Examples of business process workflow automation
Let’s now look at some examples of workflow automation in action. Here, we’ll explore real-world case studies of how a business process automation workflow can streamline tasks to save time and enhance accuracy across everyday operations.
Onboarding new employees
Automation can be used in employee onboarding to help streamline the process. Here’s an example:
A mid-sized Filipino marketing agency struggled with a slow, inconsistent onboarding process that relied heavily on paper forms and manual follow-ups. New hires often faced delays receiving equipment, access to software, and essential HR documentation—which impacted their initial experience and productivity.
The company implemented a business process automation workflow using HR software integrated with task management and communication tools. Upon hiring, the system automatically triggered a series of onboarding steps—generating employment contracts, provisioning email accounts and software access, notifying IT to prepare equipment, and scheduling welcome meetings.
As a result, onboarding time was reduced by 40%, administrative errors were eliminated, and new employees reported a smoother, more professional introduction to the company. Managers also gained better visibility into onboarding progress, improving coordination across departments and reinforcing a positive first impression for every new team member.
Purchase orders and accounts payable
Now, let’s look at an example which shows how automating procurement processes helps ensure timely payments and smooth supplier relationships:
A growing Filipino retail business was facing frequent delays in supplier payments due to a manual procurement process involving paper-based purchase orders, email approvals, and disconnected accounting systems. These delays not only strained supplier relationships but also resulted in missed early payment discounts and occasional stock shortages.
To address this, the company implemented a business process automation workflow using procurement software integrated with their accounting platform. The new system automated the entire purchasing cycle—from generating and approving purchase orders to matching invoices with delivery receipts and scheduling payments. Automated reminders ensured that approvals didn’t stall, and payments were made promptly according to supplier terms.
Within a few months, the business saw a marked improvement in supplier satisfaction, reduced payment errors, and better cash flow management. Automated procurement also freed up the finance team’s time, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks. The result was a smoother, more transparent procurement process that supported stronger, more reliable supplier partnerships.
Contract management
This example demonstrates how automation in the contract lifecycle management can reduce manual work and improve tracking:
A national IT services company was managing hundreds of client and vendor contracts using spreadsheets, shared drives, and email threads. This manual approach made it difficult to track contract status, renewal dates, and compliance requirements—leading to missed deadlines, duplicated work, and increased legal risk.
To solve this, the company adopted a contract lifecycle management (CLM) system that automated key stages of the process, from contract creation and approval workflows to digital signatures and renewal alerts. Standardized templates ensured consistency, while version control and role-based access improved collaboration between legal, sales, and procurement teams.
As a result, contract approval times were cut in half, manual errors were significantly reduced, and the legal team regained valuable time to focus on strategic reviews. The automated system also provided clear visibility into contract timelines and obligations, helping the business stay compliant and proactive with renewals.
Marketing automation
Automating email marketing or social media posts can help businesses scale their marketing efforts. Consider this example:
A boutique Filipino ecommerce brand was struggling to keep up with the demands of consistent customer engagement across email and social media. Their small marketing team manually scheduled posts and sent newsletters, which limited their reach and caused delays in campaign execution—especially during product launches or seasonal promotions.
To improve efficiency, the business implemented marketing automation tools that integrated email marketing with their social media scheduling. Using customer segmentation and pre-set campaign triggers, they automated email sequences based on user behavior—like abandoned cart reminders—while also scheduling social posts weeks in advance across multiple platforms.
This business process automation workflow enabled the team to manage campaigns at scale, maintain a steady content calendar, and deliver timely, personalized messages without increasing headcount. Engagement rates improved, sales from automated email flows increased by 25%, and the marketing team could now focus on strategy and creative development rather than repetitive tasks.
Sales automation
In this final example, the automation of lead scoring, CRM workflows, and follow-ups results in enhanced sales productivity:
A mid-sized Filipino SaaS company was finding it difficult to manage its growing volume of leads. Sales reps were spending too much time manually qualifying prospects, updating CRM records, and following up with cold or low-priority leads. As a result, high-quality opportunities were slipping through the cracks, and the sales cycle was inconsistent.
To address this, the company adopted a customer relationship management (CRM) platform with built-in automation for lead scoring, task assignment, and follow-up reminders. Leads were automatically scored based on engagement metrics—like website visits, email clicks, and form submissions—allowing reps to prioritize those most likely to convert. CRM workflows triggered timely follow-ups and nudges, and sales managers had clearer visibility into pipeline health.
The results were immediate—sales reps spent less time on admin and more time closing deals. Lead response times dropped by 40%, conversion rates improved, and overall productivity across the team increased.
