What is Workflow?

“The automation of a business process, in whole or in part, during which documents, information or tasks are passed from one participant* to another for action, according to a set of procedural rules”
*participant = resource (human or machine)

Workflow Automation came about as a result of Business Engineering. It is automating paper transactions in organizations where there is a lot of paper and process flow. Companies that have embraced Workflow Automation have experienced dramatic ROI. In some cases the ROI has been as high as 300%.

How can Xelleration help Businesses use Workflow?

Workflow Automation is the most pressing and critical aspect of Business Automation in Businesses and Xelleration has created a high level of awareness, knowledge and experience in its practice built around Workflow Automation. Xelleration thinks that Collaborative Document Management is the base form of Workflow Automation and significant increase in Document Management Automation across the globe is a sign of global awareness and demand for Workflow Automation for many years to come. Xelleration feels that its background and experience strongly positions it as a unique service provider in the space of Collaborative Document Management and Workflow Automation. Workflow software products, like other software technologies, have evolved from diverse origins. While some offerings have been developed as pure workflow software, many have evolved from image management systems, document management systems, relational or object database systems, and electronic mail systems.

The idea is not to force people to change their work habits, but to make them more efficient and responsive and most importantly reduce redundancy out of duplication of work.

There are several tools that do workflow and paper routing. Microsoft, IBM Lotus Notes / Domino, Interwoven Worksite, Oracle and ATG are by far the most cost effective and useful of all the tools. They are considered an "Agent of Change".

Initial Steps

Please start putting together a laundry/wish list.

Pick an area of your business that requires the most attention and automate it. Not everything will happen overnight, but if workflow automation is properly deployed, not only that it can become the most popular platform in your organization but also provide significant improvements in process flow.

Some of the areas that Xelleration can automate for you using Workflow Automation tools are as follows:

  • Discussion Databases
  • Document Libraries
  • Approval cycles of various kinds
  • Reservations (Equipment / Meeting rooms)
  • News Letter
  • Phone Directory
  • Portlet (Workplace)
  • Project Tracking
  • Purchase Requisition
  • Knowledge Base
  • Resume Database
  • Hiring approval cycle database
  • Vacation Approval
  • Employee Handbook
  • Sick leave approval
  • RFP Approval
  • AFE Approval
  • Help Desk Schedule of Authority Database
  • Simple HR applications like Employee Records etc. that can be accessed via browser
  • Employee Benefits database
  • Document Management
  • Learning / Education forums
  • Instant Messaging
  • Video Conferencing
  • Electronic Faxing
  • Electronic Pager
  • Electronic Voice (text to speech / speech to text) etc.

Any one of the above applications could be build from a frame work or template on time and within budget.

 

Xelleration Partners