Rules engine? What is that?

Next time you create or edit a workflow step you’ll notice a new Rules tab alongside the Details and Form tabs.

This allows you to use IF THIS THEN THAT logic to direct a workflow. The first rule to be released will allow you to set the Assignee of a future step based on an action taken in a previous step.

Using a Database, you can now assign a Step based on relationships within that Database.

How would I use it?

There are all sorts of ways you can use this:

• Allocate a step based on geography. For example, if a user selects in Step 1 that their request is for the Wellington office then it allocates Step 4 to the Wellington Area Manager. Alternatively, if they select Auckland it will allocate to the Auckland Area Manager.
• Send a step to someone based on responsibility. An easy way to manage when one Capital Expenditure category needs to go to Joe Bloggs in Finance, and the others all go to Jane Smith.
• Facilitate multi-level management relationships. Using Rules you now have the ability to allocate a step to an employee’s regional manager, country manager or any other report. This helps you control all those dotted lines!

This is just the beginning…

The Rules engine that you see now is just the first version. We have a whole list of rules that we’ll be adding to it over the next year.

And that’s where we need you. If you have rules you want to see, make sure to get in touch with your Flowingly Customer Success Manager.

What else has changed?

Table sums can now be used as a value in subsequent steps. This means that you can pull both currency and number sums direct from a table, either to display them easily to a user or to help route your Decision pathways.

You can also use the sums within formula fields and custom emails. So, if you have a column in a table that captures amount, in another column you could capture discount rate, and in a formula field below you could calculate the discounted rate.

This opens up a range of possibilities, especially for all those using Flowingly for financial workflows such as Capital Expenditure or Expense Management.

For more information on Rules make sure to check out our latest KB articles on Step Rules and Databases. Or if you’re looking to use the new Table sum check out the Form Fields article.

Have a look at the highlights of this release: 

Flow Model Versions

We’ve added the ability to view the Flow Model version number from when a Flow was started. You can also export specific Flow Model versions.

This is useful if you update a Flow model and users have already initiated it.

Flow Model version is displayed in:

• The first Step of new flows 
• A new column added to Report page 
• A new column added to CSV report

Printer-Friendly Flows

We’ve improved the export Flow functionality and allow user to save it in a more printer friendly format. 

The new document now includes a comment section which will include all comments added by workflow users while the flow was in progress.

A common use-case is to include comments made on an expense request process, printed for archival purposes.

Process Map Visibility 

Flowingly Workflow Users can now open and review Process Maps from within Flowingly’s Runner.

Clicking on a Process Map from the Maps page will direct Flowingly users to a new page displaying the selected Process Map instead of opening the Flowingly Modeler.

This is especially useful for organizations using Flowingly as a repository for Process Maps. Staff can easily view relevant process maps without opening the Flowingly Modeler.

Additional Improvements

• Short text customization
• Customizable subject placeholder text
• Introduced last updated date column in Library
• Added scroll bar to form designer
• Option list fields and Approval options now are deselectable
• Small tweaks and bug fixes

Here are the highlights of our December release:

New Active Flow Experience

The Active Flow page is now split into Completed Steps (left panel) and Current Steps (right panel). This gives users the ability to see all pending steps assigned to them and/or others while simultaneously reviewing previously completed steps.

Report Module Improvements

The Report module has seen a major upgrade in functionality. Our improved filter system allows users to more clearly add filters or remove all filters at once. Report users will also notice a slicker experience as Flow IDs now directly link to corresponding flows. 

We’ve removed Step Data information from the UI for a smoother experience. Meanwhile, we’ve added new flow metadata which provides greater insight into flow performance and helps users identify active issues and look for ongoing trends.

Users can now download a CSV file, compatible with common BI tools. The CSV format also means you can now download large data sets much faster, without previous size and speed restrictions.

Additional Improvements

• Improvements to Start Flows page and experience 
• Ability to delegate work assigned to a single member team 
• Ability to see the list of users CC’d on a Flow in the History log 
• Improvements to validation around Intranet Forms
• Navigation panel and icons have undergone a makeover to free up more space
• Small tweaks and bug fixes 

If you haven’t seen the latest features and performance improvements, here are the highlights of our September release: 

SharePoint Integration

Flowingly forms embedded on SharePoint can now integrate with your single sign on (SSO) to prepopulate fields with a user’s details. This means you can now add a leave request or approval form to your intranet and cut down on hours of tedious form filling. We have even more functionality for SharePoint coming up, and our SSO support will be a game changer.

New Modeler Graphics

Our flow modeler now has a shiny new look. It’s an even cleaner experience to design and build your flows.

Full Special Character Support

We’ve extended special character support to all user-editable text fields. Flowingly can handle everything from a mu to a macron.

Improved Bulk Import

Bulk import now has additional functionality and control for onboarding large numbers of users.

Bug Fixes

As always, we’ve been working hard to iron out any issues and adding small improvements here and there.

Here at Flowingly, we’re constantly striving to deliver a better experience for mapping, automating and reporting on your processes.

With two releases already delivered in 2019, you have a range of new features at your fingertips.

In case you haven’t seen the latest features and performance improvements, here are the highlights of our April release:

This is only a quick overview of some of the new features. For more information see the full release notes.