Workflow Builder: From Beginner to Pro

A workflow diagram (also known as a chart) is a step-by-step visual representation of a business process. It is used to visualize the flow of different tasks, involved resources, and required actions within a particular procedure. Usually, it is created using images and symbols that make it universal and understandable for a broad audience.

You can find many services that enable you to combine various shapes into a diagram. You can try Lucidchart, Visio, Draw.io, and Gliffy, which allow you to simply draw flowcharts. To implement these schemes into your work, however, you'll have to utilize other software. If you want to create a chart that will be ready to use, consider using airSlate WorkFlow.

The best way to diagram a workflow process is to draw it with all the required steps and variations on paper and then build a flowchart of the process in airSlate WorkFlow. This service enables you to upload or create documents and forms needed for data collection and add steps and branches to your process that will be automated. To learn more about building automated workflows using diagrams, check out the related course the airSlate Academy. Click Enroll at the top of the page and discover the most efficient way to deal with document-related tasks.

Actually, there are many types of process flow diagrams. Take a look at four of the most commonly used ones below:

• Process charts – flow of a particular procedure;
• Workflow diagrams – flow of documents and data;
• Swimlane flowcharts – interactions of separate departments, employees, or processes;
• Data flowcharts – processing of data.

There are software apps that are worth your attention. One notable example is airSlate WorkFlow. It enables you to build a chart with steps and brackets, add software robots that will route documents, remind employees to complete tasks, or manipulate data without any inference from a human. Learn more about airSlate WorkFlow capabilities with the specialized course by the airSlate Academy. Click Enroll and discover the world of business process automation now!

It's a composition of symbols that represent the flow of data, tasks, and resources between multiple employees or departments. Usually, they include ovals to define the start and the end of a procedure, rectangles to show steps, diamonds to demonstrate decisions, and arrows to indicate direction. In advanced workflows, you can also find specialized symbols describing documents, data, merging, inputs, outputs, etc.

In airSlate WorkFlow, you have the ability to guide recipients through filling out multiple documents based on the actions they take and the data they submit in each document. You begin by uploading or creating all the forms that need to be completed within a workflow. Then, you build a diagram to indicate general steps and how they and each document are connected to one another. However, that's not all you can do with our robust solution. You can add bots that will route documents, analyze information, and complete many other actions for you.

Using workflow diagrams is beneficial for many reasons, but primarily for the ability they give you to streamline business operations. They accelerate the entire process, eliminate redundant activities, and optimize the number of resources required to complete tasks. Additionally, correctly built diagrams improve communication between different employees or teams and help you avoid bottlenecks or delays.

A workflow diagram is broader than a flowchart. A flowchart is a sequence of steps that serve as a visual representation of one particular process. A workflow diagram, on the other hand, can include entire groups of processes handled by different individuals and teams and visually represents the flow of information, tasks, and resources in complex processes.

Any diagram must include actions and resources. Additionally, you can indicate decisions that must be made (answerable with a simple “yes” or “no”), persons responsible for each particular action, and the time required for completing a task.