Sharepoint Workflow Considerations

SharePoint vs. Integrify:  How to Select the Right Workflow Solution

sharepoint workflow

V.S.

Integrify Workflow Automation

 

Sharepoint Workflow Overview

With so many people working from home, Sharepoint Administrators are looking for ways to use their existing infrastructure and SharePoint tools to improve how remote employees get work done. Unfortunately, when all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. This is the case with the limited nature of Sharepoint workflows. An entire industry has cropped up to supplement or replace Sharepoint's rudimentary workflow abilities. 

When it comes to using SharePoint for workflow (whether you're using Sharepoint 2016, Sharepoint Online, or other versions) or a pure-play workflow solution like Integrify, there are many issues that organizations should consider:

NOTE: The number one technology we replace over any other product is Sharepoint.

 

Consideration

Microsoft Sharepoint Workflow

Integrify Workflow

Developers/coders required for customization

Coding Required

No Coding Required

Create a new custom process (level of effort)

Moderate to Significant Effort

Low to Moderate Effort

Create a new custom process (resources)

IT / developers

Business Users

Modify/support/adapt existing processes (resources)

IT / developers

Business Users

Modify/support/adapt existing processes (cost)

High Cost

Low to Moderate Cost

The flexibility of the solution (how easy is it to change)

Low to Moderate Flexibility

High Flexibility

The time required to create customized processes

Moderate

Low to Moderate

The agility of the solution (how fast can it be changed)

Moderate Agility

High Agility

Are Sharepoint Workflows The Right Tool for the Job?

Optimizing business processes requires using the right tools for the right jobs. We have created the following list of decision points to help organizations considering SharePoint as their workflow platform identify when a solution like Integrify is a good fit. In other words, here are some examples of common Sharepoint workflow problems or points of frustration.

If the answer to the following questions is "yes," we believe considering a workflow platform like Integrify as a standalone workflow management solution or in conjunction with a SharePoint deployment using integration is worth considering.

  • Do you want to be able to define and alter processes quickly?

  • Are future updates/modifications expected frequently?

  • Do you want the ability to empower business units with direct control over their business rules and processes?

  • Are you modeling processes that cross-departmental and application boundaries?

  • Do you have processes (or steps) that require more complex exception handling and logic?

  • Are your IT resources limited?

  • Is custom integration needed/helpful?

  • Do you expect advanced reporting capabilities and easy customization of reports?

  • Are there certain workflows outside of Sharepoint where an agnostic solution would make more sense?

If you answered "yes” to any of the above questions, investigating a solution like Integrify is a natural fit for your needs—even if you’re already using SharePoint for its rich collaboration, document management, business intelligence, or other capabilities.

Integrify Workflow Benefits: Why Use Integrify Over a Sharepoint Workflow?

Integrify: Benefits to Employees

  • The self-service portal is available 24 hours a day.

  • Accessible from the office, home, or mobile devices.

  • Easy-to-use, one-stop shopping for all requests.

  • Visibility into request status and progress.

Integrify: Benefits to Departments

  • Consistent departmental standards are followed.

  • Non-developers can create custom workflows.

  • Transaction time and cost are significantly decreased.

  • Reduction in low-value, transactional tasks.

  • Better department/employee communication.

  • Better tracking of process bottlenecks.

  • Collecting signatures is straightforward.

Integrify: Benefits to technical teams

  • Low-code environment for rapid workflow rollout.

  • Ability to let departments manage their processes.

  • Reusable parts, templates, and forms.

  • Centralized management of all request/workflow applications.

  • Workflow settings can be changed without turning off automation.

  • Open API for legacy integration.

  • More robust feature set over Power Automate.

  • Full, hands-on support from an experienced service team.

  • Sharepoint Upload option.

Integrify: Benefits to Management

  • Transparency and accountability for all processes.

  • Reduced cost to create a workflow without development resources.

  • KPI and Reports dashboards for at-a-glance performance review.

  • A system-agnostic solution for non-Sharepoint non-Microsoft workflows.

Interested in Switching from Sharepoint Workflow to Integrify?

We have a library of resources to help you navigate to an automated workplace.

Automate Any Business Process

To see how quickly you can begin automating your business processes, check out our 2-minute product video.

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