A workflow solution is a software application that is designed to optimize business processes. It does this by standardizing a workplace activity into a discrete series if steps that is defined as a ‘workflow’ and managing it through its lifecycle. Workflow solutions are used both to streamline business processes and automate them. Organizations use this software to improve organizational efficiency, agility and profitability and to make strategic planning decisions.
The concept originated from the study of the best way to rationally organize work tasks in order to optimize manufacturing processes in the post WW2 era. The rise of the quality movement was informed by workflow improvement theories including ideas about business process re-engineering and total quality management. The latter is a structured approach that emphasizes quality control measures at every point in the production cycle to reduce errors and defects.