in the event something happens to your physical office space.

While this type of tool has been around since about 2012, it is just now getting powerful and ubiquitous enough that a lot of major businesses are implementing this over the traditional means of process management. It isn’t a standard across businesses yet, but many believe that it will be in years to come. For businesses who want to leverage technology to their advantage and stay ahead of the proverbial curve, early adoption can be a great idea.

With iBPM, you can provide enhanced analytics, which gives you more information when making important decisions about changing or adapting processes. With the use of cloud-based technologies, the software is available to more people wherever they are, allowing even people working remotely to manipulate the software and make use of the myriad of data. There is a decent variety of these software tools already available, but they become more widespread with each passing year and will continue to improve and become more powerful and useful.

The ability to easily manage processes anytime, anywhere, is an incredibly useful thing, especially if people in your office must regularly travel as part of their duties. The software can manage even the most complex and sophisticated processes and with good workflow design and proper definitions, can make smart, real-time decisions that reduce the time it takes to complete a process, with fewer errors and can streamline your operations.

While most people still use regular BPM, perhaps with the integration of a few automation or other helpful tools, this is a far cry from the potential of intelligent business process management. iBPM gives a company the ability to automate many aspects of business functioning, including certain decision-making processes, even in real-time. The software provides access to a huge breadth of valuable data that can be used to evaluate the efficacy of a given process, troubleshoot, and streamline it as well.

As the software continues to develop, it will become more powerful, useful, and easy to use. This opens up access to the software to a much wider range of people than just those with technical skills, allowing more people involved to make suggestions on how to improve a given process or task. For those who want some of the benefits of being able to test before making a process live and the ability to easily integrate with other systems, consider trying Comindware Tracker today.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

5 Key Financial Processes That Struggle Automation

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 14:01:07 +0000

No matter what the business or industry, the finance department is one of the most important and overworked departments in any company. They serve several highly-important and multifaceted roles and no matter how great they are, there is only so much they can do on a given day. This means that a financial process will only be as productive as the people involved are. This can affect the bottom line, reduce efficiency, and drag the entire business down in the process.

Thankfully, there are a lot of different ways that a finance department can remedy these issues and improve efficiency. And this is key since they are tasked with a huge array of functions and tasks, from taxation, accounts payable and receivable, compliance, billing, management of general funds, and the like. It is easy to see how important this department is, but also how easy it is for them to get behind, get overworked, and generally have processes lagging where they should be.

Since the finance department wears so many proverbial hats, they will need many different types of solutions to address any issues they may face. Automation software has dramatically grown in popularity in a variety of contexts, but especially the all-important finance department. CMW Lab offers a range of different types of financial management solutions for different aspects of a financial process.

What follows are some of the most important financial processes and how automation can streamline these functions, reduce errors, and improve efficiency.

Basic financial analysis
Revenue management
Capital expenditures
Lines of credit
Accounts payable and receivable
Travel expenses
Payroll

This list is, of course, not exhaustive, but it shows that there are many important areas within this department and within each of these areas, there is room for error or improvement. When using automation software as opposed to manual data entry and the reliance on human employees, you reduce the amount of time each of these processes requires and reduce the likelihood of error, which can cause further delays and even issues with compliance.

5 Key Financial Processes

Reporting and Compliance

All finance departments are tasked with a wide range of compliance reporting requirements. These could be internal reports or reports that must be filed with state and federal governments. Regardless, this is one of the most important parts of a finance department as a failure to properly comply with compliance reporting can result in fines and more.

Accounts Payable

Accounts payable is, for all intents and purposes, the bills that an organization must pay. This could be for products and services, to vendors, and the like. Streamlining this part of the business opens up the potential for cost savings as there are places that will provide a small amount of savings if you pay early or in full. Being able to take advantage of these perks will save the company money, which is always a positive development.

Get a 30-day trial!

Accounts Receivable

This aspect of financial management entails managing money that comes in. This could be in the form of basic revenue or tracking and managing outstanding bills that need to be paid by customers or vendors. You want as little lag time between sending a bill and receiving payment, so any way to streamline and improve this area of the finance department will improve efficiency and ensure timely payment.

Payroll

Making sure your employees get paid properly and on time is a very important part of any finance department. This process needs to be straightforward and streamlined or the department will deal with regular requests for information that will take a ton of time and ultimately slow down other processes.

Strategic Planning

This is something that tends to be done on an annual or semi-annual basis. It is where teams and management get together to think about their goals for the next year or another period of time as well as a plan for how to achieve said goals. Detailed plans of action are often created and distributed to key players in the organization and there are often regular meetings to analyze progress and discuss any potential problems or issues.

The financial process is a complicated but important aspect of any functioning business. These processes take a lot of time and energy when performed manually and like any manual process, there is more room for error than with the use of computer software. Workflow automation software gives a business a powerful set of tools that will allow them to streamline financial processes and identify common issues and solve them far easier and more quickly.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

SharePoint Workflow Alternative for Easy Process Design

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 11:37:08 +0000

SharePoint is one of the most popular workflow automation suites and it is popular because it is flexible and has a range of uses. This software is the latest incarnation of what used to be Microsoft FrontPage and it has had a variety of new releases in the past few decades.

The software, while popular, is not the only type of workflow automation software and there are some glaring problems with the software that makes executives and CIOs look for an alternative. The software requires more programming competence than many useful parties possess, it costs a lot more than many competing software brands, and it has some deficiencies that make users question the value and utility of it.

One of the problems is that this software is old. It doesn’t have the same user-friendly interface that many newer software suites have and it is not as intuitive for those who don’t have experience with coding and the like. The last iteration of this software was released in 2013, and the plans to release a new version in 2016 were scrapped.

There were updates to the software that allows for a no-code interface, making it easier for those without the relevant technical experience to be able to make use of the software. These changes have indeed made it more accessible and easier for non-technical people to manage, but much has changed in the world of automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in the years since the software was first introduced.

Major changes in workflow processes since 2013

The world of workflow automation is ever-changing and with that in mind, one can see how much would have changed since the software was released in 2013. This makes many wonder if it is still useful in the modern world of business.

The software was originally released with cloud computing was just getting started. However, this software is still ubiquitous. Something like 85% of Fortune 500 companies still use this software for many of their automation needs. However, a tool that is now more than 7-years old just doesn’t seem to many like it would fit the bill in terms of need.

One of the biggest problems with SharePoint is that there are limits to functionality and integration. Since many of the changes that have been made to the software were to make it easier for people to use, this was at the expense of more advanced functionality and limits what can be done with the software.

More flexible solutions seem to be the best choice and thus the most attractive option for businesses looking to automate more of their basic functioning. Tools like workflow automation software by Comindware provides a powerful suite of tools that are flexible, great when it comes to integration, and is more cost-effective than many other SharePoint alternatives. Users like that there are powerful tools that can be easily integrated with other systems and tools, customization of individual processes, and the like. These are not things that software like SharePoint is capable of doing.

Get a 30-day trial!

There is a range of different software suites that provide for a powerful array of automation tools and metrics that let you track the progress and analyze the value it has for your business. This data and metrics are incredibly useful in helping to create strategic plans as well as to see what areas of a business process require adjusting or scrapping.

In conclusion

Though an easy-to-use piece of software, the popular SharePoint workflow tools are not the best available on the market. Often for less money, you can access far more flexible and powerful tools that can improve efficiency by allowing you to automate many basic processes, reducing the amount of time it takes to complete these processes and reducing error as well. Software alternatives to SharePoint can also be easily integrated into other systems thus making them even more useful. Flexible software that can grow with the needs of the business allows businesses to keep up with the ever-changing work environment and means of doing business.

Automation software has proven to be invaluable to businesses of all sizes, reducing the time it takes to handle many business processes, and even integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning, which makes it possible to automate even more sophisticated parts of a business’s operations.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Comindware Tracker Update with Awaited New Feature

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 08:43:16 +0000

Boston, MA – August 28, 2020 – Comindware, a leading provider of Workflow Management Software, announces the availability of Comindware Tracker new version to make it easier for users to access all corporate systems, whether working on-site or remotely. New version of workflow management software by Comindware allows authentication via Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).

Comindware Tracker makes it possible for non-technical users to design, run and modify workflows with drag-and-drop simplicity, without having to solely rely on IT. A wide variety of workflow management solutions have been built with Comindware Tracker across all industries and departments, and are successfully used for CapEx approval, claims management, property management and other business needs.

The new version of Comindware Tracker allows authentication via Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), a cloud-based enterprise identity service. Azure AD provides single sign-on and multi-factor authentication to help protect your users from majority of cybersecurity attacks. Key benefits of using Comindware Tracker and Azure AD together include simplified access to your the workflow software from anywhere thanks to single sign-on and reduced sign-in friction

“Comindware is committed to constantly expanding Comindware Tracker features and improving your experience with our workflow management software,” said Michael Donaghey, VP of Sales, Comindware. “New Comindware Tracker version addresses users’ requirement for seamless access to both workflow software and the rest of corporate systems, so they can stay productive from anywhere. We highly appreciate users feedback and will go on addressing it through product improvements.”

Business Rules Engine and Workflow Engine – Difference

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 14:24:22 +0000

When looking into automation and the use of software to manage basic business tasks, it is easy to get bogged down in complicated language. Some people use different terms, well, differently. Business rules engines and workflow engines are two of the most important aspects to automating business functions and while some use the terms as if they mean the same thing, they do not and the difference is important.

What is a business rules engine?

A business rules engine refers to conditions that are created within the software that determines when and what applications to start, stop, and the like. This is where the rules for how the automation software is to respond to given inputs or conditions. With this, even those who don’t have any coding experience can interact with and even change aspects of the conditions in the process as needed.

With this tool, you can change, alter, or customize different aspects of business requirements without needing to change any code or have any technical know-how. This makes it far more accessible to more parties within an organization that can help to streamline and better the software in use.

It is important to understand that business rules engines do not, themselves, perform tasks. Rather, it is a set of conditions and guidelines that help determine a course of action in a given instance.

Business rules engines are useful in that they promote consistency and can be combined into what is called rulesets.

Comindware Tracker utilizes functionality based on the classic rules system. These systems use a logical approach whereby a large set of conditions will determine that resulting action. It gives a clear understanding of what action is necessary based on the rules and conditions that are built into it. This creates something akin to a “working memory” for the system to determine when a new action or process needs to be initiated or implemented.

What is a workflow engine?

Business processes, in the parlance of automation software, are often referred to as workflows. A workflow engine is a tool that allows tasks to be initiated and automated. This is done via the workflow design, in which users map all steps and conditions within a given process. The software can then execute tasks based on this workflow design.

Workflow simply refers to the steps that must be taken for a process to be completed. This is most often done with data entry or other repetitive tasks that not only take up a lot of valuable time but also leave room for human error.

In the “old days” this was all done manually, by hand, and often required the input of multiple people along the way. It is easy to see how inefficient and unnecessarily time-consuming this is.

With a workflow engine, workflow design tool and data management feature you can easily create a set of processes, get them running, and manage them, as well. This saves a ton of time and often leads to a dramatic reduction in error and delay. With workflow software like our offerings at Comindware, even those who don’t have a ton of technical experience can still use the software and reap the myriad benefits.

Get a 30-day trial!

Key differences between business rules engines and workflow engines

Both of these tools create an environment where even those without a ton of tech experience can manage and change automated business processes as needed. Both of these engines allow changes to be made without the need to alter the underlying code, meaning that most employees can manage the software, even if they have no experience with coding.

They are very different in terms of what they do and what their function is. For example, a business rules engine is designed to help with decision-making processes, especially those with a lot of complex variables. Workflow engines run specific processes based on the workflow design.

Business rules engines are a part of what is called an enterprise application, whereas workflow engines are an actual tool that is part of workflow tools and technologies. Workflow technologies automate many aspects of workflow, but business rules engines can be separated from applications and used in other instances.

A business rules engine is, as the name implies, driven by basic rules. Workflow software is based on a workflow design of the specific process to be automated. Workflow engines help perform business functions, while conversely, a business rules engine simply helps to develop business knowledge.

Though some may use the words interchangeably, it is clear to see that business rules engines and workflow engines are two very different things. Business rules engines allow for the definition of various business processes that will help with complex decision-making and add to the overall knowledge base of the business. Workflow software, like Comindware Tracker, is used to automate various tasks based on a process workflow design. Both tools are versatile and flexible and those without a knowledge of coding can manage, change, and integrate these solutions.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

What is BPMS?

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 12:51:47 +0000

BPMS refers to business process management software. These are software tools that provide for advanced automation, integration with a range of other software systems, and the improvement of business process efficiency. This is a powerful set of tools that can automate and manage a wide range of even complex business functions, improving efficiency, and reducing the need for human data entry, which also reduces error.

The definitions of each step are highly important in developing an automation process. It helps to break down tasks into individual steps. This is a vital first step towards automation. It will entail people along every step of the process to be involved to create an automated process that takes into account everything that is entailed in a particular business process. The process will only be as good as the instructions given to the software.

By documenting and carefully planning each step in a process, users can monitor and track data along the way to ensure that the process is working as desired. These business processes can be shared amongst those who need it in a range of different formats, allowing for increased transparency as well.

Next comes the process of automation. This is where employees can save a ton of valuable time and thus, save the company money. Automation functions can reduce the need for employees to perform basic daily tasks like data entry and starting or stopping processes. This automation can often be utilized with minimal human input with the use of workflow automation software, further reducing the need for people to manage basic daily functions.

Get a 30-day trial!

Analytics tools provided in the automation software suites are also incredibly valuable. These tools provide invaluable data about the business and various aspects of performance. This allows you to see how well processes are working. You can look at data from the process overall and even drill down to data about specific aspects of the process. This not only helps with transparency but it can help you document historical trends that may be useful at some point in the future.

The metrics and analytics tools are vital to ensuring that automated processes are running smoothly and providing the needed result. Users need the ability to monitor the progress of and usefulness of various KPIs. This is how you determine which aspects have value and which should be revisited or eliminated.

The SMART process

This is a time-honored means of evaluating and measuring business performance and giving users the means to find ways of improvement to aspects of these processes. SMART is an acronym that refers to the following: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Let’s take a look at each of these briefly in turn.

Specific: This means that any metrics or data points used in a process need to be very specific and detailed and directly related to the main goals or needs of the business.
Measurable: any goals or metrics that are important to the business process must be measurable. This means that you need to ensure that metrics are kept that are accurate and can provide meaningful information for strategic planning.
Attainable: goals that are set should be ones that can realistically be attained. Setting goals that are out-of-reach sets one up for failure and don’t help to further the business.
Relevant: the data and statistics that you capture need to be relevant to the process at hand. What kind of metrics do you need to help ensure the success of the goal at hand?
Time-bound: Any metrics captured need to be time-sensitive to ensure that the data being provided is useful and can be acted upon promptly.

In summary

There is a lot of value in the use of BPMS, most of which we barely touched on in this brief article. Business process management software, like Comindware Tracker, allows users to easily automate, track, and adjust various business processes. With proper planning, good definitions and process flow, and the use of available metrics, businesses can dramatically improve the efficiency of a wide range of business functions, reducing the need for human data input, thus also reducing incidences of human error, which often cost time and money. Using the SMART process to develop and evaluate processes can help to ensure that you get the most out of this powerful software and see the myriad of benefits it can provide for your business. It is worth a try!

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

7 Incredible Tips to Streamline Process Automation

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 15:19:45 +0000

Streamlining and improving the efficiency of business operations is, perhaps, one of the most important tasks of management today. There is always room for improvement when it comes to the basic daily operations of a business and workflow and other automation software make this easier than ever before.

Being able to reduce the amount of time or lag time in the completion of any business process is a good thing, especially when it comes to areas of business that manage cash flows coming in and out. There are a lot of ways in which you can better improve the efficiency of your operations.

What follows are our top 7 tips for improving efficiency using automation software.

Always be flexible

Technology is always changing and so is the way we do business. This is why it is so important for businesses to be flexible and always ready for the next change. Those businesses that can “roll with the punches” more effectively than others will achieve a greater degree of success. Process automation is a great way to stay flexible. This software helps improve efficiency, as well as allow you to integrate other tools and software and customize them for the changing needs of a business.

Know your user

Just as it is important to understand a process if you wish to streamline it (which we discuss below), you also need to know your user and take that into account when choosing workflow automation software. Consider the needs and abilities of the people who will be using the software and this will go a long way towards helping you choose the right software and get the most out of it. It doesn’t do much to improve efficiency or streamline operations by giving people tools that they aren’t qualified or trained to use.

Know, understand, and deeply study any process to be automated

One problem people face when integrating automation software into their business processes is not having done enough research to properly layout what that process should look like. Automation software is great, but it is only as great as the plans that are used to set it up. Any process that you want to automate needs to be clearly and completely documented. You need good knowledge and understanding of the way the process works to properly and most efficiently automate said processes.

Understand the ROI of automation

Any business owner or manager wants to get the most out of any new technologies or products they integrate into their business operations. This is why it makes a lot of sense to consider the ROI, or return on investment, that each piece of automation software entails. Some software is incredibly expensive and provides little utility in certain industries so you want to make sure that the automation software and workflow solutions you choose make the most financial sense for your business. Consider the amount of time, money spent on labor, and the like that go into each task or process. This will help you determine which software solutions would be the best investment for your specific business and needs.

Target applications before relying on technology

Of course, there are tons of different tools that have the potential to streamline certain aspects of business functioning, but it is easy to get carried away and spend tons of money on new technologies that, perhaps, weren’t necessary. You need to look at tasks on a per-process basis and create applications and use technology accordingly. You don’t want to create the process and then figure out how it will work within your business. You want to create an application with the specific needs of the business in mind.

Ready-made solutions are the most efficient

One of the biggest perks of automation workflow software, especially the offerings from Comindware, is the ability to create, essentially from scratch, new solutions or processes for your business. These are great but you want to look into any ready-made solutions or pieces of software first as it will save a lot of time and allow you to get your processes running more efficiently, more quickly. As the adage goes, there is no use in reinventing the wheel. If there is an application or piece of software already designed to do what you need it to do, go with that rather than trying to create something new.

Consider the long-term needs of the business

Since this type of software and technology costs money, it makes sense to consider the future needs of the business when choosing which software to invest in. While the future cannot be predicted, there are certain trends that we can likely expect to continue such as increased automation and use of machine learning and artificial intelligence, remote working, and so on. Knowing that this is likely to continue to grow in popularity and use, choosing software that provides for a good return on investment, as well as flexibility for future needs such as scaling is incredibly important.

Workflow automation software can be a great investment for businesses large and small. It helps to reduce errors, streamline operations, and cut the time it takes to perform basic tasks like data entry by a significant amount. Any software will only be as good as the people who are using it, so to get the best possible outcome from the use of this software, you want to ensure that you choose software that your employees have the skills to use, that your business processes are documented and that you consider investment costs and future flexibility. With all this in mind, a business can benefit greatly from the use of process automation tools like Comindware Tracker and get the most out of their investment.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

What is procurement and how to keep it effective?

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:48:36 +0000

Procurement process flows are one of the most vital aspects of business and where far too much room for error can happen when data and processes are managed manually. With automation software, this process can be streamlined and errors reduced or eliminated.

There are many aspects of the business that can greatly benefit from the use of automation and other workflow technologies. These technologies can help improve efficiency, reduce the time it takes for accounts to be resolved, and streamline a vast number of basic and even sophisticated business processes. One of the most important processes any business utilizes is the process of procurement, which can also benefit from automation.

What is procurement?

Procurement is a very important aspect of business functioning, regardless of what industry the business is in. Procurement management simply refers to the processes involved in getting various products and services, raw materials, and the like in the most cost- and time-efficient manner possible. It is easy to see why this is such an important department within any business structure, but sadly, for many organizations, the techniques, and technology used in procurement processes are woefully out-of-date and inefficient.

The old way of managing the procurement process

Until very recently, procurement was done by hand, using a pencil and paper, which not only reduces the efficiency of a company but leaves them open to human error. All of these things end up harming the all-important bottom line of a company, reducing efficiency and leading to problems associated with human error.

Inefficiency is a huge drag on any type of business, but within the procurement department, it can mean real cash flow issues. This can lead to disputes about transactions, which requires even more time to resolve to everyone’s liking. It can lead to a loss in revenues and end up delaying payments or purchases. All of this can start to add up over time, really dragging the business down in the process. In today’s cutthroat world of business, mistakes like this can spell the difference between success and failure in a business.

There are money-saving benefits to moving from the old manual way of handling procurement that can allow you to take advantage of early purchasing or payment discounts and also reduce the amount of time it takes to resolve accounts.

While we don’t want to oversimplify a pretty complex area of business operations, the procurement process entails three things: process, people, and paperwork.

Procurement in business will start with the process. The process simply refers to the different steps or tasks that are involved in each step of this part of business operations. The acquiring and paying for goods and services can become more complicated depending on the scale of the sale and this can leave more room for administrative error.

Next is people. This refers to the people within your organization that is tasked with handling each step of the purchase order process. Finally, we have paperwork. This is all the documentation that it takes to complete the purchase order process. Any documentation used is also going to be stored and kept for record-keeping purposes.

Procurement Process Flow

This involves detailing all the steps that are entailed in a purchase order, noting who is responsible for each step in the process, how the steps work together to complete a process, and the like.

Get a 30-day trial!

Benefits to automating the procurement process flow

Given the importance of the procurement procedure, it is easy to see why this department would be a great candidate for the use of powerful automation software. This department doesn’t have room to make errors and yet, when people manually handle these processes, it is bound to happen. Not only can it reduce errors, but a process order app or other automation software can also increase transparency and simplify the different elements of the process. What follows are just some of the benefits of automating the procurement process.

Reduced errors
Increased transparency
Less paper and confusion
Reduces the amount of time it takes to resolve accounts and purchases
Provides for a consistent process

In closing

Given the importance and vitality of the procurement department and their various processes, reducing error, the time it takes to resolve accounts, as well as simplifying the process and increasing transparency are all just plain good for business. The complexity of the purchase order process and the lag time for accounts being resolved is inefficient and wastes time and money. A failure to streamline this process puts businesses at a disadvantage against those who do use this powerful software. This type of investment not only reduces error, saves time, and reduces the need for human manual data entry, it will also pay for itself in a short period.

Ready to check in practice how workflow automation technology can help with effective procurement management? Don’t delay and give a try to Comindware Tracker, workflow software that is widely used by Chief Procurement Officers all over US and has proven its reliability.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Accounts Receivable Basics and Automation Benefits

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 11:18:04 +0000

The accounts receivable department at any organization is responsible for some of the most important business functions: they manage the money that comes into a business or institution. Given the importance of this department within most organizations, it is strange to find out that this department is often lacking when it comes to using innovative new tools like automation.

Automation software provides a wide range of powerful tools that can enhance and improve efficiency in pretty much any area of business, including accounts receivable. Business process automation is becoming more popular and widely used as it has proven to improve efficiency and reduce errors. It frees up time from mundane, repetitive tasks, and leaves more time for innovation and creativity.

Most people start by asking “what is accounts receivable?” The short answer is, this is the department that takes in any revenue. Any bills or money owed to a company will come into the company through the accounts receivable department. When looking at this, the answer to what is the difference between accounts receivable and accounts payable is pretty obvious. In one department (receivable) money comes in, in the other department (payable) money goes out to pay bills, vendors, and the like.

How do companies benefit from automation software?

There are tons of different kinds of automation software that can improve efficiency and streamline operations in most aspects of the business. Many companies utilize any number of workflow automation tools to reduce the amount of time it takes to perform basic processes and manage data entry. Machine learning and artificial intelligence have developed to the point where these technologies can be used in more complex business processes, like processing applications.

How businesses benefit from accounts receivable automation.

One of the biggest reasons so many companies are moving to automation technology is because it just plain works. Many studies have shown that these technologies quickly pay for themselves and provide metrics that prove their utility. For example, a study done by QuotingPaystream Advisors found that there were reductions in past-due payments, bad debt, and a reduction in the number of days that an account has an outstanding balance. The research also found that many businesses see a return on their investment and recoup the costs of said investment in as little as two months.

This is a huge boon to accounts receivable departments. It makes it easier and faster to obtain payments from clients and provides solid metrics that allow you to view your progress and improvements.

Automated tools are coming into prominence for many reasons from the current Covid-19 pandemic to pressures to improve efficiency and stay competitive in a tough marketplace. Many small businesses are reluctant to make a large investment into an unproven technology, but now, there is too much evidence of the benefits of using automation software for even small businesses to ignore.

Studies of successful business done by the Aberdeen Group has shown that some of the fastest-growing businesses are those that utilize automation technologies and the trend is towards an increased use in these technologies across the board and industries. Digitized processes and automation are techniques used by some of the best-run businesses and for good reason. The investment pays for itself in a very short period and efficiency, speed of payment collection, and reduction in error also result.

Get a 30-day trial!

Brian Shannon notes that switching from a paper-based system to an automated and digitized one helps businesses reduce overhead costs, streamlines the inflow and outflow of money and resources, and can help to reduce error. Mistakes take time to resolve and wasted time can hurt the bottom line. It is easy to see why many businesses, especially those that deal with a lot of data, are keen to incorporate these tools into their business operations.

The world of paper and pen belongs to the world of the past. Not only is the old way of doing things inefficient and more difficult to track, but it also leaves way too much room for error. Almost all business sectors have data entry or other manual tasks that could be dramatically improved with the use of automation software. For an accounts receivable department, this software will allow you to resolve accounts faster, receive payment faster, give you a better ability to track needed metrics, and more. Many companies that utilize these technologies see a very quick return on their investment, along with improved payment speed and a reduction in error and delay.

Comindware’s no-code workflow software empowers you to manage accounts receivable workflows effectively, automatically verify invoice validity, keep track of the process status, timey response to delays with payments, and much more.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Comindware Earns a 2020 Top Rated Award From TrustRadius

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 09:35:43 +0000

We’re excited to announce that TrustRadius has recognized Comindware Tracker with a 2020 Top Rated Award.

With a trScore of 9.2 out of 10 and over 70 verified reviews and ratings, Comindware Tracker is recognized by the TrustRadius community as a valuable player in the Business Process Management (BPM) and workflow software categories.

At Comindware, we’re proud to create products that inspire such gracious feedback in our user community. Thank you for supporting our work, and for sharing your feedback on TrustRadius.

Comindware Tracker has earned two Top Rated awards for BPM Tools and Workflow Software for 2020. These awards are based entirely on feedback from their customers,” said Megan Headley, VP of Research at TrustRadius. Reviewers on TrustRadius appreciate how user-friendly Comindware Tracker’s user interface is, and note that users don’t need to have coding skills in order to organize and automate their workflows.”

Hear from verified users on how much they value Comindware Tracker:

As a remote tutoring organization, we had to connect to our mentors from different countries across the globe. We had to assign tasks, set deadlines, monitor progress daily. And Comindware Tracker provided an excellent solution to our needs. I’d recommend it to people who need a simple and intuitive workflow management tool.”

– Mentor, E-Learning | Read the Full Review

This tool is used company-wide now. How easily it gets integrated with Active Directory is amazing. You can easily configure forms and design workflows. It is easy to use and the interface is also great. This tool has helped us to achieve great results.”

– Revenue Assurance, Telecommunications | Read the Full Review

The product is used by the organization for workflow creation and notification setup, workflow automation, process modeling of business operations. It is well suited for project task management.”

– Software Engineer, Outsourcing | Read the Full Review

Looking to share your own feedback? Please leave a review here.

What is Workflow?

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 08:42:52 +0000

Workflow is the repeatable pattern of the activities sequence or steps that take place to complete a specific task on a regular basis. The flow being described includes tasks, documents or information that are passed to a proper workflow participant for action in a sequence determined by actions or pre-defined business rules, frequently called workflow rules. In order to get better idea of workflow terminology and best practices, read ahead.

There are three key types of workflows:

Linear Workflow – typically progresses from one step to next and does not step back.
State Machine Workflow – usually progress with reference to ‘State’ and return can to a previous point if required.
Rules-driven Workflow – processed according to predefined rules that can enable mandatory data capture, automatic task reassignment or other actions.

The idea of workflow began in the manufacturing sector to coordinate tasks between people, modern businesses have adopted the term to enjoy the following key benefits:

Improved efficiency
Better responsiveness
Work process transparency
Increased profitability

Approval Workflow Example

A wide range of approval workflows are handled in every company, big or small, on a regular basis. The example below shows a straightforward new marketing campaign approval workflow, visualized for clarity. Every step of the workflow may be assigned to employees spread across multiple departments over the course of the workflow execution. In some cases a step may require engagement of 3rd-party stakeholders or be handled automatically (for instance, sending out an “approved” email).

This workflow is designed with drag’n’drop simplicity in CMW Tracker.

Get a 30-day trial!

Best Practices – Workflow Software

It is vital for companies, regardless of size, to improve efficiency, responsiveness and profitability. The ability to handle daily tasks and collaborate effectively is often hampered by relying on manual workflow management through lengthy email strings.

Digital workflow successfully replaces manual processes by automating hand-offs and other repetitive tasks, that can be completed without human intervention. Workflow are usually automated with workflow management tools that allow setting business rules to dictate when one step can be taken as successfully completed and the next step can be triggered. Some workflow management tools can also automatically coordinate dependent relationships between individual steps and allow going beyond linear workflow automation and make workflow management even more efficient. Last but not least good workflow management system provides a friendly digital work environment for quick information exchange, discussions and easier task tracking. Here is how your digital workplace in workflow software by CMW Lab might look like:

Get a 30-day trial!

Automation is good, but not enough for business success.

To be successful, in addition to workflow automation companies need to:

Make sure they are able to customize their IT environment quickly and meet market demands timely.
Improve team collaboration and communication.

Challenging?

Workflow Tool That Helps

We designed CMW Tracker with challenges listed above in mind

CMW Tracker is a #1 workflow management software for businesses that want to move their effectivity on a better level without getting dependent of IT guys. The workflow tool unifies employees, automated workflows, and communications on tasks in a single work environment and improve your team efficiency and performance. Even more, it allows non-technical users to design, run and modify workflows with drag-and-drop simplicity.

Megs Suratkal, Senior Director, Acronis Service and Support:

CMW Tracker flexibility is outstanding. It can adapt to custom requirements and processes, and enables us to automate and manage our work more efficiently. And that`s exactly what we were expecting.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Agile Workflow for Continuous Improvement

Wed, 20 May 2020 13:12:54 +0000

For businesses, there are many ways to approach workflow to provide effective, yet flexible planning. Plans change, new situations arise, and a business needs to be adaptive enough to manage this flexibility. A lot of companies have moved to what is called an agile workflow, which allows them to maintain a plan of action, but also leaves enough flexibility for the unknown.

In essence, an agile workflow can be thought of as a means of breaking a plan down into smaller deliverables, rather than the completion of the entire plan. Failing to have mechanisms in place that allow for changes in plans can be a death knell for a business.

The fact of the matter is that even the best plan is going to have holes in it. This might make one wonder what the point of planning even is. However, even in unpredictable situations, it is possible to have an agile workflow plan that will allow business versatility.

With an agile workflow, a large project can be broken down into smaller bites. In the tech industry, these smaller projects are often referred to as “stories”. These stories can then be prioritized depending on need. It makes sure that your business is focused on the most important small task at hand, while still working towards the completion of that overall goal.

How Does It Work In Practice?

Say you are starting a new project. First, you will want to break that project down into its subtasks. Then, order those tasks by importance. It is important to note that this will likely change during project completion, the idea with agile workflow is to be able to adjust when a new need or task arises.

There are two main ways, or frameworks, for agile workflow: scrum and kanban. It might sound strange, but they simply refer to the ways that agile workflow can be implemented.

With the scrum approach to agile workflow, a larger project is broken down into small tasks called stories. These stories are then organized into groups of stories called sprints. The sprints will be organized based on the priority of the set of tasks.

The important part of this process is that there is no timeline involved. There are regular sprint reviews, which allow you to see how well you managed the tasks in a given sprint. Feedback can be given, helping to prepare more efficient and effective agile workflow sprints in the future. Most companies will have regular, even daily, meetings to see where they are in the process, what needs to be changed, and so on.

Kanban is a slightly less flexible way to manage agile workflow. Utilizing a process board, a team will work towards a continuous flow of incremental improvements. Regular, often weekly, meetings take place to take stock of where teams are in various processes and to make any adjustments that might need to be made.

Benefits of Agile Workflow

While agile workflow was first introduced in the tech industry and tends to be better known and used among IT professionals, it can be a highly beneficial means of workflow planning for a wide range of industries.

Any business of any size can benefit significantly from using agile workflow techniques and software. This methodology provides for a more flexible and efficient means of business planning and the ability to reach goals.

The ability to get regular feedback from users, teams and even management will help you to improve your process which will streamline your efforts in the future. Not only does this software allow you to be more flexible in your strategic planning, but it will also enhance transparency along every step of the planning and compliance process.

With constant testing and input, you will be able to detect problems or errors in your processes easier. The earlier you can detect and rectify a problem, the easier it is to move forward and avoid similar errors in the future.

There is no shortage of agile workflow software suites that provide a powerful range of tools to help improve the efficiency, transparency, and utility of your planning and implementation processes.

Comindware Tracker has tools that let you introduce agile workflow into your business. The software can easily be refactored, which allows companies to implement agile workflow techniques without the need for recoding or process stoppage every time you need to improve your automated workflow. The software also makes detailing and managing stories and sprints simple. The software will gather all tasks and associated work data. This provides the main node where tasks and progress can be easily tracked and stories or sprints assigned and managed.

With all work data and associated information stored in a single place, agile workflow provides for collective ownership of work. This allows for easier sharing of ideas and techniques, which can also improve outcomes and efficiency. To learn more or start a 30-day free trial, click here.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Top 3 Tips for Better Accounts Receivable Invoices

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 11:51:36 +0000

For a business owner, accounts receivable is one of the most important company metrics and also one of the more confusing ones. It refers to outstanding balances owed to a business by other parties. Where possible, payees expect payment at the time a service or a product is provided, but businesses often have some form of financing that allows a customer or a client to carry a balance which is to be paid off over time. We can think of this as a quasi IOU from a customer or a client to a business.

At the same time, companies also need to cope with accounts payable – the concept that is almost the exact opposite of accounts receivable; it refers to companies having lines of credit with suppliers which they pay off over time. One of the biggest challenges with both accounts receivable and accounts payable is that different companies structure and handle their processing very differently.

These challenges alone can make a lot of work for an accountant but when this task is undertaken manually, the likelihood of error increases even more. This is why so many businesses and accountants use automated accounts receivable software that reduces the inefficiency often associated with accounts receivable, reduces the amount of time it takes to ensure proper payment or receipt of payment, and also reduces the chance of error in the process.

Below are the top 3 tips for utilizing accounts receivable workflow software to maximize efficiency and reduce human error.

Streamline Categorization and Proper Authorization

Not all suppliers and customers manage their bills in the same manner. Some will come to you in a digital format, others may come in as a more traditional hardcopy. Quality accounts receivable software makes processing a variety of documents in a range of different formats incredibly easy and straightforward. Such software will utilize several mechanisms to ensure that proper authorization is used when processing payments, and reduce the amount of time it takes to receive payment or pay vendors, while also ensuring a proper audit trail should something require some closer scrutiny.

This is important since there are likely to be many different people or companies that are being paid or invoiced. Quality software like Comindware Tracker makes automated authorization and processing as simple as just a few clicks of your mouse. It offers a user-friendly and easy-to-use interface, while still being a powerful toolset that provides real-time data and advanced analytics which can be invaluable to small- and medium-sized business owners. With a drag-and-drop interface, there is no need for someone with a ton of technical nor IT experience, so consider starting a 30-day free trial, today!

Improve the Efficiency of Data Entry and Validation

Manual data entry is a time-consuming process and any process that requires manual data entry leaves the door open for human error. Accounts receivable software comes with automated data entry tools that quickly allow you to import any new data without the worry of human error. Validation software helps with catching any potential errors in data in real-time, also helping companies improve accounts and problems resolution efficiency.

Don’t Slack on Verification

You never want to pay a bill or send a bill until you have verified that you really do need to make a payment or request one that is owed. Accounts receivable software offers automated mechanisms that verify the validity of payment requests and bills issued, to ensure that payments aren’t rendered or collected until they are verified by the software as being owed. This set of software tools will scan all relevant files to find any documentation associated with particular accounts as a means to verify payments before they are processed.

Businesses send and receive money regularly and many of them either extend credit to customers or utilize credit via suppliers and vendors. This means that accounts receivable, which is the metric that tracks outstanding payments, is so important for all businesses. The process of managing tons of different accounts, which are due at different times, and may be paid in different ways, can be a time-consuming and error-prone mess. This is why so many businesses rely on smart accounts receivable software that utilizes the latest technology and machine learning, integrating automation to make the process much more efficient and less prone to human error.

Comindware’s no-code workflow software empowers you to handle accounts receivable processing efficiently, ensure proper data entry, automatically verify invoice validity and much more.

Get a 30-day trial!

Helena Haidu is an Online Marketing Manager at CMWlab. and a passionate advocate for empowering executive managers onward to workflow automation and running their businesses efficiently.

Comindware News Feed

CMW Platform Featured among the Top-Rated IT Workflow Management Software on Capterra

How to build a reliable document management system?

Understanding the Basics of Document Management Systems

Key Components of a Document Management System

Building Your Document Management System

Document Process Automation

Future Trends in Document Management Systems

Conclusion

Starting Q3 with New Medals and Recognitions

Staying Ahead of the Market: Trends in Document Management

A quick refresh: What is document management?

Document Management Trends

Using cloud storage

Adopting AI

Making it mobile friendly

Customers experience as a main priority

Advanced search

Enhancing security measures

Easing integration

Designing with intent

Finding a document management software that keeps up with the trends

Top 10 Document Management Software in 2023

CMW Platform

PaperSave

ClickUp

Templafy

M-Files

Bit-AI

DocuWare

XaitPorter

OnlyOffice

Google Drive

How to Compare and Analyze These Top 10 Platforms?

Unleashing Productivity: Embracing the Power of Top Document Management Software in 2023

Top 10 Benefits of Resultive Business Process Management

1. Cost efficiency

2. Business agility

3. Compliance ease and visibility

4. Customer focus

5. Staff satisfaction

6. Efficiency and productivity

7. Reduced micromanagement

8. Single digital environment

9. Measurable results

10. Improved responsibility

At conclusion

6 Business Process Examples and Automation Ideas

What is a Business Process?

Basic Steps of Business Process Implementation

Business Process Examples

What are Some of the Terms Related to the Business Process?

Business Process Automation Explained

Why Automate Your Business Processes?

Other Benefits of Business Process Automation Include:

6 Amazing Business Processes and Automation Ideas

BPM FAQ

Conclusion

Retail real estate sector is booming: how digital transformation can help to succeed?

Impact of the digital transformation on consuming in retail

New digital opportunities

Increased Information Accessibility

Improved Efficiency in Transactions

Enhanced Marketing Opportunities

Increased Transparency and Accountability

Emerging Trends in Real Estate Technology

5 process automation ideas for real estate agencies

Conclusion

Measuring the Effectiveness of Security Controls with Data Analysis

The Need for Security Controls in Business

Carry Out Security Audit Against the Company Servers

Track the Incident Response Times and Outcomes

Conduct Risk Assessments and Offer Training to Your Employees

Investigate the Permissions and Entitlements

Final Word

Recruitment workflow: How to Tackle Effective Employee Onboarding Workflow

Protect your brand image

Software comes in handy in an emergency recruitment process

Onboarding workflow software boosts communication

The software simplifies the auditing process