5 Common Problems with Workflow Automation (and How to Solve Them)
First published: July 17, 2021 @ 6:00 pm
Workflow automation is a new area for many companies, and can be daunting to say the least. A lot of companies may not even know where to start, or may have made some false starts already.
The purpose of this article is to describe some common problems that companies run into, and provide solutions to these problems.
First things first: define your goals. For many companies, the first step in implementing workflow solutions should be defining your goals for using automation projects in the first place.
Why do you want workflow automation? What will it allow you to do? What kind of processes do you want it for?
These are all important questions, and can help define where you go from here. If there are multiple goals, try to prioritize them, and find out which goals are the most important. For many companies, robotic process automation is an obvious solution to a problem that they have, such as customer interactions, customer satisfaction, etc.
For example, a company may be using Salesforce for repetitive tasks such as customer support, but wants to provide self-service options for customers. Using robotic process automation in Salesforce allows them to build this functionality without having to manually do everything.
Other companies may want to use it for more complex tasks.
If you are unsure about your goals, try asking yourself these questions: What are the bottlenecks in my business? How can I reduce or eliminate these bottlenecks? What kind of processes do I want to automate? How can I reduce the manual effort required in my business?
For each of these questions, write down your answers and evaluate them carefully.
There are a number of ways to implement the automation. Some companies have built their own automation tools, while others have implemented off-the-shelf products.
It is important to realize that there is no “one size fits all” solution, and you should try to find the best alternative solutions for your needs. To build your own automation tool, you can use the Force.com platform and Apex code.
However, it can be time-consuming and difficult to get it right. In addition, some companies may not have developers available who can build this functionality from scratch.
If you want off-the-shelf software that is ready to use immediately, you can look at companies like Outreach, which provides a Salesforce add-on that allows users to set up email campaigns without having to write any code themselves.
Another option is Mulesoft, which provides a variety of tools for integrating multiple platforms together in a single interface (like Salesforce). Other solutions include Workato and Zapier.
If you are having trouble getting started with implementing your automation, it may be helpful to do some research. One way to do this is to look at a few of the most popular companies that use robotic process automation.
For example, Salesforce has been using it for years now, and has developed a number of powerful solutions for their customers. If you want to learn more about Salesforce’s approach, you can look at their developer guides.
Other companies like Marketo have also been using workflow automation for a long time. They provide a variety of options for integrating marketing processes together, which can help increase sales effectiveness. You can learn more about how they do this by reading their customer success stories.
As you begin to implement your automation, you may run into problems. It is important to remember that these problems are normal, and you should try to figure out why your automation isn’t working as expected.
Here are some common reasons why your automation doesn’t work as expected:
Sometimes, people misunderstand how workflow automation works. For example, if they have not read the documentation or don’t understand how the software works, they may expect it to work in a certain way that it does not.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that everyone understands how the software works before they begin using it. For example, a company might expect that their automation will send out an email automatically when a record is created in Salesforce.
However, this functionality is not built into Salesforce itself (instead, it uses an add-on), so the email will not be sent automatically.
Some companies try to use the automation for processes that don’t make sense. For example, if you are trying to use a time-based process in a context where time does not matter (like Salesforce), then your process will probably fail when used in the real world.
Other times, companies try to use the automation for a process that is too complex. In this case, the software may be able to handle the process, but it will be difficult to implement and use.
To prevent these problems from happening, you should take time to think about your processes and how they will work in the real world. If you are unsure about whether your processes will work as expected, try doing some testing beforehand to see if they work.
Once you have implemented your automation, you will need to train your active users on how to use it. This can be a challenge, because not all users will be comfortable using workflow automation. Some of them may even be resistant to change.
To make sure that your users are comfortable using the automation, try the following:
One of the best ways to make sure that your users are comfortable using the automation is to educate them about how it works. You can do this by giving them documentation about how the software works, and also explaining it to them in person.
By educating your users about how the software works, it will increase your customer interactions and your users will be more likely to use it when needed.
Empowering your users can also help ensure that they are comfortable using the automation. Empowering your users means giving them control over their own work, and letting them decide when they want to use workflow automation (instead of forcing it on them).
For example, if you have implemented a Salesforce process for handling customer support requests, you could give each sales rep the option of turning it on or off as needed. You could also let them decide when they want to use it (like for out of hours support).
If you want to make sure that your users are using your automation properly, you can enforce standards for how it is used.
For example, if you have a process for handling customer service requests, you could enforce a standard by saying that the process must be used for all customer service requests. With these tips in mind, you should be able to get started with workflow automation that maximizes customer satisfaction.
However, it is important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” solution, and your approach may differ from others. If you are having trouble getting started with robotic process automation, try asking other companies about their experience and plan for the alternative solutions.
You can also ask the software vendor about how they handle common problems with their software.
Read more similar articles about robotic process automation and other interesting articles on WorkDeputy Blog.
The success of a business is largely dependent on its ability to provide value to…
The common misconceptions people, especially business owners, have regarding big data can destroy their companies.…
Marketing agency owners who start their own business or become an entrepreneur often run into…
With the rise of technology and social media platforms, there are new marketing efforts that…
Whether it’s a question about a product, an inquiry about a service or an appointment…
Customer Relationship Management, or CRM, is a method that helps companies manage customer interactions in…
This website uses cookies.