Workflow automation is changing how we do business. With those changes come lots of questions on how to best implement specific solutions.
Do you have questions about workflow automation and using the Decisions workflow platform? We’ve got answers! Here are some of our most frequently asked questions about using the Decisions workflow platform:
What is workflow automation?
Workflow automation is the technology that automates business processes through set tasks, variables, and rules to make business processes more efficient. It is a key part of business process management (BPM) that can vastly improve efficiency through automation. Workflow automation is the key to any organization’s digital transformation initiative.
Learn more in our article on workflow automation here: What Is Workflow Automation?
What does Decisions do?
Decisions is a workflow platform that allows you to create completely custom workflows. It’s a no-code platform, meaning rather than relying on a coding language, you can use drag-and-drop tools to define processes.
No-code platforms like Decisions help get the people closest to the process directly involved with creating solutions. This helps to eliminate the common disconnect between software developers and the problem itself, giving you the most aligned business solutions possible.
With Decisions, you can turn a business process into an automatic series of events; for example, when a new employee is hired, a domino sequence can be automatically triggered that manages all of the steps that need to occur, coordinating people, sending information to the right people, and even assigning HR personnel to arrange training times, for example. Best of all, it no longer leaves important steps to employees to remember on their own.
What processes can I use Decisions workflows for?
The sky’s the limit! Some common processes that are built out in Decisions include workflows like contractor and employee onboarding, time-off requests, and new hire requests.
With Decisions, nearly any complex, manual, burdensome process can be simplified and streamlined—especially tasks requiring multi-level managerial review, integration with other systems, or sophisticated rule logic. Decisions can even be used for unique processes in niche industries, due to its totally customizable structure.
Do I need to know any coding to use Decisions?
The good news is you don’t need to be a coder to use Decisions! The platform’s no-code setup makes it easy for individuals with no coding experience to get involved. However, you do need some level of technical skill and understanding if you’re planning on using Decisions on your own.
Decisions makes the assembly of workflows more intuitive, but thinking through the building blocks of development still requires some experience.
Creating a workflow using Decisions requires you to think through variables; if you’ve never thought through the digitization of a complex process, it will likely be a difficult task. There’s also still a lot of platform knowledge about Decisions that requires an investment of time and effort to learn.
Luckily, that’s where ExpressAbility comes in!
What’s ExpressAbility’s role?
Our role in helping you implement automated processes through the Decisions workflow platform is three-fold:
- We help you select the right platform. Before even beginning workflow development, we make sure that Decisions is the best choice for your organization and your specific needs. We’re open and honest with you concerning your choices; we want you to succeed, so if there’s a platform that better fits your needs, we’ll tell you.
- We implement the platform and help you get started. There are many considerations when it comes to implementing an automation solution. We will help you work through the process and guide you along the way.
- We become an extension of your team, helping you to design, develop, and implement your workflows. Our specialized Decisions workflow developers work closely with you to build out your processes exactly to your needs and continually maintain the health of your environment.
How long does it take to create and implement workflows with Decisions?
The short answer is that creating workflows through Decisions will always be many, many times faster than raw development, or coding a workflow from scratch.
However, how long it takes to create a workflow depends entirely on the complexity of the specific process; it could take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of months, depending on the complexity of the workflow, the number of steps needed, the dynamics of review steps, types of integrations with other systems, dashboards, and forms needed.
Is Decisions cloud hosted, or does it run on-premise?
The choice is yours! Decisions can be hosted on-prem or on the cloud, depending on your preference and needs. If you prefer cloud hosting, it can also be hosted by Decisions or on your own cloud server.
Is Decisions subscription based or perpetually licensed?
Decisions is a subscription-based platform, with annual, quarterly, or monthly licensing options.
Is there a limit for how many projects I can build with my license?
Nope! That’s one of the many benefits of using Decisions—your access is totally unlimited, both in the number of users on the platform and the number of projects you create.
If you have other questions about using Decisions, or if you’re ready to get started working with ExpressAbility to build out your business processes, give us a call at (314) 315-4154 or reach out today.
