July 201719 Current Landscape in Workflow ManagementWorkflow Management is certainly not a new concept. Automated workflows have been around for 20 years or more. The concept has certainly evolved; however, I'm anxious to see where it heads next. At one time, workflow management focused entirely on building efficiencies into processes such as invoicing, reporting and keeping track of expenses and travel. We needed to find ways to reduce the time to payment--and nothing more. Today, we have cars that drive for us. That's workflow management, as well. Complex algorithms make sure the car can brake when the person behind the wheel wants to brake. That's amazing--but it's essentially a system that is based on set parameters and complicated algorithms designed to duplicate human instinct. Artificial intelligence is closer than we think--and the definition of workflow management will continue to evolve alongside the concept itself.Often, even customized solutions are seen as standardized once adopted by those who use them. I believe workflow management solutions appeal equally to users of customized or standardized processes. Everyone welcomes new thoughts based on proven best practices.Challenges Faced By CIOsTrying to keep infrastructure current is a real challenge as the pace of technology evolution increases. Cycle times continue to get shorter between hardware refreshes and every CIO worries about the capital investment required to back sustainable growth. There is a point at which having capital tied up in computer equipment doesn't make good business sense anymore. We're seeing the shift to hosted arrangements and services in the cloud.Workflow Management to Be a Game Changer in BusinessesCIO InsightsBY JIM SIMPSON, SVP & CIO, AVMED
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