Task Automation | Automate Repetitive Work

What Is Task Automation?

Task automation is the use of software to reduce the manual handling of simple tasks or a series of more complex tasks with the goal of making processes more efficient and employees more productive.

Task Automation Software

Task automation tools vary based on complexity and use case. For instance, a tool like Zapier can be used when the tasks involve straightforward integration between Web-based systems—for instance, sending a Slack notification when a Twitter post mentions your company name.

In other cases, you may want to automate tasks related to a customer submitting a complaint form or requesting a significant capital expenditure. You’ll want to look into a task automation platform with robust integration capabilities in these cases. These tools can help you lay out your tasks in a visual way that helps deal with the complexity and socialization of the process.

Building Processes with Automated Tasks

Task automation software has become increasingly popular thanks to user-focused task workflow tools that simplify complex designing tasks. In most cases, tasks are arranged using a drag-and-drop interface, allowing various task types to be arranged and connected to simulate the real-world task workflow. This is also sometimes referred to as “workflow automation.”

The tasks in a process can include forms to be completed, approvals to be provided, assignment of work, triggering of another system, data retrieval, sending emails and alerts, etc. Most task automation software includes a variety of pre-built tasks like these that can be arranged sequentially or in parallel based on the order tasks typically follow.

A series of automated tasks for handling a security incident.

Business Rules

A workflow engine (sometimes called a “business rules engine”) is an application that runs within a task automation system and makes decisions automatically based on preset rules. These decisions usually involve deciding how a task should be accomplished, who should do it, how to know when it’s completed, and what needs to be done next. 

For instance, you might have a task that’s part of the process for onboarding new hires. The task is ensuring a new hire is correctly entered into the payroll system.

• How should the task be accomplished? Selecting the proper salary classification for the new hire.

• Who should do it? The HR administrator for the new hire’s region.

• How will we know the task is completed? When the salary classification is selected, submitted.

• What needs to be done next? The salary classification must be reviewed and approved by the HR Director.

This task could be automated in several ways:

• As the new hire is entered into the system, the salary classification is automatically added based on title or other data.

• The task could be automatically assigned to the proper HR administrator based on the new hire’s office location.

• A new task could automatically be assigned to the HR Director upon submission.

• If the selected salary classification is inappropriate for the title and department, it could automatically come back to the HR administrator for adjustment.

Task Collaboration

Even the most automated tasks require human involvement and collaboration at some point in the process. While smart rules, bots, and similar intelligent tools can help make business workflows more efficient, a process that runs entirely on auto-pilot can eventually generate unexpected outcomes.

When people need to complete a task, they need tools to collaborate and answer questions. For instance, someone might provide insufficient information to request an expense and wonder why their request was returned. Including discussion tools as part of the process allows stakeholders to communicate directly, whether before, during, or at the end of a process.

Benefits of Automating Task Workflow

• Reduced manual handling

• Reduced errors

• Policy compliance adherence

• Improved visibility

• Improved employee satisfaction

• Continual process improvement

• Better workload management

• Reduced approval cycles

Want to Learn More About Automating Tasks with Nutrient Workflow?

Nutrient Workflow is an easy-to-use but robust task automation platform for enterprise-level automation needs. If you’d like to see Nutrient Workflow in action, request a live demonstration or watch a recorded demo.

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