Flowgrammer

Workflow Automation Implementation Checklist

A build-and-launch checklist for turning one repeated business workflow into a tested, owned, measurable system.

— Craig Major

Use this checklist when a workflow has moved past the idea stage and needs a safe first release.

Before the build

  • Name the workflow and its owner.
  • Write the trigger and expected output.
  • Document the current steps, handoffs, delays, and exceptions.
  • Identify the source systems and permissions.
  • Choose the baseline measure.
  • Mark decisions that require human judgment.
  • List what is outside the first release.
  • Agree on the review date.

During design

  • Define the fields and data the workflow needs.
  • Decide which system is the source of truth for each important field.
  • Define what happens when information is missing or conflicting.
  • Create an escalation path.
  • Decide what can be undone.
  • Record who owns credentials, prompts, integrations, code, and documentation.
  • Write the normal, incomplete, conflicting, and escalation test cases.

During testing

  • Test normal input.
  • Test missing input.
  • Test duplicate input.
  • Test conflicting input.
  • Test an exception that must reach a person.
  • Confirm the output is visible to the person who needs it.
  • Confirm the system does not overwrite protected information.
  • Record the result of each test.
  • Fix the workflow or label the limitation.

At launch

  • Name the person who owns day-to-day use.
  • Show the team where to find the output.
  • Document the common failure paths.
  • Confirm the pause or rollback process.
  • Start with a limited release if the risk is unclear.
  • Record the launch date and version.

After launch

  • Compare the same baseline measure.
  • Count exceptions and corrections.
  • Review ignored or abandoned outputs.
  • Ask the people using the system what still creates friction.
  • Decide whether to expand, change, or stop.
  • Update the documentation when the workflow changes.

A workflow is not complete because it ran once. It is ready when people understand what it does, what they still own, and how to correct it.

Use the Automation ROI Calculator to make the business assumptions visible. If the workflow needs prioritization and scope, start with the AI Success Audit.