Streamlining Operations – Integrating Business Applications for Seamless Workflow

Business applications play a central role in workflow optimization. They sync the data and processes at multiple levels to result in smooth day to day operations. A recent study by Salesforce has revealed that organizations today use 1000+ applications for various business processes. Unfortunately, only 30% of them are connected to one another resulting in productivity bottlenecks and disconnected work.

All the digital transformation that we have achieved over the years is highly dependent on integration. Without it, even the best of apps cannot produce the desired results. This is where business application integration comes into the picture. While the applications themselves play a crucial role, they do better when they are connected to each other. When applications can talk and exchange information with each other, only then can they become the backbone of workflow optimization and streamlining business operations.

Productivity is the direct and major result of streamlining operations. Streamlining eliminates all the complications and redundancies in the processes making them faster. It also puts multiple processes in sync while enabling people to focus on the core tasks with clear job expectations. This kind of result makes streamlining operations very important for businesses of all sizes.

Understanding Streamlining Operations

 

Streamlining, as the name suggests is the process of making a task more efficient. This is achieved through automation, optimizing workflows, and improving team communication. Operations streamlining helps businesses achieve their full potential while saving, time, effort, and resources.

The key purpose of streamlining operations is almost always improving productivity which automatically reduces costs and hastens goal achievement. All the purposes and outcomes of streamlining operations are so intertwined with each other that no matter where you start, once you finish, you will experience the complete set of benefits and will have established some impactful department-wise and company-level benchmarks for your business.

Key Benefits of Streamlined Workflows

1. Reduced Errors
2. Efficient Communication
3. Improved Time Management
4. Increased Productivity

Identifying Business Applications

 

Overview of Common Business Applications

A business application is a software that supports the business in its routine processes. One very common and popular example of a business application is ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning. It helps businesses sync their core business processes. Some other such efficient business applications are CRM – Customer Relationship Management, HRIS – Human Resource Information Systems, Inventory Management, Billing and so on. All of these take care of multiple, big departments by combining several smaller processes in one application. Which ones do you need?

Assessing the Needs of your Organization

Before you can streamline your business with applications, you have to identify the business areas that need an application. Check for processes/tasks that can be automated to reduce both time and errors. Make a list of them and if possible put the similar ones in the same buckets. Now, we are ready for the next step.

Choosing the right applications for seamless integration

Once you have identified the processes that need an application, it’s time to choose the applications. While choosing the best ones out there, you have to keep in mind several crucial factors such as usability, ease of integration, capabilities and also, the price. Applications are expensive and that is probably one of the reasons why businesses overlook investing in them.

But the thing is, business applications put the business on track and pay for themselves over time. So, price of an application should not be a big concern but yes, you must compare and consider a few options before you finalize. Also, you can always get custom applications made for your business.

The Art of Streamlining Workflows

 

Let’s now talk about streamlining workflows. Before the development or purchase of application begins, you will have to do a lot of homework on your part. In this homework you will have to clearly identify the requirements and other issues associated with workflows so that the final applications are exactly what your business needs. Any negligence at this stage may result in non-performing business applications.

Following are the key steps to efficiently streamlining workflows.

• Mapping Out Existing Workflows and Areas for Improvement

The due diligence for streamlining starts with identifying all the existing work flows and identifying issues with them. Then, you have to make time to identify areas the workflow has missed and can be included them. So, at this step two types of issues get sorted, problems with the current workflow and the points that can be included in the workflow but were missed in the first round.

• Identifying Bottlenecks and Areas of Redundancy

Workflows, especially big ones, are dotted with bottlenecks and redundancies. To streamline a workflow, you have to identify both of them and eliminate to improve efficiency.

• Streamlining Communication Channels

Streamlined workflows need streamlined communication channels. This is a direct dependency. If a business’s communication channels are complicated, its workflows will be the same.

• Automating Repetitive Tasks

Since streamlining happens only after processes are simplified and optimized, it is crucial to automate the repetitive tasks. Automation optimizes the time dependency of other tasks on the repetitive tasks and smoothens out the whole workflow.

Benefits of Integrating Business Applications for Seamless Workflows

 

The biggest benefit of a seamless workflow is streamlined operations. When everything is in place and in sync, a workflow works like a well-oiled machine to improve all aspects of operations to improve productivity and ring in ROI. Let’s discuss some of the key benefits that your business and resources will experience from day 1 of using a streamlined workflow.

• Increased Productivity and Efficiency

App integration in a business result in seamless automation of process and data synchronization. It reduces human errors and also tremendously reduces time required for processes like data access and data transfer. With so many things in line, there’s only one thing that the employees can do and that is focus on more strategic and value-added tasks, thus directly improving productivity and efficiency.

• Enhanced Data Accuracy and Accessibility

Business applications integration puts everything together, data, process and even people. This results in unhindered data access across the business and not just any data, accurate data. Availability of reliable and consistent data then makes sure that decisions are based on the right information and hence, are reliable.

• Improved Collaboration and Communication

This benefit goes without saying. App integration results in seamless collaborations and communication between teams and departments. Integrated applications provide users with updated data across platforms in real time. Furthermore, the communication channels get updated automatically. This kind of syncing on multiple levels opens the gates to smooth collaborations and in turn faster execution of projects.

Enhance Productivity and Achieve Goals with Integrated Business Applications

 

You might already be using several business applications to optimize your business process. Some common names include a social media management tool for your regular activities, a communication tool for your in-house communication, a HR tool for all the human resource activities, and so on. But are all of them connected to each other? Are you able to access one tool’s data from another tool?

It is now time to switch to integrated applications. Connect your business applications with help from TechnoMark. We are a team of zealous technology experts who have a penchant for building extraordinary business applications. Contact us today to start streamlining your workflow.