30+ Workflow automation examples for automated business processes

Do you know, 31% of organizations now have atleast one function that is fully automated.   

Every minute spent on repetitive tasks is the minute lost on growth-focused activities. Besides manual data entry, follow-ups of these time-consuming tasks can eat the motivation and productivity. 

But what if they could run on an autopilot? Only workflow automation can make these possible. It replaces human effort with smart, error-free processes running on their own. 

This blog will explore 30+ workflow automation examples that can help teams work smarter and harder. 

Sneak peek into workflow automation! 

Workflow automation involves the use of software to streamline repetitive and manual tasks. 

Besides automating these workflows, businesses can reduce the need for humans in every process, minimizing errors and saving time. 

It allows teams to focus on more complex and value-driven activities that require better creativity and critical thinking.   

Workflow automation software helps enhance operational efficiency and empowers employees by allocating tasks that will drive growth and innovation. 

30+ Workflow automation examples for businesses 

These examples of workflow automation help in making the business processes even easier that can be helpful for various departments:

HR workflow automation examples 

Human resource departments have multiple processes so automating their mundane tasks makes them shift the focus on their core tasks. Here are the few examples: 

• Employee onboarding: Automated tasks like sending welcome emails, collecting documents, and assigning training sessions. 
• Leave requests: Approve or deny leave applications automatically based on company policies. 
• Recruitment process: Streamline job posting, applicant tracking, and interview scheduling. 
• Performance reviews: Automatically send reminders for reviews and collect employee feedback. 
• Payroll processing: Automated processes help in salary calculations, tax deductions, and pay slip generation. 
• Exit formalities: Manage resignation acceptance, clearance, and exit interviews seamlessly.   

Marketing automation workflow examples 

A marketing automation platform helps in everything from qualifying to managing leads and email campaigns. Here are a few examples:   

• Welcome emails: Automated systems send a personalized welcome email when a new lead signs up. 
• Lead nurturing: Automate drip email campaigns to educate and engage leads over time. 
• Social media posting: Schedule and automate posts across multiple platforms for assigning tasks. 
• Customer segmentation: Automatically categorize customers based on behavior or demographics. 
• Abandoned cart recovery: Trigger reminder emails to customers who leave items in their cart. 
• Event promotions: Automate reminders and follow-ups for webinars or live events. 
• Survey requests: Send automated post-purchase or post-service satisfaction surveys.   

Finance and accounting workflow automation examples 

Managing finance and accounting can be challenging, but automation simplifies and optimizes these processes: 

• Invoice processing: Automatically generate, send, and track invoices to streamline billing and reduce delays. 
• Expense management: Automate expense approvals and reimbursements by routing them to the right approvers. 
• Payroll automation: Calculate salaries, deductions, and taxes and process payments automatically. 
• Accounts payable and receivable: Schedule reminders for due payments and automate follow-ups for outstanding invoices. 
• Budget approvals: Route budget requests through an automated approval process based on predefined rules. 
• Tax compliance: Automate tax calculations, filing reminders, and compliance reporting to avoid penalties. 
• Financial reporting: Generate regular financial reports and dashboards automatically for accurate insights.  

CRM workflow automation examples 

Workflow automation with customer relationship management can help automate your business tasks for the mundane tasks:

• Lead assignment: Automatically assign new leads to the appropriate sales reps based on territory or criteria. 
• Follow-up reminders: Schedule automated reminders for sales reps to follow up with prospects. 
• Deal stage updates: Automatically move deals to the next stage in the sales pipeline based on predefined triggers. 
• Welcome emails: Send personalized welcome emails to new customers or leads.  
• Support ticket routing: Automatically assign support tickets to the right team member based on the query type. 
• Upsell and cross-sell notifications: Trigger alerts or campaigns for relevant upsell or cross-sell opportunities. 

These project management software automations enhance sales efficiency, improve customer engagement, and help manage relationships more to boost productivity.  

Purchasing workflow automation examples 

Purchase workflow automation can help in making purchase to invoice always for purchases: 

• Purchase order creation: Automated workflow generates orders when stock levels reach a predefined business process.  
• Supplier approvals: Streamline the approval process for new suppliers with automated routing to decision-makers with workflow automation system. 
• Invoice matching: Match supplier invoices with purchase orders and receipts automatically to ensure accuracy. 
• Payment processing: Automate scheduling for approved invoices to avoid delays or late fees. 
• Supplier communication: Send automated updates to suppliers about order confirmations or delivery schedules. 
• Budget tracking: Implementing workflow automation helps in purchase requests against budgets automatically and flag overages for review. 
• Inventory replenishment: Routine tasks trigger reorder processes when inventory falls below set levels. 

These automations reduce manual effort, minimize errors, and ensure a smooth purchasing process.

IT workflow automation examples 

IT workflow automation can help in making the tech personnels busy with the main tasks: 

• Password resets: Integrating workflow automation the user password reset process, reducing helpdesk tickets and response time. 
• Incident management: Automatically route IT tickets to the appropriate technician based on issue type and priority. 
• System alerts: Set up automated alerts for system outages or critical server issues to ensure quick resolution. 
• Software deployment: Automate the installation or updates of software across multiple devices. 
• User onboarding: Streamline processes new employee setup by automating access permissions, device provisioning, and account creation. 
• Backup scheduling: Automate regular backups of critical systems and data to ensure security and compliance. 
• Asset tracking: Keep an updated inventory of IT assets through automated tracking and reporting tools. 

These automations enhance IT efficiency, reduce manual errors, and ensure faster problem resolution.

AI workflow automation examples

The AI workflow automation can help in all the business processes for all the companies:

• Predictive lead scoring: AI analyzes historical data to score leads based on their likelihood to convert, automating prioritization for sales teams.
• Email personalization: AI tailors email content for individual recipients based on their behavior, preferences, and past interactions.
• Chatbot support: AI-powered chatbots handle customer queries, provide instant responses, and route complex issues to human agents.
• Fraud detection: AI monitors transactions and flags suspicious activities automatically in finance workflows.
• Document review and summarization: AI reviews contracts, legal documents, or reports and extracts key points, saving time on manual analysis.
• Inventory management: AI predicts inventory needs by analyzing sales trends, seasonality, and demand, triggering automated reordering.
• Predictive maintenance: In manufacturing, AI forecasts equipment failures by analyzing usage patterns and alerts teams to perform preventive maintenance.
• Recruitment screening: AI scans resumes, evaluates candidates, and matches them to job roles, automating the initial hiring process.

Legal workflow automation examples 

Here are some brief examples of legal workflow automation: 

• Contract drafting and review: Automate the generation of standard contracts using templates and predefined clauses. 
• Document management: Streamline the organization and retrieval of legal documents with automated filing systems. 
• Case management: Automate case tracking, task assignments, and deadline reminders to ensure efficient handling. 
• Compliance monitoring: Set up automated workflows to track regulatory updates and ensure compliance. 
• E-signature processes: Simplify the signing of legal documents by integrating automated e-signature tools. 
• Client intake: Automate the collection and organization of client information during the onboarding process. 
• Litigation support: Automate the scheduling of depositions, filing of court documents, and case updates to clients. 

This automation saves time, reduces manual errors, and ensures consistency in legal operations.

Sales workflow automation examples 

Here are some brief examples of sales process workflow automation: 

• Lead scoring: Automatically score leads based on their interactions and assign priority levels for follow-ups. 
• Follow-up reminders: Schedule automated reminders for sales reps to contact leads or prospects. 
• Proposal creation: Generate sales proposals automatically using pre-designed templates. 
• Sales pipeline management: Automatically update deal stages based on triggers like customer interactions or sales activities. 
• Customer onboarding: Automate welcome emails and initial onboarding steps for new clients.  
• Meeting scheduling: Send automated meeting invites and reminders through integrated calendar tools. 

These automations improve sales efficiency, ensure timely follow-ups, and help close deals faster.

Salesmate – Your preferred workflow automation tool 

Workflow automation software with Salesmate an easier option for businesses of all sizes, from small to large enterprises. Here are a few features:

• Contact management: Get a 360-degree view of every contact requiring information anytime and anywhere.
• Lead scoring: Send conversion-worthy leads to sales teams with the right CRM help in 60+ trigger actions and design custom lead scoring.
• Smart emails: Take your email campaigns to the next level by creating, personalizing, and crafting emails for the business.
• Sales pipeline: Create multiple sales pipelines and get a bird-eye view of the entire sales cycle.
• Sequences: Create scalable sales follow-up email templates combining texts and emails.
• Reports: Take reporting to the next level to build customizable reports and dashboards in minutes.

Wrap up! 

Are you ready to supercharge your workflows?

Streamlining repetitive tasks isn't just about saving time; it's about empowering your team to focus on what truly matters: driving sales and growing the business. 

With Salesmate, you get an all-in-one workflow automation tool to simplify your processes, boosting efficiency, while ensuring nothing slips through cracks. 

Whether automating sales follow-ups, managing customer support tickets, or creating seamless onboarding experiences, Salesmate adapts to your unique needs. 

Its user-friendly interface and advanced automation features make it easy to start immediately.