Category: SharePointRead time: 4 MinsPublished on: 07 Oct 2024

7 Types of SharePoint workflows to make your business easier

Optimizing business processes for efficiency is significant for any organization. SharePoint workflows are designed to simplify and automate repetitive tasks. With the help of SharePoint workflows your team can focus on what truly matters. We will explore what SharePoint workflows are and dive into most common types that can help optimize your business operations. To know how workflows can benefit your current setup, feel free to contact our SharePoint consultants.

What are SharePoint workflows?

SharePoint workflows are pre-designed programs that automate tasks/processes. SharePoint workflows are pre-designed mini-programs that automate tasks/processes. SharePoint workflows help you to streamline approvals, notifications, or document handling. It takes away few of your workload.

You can automate mundane tasks like getting document approvals or sending alerts to relevant team members. SharePoint workflows eliminate the need for manual intervention. It saves you time and eliminates chances of human error.

Types of SharePoint Workflows

Most used SharePoint workflows to optimize your business process

1. Approval Workflow

One of the most commonly used workflows in SharePoint. Approval Workflow simplifies the process of approving documents or items. It automates the approval from one person or multiple stakeholders. It ensures that documents move through the right channels seamlessly.

Benefits

  • Automates reviews and document approval processes.
  • Saves time, improves efficiency and accountability.

Applications

  • Requesting manager approval for a project proposal.
  • Getting legal clearance on contracts.

2. Automation Workflows

Automate repetitive tasks and manual processes such as document handling, task assignment, or data entry. You set conditions that trigger automatic actions.

Benefits

  • Reduces manual work by automating repetitive tasks.

Applications

  • Automatically moving files to a different folder when a document is approved.
  • Triggering an email when a task is completed.

3. Notification Workflows

It ensures that team members are promptly notified about updates, tasks, or changes in a project. It can send out an alert when a document is modified or when a deadline approaches. Notification workflow ensures that everyone stays in the loop.

Benefits

  • Keeps teams informed without the need for constant checking.

Applications

  • Sending reminders for upcoming deadlines.
  • Notifying the team when a new document is added to a folder.

4. Custom Workflows

You can create custom workflows tailored to your specific needs. You can define steps and rules that are needed for you unique processes.

Benefits

  • Flexibility to create workflows tailored to your specific business processes.

Applications

  • Custom workflow to manage your unique product development cycle.

5. Status Workflows

Tracks the progress of tasks or projects and automatically update stakeholders on the current status. They can send notifications when the status changes. It ensures that everyone involved is kept in the loop.

Benefits

  • Provides real-time updates on task progress.
  • Eliminates the need for manual status tracking.

Applications

  • Tracking the progress of a marketing campaign.
  • Notifying team members when specific milestones are reached.

6. Task Management Workflow

This workflow helps with assigning tasks to individuals or teams. As tasks are completed or updated, notifications are sent, and statuses are tracked.

Benefits

  • Ensures accountability by automatically assigning tasks.
  • Keeps track of their progress.

Applications

  • Assigning project tasks to team members and tracking their completion.

7. Issue Tracking Workflow

It helps businesses manage, track, and resolve problems or incidents within a project or organization. It streamlines the process of logging, assigning, and resolving issues.

Benefits

  • It automates the assignment of issues to the right team members.
  • Issues tracking workflows makes it easier to track the progress of each problem.

Applications

  • Managing and tracking software bugs and customer service issues.
  • Monitor and track equipment malfunction reports within an organization.

Comprehensive benefits of SharePoint workflows

Increased Efficiency

Automating repetitive tasks helps your team focus on more strategic work. It improves overall productivity.

Enhanced Accountability

Clear tracking of task assignments, approvals, and document versions. It ensures accountability across teams.

Improved Collaboration

Team members are kept in the loop with real-time updates. Co-authoring becomes easier.

Cost Savings

Automation reduces manual labour and speeds up processes. This results in reduced operational costs.

Compliance and Security

Ensures only authorized users have access to sensitive data. Businesses remain compliant with industry regulations.

Scalability

Workflows can easily be scaled up or customized to handle growing business. It can manages more complex processes as your company expands.

Improved Visibility

Workflows can provide a clear overview of the status of tasks and projects.

Reduced Errors

Implementing workflows / task automation can reduce the chances of errors and inconsistencies.

Increased Customer Satisfaction

Workflows can help to improve customer satisfaction by ensuring that tasks are completed on time.

Better Decision-Making

It offers valuable data and insights that can help you make informed decisions.