A workflow is “the sequence of steps involved in moving from the beginning to the end of a working process.” (Merriam – Webster)
Now that’s a definition of utopia for your business! However, many companies do not take the steps necessary to establish the workflow practices to optimize their profits.
How about you and your business?
Here are some high-level thoughts to get you focused on the right strategy.
Take a Business-Wide Approach
Look at and examine all the steps and milestones in your business that deliver your client’s finished product. Standardize the workflow process to access a project quickly, know the steps to completion, and easily collaborate and communicate through each step to completion.
Start from the Shallow End First
While examining and identifying the steps and milestones, don’t get too deep. Start with identifying the entry point and point of delivery for every product/service you wish to track. Only use the high-level milestones for monitoring the project through your business. Identifying and monitoring the milestones should not create more burden for you or your employees.
Want Success? So Do Your Employees. Use Them to Help!
Your employees are your most significant resources. When identifying the steps and milestones of your business workflow, get their input. They live daily accomplishing the actions that lead to your finished product. If they buy-in to the process and acknowledge the key milestones and steps, the workflow process will be successful.
Keep Looking Back Before Moving Forward
After living with the workflow process for some time, say six months, evaluate its effectiveness. You may find, or your employees may realize, that steps need to be added or removed. Don’t be afraid to make the changes.
Stay Open to New Ways to Improve Along the Way
As your business grows and workflow products mature, be open to integrating with new products, such as custom software or other applications to increase your productivity and efficiency.
Partnering with a custom software company to facilitate this often can be valuable. Because of their fresh perspective, they can see things in your business you can’t.
AxiaTP’s software developers have helped many companies establish and automate workflow processes in their business. Contact us today for a fresh perspective and a free consultation!