Workflows come in all shapes and sizes, spanning industries of all kinds. While no two workflows are exactly the same, there are a few types that tend to be used over and over. These five types of workflows include:

• Serial Task
• Parallel Task
• Basic Approval
• Parallel Approval
• Negotiation

We’ve created a guide for each of these types - using a scenario specific to an industry - to serve as a reference point for creating workflows within your own organization. After reading through how Actions, Statuses and Roles work together with Workflow Link Sharing, you can check out the below links to learn how to apply these scenarios to your own business processes.

Each scenario follows one of our templates to help get you started, and we’ve outlined key settings found on each form to help you differentiate which type of workflow is best for the process you’re looking to automate.

Serial Task

In a serial task workflow, where tasks take place in a specific order, each task is dependent upon the previous task being performed. A great example of a serial task workflow is a New Employee IT Onboarding form.

View our serial task guide here.

Parallel Task

A parallel task workflow occurs when tasks are performed by more than one individual at the same step in a workflow. A 360 degree feedback review offers a relevant example of a parallel task workflow.

View our parallel task guide here.

Basic Approval

A basic approval workflow typically includes the option for an approval, denial or request for more information in regards to a submission. Most organizations will have at least one basic approval workflow, such as an Expense Report.

View our basic approval guide here.

Parallel Approval

In a parallel approval, multiple people can submit an approval at the same point in a workflow. This means that instead of relying on others to take action first, approvals can take place in any order. A Job Offer Approval form serves as a great example for a parallel approval.

View our parallel approval guide here.

Negotiation

A negotiation requires information to be passed back and forth between two or more parties, and each step in the workflow relies on specific tasks being performed before things can move forward. A classic example of a negotiation workflow is a Service Request form.

View our negotiation guide here.