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The power of workflow automation
How can a business effectively reduce human errors? In countless workspaces, employees are responsible for carrying out routine and repetitive tasks that can often be handled more efficiently through workflow automation. Print workflow software in particular is an investment many business owners are making to create a more user-friendly experience and centralize virtually all back office processes into a single dashboard.
Still, the process is not as simple as turning on a light switch. According to an article on TechTarget, workflow automation requires significant forethought before it is implemented.
Reduce redundancies
TechTarget looked at automation in context of the needs information technology departments have in reducing the number of repetitive tasks that employees have to perform. The concept of a workflow is relatively straightforward. A staff member receives a ticket with a specific request. The worker analyzes it and searches for an appropriate response to the problem and then implements the solution. Afterward, the employee runs tests to ensure the issue is fixed for verification, and then the ticket is closed. Even for a simple request, there are a number of steps a worker must take to carry out the task, and each manual process opens the door for mistakes to enter the workflow. When errors build, a business can damage its relationships with customers, leading to fewer orders in the future.
Although all technology is subject to change by the very nature of innovation, it's important for business owners to select a workflow automation tool that is flexible enough to adapt to a company's evolving needs. TechTarget also reinforced the idea that automation is meant to alleviate problems by reducing the amount of time companies spend managing the system.
Manage operations with greater flexibility
Online media solutions provider Filemobile explained a wide variety organizations have begun integrating automated workflows to handle multiple facets of their business operations. Specifically, companies that invested in visual marketing tools like video have discovered the rewards of using automated tools to populate various outlets, including social media, YouTube, home pages and television. With workflow automation, a business can publish advertising content with a minimum of manual practices.
In a print organization, the same concept applies. From the time a client submits a request for quote through job completion, there are numerous opportunities for errors to creep in. In general, the more touch points for a given job, the riskier it becomes unless you can guarantee perfection at all times. It's common for clients to alter their orders and schedules depending on their needs. With print workflow management and automation, customer-facing staff, such as sales representatives, can generate initial quotes electronically and store them in a central system, removing the need for repetitive data entry.
Effective automation solutions give print organizations the confidence and freedom to allow customers to take more control of their orders because processes like batching and impositioning can be done automatically. At the same time, these tools improve transparency so clients and printers have access to the same information.
