Introduction

A workflow automation platform is a software solution that is designed to optimize the way an organization runs its business processes, streamline its operations and improve productivity. In this article, we have outlined the 10 most important features you should look for in your workflow automation software.

What is a workflow automation platform?

Workflow automation is the process of automating business processes by reducing human intervention, increasing efficiency and streamlining workflows.
Automation software allows you to automate your most common tasks so that you can save time and resources while still achieving the same or better results. By using workflow automation, you will be able to:

• Improve visibility of workflows by monitoring their status at any
  given moment in time from any device with internet access.
• Improve collaboration and communication between teams by letting
  them see what others are working on in real time via an
  interactive dashboard where updates are displayed as they happen.
• Ensure security by using role-based permissions for each team
  member so that only those who need access have it -- no more
  giving everyone "superpowers" just because someone needs help!

What are the essential features of an effective workflow automation platform?

• The platform should be easy to use.
• It should be easy to navigate.
• The platform should be able to integrate with other applications.
• The platform should be able to store and retrieve data from one
  system to another.

1. Does the platform offer user-friendly design and navigation?

You already know that a workflow automation platform is a powerful tool for creating and managing workflows. But how easy is it to navigate? Does the platform offer user-friendly design and navigation?

An effective workflow automation system should offer an intuitive user interface (UI) design so that users can easily find their way around. The UI should also be intuitive, making it easy for users to locate what they need without having to read lengthy documentation or search endlessly through an overwhelming number of options.

An effective workflow automation system will also have good UX design—this means that it's not only easy for your team members to use, but also makes them feel confident about the tasks they're performing on the platform.

2. How does the software integrate with other applications?

If you want to be able to automate your workflow and integrate it with other applications, then a workflow automation platform is what you need.

However, integration can present challenges. It may be difficult for some business owners or IT teams to implement. This is why it's important that the workflow automation software you choose has good integration capabilities.

For example, a good way to test whether the software meets its claims of being easy to use and effective at integrating with other systems is by trying out its demo version first before purchasing it in full.

3. Is it easy to store and retrieve data from one system to another?

Another important feature to consider is the ability to import and export data. This is a must-have feature because you need to be able to get your data into the right format for whatever system or software you are using, whether it’s a CRM, an email marketing program or a spreadsheet.

It should also be easy to integrate with other systems that you might use in your workflow automation process. For example, if you are using Salesforce as your customer relationship management software but would like to add Lead Automation functionality too then it should be easy for you to do so without having extra development work done on either side of things.

Another critical feature is being able to share data with others who may need access in order for their part of the process to work properly. If someone needs access but doesn’t have it then they won’t be able to do their job effectively which could cause delays in getting projects finished on time!

4. Does the platform send notifications?

One of the most important features of a workflow platform is the ability to send notifications. Notifications are an essential part of any workflow process and should be used at all points in your system. Notifications can be sent via email, SMS, or other means as necessary for your organization's needs. It is important that users receive notifications when certain events take place during the workflow process so that they can take action accordingly.

5. Is there a way to automate requests and approvals?

A good workflow automation platform should allow you to automate requests and approvals.
This is an essential feature because it can help your team get more done each day, while also improving the overall quality of their work.

• The employee submits the request via email or some other method,
  like Slack or Asana
• The request goes through an approval process where multiple
  stakeholders review it and offer feedback before moving on to the
  next step in the workflow (if necessary)
• If there's more than one stakeholder involved in reviewing this
  particular request, they'll have separate conversations about what
  they think should happen with this project or task before coming
  together for final decision-making on whether or not this project
  gets approved

6. Does it allow for recurring tasks and alerts?

The ability to schedule recurring tasks.The ability to set up alerts.The ability to set up notifications (both email and SMS).The ability to set up reminders (both email and SMS).

For example, if you want it so that every Monday at 8:30 am your boss gets an email notification about that week's objectives for the team, with another reminder at 9:00 am on Wednesday reminding them that they need to approve those objectives, this is possible with a workflow automation platform like Zapier or Automate Flow!

7. Does it provide a low-code interface to develop complex workflows?

A low-code interface is a good way to start building workflows, especially if your team includes business users who don't have development backgrounds or experience with building code. With low-code tools, you can quickly build and deploy the initial version of your workflow, then iterate it while using the visual editor to add steps and customize them as needed. Low-code platforms also make it easy to build workflows on the fly without having to code every step in advance.

8. Does it provide detailed reporting and analytics?

We've already touched on how important it is to be able to view the data you need in order to make decisions. The best workflow automation platforms will have advanced reporting and analytics functionality that allows you to see what's happening with your processes. This type of reporting can tell you:

• How many users are taking advantage of the platform?
• What are their demographics?
• How long does it take for them to complete each task and which
  ones take longer than others?

The ability to view this kind of data will allow you not only make better decisions, but also improve how users interact with your system in the future.

9. Get real-time insights into your processes.

Real-time analytics, insights, and visibility into your business processes have become table stakes for modern workflow automation platforms. As a result, you should expect to see these features in any tool you consider.

Some platforms even go so far as to offer predictive analytics that can help forecast the best time to execute certain tasks in order to improve efficiency or save money on resources.

For example, imagine that you're using a platform that makes it easy for managers who oversee sales teams across multiple locations around the country (or world) to approve daily expenses through a mobile app when they're away from their office computers. With this kind of feature enabled on your workflow tool's mobile app interface, managers could see at a glance how much each salesperson has spent during the day--and if they've exceeded their daily limit--and then approve or reject requests based on those real-time reports without having access to other work documents or systems such as accounting software programs like QuickBooks Online or Xero's invoicing capabilities at all times during their business trip overseas!

10. Keep business users in control of the process.

Business users should be able to create, edit and delete workflows. They should also be able to manage workflow approvals and notifications. When a business user creates a workflow, he/she should be able to assign the tasks to others in his team for execution. This helps your team operate more efficiently by allowing each member of the team to work on different aspects of the process simultaneously.

process simultaneously. A good automation platform will allow business users to do all these things without any help from IT or HR staff members

The right workflow management platform can help you achieve your business goals.

Workflow automation is one of the most important business competencies in today's digital economy. A workflow management platform can help you achieve your business goals by increasing productivity, reducing costs, improving customer satisfaction and simplifying internal processes.

Workflow know-how has become an essential business competency, and the right WFA platform can put it within easy reach for you and your team.

• Workflow automation is a form of business process automation that
  involves designing, developing and implementing processes to
  simplify, optimize and scale business activities.
• Automating your core tasks can help you achieve your key business
  goals – whether it’s speeding up critical processes or improving
  customer experience.
• A good workflow automation platform should have the following 10
  essential features:

Conclusion

A workflow automation platform can be a powerful tool for improving your productivity and efficiency, but it’s not the only option on the market. Choose carefully, and you may find that you have more time to focus on your work rather than figuring out how to get it done.