Businesses these days would be less efficient without a workflow.
A workflow consists of an orchestrated and repeatable pattern of activity, enabled by the systematic organization of resources into processes that transform materials, provide services, or process information. It can be depicted as a sequence of operations, the work of a person or group, the work of an organization of staff, or one or more simple or complex mechanisms.
A workflow helps streamline processes. Mundane tasks can be automated, and daily work operates at an optimum. It enables teams within organizations to work more collaboratively and managers to supervise more effectively. And all these contribute to the company’s bottom line. There are clearly many advantages to it, and every business should adopt their own workflow.
In sales, team managers and members use a CRM for their workflow: a sequence of tasks to convert leads, complete a sale, and perform other sales processes.
Developing your workflow should be a strategic, thoughtful process. For one, your workflow should work exactly for your organization. It should support how you conduct your business.
Not all businesses operate the same way. Different sales teams have different sales pipelines and processes. There is no one-size-fits-all workflow, and each sales team should have a customized one. Besides, a custom workflow offers a host of benefits.
Benefits of a Custom Workflow
All these custom workflow benefits result to better work output, better customer service, and a better bottom line.
1. Systems and processes are crystal clear. The company has defined the steps that need to be performed in one platform, and the system automatically initiates the established workflow for its users. No more second-guessing on what to do next, and no more missed steps or processes.
This also clearly defines responsibilities and accountability within the team, which makes for more efficient collaboration and delivery of tasks.
2. Sales reps are more productive because they are focused on selling. With a system that works smoothly and is tailored to what they need, sales reps are not hampered by inessential tasks. This gives sales reps more time to do what they need to do to complete sales.
3. Managers don’t need to micromanage. When a workflow is set up so seamlessly, everyone knows their tasks and when they need to complete them. Managers can focus on their own tasks.
4. It reduces errors. With processes so well-defined, the system helps reduce—even eliminate—human and manual errors. The system also notifies users of any discrepancy so action can be taken immediately.
5. It also reduces costs. Errors can cost businesses money and to reduce them means you also minimize costs. You also decrease other costs associated with paperwork, logistics, training, and manual tasks.
6. No time is wasted. There are no redundant, unnecessary steps because, again, everything is custom to how you operate. And we all know that time is one of the sales rep’s biggest assets.
7. Teams communicate more effectively. Members don’t need to notify each other; the system does that for the team. When one step is completed and the next step needs to be performed by another member, the system notifies this member. The process is not interrupted or broken.
Miscommunications are also eliminated because processes are so clearly outlined. Everyone knows what they need to do, and what everyone else is doing.
8. Managers get more actionable insights. Everything that matters is visible to them. There is better pipeline visibility and more successful status reporting when a workflow is customized to your specific business model and goals.
9. The company is able to grow. When everything is going like clockwork, companies are not bogged down by problems usually associated with daily operations. This gives managements the time, energy, and resources to develop and grow their business.
Unfortunately, not all CRMs are built for customization, and so you can’t customize your workflow. Companies need to invest in a customizable CRM if they want to enjoy all these benefits, optimize productivity, and achieve better revenue.
With Lucrativ, for example, you can choose from its available workflow templates, but these templates can be further customized depending on your business model and objectives. With 12 unique ways to trigger workflows, its automated workflow builder can create the workflow you need—and have it as robust, as dynamic, and as potent as you want it to be.
Photos from Unsplash. Main photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash
