The best workflow automation tools to boost your business

n8n

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that provides developers and tech-savvy users with great flexibility. It allows you to create and customize workflows through programming and extensions.

Features:

• High flexibility: Build custom workflows using JavaScript.
• Extendable: Integration of additional features and modules through community plugins.
• Self-hosted: Full control over your data and automations.
• Visual programming: User-friendly interface for easy workflows.

Nintex

Nintex is a leading platform for business process management and workflow automation. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools to automate, optimize, and manage business processes.

Features:

• Visual workflow designer: Drag-and-drop interface to create complex workflows.
• Document management: Automate document creation, reviews, and approvals.
• Mobile Support: Access and manage workflows from mobile devices.
• Analytics: Detailed analyses and reports to monitor process performance.
• Integration: Seamless integration with many business systems and applications.

How does an automation tool work? : An example

After you've selected a process automation tool, it's important to understand how it works and how it can be used in your organization. Each tool has its own terminology and can execute processes in different ways. To give you an idea of how an automation tool works, let's take an example with Make:

1. Identify the Trigger:
   • Imagine you want an action to be taken every time a new email arrives in your Gmail inbox.
2. Define the action:
   • For example, if the email has a specific keyword in the subject, you want to save a copy of the attachments from the email to a specific Google Drive folder.
3. Create the workflow (scenario):
   • Step 1: Select Gmail as the trigger app and configure the trigger (new email).
   • Step 2: Add a condition to only include emails with the specific keyword in the subject.
   • Step 3: Select Google Drive as an action app and configure the action (save the email to a specific folder).
4. Test and activate:
   • Test the scenario to make sure it works as intended.
   • Activate the scenario so that it automatically runs whenever the trigger occurs.

This simple example shows how easy it is to use Make to create a workflow that automates routine tasks and saves time.

How to choose the right automation tool

Needs analysis‍

Choosing the right automation tool for your business starts with a thorough needs' analysis. Determine the processes that should be automated and identify your organization's specific requirements, such as integration with existing systems, ease of use, and scalability.

Scalability

Scalability is another important criterion. Select a tool that can grow with your business and is able to handle increased workloads and more complex automation requirements.

Expenses

Costs also play a critical role in the selection process. Take into account both initial investments and ongoing costs. Compare the pricing plans of the various tools and see if they fit your budget.

Support and community

Check the availability of technical support and the quality of customer service. An active user community can also be helpful in finding solutions to problems and sharing best practices.

Conclusion

Workflow automation tools are transforming the way companies work and offer numerous benefits from increased efficiency to cost savings. By carefully choosing the right tool for your needs, you can significantly improve your business processes and remain competitive in today's dynamic market environment.