You’ve probably seen this morning’s headlines. Auckland Council’s confidential City Rail Link report found its way to the media due to a single missed checkbox, which will raise some serious questions about LGOIMA management. 

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: LGOIMA requests aren’t just another compliance box to tick – they’re becoming one of the highest-risk processes in local government.  

And unfortunately, with the NZ Herald getting a story like this, it’s about to get a whole lot more challenging.

The Ombudsman’s latest report shows LGOIMA complaints have increased by 30% in the past year alone – and headlines like this won’t help those numbers.  

Based on conversations I’ve recently had with councils this could be a very low estimate, with many mentioning 100-300% increases in requests for information – and they don’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. 

Here’s the thing – poorly managed LGOIMA doesn’t just risk severe reputation damage to your council. It’s creating unnecessary stress for your team. And with a statutory 20-working-day deadline looming over every request, the pressure couldn’t be more real. 

And when you’re dealing with requests that can involve anything from routine queries to highly sensitive information (like today’s CRL story), getting it wrong isn’t just a minor hiccup – it could be tomorrow’s headline. 

Let’s break down the problems with how most LGOIMA is managed: 

But it’s not all doom and gloom in the world of LGOIMA – Ōtorohanga District Council have solved all of the above, and they did it faster than you might think.  

After building and deploying their LGOIMA workflow within their first month using Flowingly, this was their feedback: 

Let’s take a look at their workflow 👇

So how can teams improve how they manage LGOIMA? 

Now, you could try to fix it the hard way – mapping processes, adding reviews, running endless training sessions. But let’s be honest: that’s just putting a band-aid on a broken system. 

Or you could follow Ōtorohanga’s lead: implement a proven LGOIMA workflow in Flowingly that’s already delivering results. 

The best part? Their exact template is ready and waiting in our process sharing platform, Process Hub. Just grab it, customise it to your council’s needs, and you’re good to go. 

Want to learn more about bulletproofing your LGOIMA process? Join our free webinar this Wednesday where we’ll dive deep into LGOIMA management best practices and show you exactly how councils like Ōtorohanga are getting it right. 

Say Hello to Our New Visual Filters: Your Processes, Your Way 

We’re thrilled to introduce a release that’s been in the works for a while – an update to the UI of our process filters. This update is all about making your life easier by giving you ways to navigate your processes more intuitively. 

What’s New?

With our newest update, you can now more easily filter your processes by status—whether it’s something you started last week that’s due today, or a task that’s creeping into overdue territory. No more guessing games; you’ll see exactly where everything stands at a glance. 

Need to focus on a specific timeframe? Easy. Our date range filter lets you zero in on the processes that matter most right now, whether you’re planning ahead or catching up.  

With our new filters, you can quickly filter your processes by status: 

• In Progress: See what’s currently on your plate and track how work is moving along. 
• Due Soon: Get a heads-up on what’s coming up next, so you can prioritise effectively. 
• Due Today: Focus on what absolutely needs your attention today. 
• Overdue: Stay on top of any delays and keep everything moving forward. 
• Completed: Keep track of all work that’s been done. 
• Rejected: Identify any processes that need revisiting, so you can course-correct if necessary. 

Don’t think we forgot about the to-do page either. We’ve brought those visual filters over, giving your team a clear view of what’s on their plate – whether it’s what’s next in line or what needs immediate attention. It’s all about keeping everyone on track and in the know. 

We’ve also added a search bar to the start page – because sometimes, you just need to find that one process without scrolling through a list. Type in the name, and you’re there. It’s that simple.  

Speaking of the start page, if you’re like most of us, you probably also have a few key processes you’re using day in and day out. Our new ‘frequently started’ tab puts those front and center, saving you clicks and mental energy. 

How to Get Started?  

These updates aren’t just about making Flowingly more efficient; they’re about giving you back time to focus on what really matters.  

Whether you’re managing a complex project or just trying to stay on top of daily tasks, the new filters are designed to help you work smarter, not harder. 

We’ll be rolling out this update to all our customers but if you have any questions feel free to reach out to your CS manager.

Introducing Flowingly’s New Risk Management Module 

We’re excited to unveil our latest addition: the Risk Management Module. It’s time to bid farewell to those unwieldy Excel spreadsheets and embrace a smarter way to handle risk. 

What’s New?

We’re combining Flowingly’s forms and workflow with the power of SharePoint and Power BI to create a risk management powerhouse.  

This combo pulls your Flowingly data into a comprehensive risk register and transforms it into visual, trend-focused dashboards.  

Why It’s a Game-Changer:

• Visual Insights: Powered by SharePoint and Power BI, our dashboards turn complex data into clear, actionable insights. 
• Customisable: Easily configure the risk scoring to reflect your organisational risk appetite and definitions.
• Trend Spotting: Identify patterns and emerging risks before they become critical issues. 
• Real-Time Updates: Keep your finger on the pulse with live data feeds. 

We’ve heard your struggles with using Excel as a makeshift risk database. While it’s a great tool, it wasn’t built for the complexities of modern risk management.  

Our new module fills that gap, offering the dynamic, trend-spotting capabilities modern organisations need.

Introducing Confidential Steps: Elevating Privacy Control in Flowingly 

We’re thrilled to introduce a powerful new feature to Flowingly: Confidential Steps! 🤫 

Building on our existing Confidential Workflows functionality, which empowers departments to control the privacy of their flows, this update takes confidentiality to the next level by allowing workflow designers to apply confidentiality settings to individual steps within a flow. 🔒 

What’s New?

Additional Benefits: 

Enhanced Privacy Control: With Confidential Steps, organisations have granular control over the confidentiality of sensitive information at a step level within their workflows, ensuring that only authorised personnel can access confidential data. 

Increased Compliance: This feature helps organisations comply with privacy regulations by ensuring that sensitive data is only accessible to approved users, reducing the risk of data breaches and non-compliance penalties. 

Improved Security: By restricting access to confidential steps, organisations can mitigate the risk of data leaks and unauthorised access, bolstering their overall cybersecurity posture. 

Use Cases for Organisations: 

With Confidential Steps, businesses can enhance privacy, compliance, and security within their workflows, empowering them to confidently manage sensitive information and protect their data assets. Upgrade to the latest version of Flowingly today to unlock the power of Confidential Steps! 

How to Get Started? 

For those eager to harness the power of this update, it’s as easy as reaching out to your Customer Success Manager or contacting support@flowingly.net. Our team is ready to guide you through the setup process and ensure you maximise the benefits of this new update.

To see a more detailed look at how to set up Confidential steps check out our knowledge base for instructions here. 

Get ready to explore the latest updates and enhancements in Flowingly with our May 2024 Release Notes!

We’re thrilled to introduce exciting new features and improvements designed to elevate your process improvement experience. From our Progressive Web App to Confidential Steps in processes, discover what’s new with the product this month.

What’s New?

Progressive Web App 

We are excited to share the news about the Progressive Web App for Flowingly which is available on iOS and Android devices. Users will experience the same behaviour on their mobile devices regardless of the provider. 

• Install guide for iOS.  
• Install guide for Android. 

Confidential Steps

You may be aware of the Confidential Workflows feature we released in 2023, which allows processes which can include sensitive information to only be visible to the actor involved and specifically assigned Admins. This has now been expanded to allow for more granular control of your Flows by being able to assign individual steps to remain confidential rather than an entire flow. Read more here. 

Other Release Notes (May 2024) 

• Resolved issue where custom email content was deleted when exporting a Flow Model. 
• Resolved issue copied flow models lose step rule “step” values. 
• Updated Component node headers to bring over the relevant process name and dynamically adjust the header size. 
• Fix issues with notification settings being kept when toggling between a Task and Public Form, preventing flows from progressing. 
• Fixed bug where copied steps would not retain Form Conditions. 
• Updated various pages to retain selected category or sub-category when navigating Flowingly. 
• Fixed bug with currency fields when a value includes a comma. 
• “Trigger” field added as a customisable field for Process Maps and Workflows.  
• Resolved issue which was preventing users from publishing Flow Models with images pasted into instruction fields. 
• Fixed issue where test emails were not being sent when the “From Name” field had an email address.
• Push notifications added to Mobile website. 
• Fixed issue where database IDs were shown instead of Team names when using “Teams” database. 
• Added the ability to use Public Forms with the Flowingly Power Automate connector. 
• Renamed “Started” filter to “In-Progress” in the “Flows I’m in” page. 
• Fixed how categories are presented in various places dropdowns across Flowingly for improved navigation. 
• Added more fields in CSV exports: 
• Step Started At (datetime) 
• Step Completed At (datetime) 
• Step Completed By (user) 
• Fixed issue where iOS users could not download files from the step history within the Progressive Web Application. 
• Improved UI when steps have longer actor names. 
• Fixed issue where flows were being triggered in Power Automate when the PA Flow had been disabled.  

Unlock Data-driven Insights with Flowingly’s Power BI Connector 

We’ve bridged the gap between your automated workflows in Flowingly and getting deeper, more advanced data reporting – presenting the Power BI Connector. Accessing and analysing your flow data has never been more seamless. 

What’s New?

📊 Detailed Reports at Your Fingertips 

Utilise our pre-built Power BI Desktop file to access not only the data surrounding your flows but also the details contained within them. Build comprehensive reports that offer detailed insights, empowering you to make data-driven decisions with precision. 

🔄 Seamless Integration for Enterprise Customers 

Great news for our Enterprise customers! The Power BI Connector integration is available to all Flowingly customers with an Enterprise Agreement. Elevate your reporting capabilities by seamlessly integrating your flow data into Power BI. 

The Power BI Connector feature by Flowingly opens up a realm of possibilities for enhancing your data analysis and reporting capabilities.  

Here are some compelling use cases to illustrate how this integration can be a game-changer: 

• Connect your Flowingly data to Power BI and build a dynamic dashboard showcasing key performance indicators, completion times, and any bottlenecks. Instantly identify areas for improvement and optimise your processes on the fly. 
• Utilise Power BI to generate historical reports on your workflow efficiency. Measure cycle times, step durations, and identify trends that can inform strategic decisions for process optimisation.

How to Get Started? 

For those eager to harness the power of this integration, it’s as easy as reaching out to your Customer Success Manager or contacting Support@Flowingly.net. Our team is ready to guide you through the setup process and ensure you maximise the benefits of this data-rich collaboration. 

To see a more detailed look at how to set up Flowingly’s Power BI connector check out our knowledge base for instructions here.