Commercial organizations have long appreciated the benefits of business process automation. From banks managing mortgage applications, to utility companies tracking bill payments, they have learned that much of their day-to-day business can be described by a set of well-defined business processes.
They have also understood that if they use technology to automate these processes, they can eliminate time-consuming and error-prone manual intervention. This allows them to achieve more, in less time, with fewer mistakes. However, the real benefit is greater competitive advantage, as costs are reduced and productivity is improved.
Workflow systems are now also being used more and more to help the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical industries manage the vast quantities of data that pass through many stages of processing and analysis. Data that may be captured in the field with handheld devices needs to be fed into the pipeline so that calculations can be performed and reports generated. Information on individual samples must pass between scientists and support staff with different roles (such as quality control, curation and analysis). A workflow system to co-ordinate the whole process can ensure that data is processed, or passed on to the next stage, in a timely manner. Automatic notification and web-based reporting can ensure that all parties have full access to the status of samples within the system.
The need for regulatory compliance is an increasingly significant driver in the implementation of workflow systems. In many industry sectors there is a requirement to comply with external agencies who examine adherence to operational rules. In addition, legislative changes such as the US’s Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), will soon force many organizations to invest in proving that their processes are sound. These needs for compliance make workflow systems essential.
Tessella has helped many clients move towards more efficient and reliable processes through automation. We have developed numerous workflow solutions, including customizations of off-the-shelf packages and the development of custom-built systems. We are in an excellent position to help your organization realize the benefits of workflow systems.
