Struggling with outdated content management systems that don’t talk to each other? Say goodbye to the frustration of trying to force a one-size-fits-all solution into your complex workflow. In today’s fast-paced world, your Enterprise Content Management (ECM) system must integrate seamlessly with the tools you’re already using. The answer isn’t just one system—it’s the power of connecting your best-in-breed apps to meet specific needs.
Enter ArgonDigital’s bright idea for Integration.
Our favorite cutting-edge integration platform is revolutionizing the way businesses handle content. By automatically linking platforms like ERPs, Slack, SharePoint, and Office 365, we’re delivering cost-effective ECM solutions that are tailored to your business.
Automate Document Creation Without Breaking a Sweat
A common challenge for businesses is managing document creation across departments like sales, legal, and HR. For instance, when generating contracts, business rules often need to accommodate customer preferences—like whether the contract is time and materials or fixed-fee. Traditional ECM systems allow for this kind of document automation, but it’s often complex and slow.
Business Process / Rules | Typical Issues Solved |
|---|---|
1. Advance a quote to Proposed stage | – Manual effort required to maintain separate proposal templates as business rules change |
2. Set up deal parameters in financial system | – Dev effort required to update configuration when process changes; Business cannot directly own automation |
3. Create proposed contract in Word | – Sales team generates proposal while Finance team maintains pricing rules |
4. Review with Customer | – Traditional ECM connectors are complex and cost extra |
5. Execute contract |
With an Integration Platform, you can automate this process seamlessly.
Here’s how it works:
ArgonDigital uses platforms like Workato to trigger specific actions. For example, when a quote in HubSpot reaches the “Proposed” stage, Workato automatically generates a contract. Business rules—such as payment schedules—are stored in a table maintained by your finance team and applied automatically to the document. This removes the manual effort, reduces errors, and accelerates the proposal process.
The Benefits:
- Save time by automating the creation of complex contracts
- Eliminate manual errors by using business rules
- Customize contracts based on real-time data
Transform Customer Interactions with Seamless Content Digitization
Another common pain point is managing customer-generated content. Whether it’s customer support needing to process images or Accounts Payable receiving invoices through various channels, digitizing content efficiently can make a huge difference in operational speed and accuracy.
Business Process / Rules | Typical Issues Solved |
|---|---|
1. Receive content in email, SMS, or via upload | – Best OCR solutions are separate purchase |
2. Retrieve a representation of the invoice | – May require custom code to upload data |
3. Save as a document to the vendor’s folder in a document store | – Managing exceptions may require additional custom code hile Finance team maintains pricing rules |
4. Transcribe key data to a database or AP system | |
5. Kick off AP process to validate and approve for payment |
An Integration Platform automates this digitization process, making it easier than ever to handle inbound content.
For instance, many small and medium businesses face the challenge of automating invoice ingestion from multiple sources like email, postal mail, or web uploads. Instead of relying on expensive ECM modules, ArgonDigital uses Workato to monitor various channels, automatically collecting and storing invoices in a structured document system. From there, key data is extracted and used to create entries in your ERP.
The Benefits:
- Streamline document ingestion from multiple channels
- Free up valuable time by automating data entry
- Speed up payment processes and improve cash flow
Supercharge Your Team’s Collaboration and Approval Processes
Approval processes—like reviewing statements of work (SOWs)—can be cumbersome, especially when relying on outdated methods like email. ArgonDigital generates around 70 SOWs per year, and until recently, the review process was slow and disconnected.
Business Process / Rules | Typical Issues Solved |
|---|---|
1. Complete a draft in Word | – Busy internal stakeholders don’t review, need to be “chased |
2. Save to SharePoint | – Feedback often split between email and content in Word’s Commenting feature |
3. Send link to reviewers via email | – Hard to assess concurrence on readiness (“send another email”) |
4. Team-edit document | |
5. Get agreement and send |
Now, with an Integration Platform, we’ve streamlined this entire process.
Using Workato and Slack, we’ve developed a system that automatically creates a dedicated Slack channel for each SOW review. A Workbot adds both required and optional reviewers, posts a link to the document, and consolidates feedback into a single thread. Reviewers can “vote” on whether the SOW is ready to send, and the entire process is easily monitored and adjusted as necessary.
The Benefits:
- Enhance collaboration through real-time feedback in Slack
- Keep teams focused with centralized communication
- Speed up approvals with automated voting and tracking
Why You Should Invest in iPaaS + Best-in-Breed for ECM
Automating your ECM use cases is one of the smartest ways to cut operational costs and reduce inefficiencies. By leveraging low-code automation platforms like Workato, and integrating with your existing apps, you can quickly start to realize the benefits of a fully connected ecosystem.
Here’s what you stand to gain:
- Reduce manual effort: Streamline processes like document generation, invoice management, and approvals.
- Eliminate errors and confusion: Automated workflows reduce the risk of mistakes, making your customer interactions smoother.
- Scale effortlessly: As your business grows, automation ensures that you can handle increased demand without increasing headcount.
Ready to optimize your ECM strategy? Contact us today to find out how ArgonDigital’s Integration Platform can revolutionize your business processes and help you achieve lasting operational efficiency.
