Education

Automated Workflow

One of the main features of Upside Software products is the workflow engine. Workflow can be described as a series of related and linked tasks that work toward a common end goal. The commencement of one step is triggered by the completion of the previous task. 

The robust workflow engine allows the variables of a contract (i.e. monetary value, contract type, commodity, risk level, etc.) to determine automatically which user or role is to be included in the approval routing. UpsideLive has the ability to integrate business process flows across different users or groups as part of a defined workflow. Automated workflow can greatly reduce manual processes and increase efficiency in your business processes. The bottom line is that it can help you reduce administrative efforts and allow you to focus on your core competencies, which will drive higher revenues and reduced costs.

Some quick essentials about UpsideLive’s workflow:

• UpsideLive’s flexible user-defined workflow is based on the XPDL standard from the Workflow Management Coalition and is constructed using industry-standard XML.
• The graphical and pictorial representation of workflow in UpsideLive improves visibility and allows for easy management.
• The workflow engine incorporates company rules and processes to help standardize and validate business key metrics – something vital to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
• ‘Exception-based’ routing allows for dynamic determination of workflow processes and only involves required stakeholders. For example, instead of sending a contract through multiple levels of approvals, workflow allows you to send it only to those whose expertise you require – freeing up valuable time.
• Each rule can be based on User Defined Fields (UDFs) that are related to a particular contract type.
• UpsideLive allows for business entity-based workflow:
  • UpsideLive can segregate security permissions based on the relationship type (role type) being assigned to the business entity.
  • Users can configure workflow to approve the creation of new records or approve changes to existing records. 
  • Ability to filtering and manage records by organizational unit.
  • Business entity information is updated immediately to integrated external systems. 
• UpsideLive allows for document-specific workflow:
  • Any type of document can be attached to Supplier/Stakeholder/Customer records or contracts. These documents can have independent workflow processes assigned to them (i.e. approvals and routing) allowing for partially independent management of them within the scope of a specific contract.
• UpsideLive allows for clause-level approvals:
  • Workflow can be assigned based on changes to certain classes of clause text. This is beneficial for clauses requiring specialized reviewing processes (i.e. revenue recognition); the required review and approval workflow can be assigned.
  • Meta data is assigned at the clause level to improve automated decision making. An extensive tracking and audit trail is maintained allowing for dynamic collaboration between users.
• UpsideLive’s workflow provides the foundation for defining and enforcing virtually all business process or workflow associated with contract management.