The Future of Workflow Management is all about Prediction and Preparation

Evolving technology has changed human lives beyond recognition. Can you imagine, for instance, trying to find a new restaurant or finding the location of your next meeting without the assistance of Google Maps? There’s no question that our day-to-day lives are now powered by technology.

This is true for businesses as well. It is nearly impossible to run a growing business without any technological support especially if you’ve got your sights on process excellence. Improving the efficiency of processes with finely honed workflow management systems is critical for organizations that wish to exceed customers’ expectations.

Digital workflows came into existence in the 1980s. Initially, they were used to route document images within a document management system and to route financial documents within financial systems. Soon, an independent workflow system was created. What was touted to be just a buzzword evolved over decades to become the quintessential means to improving process efficiency in organizations.

Today, workflow management practices and tools are present almost everywhere, albeit in varying forms of sophistication.

What Lies Ahead For Workflow Management?

In the future, workflow management systems will evolve with increasing complexities of doing business across industries.

Here are some specific areas where developments look promising.

Chatbots

With the help of artificial intelligence and natural language processing, chatbots will replace more mundane tasks that could, ultimately, improve user experiences. Custom bot creation will allow employees to create bespoke chat experiences to complete tasks that are specific to departments. Chatbots are already being used in some organizations to remind employees about events and calls, send out notifications, elevate customer service, enhance HR operations, and so on.

The use of chatbots to automate tasks will see greater adoption in future to the point where it becomes essential to processes in the workplace.

Voice-activated workflows

If you thought voice-activation technology would limit itself to virtual assistants, you’re in for delightful advances. At the moment, virtual assistants like Alexa, Google Home, and others allow you to automate simple tasks using voice commands. For instance, scheduling meetings, setting reminders, streaming audio, performing web searches, and so on.

In the future, voice-activation will find greater application in workflow management systems as well. Voice technology will be all you need to interact with the workflow management tool as you navigate through processes. Companies like Honeywell are already utilizing this technology to improve operations.

Robotic process automation

Another exciting advancement in business process management is robotic process automation (RPA). It involves utilizing technology to automate high-volume repeatable tasks performed by humans. Queries, calculations, transactions, and data entry can all be handled by RPA. It is meant to mimic human employees and doesn’t require complicated integrations with existing applications.

Being prepared to level up

While technological advancements are great, companies require intention and preparation to reap maximum benefits from their application.

Get your culture ready

Adopting workflow automation is not as simple as flipping a switch. Your company culture must be eager to look for new improvements and know how to work well alongside technology instead of perceiving it as an adversary.

This kind of adoption needs to start at the top with management buy-in to improve process efficiency. Workflow automation won’t help companies with undefined workflows who struggle even in manual setups. You must have a culture that already knows how to work with technology and has a process mind to it.

Don’t be a stick in the mud

There is an irrational fear whenever AI is involved that “the machines will take over”. Apart from making people sound like they’ve been living under a rock, this approach really hurts organizations. Workflow automation makes us better at what we do. In simple terms, the machines take on boring tasks while leaving the more interesting and challenging roles to humans.

Develop the process perspective

In a study conducted by Business Process Trends, it was observed that organizations “seem focused on specific processes, and on accommodating specific new technologies, and lurch from one process improvement effort to the next.”

In the same study, 55% of respondents reported that “multiple process change efforts have been competing for attention” thereby becoming a significant obstacle to a smooth process-driven approach.

Inability to approach process efficiency from an organizational perspective rather than a departmental one is holding companies back from what they set out to do. Setting up process groups to coordinate organization-wide efforts can be a game-changing initiative towards optimized processes. A comprehensive approach to workflow management keeping longevity in mind is critical to achieving desired outcomes.

Are you ready for the future of workflows?

With workflow management, staying ahead of the curve can seem daunting at times. However, keeping informed of industry predictions and staying focused on preparing for the changes should ease the transitions in your workflow management system and keep your process efficiency rates soaring higher.

By Suresh Sambandam, CEO, KiSSFLOW