Workflow Automation

So, you want to automate a business process. Well, you basically have three primary methods to choose from:

1. Out of the Box Software
2. Custom Application Development
3. Workflow Automation Toolkit

In today’s post we’re going to cover your options in detail and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Out of the Box Software
The first option is to use some sort of out of the box software solution. The first and most obvious advantage to this solution is it is readily available and it is the most affordable option of the three. Plus it’s the easiest solution to set up. Out of the box software doesn’t really offer you the opportunity to find a competitive advantage. It is what it is. It can’t be customized and you’re basically going to be using the same processes that everyone else is using.

Custom Application Development
Custom application development is the fancy pants way to automate your business processes. With custom application development, you can automate your exact processes. The solution is custom made for you and your business. You don’t have to compromise on functionality and you have a remarkable opportunity to use your tailored processes to achieve an advantage over your competitors. But it’s not going to be cheap. Custom application development is very costly, and out of the budget for most small to medium sized businesses. And the development timeline is lengthy for writing and establishing custom processes. Because custom applications are built to fit your exact needs, they’re pretty inflexible. It’s difficult to modify the process in real time as your needs change.

Workflow Automation Toolkit
Your third option is a workflow automation toolkit. Advantages? Well first of all, it’s not going to break the bank. A toolkit like this is much more reasonably priced than custom process development. These types of solutions are also extremely flexible. They can typically be applied to a wide variety of business processes, companywide. You’ll also have a pretty easy time modifying processes as your needs change with a workflow automation toolkit, and there is certainly an opportunity to achieve a competitive advantage. On the down side, it still is going to take a little time to define and establish the process, but not nearly as much time as custom development takes. And while it’s possible to integrate this type of solution into your existing systems that will likely require some custom development.

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So those are your options. We may be a bit biased, but we believe that the workflow automation toolkit is the best fit for most businesses. It allows for custom processes management without the headaches and the cost of having an application developed specifically for you. But generally speaking, we recommend that you seriously consider putting one of these solutions to work for you as soon as possible. From sales to accounting and IT, every single department in your company can benefit from workflow automation.