Designing workflow diagram requires you to be very professional.Because of technology and emergence of AI software development tools, programmers have made design work easier.
Design workflow diagram provides a graphic overview of a business process.The process involves a series of activities that are required to complete a task.Workflows need to be documented for many reasons and one of it is for future reference and accountability.
Top on the diagram is that visual data tends to make concepts much easier to grasp and comprehend.
Consideration design workflow application.
–User Interface{UI}; a highly visual User Interface makes it easier to create a workflow that is equally visible to the targeted people.
–Usability; the app should be easy to use by any team member and therefore shouldn’t be too complicated for a novice in the field.
–Integrations; the software should be able to work with other mainstream business applications for easy coordination purposes.
–Value for money; it should be affordable to organisations of any size for it to be considered. It should be able to give the full utility based on the price it goes for.
–Choice of graphical elements-several features here have to be considered. These include a large variety of objects such as shapes and connectors and the ability to add your images if need be.
–A template library-there should be a diverse selection of robust templates that can be utilised to assist in workflow diagram building.
–Collaboration tools-some features such as simultaneous editing which supports teamwork should also be put into consideration. It should also be possible to comment on what is being designed while the process is in progress.
–Easy exports-it should have a feature that makes it easy to share and export diagrams in a variety of popular formats provided for in different software.
–Presentation tools-it should have features that allow the workflows to be presented to colleagues and even clients in a professional way and without a hitch. This makes it possible to share the information in the workflow diagrams.
–Design tools-it should have options of auto-snapping of shapes, grids, size adjusters, and such tools to make the designed workflows fit their purpose.
–Intelligent formatting– the app should have a software engine that makes it easy to build and draw workflows without the need for coding. This makes it easier to use.
–No-code implementation-designing workflow diagram should be a smooth process, it should, among other tools, have drag-and-drop functionality so that anyone can use the tools easily.
Top designing workflow diagram software.
1.SmartDraw.
This app is best for designing workflow diagram by getting up to speed. It’s fast with templates and helps to create complex workflows from templates.
It’s an established workflow diagram and charting tool that assists you to create infographics, network diagrams, mind maps, and organisation charts with the use of predetermined templates.
Its key benefits are customization extensions, document retention, a single sign-up opportunity, and team collaboration features.
You can also be able to build diagrams using automated sizing, spacing, color schemes, and alignment.
Using the formatting tool, you can automatically reshape diagrams by adding, moving, or deleting structure formats. Translating data sources into class diagrams is also possible through visual script SDK.
This app integrates with third-party applications such as Trello, Jira, Outlook, and Confluence.
SmartDraw Pricing.
For single user-$9.95 per month.
For multiple users-$5.95 per month.
2. Lucidchart.
When designing workflow diagram you need an application that have an intelligent diagramming features.
With Lucidchart, you can use the diagram to show the relationship between various processes taking place in an organisation.
It’s a cloud-based workflow diagramming solution that helps you create flows of business processes and then share process maps with colleagues.
Its key features include feedback management, graphs, data import, and customisable templates.
You can also use the template to build organisational charts and also upload employee data, hence identifying the requirements of each team member at a glance.
Critical documents can also be managed by configuring user access and providing view-only licenses in terms of the privacy of some documents.
This tool integrates with some other popular apps like Slack, Salesforce, GitHub, and LinkedIn sales navigator.
It costs $7.95| per user| per month and it offers a limited free version.
3.Mindmeister.
Among other application used in designing workflow diagram ,this app is best for collaborative mind mapping.
It’s a collaborative mind mapping tool that helps you, among other things, to manage innovation pipelines.
It supports the brainstorming of ideas, visualisation of flowcharts, and idea ranking as well. and status tracking.
It does allow you to visualise mind maps through presentations, allowing you to export the charts.
Through its tools, team members can hold online sessions where everyone inputs ideas. The task manager can offer a drag-and-drop interface that supports Kanban boards.
This software integrates with platforms such as Google workspace, DropBox, and Microsoft teams.
It costs from $2.49| per user | per month and offers a limited free plan with up to 3 mind maps.
4.EdrawMax.
EdrawMax is software for an all-in-one diagramming tool used in designing workflow diagram.
It’s an intelligent diagramming tool that offers over 280 diagram types varying from flowcharts to circuit diagrams.
It allows you to build a real-time synchronous cloud workspace that keeps everyone on the same page.
It has a drag-and-drop interface which makes it easy to get started with workflow designs. As a package, it includes over 1500 templates and 26 000 symbols on top of a wide range of user-generated charts.
It also allows you to export visual plans easily either publicly or privately. It allows users to share ideas through EdrawMax online community.
It integrates with Google workspace and Dropbox and costs from $8.25| per user| per month and offers a free trial plan.
5. Creately.
Creately is a data-connected visual workspace for brainstorming and planning in the workflow industry.
It’s a cloud-based work management platform that works on a smart-based principle. You can use it to brainstorm, you can plan projects, or use it to capture knowledge.
It manages to combine diagramming with visual collaboration and workflow features. Creately also supports Wiki, note-taking, and project management in a no-code environment.
It allows team members to model and build things their way and according to their business needs or requirements. You can also create custom databases with the same items visualised in multiple contexts.
It integrates with Confluence, Slack, and Google Drive and costs $4| per user| per month, and offers a limited free trial plan.
6.Microsoft Visio.
This app is best for visual collaboration with teams. It offers templates for a range of visual workflows. It’s a diagramming tool that forms part of the Microsoft 365 software suite.
This software allows teams to connect charts and diagrams to real-time data as well as automating workflows.
It has a library of built-in templates, shapes, and Visio files. It is perfect for creating organization charts, engineering designs, floor plans, and other visual workflows.
When using Microsoft 365, team members are enabled to work on diagrams simultaneously. Diagrams can be viewed in Microsoft teams or by using the native Visio viewer which is available for iOS devices.
This tool integrates with platforms such as OneDrive, Lucidchart, Microsoft Office, and iServer 365 and it costs from $5| per user| per month and offers a one-month trial.
7.Mindmanager.
MindManager had visual productivity tools and mind mapping software for structuring plans and processes. It helps you map out multiple workflows.
This app is a visual mind-mapping tool that helps teams plan and communicate ideas. Through this app, you can visualize data and information from any source and in almost any format.
By use of interactive diagrams and maps, you can share ideas for business strategy. Here, workflow diagrams can be turned into high-quality presentations that will impress and engage the audience.
This software makes it easy to capture the structure and organize all kinds of information. You can get a 360-degree view which makes it easier to understand the flowchart and therefore enhances communication.
This tool integrates with apps such as Trello, Evernote, and Todoist and costs from $8.25| per user| per month and it offers a fully functional 30-day free trial.
8.Gliffy.
Gliffy is best suited for enterprise-grade diagramming. The software offers a library of design elements to choose from.
It functions, among other roles, as a diagramming tool, a flowchart maker, or a wireframing app.
Using Gliffy, you can create diagrams easily using drag-and-drop shapes, templates, and themes provided therein.
In Gliffy, diagrams can be shared via URLs or using embed codes. It also enables you to track changes and also access previous versions through the revision history. It’s also easy to import and edit old diagrams or export new creations. It’s therefore diverse in its roles.
Gliffy integrates with project management tools such as Monday.com and it costs $6 for 10-50 users per month and $8 for 1-9 users per month.
9.Cacoo.
This app works for every kind of diagram ranging from flowcharts to wireframes. It allows you to add comments to diagrams.
It’s an idea management solution designed to help organisations create diagrams and wireframes. It allows managers to share mind maps, layouts, organisational charts, and unified modeling language diagrams.
It also allows for collaboration among colleagues using video calls or chat functions. Supervisors can also add comments or provide feedback on diagrams in other ways.
It’s easy to use and therefore anybody who doesn’t even have design or coding experience can still use it. It allows for teams to work with images such as (jpeg, PNG, song), data, notes, or charts to get their ideas across.
The tool integrates with third-party apps such as Confluence, Microsoft teams, Slack, and Box and it costs from $5| per user| per month with a 14-day free trial.
10.Cardanit.
Cardani is best for decision modeling and business analysis. It’s a business process management software specially designed to help you map processes and model decisions.
The platform has features that include an intuitive visual editor to provide a clear view of complex business processes.
It’s a cloud-based solution that allows you to access workflows from anywhere, which is an added advantage. The automatic layout option offered organizes workflows at the click of a button.
This gives out results that are orderly and the diagrams are readable and ready for sharing with colleagues.
There are no known current integrations but it costs $13.89| per user| per month and it offers a 30-day free trial.
11.Clickcharts.
This app is best suited for versatile diagram drawing and editing. It easily creates a visual representation of a process, organization, mind map, or any other diagram.
It makes complex processes in organizations easy to understand. It creates value streams, data flow, and process flow diagrams. It identifies bottlenecks and finds opportunities online to optimize processes.
It helps visualize data with column graphs, pie charts, line graphs, and many more. The software provides a unique way of organizing and displaying data so that even highly detailed and complex processes can be easier to understand.
Click charts are an ideal method to visualize your data, troubleshoot and optimize processes as well as share information.
It has different design tools like 60-plus templates, different shapes, and connectors that help simplify and clarify problems. organize your data, visually share your ideas, and edit and customize fonts, colors, fills, and strokes.
Its simple editing functions include copy, paste, and undo which makes it possible to open and edit multiple charts and diagrams simultaneously.
You can export flowcharts as PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, or any other image file format. Its autocorrect makes it easier to identify relationships.
This software costs from $8| per user| per month.
12.Apache OpenOffice Draw.
This is an established open-source drawing and editing solution used in designing workflow diagram. It makes drawing business processes and diagrams easy.
From a quick sketch to a complex plan, Draw offers tools to communicate graphics and diagrams. It is a powerful tool for technical or general posters. You can use styles and formatting to put all your graphic designs on an accessible front.
It helps you manipulate objects by rotating them in two or three dimensions; the 3D controller allows you to create spheres, rings, cubes, and others without much effort.
It allows you to arrange objects, group, ungroup, regroup and edit objects while grouped. Rendering helps you create photorealistic images with your texture, lighting effect, transparency, and anything else that you wish in that category.
Smart connectors make short work of flowcharts and network diagrams, dimension lines, automatically calculate and display linear dimensions as you draw.
The solution allows you to create your art and add it to the gallery, and you can save your documents in open document format which is the international standard for office documents.
The XML based format means that you don’t have to use Draw to retrieve your saved data. You can access your graphs from any open document-compliant software.
This software allows you to import graphics from all the common formats like BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and WMF.
This software costs $5|per user| per month.
SUMMARY.
All the mentioned software are just considered to be the best apps for workflow charts but as seen, each tool has its strengths and weaknesses and many are designed for specific purposes.
To decide the software for your circumstances, you should consider the features and evaluate them based on the pricing.
