What is workflow automation?

Workflow automation is the process of mechanizing repetitive manual tasks using software to make them more effective, efficient, productive, and streamlined.

On this page, we will see what low-code workflow automation is, how to use it, and its advantages over other approaches.

What is low-code workflow automation?

Low-code workflow automation is the utilization of low-code platforms to automate workflows. A low-code platform allows you to automate repetitive business processes by using minimal coding and a visual development approach.

Utilizing conventional software development approaches costs a lot of time and money. Low-code platforms, with their visual development methodologies and emphasis on minimal coding, empower both citizen developers and professional developers to automate workflows. What's more, you can automate workflows up to 10 times faster on these platforms compared to conventional methods.

What is the difference between low-code and no-code automation?

Low-code automation differs from no-code automation in several ways. The former uses minimal coding, while the latter does not use any coding to automate workflows.

Low-code automation

  • Requires minimal coding to automate workflows
  • Empowers both professional developers and citizen developers
  • Deeply customizable
  • Suitable for all kinds of workflows, from the simplest to the most complicated
  • Professional developers and IT teams in organizations benefit from rapid prototyping and shorter development cycles with this approach
  • Integration is possible with multiple platforms; you can orchestrate the flow of data both internally and externally

No-code automation

  • Does not require any coding to automate workflows
  • Empowers citizen developers, but existing IT development teams in an organization might become redundant with no-code automation
  • You cannot customize a no-code platform according to your unique requirements
  • Suitable for simple workflows
  • Professional developers are not required in no-code automation, so its adoption might impact the presence of dedicated IT teams
  • In most cases, no-code platforms offer minimal integration possibilities

Why should you consider low-code tools for workflow automation?

You should consider low-code tools for workflow automation because of their:

i) Speed: Low-code tools and platforms are much faster than conventional software development for automation. In most cases, they automate processes faster than other methods.

ii) Easy learning curve: There is only a small learning curve involved. You need not be a programming wizard to automate workflows using these platforms. Some low-code platforms like ManageEngine AppCreator even offer drag-and-drop scripting features for implementing custom automations.

iii) Low cost: You need not shell out enormous amounts of money as with other automation approaches. All you need to pay is a monthly or discounted annual subscription.

iv) Ability to empower anyone to automate: Low-code platforms empower both the line of business (LOB) users and the developers in your organization. LOB users who have no prior programming experience can automate workflows via a point-and-click, drag-and-drop interface. Professional developers can rapidly prototype and automate business processes because the platform abstracts away most of the fundamental technical work. They can instead focus on implementing the logic.

What are the benefits of low-code workflow automation?

 

Improved efficiency and throughput

Low-code workflow automation streamlines business process execution. You can accomplish what used to take weeks or months within hours or days. Low-code workflow automation improves organizational productivity and the efficiency of all organizational stakeholders. Approval tasks that used to consume days become instant. You can accomplish more with less effort.

 

Cost savings

Due to a reduced dependence on manual task execution, you need fewer employees to execute the automated workflows. This lowers the operational expenditure. Also, a reduced need to build additional software infrastructure saves money.

 

Universal application development across all teams

Traditional software engineering approaches restrict automation to professional developers. It requires skill, expertise, and experience in software engineering. This scenario excludes non-technical people. With low-code platforms, there is a paradigm shift. Anyone, regardless of prior programming or engineering experience, can automate workflows on these platforms.

 

Integration potential

With conventional software automation approaches, integrations with existing architecture and legacy architecture need additional programming effort. However, with low-code platforms, the scenario is totally different. These platforms integrate with other software out of the box. For example, some low-code platforms offer integrations with hundreds of third-party tools. This maximizes the integration potential of automated workflows.

 

Time savings

Faster automation means more time saved. Instead of wasting time on menial tasks, stakeholders can focus on essential priorities.

Ways to use low-code tools for workflow automation

You can use low-code tools for workflow automation in numerous ways. The most prominent ways involve using their:

  •  Form builders.
  •  Dashboard and page builders.
  •  Point-and-click workflow builders.
  •  Point-and-click report builders.

Form builders

Form builders are a staple offering of low-code platforms. Manual data collection is time-consuming and laborious. Low-code platforms provide drag-and-drop builders that can build digitized forms. Through these builders, low-code platforms accelerate information assimilation with minimal effort and in a short span of time.

Dashboard and page builders

Conventional workflow automation user interfaces require programming and front-end development using languages such as JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. These time-consuming processes call for technical expertise and massive expenditures.

Using low-code platforms for your automated workflows, you can create stunning visual dashboards in mere minutes with drag-and-drop dashboard and page builders. These need no coding. Plus, if you want to customize the way your user interfaces appear, you can do so using scripting languages like JavaScript, CSS, or HTML.

Point-and-click workflow builders

Platforms like AppCreator provide point-and-click workflow builders for automation. You only need to select your options from those available, specify the input criteria, establish the output or completion criteria, and determine the stage transitions. Thus, you can automate your workflows easily!

For example, in AppCreator, you can configure a workflow to run whenever you create, edit, or delete a form record. You can also configure workflows to run when the form loads or when a user inputs a form field. There are numerous options. These point-and-click workflow builders make workflow automation an easy task when using low-code platforms.

Point-and-click report builders

Traditional report building means interfacing with application data. This data is raw and unprocessed, so you would need to put in additional effort in the form of data cleansing. Using low-code platforms, you can automatically create reports. Reports usually come in different types, such as a map, list, spreadsheet, kanban, or calendar. Automatic data cleansing is also possible.

All of these advantages make low-code platforms a strong choice for workflow automation.

How to choose the right workflow automation tool

When choosing a low-code workflow automation tool, you need to consider the following criteria:

  •  Ease of use
  •  A short learning curve
  •  Integration capabilities
  •  Agility
  •  Scalability
 

Ease of use

You must strictly avoid platforms with complicated toolsets. They will only complicate the process and increase the operational burden. Your workflow automation tool must be easy to use.

 

A short learning curve

Your personnel should be able to begin automating workflows in a short span of time.

 

Integration capabilities

The low-code platform should be capable of integrating with your legacy, current, and future software systems.

 

Agility

The platform should be agile and capable of rapidly tweaking according to changing business requirements.

 

Scalability

As your organization changes and scales up, the platform should automatically modify itself accordingly.

A platform with the criteria listed above will be optimal for workflow automation. To learn more about workflow automation, please click here.

Workflow automation with AppCreator

AppCreator is a low-code platform that allows you to automate workflows with minimal coding. It provides drag-and-drop builders for forms, dashboards, pages, workflows, and reports, with which you can accelerate your workflows several times faster than with conventional methods. Looking for a low-code platform for your enterprise's workflow automation needs? Check out ManageEngine AppCreator today!

Download AppCreator now