The 8 Best Process Automation Tools & Solutions for 2024
Process automation tools are the key to centralizing important information, minimizing human errors, and streamlining workflows among every department and internal team. By automating processes wherever possible, you have an opportunity to increase efficiency across your entire organization while elevating the customer experience at the same time.
And no longer is the ability to automate processes solely the domain of veteran developers or IT personnel; everyday business users can now work better and faster with the help of process automation tools. Today, the leading automation tools are accessible to everyone, meaning each team member has a chance to boost their productivity while simplifying the way they work.
8 best process automation tools and solutions for 2024
With a large volume of business process automation tools to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start (or what to look for) when selecting software for your organization. While many process automation tools offer similar capabilities, they’re often designed with specific users and/or usability in mind — as is true of the eight solutions listed below.
1. Best process automation tool for overall functionality: Image API
Image API provides workflow automation solutions for government, healthcare and education organizations of all sizes. With Image API's software and services you can route digital and manage digital content within one location. In addition, Image API allows you to connect and integrate with the systems you’re already using (ERPs, etc) to reduce operational complexities and automate workflows for any use case.
2. Best process automation tool for startups or small offices: Process Street
What makes Process Street such a great option for small businesses is that it’s one of the few process automation tools that provides a free option to its customers. This free version of the program lets you automate up to five workflows (among five people), though the service jumps to $30 — per user, per month — if you want to upgrade the available features.
Generally speaking, Process Street is one of the simplest softwares for managing recurring tasks, checklists, and operational to-dos. While it’s certainly not the most advanced platform on this list, Process Street has still earned a lot of praise for its data unification, process routing, and permissions for sharing. If you have a small team that needs a way to track its individual projects, this tool would make an economical and user-friendly investment.
3. Best process automation tool for improved project management: Asana
Asana is a cloud-based project management tool that’s been built with a clean interface to encourage usage and interaction. With Asana, managers can create specific tasks for a large project, assign those tasks to their team members, and then schedule deadlines for each item.
As far as automation goes, Asana allows users to automatically route new tasks to a central (or specialized) project to help monitor progress and keep things organized. On top of that, Asana also notifies employees whenever work is ready for them, by automatically adding tasks to their projects once the custom field status changes. But despite these advancements, some Asana customers have noted that this platform has limited export proficiency, and that it lacks a time tracking feature to log the hours worked by task assignees.
4. Best process automation tool for basic business functions: Kissflow
Kissflow’s software makes a great introductory process automation tool, as it readily automates the basic functions and business processes that teams perform on a regular basis. These automations can be applied to repetitive operational responsibilities like vendor payments, purchase orders, employee onboarding, and/or mileage reimbursements.
The strength of this system lies in how easy it is for anyone to use, regardless of their technical background; it’s a simple, straightforward platform to track and manage all your workflows. With that said, Kissflow leaves something to be desired with regards to its reporting features. It appears that other business process automation tools offer superior report templates to make reading and displaying data that much easier.
5. Best process automation tool for optimizing social media: Hootsuite
If your business or organization has entered into the social media landscape, you may be looking for a way to optimize your channels and improve content performance. Fortunately, Hootsuite can help. This platform helps users customize the content from just one post so it’s applicable for multiple platforms — like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and so on.
What’s more, Hootsuite allows users to bulk schedule hundreds of posts at a time, so they’re automatically shared on social media on the selected date. But while Hootsuite certainly has some handy features and operability, its automations are really best suited for those businesses who use more than one account or social platform.
6. Best process automation tool for better HR alignment: monday.com
Although the workflow management software from monday.com has its fair share of highlights, it seems like HR teams might benefit the most from this process automation tool. That’s because monday.com empowers human resources departments to manage all their processes in one convenient place. In fact, this software has automations that can assist with recruitment, onboarding, off-boarding, and employee performance management.
With these automations in effect, HR is better able to create and collaborate on the day-to-day projects they are continually juggling. Keep in mind, though, that while monday.com provides a variety of templates for customers to pull from, many users have asked for the customizations to be easier to implement (i.e. less time-consuming and complicated).
7. Best process automation tool for enhanced customer support: Zendesk
Customer service is at the heart of any well-run organization, and yet it remains one of the most challenging aspects to get right. Thankfully, the process automation tools from Zendesk can help customer support teams increase their output, build loyalty, and ultimately, drive revenue.
In essence, Zendesk’s automated service enables customers to solve problems without a human touchpoint or interaction. Unlike your staff members, automated support systems are available at all times, with around-the-clock assistance to handle repetitive tasks or direct open tickets to the appropriate party. Truly one of the only flaws of the Zendesk platform is its price, which is on the higher end compared to other CRM solutions.
8. Best process automation tool for streamlined accounting: bill.com
Bill.com is a leader in financial process automation, and is specifically geared towards non-inventory, mid-sized organizations. This program makes it simple to automate recurring payments from start to finish, by connecting each of your payment accounts and accounting tools to a functional dashboard. In fact, bill.com has a direct, two-way sync that runs automatically (or on-demand) with the likes of Microsoft, QuickBooks, Xero, and more.
And if that wasn’t enough, bill.com also has a number of intuitive features like automatic data entry and duplicate invoice detection to help save valuable time and reduce human error. It’s important to note, however, that some users have experienced difficulty with vendor intake and corporate credit card bill approval, which may affect your productivity in the long run.
Benefits of using Image API to automate processes
By partnering with Image API to automate your business processes, you can cut through the unnecessary clutter and transform the way your business operates. Thanks to Image API’s decades worth of experience and cost-effective solutions, your team can start enjoying greater efficiency and ease in almost no time at all.
Over 25 years of experience
For more than 25 years now, Image API has been fundamentally changing the way people work. The team at Image API has all the knowledge and expertise needed to help you leverage the power and speed of digital, so you can achieve measurable results that far exceed your expectations. There’s no doubt that Image API’s emphasis on excellence, authenticity, and innovation will revolutionize your organization at every level.
Greater efficiency and ease
The most productive (and profitable) organizations are all moving in the direction of digitization, as this shift has a tremendous impact on workplace efficiency. By utilizing DPA technology from Image API, your agency can automate its most challenging, yet foundational operations.
Significant cost savings
There are significant financial benefits to using digital software that pay dividends in both the short and long-term. By working with Image API, your organization has access to a low risk, high value solution and an expert team who can help you quickly eliminate human errors while also increasing productivity (leading to a host of ways to reduce costs).
Reach out today to talk with Image API’s experienced team of digital transformation experts, and learn more about how we can help you automate processes that will help you work at the power and speed of digital.
Common FAQs about process automation tools
What is an example of process automation?
Many times, process automation is used during employee onboarding to deliver a consistent experience for every hire. Not only does electronic onboarding prevent costly mistakes, but automation allows you to wrap up employee forms and compliance documents in advance of the designated start date (for the ultimate preparedness).
What are the types of process automation?
Process automation is generally categorized as either robotic process automation (RPA) or as application programming interface (API). While RPA focuses on desktop flows and surface level automation, API technology has a standardized layer of software integration code that allows diverse applications to communicate and collaborate alongside one another.
Which automation tool is best?
Caledo is a digital process automation solution from Image API, which has been developed to create digital forms, route digital content, and manage said content within the platform itself. In terms of overall functionality, there’s really not another automation tool that can outperform Caledo — due in large part to its diverse automations, integrations, and user-friendly features.
