Michael A. Thom Insights
That does not automatically mean custom software.
Common signs the workflow is spilling past the sheet
- Repeated copying
- Details are retyped from one place into another.
- Approval chasing
- Calls and messages replace a clear next step.
- Duplicate records
- Several versions of the same record exist.
- Manual reporting
- Reports are rebuilt by hand every week or month.
A better order for the decision
- Map the workflow first
- Note where work starts and stalls. If the map is unclear, software is not the first fix.
- Identify the source of truth
- One place holds the authoritative record, or duplicates return.
- Check configuration or integration
- A better setup or connection may be enough.
- Then consider a focused custom build
- Fix one specific, repeated flow, not the whole business.
What a first useful system can include
- Core workflow structure
- Roles, records and status changes, so the team sees what is waiting.
- Retrieval and output
- Search, filters, exports and history.
Examples are illustrative, not a client result.
What not to do
- Do not rebuild every process at once. Start with the most repeated flow.
- Do not promise savings without a baseline. Unmeasured, any claim is guesswork.
- Do not expose confidential operational data carelessly. Use sample data and access rules.
Prepare these points before a first conversation
- What kicks off the workflow?
- Who creates, checks, approves and closes the record?
- Where does duplicate entry happen now?
- Which output matters most?
- What data must stay confidential or need review?