Have you ever felt like managing your workflow is more challenging than it should be?

If so, you’re not alone.

In today’s fast-paced world, staying on top of tasks and projects can feel like juggling flaming torches.

Exciting but, oh, so risky.

That’s why I’m bringing you into the world of workflow management tools.

As a business transformation consultant, I’ve seen my share of tools. The good, the bad, and the downright confusing.

But don’t worry, I’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the crème de la crème of workflow management tools used by industry leaders.

Ready to transform the way you work?

Let’s make you more efficient than a Swiss Army knife in a survival show.

What are the Best Workflow Management Tools In 2024?

The landscape of workflow management software has dramatically evolved. These software solutions manage tasks and transform entire business processes.

Finding the best workflow management tools is about discovering a partner. A partner to streamline your daily operations, enhance team collaboration, and optimize productivity.

The right workflow management software is the backbone of your business operations.

In the following sections, I’ll introduce you to the top picks making waves in the industry.

Each solution has unique strengths, so choose the one that best aligns with your business goals and processes.

1. Monday.com

Monday.com is a fantastic tool that’s revamped how I manage my workflows. Since my company switched to Monday.com, organizing, tracking, and automating workflows has become less time-consuming.

It’s user-friendly and customizable, allowing you to design workflows that best suit your team’s needs.

The automation features free up my valuable time by handling mundane tasks and keeping things organized.

Plus, it integrates smoothly with external tools for enhanced efficiency.

I highly recommend it for project management and sales operations.

Key Benefits

  • Streamlines project and daily work management
  • Centralizes planning and monitoring of initiatives
  • Enhances visibility and efficiency in work management
  • Facilitates collaborative goal achievement
  • Customizable workflows for diverse business needs
  • Workflow automation for more time-saving
  • Provides critical data and insights for intelligent decisions
  • Enables resource optimization and risk identification
  • Suitable for teams across various industries and departments
  • Aligns and adjusts goals for improved performance

Pricing

Monday.com has 3 different products for workflow management.

They are Sales CRM, Work Management, and Dev. You are charged per seat for each product, which can be billed monthly or annually. You must pay for a minimum of 3 seats. The prices below are the price per seat, billed annually.

Sales CRM has a free plan for $0, a basic plan for $13.65, a standard plan for $19.30, and a pro plan for $36.60.

Work Management has a free plan for $0, a basic plan for $11, a standard plan for $14, and a pro plan for $26.

Dev has a free plan for $0, a basic plan for $12.30, a standard plan for $16.65, and a pro plan for $31.30.

You must contact their sales team for pricing on their enterprise plans.

Pros & Cons

Product Pros

  • Smooth email integration
  • Extremely customizable
  • Very user-friendly
  • Centralized source of workflow data

Product Cons

  • Implementing complex workflows can be hard
  • Heavily reliant on the cloud
  • Dashboard functionality can be improved

2. Notion

Notion has become an industry-leading workflow management solution in recent years. It helps you manage all your team’s information and custom workflows in one place.

Its customizable dashboard lets you keep track of company goals. The built-in team wiki ensures every piece of information is easily accessible.

With Notion, you can say goodbye to unnecessary meetings and time-wasting interruptions.

Moreover, migrating your existing files into Notion from popular platforms like Google Docs is super easy.

Whether you’re a manager or a team member, Notion adapts to your needs It makes work execution faster and collaboration easier.

Key Benefits

  • AI-powered tools for efficient project management
  • Configurable and scalable for various team sizes
  • Streamlines task flows through automation
  • Integrates with popular tools like Slack, GitHub
  • Provides a centralized platform for tasks and meetings
  • Enhanced visibility with project tracking in table format
  • Customizable workflow with user-created labels and tags
  • Progress bar for real-time project status tracking
  • Facilitates higher-quality project documentation
  • Offers templates for efficient team organization

Pricing

Notion’s pricing is based on the number of users. You can choose to pay monthly or annually. Below are the annual prices.

They have a free plan for $0, a Plus plan for $8, and a Business plan for $15. For custom enterprise plans, you will need to contact sales.

Pros & Cons

Product Pros

  • Fast and reliable customer support
  • Tons of templates
  • Adaptable to your team’s needs
  • Manage everything in one space

Product Cons

  • The extensive feature set can be hard to grasp
  • AI features are expensive
  • Lack of a true search function

3. Zoho

Zoho’s workflow management software is an excellent option for small and medium businesses. The Zoho ecosystem has everything you need to automate and manage workflows.

Imagine spending almost 7 hours weekly on approvals and signatures and another 13 hours monthly on data consolidation.

Zoho helps cut down on that time significantly.

It enables you to create custom workflows that speed up your approval process, automate routine tasks, and stay in the loop with notifications.

Plus, you can manage your workflows on the go with their mobile compatibility.

And the best part?

It’s simple to use with an easy-to-understand interface.

Key Benefits

  • Customized solutions for unique business needs
  • Personalized customer experience enhancement
  • Enables automation for higher-value tasks
  • Provides business strengthening and flexibility
  • Offers support and assistance for setup
  • Facilitates efficient remote work
  • Drives customer loyalty through fine-tuning
  • Saves administrative hours via automation
  • Streamlines company processes for efficiency

Pricing

Zoho has several different product suites, all with their workflow management features.

For details on pricing for the product suite you are interested in, visit their website or contact their sales team.

Pros & Cons

Product Pros

  • Fully integrated ecosystem
  • Allows multiple users and roles
  • Affordable to small businesses and startups
  • Drag and drop configurations

Product Cons

  • For complex workflows, you need to use integrations or APIs
  • Poor customer service

4. ClickUp

ClickUp’s workflow management software streamlines your team’s tasks and processes.

Plus, it offers clear visibility into everyone’s tasks, promoting transparency and better communication.

Managing workflows using ClickUp boosts efficiency, reduces manual work, and minimizes errors.

With ClickUp, you can quickly scale your operations and have resources readily available. Your business processes will be smooth like butter.

Key Benefits

  • Gain visibility across your organization
  • More efficient collaboration
  • “Spaces” feature for efficient team organization
  • “Folders” for grouping large projects/initiatives
  • “List View” for traditional task management
  • “Automation” for streamlining routine work
  • “Templates” for time-saving workflows
  • “Whiteboards” for collaborative brainstorming
  • “Time Tracking” for detailed task monitoring
  • “Estimates” for effective time management
  • “Dashboards” for consolidated project indicators
  • “Goals” for tracking project progress.

Pricing

ClickUp’s pricing is paid per user and can be billed monthly or yearly.

Their Free plan is $0 forever, the Unlimited plan is $7, and the Business plan is $12 monthly. Enterprise plans are available for large organizations. You will need to call ClickUp’s sales team for enterprise pricing details.

Pros & Cons

Product Pros

  • Fast customer support
  • Documentation abilities
  • Good UI/UX
  • Easy to export data

Product Cons

  • Latency on the desktop version
  • Limited dashboard customization

5. Salesforce

Salesforce’s workflow management software is the bead and butter of process management. It helps to streamline your processes and quickly make data-informed decisions.

I help my clients use Salesforce to automate and manage their complex tasks. They see results that decrease labor and IT costs. Once they begin using automated workflows, they never look back.

Plus, Salesforce comes with out-of-the-box flows to get started immediately. This lets you rapidly reduce repetitive manual tasks and focus on more valuable activities.

Salesforce is a practical solution for enterprises looking to enhance productivity and savings.

Key Benefits

  • Enhances team collaboration and productivity
  • Connects marketing and sales efforts
  • Facilitates sharing information to close deals
  • Extensive workflow automation features
  • Improves customer service and satisfaction
  • Drives data-guided focus and decision-making
  • Helps grow customer and employee relationships
  • Notifies sales teams of new leads instantly
  • Provides AI-driven prompts for timely actions
  • Delivers automated notices for significant trends
  • Allows data-driven optimization of strategies.

Pricing

Salesforce’s pricing is dependent on what product you choose. Typically, they bill based on the number of users monthly or yearly. Custom plans are also an option for larger organizations.

If you are a nonprofit organization, you can get 10 free Salesforce subscriptions.

For detailed Salesforce pricing, check out their website or call a sales representative for a quote.

Pros & Cons

Product Pros

  • Well-established 3rd party app library
  • Solutions for many verticals (Sales, Marketing, Service, etc)
  • Extensive automation capabilities
  • Well-documented platform
  • Large community and ecosystem

Product Cons

  • Governor limits can impose architectural constraints
  • Expensive licenses compared to other platforms
  • Requires skilled resources for implementation

6. Jira

As an avid user of Jira, its workflow management software is a reliable partner in organizing and keeping track of your team’s tasks.

It allows you to manage customized workflows that suit your team’s unique needs. This helps to ensure transparency and accountability among members.

Plus, it’s a valuable tool for predicting project completion dates. Who doesn’t love a project being completed on time?

Whether in software development, HR, or marketing, Jira’s flexible workflows will help streamline your processes.

Key Benefits

  • Interactive timelines for effective planning and tracking
  • Agile boards for efficient workflow management
  • Out-of-the-box reports for insightful data analytics
  • Customizable workflows to suit any workstyle
  • Integrated Open DevOps for seamless collaboration
  • Advanced security measures ensuring data protection
  • Compliance with GDPR and Privacy Shield
  • 99.9% uptime SLAs and unlimited storage
  • Enhanced administration with Atlassian Access
  • 24×7 Premium Support for comprehensive assistance.

Pricing

Jira pricing is based on whether you pay monthly or annually and the number of users.

Their Free plan is $0 a month, the Standard plan is $8.15 a month, and the Premium plan is $16 a month. Enterprise plans are available for businesses needing more than 800 users.

Pros & Cons

Product Pros

  • Flexible workflow management
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Time logging abilities
  • Integration works well

Product Cons

  • Not the best mobile experience
  • Confusing for beginners
  • Limited upload size for attachments
  • Expensive

7. Airtable

Airtable’s workflow management features will organize and manage your work processes.

With this Airtable, you can automate specific tasks and ensure the correct execution order.

Plus, it houses all the necessary data and simplifies communication between team members.

Tons of bootstrapped SaaS founders are leveraging Airtable behind the scenes in their business. So should you.

Key Benefits

  • Used by over 450,000 organizations for reliable operation.
  • Scales according to your organization’s growth needs.
  • Embeds AI into workflows for increased productivity.
  • Facilitates org-wide data sharing for better decision-making.
  • Accommodates evolving business requirements with flexibility.
  • Drives results and improves productivity through custom apps.
  • Streamlines processes and reduces manual tasks with AI.
  • Promotes alignment and collaboration with shared data.
  • Offers seamless data sharing between different systems.

Pricing

Airtable offers monthly and annual pricing. You based on the number of users needed.

The Free plan is $0 a month, the Team plan is $24 a month, and the Business plan is $54 a month.

Airtable also has an Enterprise Scale plan for businesses. You need to request a quote for Enterprise Scale pricing.

Pros & Cons

Product Pros

  • Automations are seamless
  • Adaptable and structured
  • Improves organization
  • Good mobile experience
  • Product Pro 5

Product Cons

  • Access management is a challenge
  • Lack of in-depth documentation
  • Forms could be more customizable

What is a workflow management tool?

A workflow management tool automates and streamlines your business processes.

Think of it as a master chef who takes the raw ingredients of your daily tasks and turns them into a well-orchestrated symphony of efficiency.

With a workflow management tool, you have the power to design, create, execute, and rigorously monitor workflows.

This means:

  • Setting up and adjusting workflow steps
  • Troubleshooting when things go sideways
  • Adapting to ever-changing business landscapes
Workflow management software illustration

How can workflow management software benefit you?

Workflow management software unlocks a new level of efficiency for your business operations.

Here’s how it can revolutionize the way you work:

  • Mastering Complex Workflows: This software ensures that every moving part of your project is harmonious by simplifying and organizing even the most intricate workflows. This reduces errors and saves valuable time.
  • Streamlining Processes: Workflow management software automates routine tasks. This allows you to focus on high-value activities that require your unique expertise.
  • Tracking Progress in Real-Time: Stay on top of your game by monitoring the progress of your tasks and projects.

Workflow management software offers insightful dashboards and reporting tools. These provide a comprehensive view of your operations. As a result, it is easier for you to identify bottlenecks and optimize workflows.

Integrating workflow management software into daily operations creates a more agile and responsive working environment.

It’s not just about doing tasks; it’s about doing them efficiently, effectively, and with a clear vision of progress and success.

Buyers guide: How we conducted our research

We took a systematic and thorough approach when finding the right workflow management tools.

Here’s how we conducted our research:

  1. Exploring Multiple Tools: We tested various workflow management tools. This ensures a comprehensive analysis.
  2. Evaluating Automation Capabilities: We assessed how well each tool automates routine tasks.
  3. Pricing Analysis: We looked at the cost of each tool. evaluating whether the features and benefits justified the investment.
  4. Feature Examination: We explored the features offered by each tool. Those that stood out in managing complex workflows made the list.
  5. Identifying Negatives: It’s not just about the pros; we also scrutinized what was missing or could be improved in each tool.
  6. Support and Refund Policies: We examined the level of support offered. This included community forums, customer service responsiveness, and the flexibility of refund policies.

We aimed to provide you with a well-rounded, objective view of each tool. This should help you select the best workflow management software for your needs.

best workflow management tools research

What workflow management software features should you look for?

It’s crucial to know which features will elevate your workflow management capabilities.

Here’s what you should be looking for:

Custom Workflows: The ability to create custom workflows tailored to your business needs. This feature ensures flexibility and adaptability in your processes.

Automated Workflows: Look for robust automation tools that allow you to streamline repetitive tasks and focus on more strategic work.

Task Management: Effective task management functionalities are essential. They enable you to organize, prioritize, and track progress on individual tasks within your workflows.

Workflow Templates: Pre-designed workflow templates can be a huge time-saver. They provide a solid starting point for standard processes.

Collaboration Tools: Collaboration tools within your workflow management software are essential for teamwork and communication.

By prioritizing these features, you ensure that the workflow management tool you choose manages tasks effectively and enhances the efficiency and productivity of your entire team.

Summing it up and my experience with workflow management

Workflow management tools are a pivotal factor in elevating your business operations.

Imagine a workspace where tasks flow seamlessly, collaboration is effortless, and productivity is a consistent reality.

This isn’t just an ideal scenario; it’s within your reach with the right workflow management software.

Embrace the future of efficient business operations today by exploring the world of workflow management software.

Start your journey now and witness the transformation in how your business operates, thrives, and excels.

FAQ

What is workflow management?

Workflow management is the process of orchestrating and streamlining all the tasks and activities involved in a work process.

It involves designing, executing, monitoring, and optimizing workflows to enhance efficiency and productivity.

What is a workflow tool?

A workflow tool is a software application or platform used to help automate, manage, and optimize business processes and tasks.

It streamlines complex sequences of work activities, enhancing efficiency and organization.

What tool would you use for workflow management?

For workflow management, you would use a specialized software tool. They help with organizing, automating, and optimizing business processes.

Depending on your needs and preferences, some tools are Monday.com, Asana, or Trello. These tools offer features like task assignments, progress tracking, and workflow customization.

Is Jira a workflow tool?

Yes, Jira is a workflow tool for issue tracking, project management, and agile software development. It offers features to customize, manage, and track the progress of workflows. Jira is regarded as one of the best project management tools in the software industry.

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