Mapping out a process from end to end can feel like a hefty undertaking. Luckily, digital process map templates can automate your business processes, so you can jump right into work. Here’s how.
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Think about the last time you planned a project or put an idea into motion. Where did you start? How did you map the process from start to end?
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to planning and executing a project or a business process. To be successful, you need to visualize each step so you can see exactly what needs to get done—starting with your first task all the way to project completion.
That might sound easier said than done, but don’t worry. Process map templates can help.
Process mapping is the act of visually mapping out the steps it takes to complete a process or a workflow. The purpose of business process mapping is to give your team a better understanding of how an individual process works, so they can successfully execute it.
You can use a process map at the individual, team, department, or organizational level to outline any number of processes, from organizational processes like training and onboarding to team-specific processes like brainstorming.
Typically, you map a process with a process map drawing—a visual representation of a complex process created with specific symbols. To learn more about how to create a process map drawing, check out our article: Guide to process mapping.
While a process map drawing is a good way to outline and visualize your business processes, these static tools have limitations. You need a digital tool to truly bring the process to life. That’s where a digital process map template comes in.
A digital process map template builds on your static process map drawing by taking the process you’ve outlined and bringing it to life using workflows—repeatable processes that you can use over and over. By combining your process map drawing with a digital work management tool, you can connect your teams and execute tasks where work happens.
The key to using a digital process map template is setting up workflows. Think of it like this: the majority of the work you do follows a repeatable pattern. Whether you’re writing a blog post, onboarding a new team member, or initiating a new sales process, you probably follow similar steps each time. These steps are your workflow.
Once you’ve identified the start and end points for your workflow with a static process map drawing, you can build out the workflow to follow the steps that will take you through the entire process. Then, you can create a duplicable digital process map template using that workflow as a baseline—so every time you need to write a blog post or onboard a team member, your process is already set up. You simply create a copy of the template and get started.
Once you understand the ins and outs of workflows, setting one up—and turning it into a digital process map template—is easy. Simply follow these steps:
You can set up digital process workflows for pretty much any business process that requires repeatable steps for execution and completion. Here are some common workflow use cases you might set up.