Dynamic Workflow Creation in Alfresco

Dynamic Workflow Creation in Alfresco

Alfresco – one of the most robust Enterprise Content Management and Business Process Management systems have been used by a plenitude of enterprises over the years. List of features and add-ons available for Alfresco has been increased exponentially over the years. We, at ContCentric, have always been contributing the best content to the Alfresco Community in the utmost possible ways.

Workflows are one of the most used functionalities of Alfresco. Almost every enterprise need wa orkflow in their ECM System. Alfresco does provide few out-of-the-box workflows which are primitive and need manual actions in initiating the same. That is the reason why enterprises need to get the automated workflows developed by programming. Developing a workflow takes a certain time and, of course, the cost of Alfresco development resources need to be hired.

With the help of our Alfresco Certified Developers, we, at ContCentric, have developed one such exceptional functionality which will allow the enterprises to assign the workflow to the documents dynamically. If our module is deployed in Alfresco, an authorized user-group can configure a linear workflow step on any folder. The reviewing and approving users are to be mapped in the order in which they want the document approval process to flow for any document in that folder.

Read the blog for: Migrate Alfresco Content and Database from Community to Enterprise

Below are the steps mentioned to configure the dynamic workflows in Alfresco.

Step 1: Deploy the dynamic workflow module to your Alfresco. We would help you configure the sites or the folders which need to be added to this functionality.

Step 2: Add the users in the authorized-users group who all would be able to configure the workflow on the folders.

Step 3: An authorized user can find the ‘Define Workflow’ action on the folder below

Alfresco development company

Step 4: Select users who will be receiving the workflow in the sequence of the approval process. The users will be populated from Alfresco users.

In this example, we have added two users in the approval process who will receive the tasks in sequence. We may keep on adding steps by adding the users. Since we assign the workflow on a folder, each folder can have a different number of steps and the approver-users!

Document management system

3

Document management system

That’s all for configuring the linear workflow!

Now let’s move to the business users who are supposed to initiate the workflows. We are carrying forward the example of 2 step approval.

Step 5: Initiator to upload a document. The workflow will be automatically triggered by the document.

The task will be assigned to the first approver user. The initiator would not be able to amend that document now as the task is with the approver.

Email Notification of the same will be sent to the approver- user’s email id.

Step-6: Action Taken by the 1st Approver.

The 1st approver will be able to see the task. He will also be able to see the preview of the document.

Document management system

Step 7: After Approval from the first user, the document will reach the second approver of the workflow.

Previous Users’ comments will be shown to every user who is performing the task.

As, we have two step workflows, after approval from the second user, the workflow will be completed successfully.

Document management system

If your business use-cases have multiple document types which have different workflows, this tool will allow you to configure as many dynamic workflows you require across the departments.

Want to explore it? Please contact us! We will be glad to show this life.

Thanks,

9 Points to Remember While Presenting Enterprise Content Management Software

I have been selling Enterprise software products and solutions for the last five years. It requires a specific skill set to become a salesperson in this field. One of the key skills is the presentation or demonstration of the software. For the last couple of years, I am selling Alfresco, an Enterprise Content Management and Business Process Management Software.

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In this blog, I have made an attempt to list out some check-points to prepare and deliver a quality demonstration to the prospect. Hope it will be helpful in your journey to make your professional life better.

Related Blog: Top 8 Reasons Why You Need Alfresco Document Management System

  1. Schedule: Schedule the demo in advance to get time to tune your hardware and software right to avoid any surprises. Use tools like Google Calendar to send invites (even if the prospect finds this practice new). This will increase the chances of having a demo with the undivided attention of the client. The time of the meeting should also be such that the group of attendees can sit through the entire session.
  1. Profile of Attendees: Ask your prospect contact point about the profiles of the attendees who are going to remain present. Based on this, you can make a list of expected questions. You will also get to find whether the demonstration will require any extra module or customization to make a better effect on prospects. In my case, the vanilla Alfresco comes up with OOTB features. At times, I take the help of my colleagues to make Alfresco development customization.
  1. Time & Day: Set the demo at the time your prospect is least occupied with his work. I have been requested by clients to carry demo sessions on a weekend, which is good to accept.
  1. Peripherals: Ask your prospect whether a projector or LED TV would be available to have a large screen view. Check whether your laptop is equipped with the right sockets for RGB or HDMI cable. You must ask the prospect to keep the relevant connectors ready and tested or carry them yourself. Since Alfresco is an Enterprise Document Management System, I request the prospects to provide me with sample documents beforehand to give them a better feeling of the end product that they are envisaging.
  1. Internet Connection: Check whether you are going to use localhost (where the software is installed on your machine itself and it doesn’t require an internet connection), or online. In the case of an online demo, it is very important to check whether the server is up and running before you leave for the demo. It is always advisable to have a good internet source devise with you like a mobile phone or a wi-pad. If you do not trust your internet connection, then request the same to the prospect and check feasibility.
  1. Machine: Your laptop should have all the required applications running before you leave for the demo. You should keep the laptop into hibernate or sleep mode. If you dare shut down the laptop to power it on in from of a prospect, it might eat up healthy time. The last thing that can happen is your operating system starts updating as soon as you power it on! Ensure that you are carrying your power cable with you. You must close down all the unwanted applications or web pages.
  1. Start with a PPT: Just not jump into the demo right away. Enterprise Content Management applications are complex to understand for new users and by viewing pages of your application without any background information, the attendees are going to get confused only. It is a strict no-no. I generally prepare a 4-5 slide PPT presentation with the introduction of the company & the software, scope of the demo, business processes that it is going to adhere to, demo user groups details, etc. This PPT will help channel the expectations of attendees.
  1. Use Right Terminology: Depending on the profile of attendees, use the right terminology. You may be technically very sound, but the software jargon is for the programmers and not for functional personnel. Try to be familiar with the terms that your target industry uses more often.

Request you to help lengthen this list with more such tips and tricks. Let’s make the community of salespersons more powerful! Contact us

Happy selling!

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