Operational process management

Workflow & Process Management with Steps, Stages & Approvals

Simple Workflow is built for workflow and process management when operational work moves through multiple people. Define the business process, assign responsibility, verify completed work, track execution and see exactly where every task is stuck.

  • Repeatable process steps
  • Clear ownership
  • Verification and approvals
Workflow and process management with defined steps in Simple Workflow on desktop and mobile

Some work is more than a task

A task manager works well when one person receives a task and completes it. Many business processes instead move through several people, stages, checks or approvals. Our analysis of how 200 sampled teams manage their work found that even small teams can have surprisingly structured, multi-step workflows. See why workflow steps are useful for work that moves through several stages.

01 · Steps

Work moves between people

One person completes their part and responsibility moves to the next employee, department or stage.

02 · Verification

Work can be checked

Completion can include comments, files, photos or other proof before work is verified or approved.

03 · Visibility

Managers see where work is stuck

See the current stage, responsible person and pending work without chasing updates across messages and spreadsheets.

Workflow and process management with steps that match your operation

Define the stages once. Each new piece of work can then follow the same process.

STEP 1 Order received New work enters the process
STEP 2 Processing The responsible team works on it
STEP 3 Dispatch Work progresses to the next stage
STEP 4 Delivery Completion can be recorded
STEP 5 Payment checked The workflow is completed
See it in the product

Track an operational process through workflow steps

Simple Workflow lets you define the process steps that make sense for your operation and then see where each task currently sits.

  • Define your own workflow stages
  • Assign the right person or team
  • See the current stage of every task
  • Move work forward or step it back
  • Track progress across the whole workflow

Examples of multi-step workflows

Simple Workflow does not force your business into a predefined process. The steps are defined by the way your team works.

Orders

Order received → Processing → Dispatch → Delivery → Payment verification

Sales

Lead received → Follow-up → Site visit → Quotation → Approval

Service issues

Issue reported → Assigned → Work completed → Verification → Closed

Internal approvals

Request created → Manager review → Approval → Execution → Confirmation

Do you need task management or workflow and process management?

Workflow and process management becomes useful when the same type of operational work repeatedly moves through several people, departments, checks or approvals. When work can be completed directly by one person, simple task management software may be a better fit. If you are choosing a tool for a smaller team, see what to look for in workflow software for small teams. If custom development is also under consideration, compare the build-versus-buy workflow software decision.

Basic task management

Assign a task to somebody.
Work is mainly open or complete.
Completion normally ends the task.
Best for independent to-dos.

Workflow / process management

Work moves through people, teams or departments.
Track the exact stage of the process.
Completion can lead to verification, approval or another step.
Best for repeatable operational processes.

Project management helps plan and coordinate projects. Workflow or process management moves repeated operational work through defined steps. An ERP is broader, spanning multiple business functions; Simple Workflow is strongest when the need is process execution and tracking rather than a full ERP.

Manage from a laptop. Execute from mobile.

Managers can review workflows, tasks and progress from a larger screen while team members receive work, update tasks and move through workflow steps from their phones.

Start with one process

Pick one process your team repeats regularly, define its steps, and start tracking real work through it.

Create Your First Workflow