Chapter 3
How Do Flowcharts Benefit A Business?
In case you couldnât tell, Iâm a fan of flowcharts.
Okay, okay.
Iâm a little bias.
Process mapping workshops are one of our most popular services.
But there are plenty of benefits to get you on the same page as me.
And weâre going to go through them!
Advantages
It can boost your teamâs communication.
Hands up if you hate jargon.
(Me too.)
The problem is that only experts can understand what youâre saying.
If a member of your team doesnât really know whatâs going on, this is a problem.
Process maps are visual tools that set out complex operations in clear steps.
And the symbols help to simplify things even more.
Any member of your organisation can take one look at a flowchart and understand it.
No specialist knowledge required.

Did you know?
Only 4% of companies measure and manage their documented processes
Joanna Grimbley-Smith - Business Automation Expert
Source: Procesowcy.pl
It improves your process analysis.
These days, business moves fast.
Really fast.
You donât have time to reflect on last monthâs numbers in that much depth.
You need quick analysis and even quicker answers.
With a process map in tow, you can be sure you hit your deadlines.
You can look at the flowchart and understand problems and opportunities much faster.
Being able to see delay, repetition and waste in one go is pretty impressive.
And itâs useful, too!
It provides effective documentation.
Process documentation is a really important thing to have.
You need it to:
Improve productivity
Train new employees
Comply with regulations
Process mapping is often used to create bespoke process documentation.
Disadvantages
If something changes, you need to redo the entire process map.
Change is good.
But unfortunately, it can be a hassle with flowcharts.

If your operations are altered, your process maps will need to be, too.
This could result in wasted time and money.
If your operations donât significantly change frequently, process maps are a valuable tool.
Remember that client I mentioned?
The American medicine manufacturer?
We set up a schedule with them to ensure they limited productivity losses when production had to shift.
They could spot new problems instantly.
And it saved them losing $37,000 a year!
Process maps donât work with overly complex processes.
Yes, itâs an ironic disadvantage.
But it does make sense:
If you have a process that is far too convoluted or complicated, donât use a flowchart.
Itâll look messy and difficult to understand.
And thatâs the opposite of what you want!
You need to use specific software or online tool to produce a digital copy.
Remember the good olâ days of pen and paper?
Not fondly.
You want to get things done.
Bad news:
Typing up or creating a flowchart on a computer isnât easy.
Unless youâre willing to use an online tool.
Good news:
I know all about those tools.
(Iâll talk you through them later in this article.)
Chapter 4
A Step-By-Step Guide To Drawing A Flowchart
Here we are:
Youâre ready to get flowchartinâ!
Well, itâs pretty simple.
Especially if you use an online tool.
(We will talk about them in a later chapter.)
But for now, we will walk through the basic steps of:
Planning process maps
Drawing a flowchart
And understanding what they mean
How hard can it be?
Step 1: Define the purpose of this flowchart
You canât know if youâve succeeded at something if you didnât have an aim.
So, always start with a few goals.
From there, work out what process you want to map.
What do you hope to accomplish with this flowchart?
Which processes do you need to prioritise?
What are the start and end points of the process youâve chosen?

Did you know?
Engaged employees are more productive and generate a 21% increase in profits.
Joanna Grimbley-Smith - Business Automation Expert
Source: Go Remotely
Step 2: Identify the individual tasks of a process
Maybe interview some employeesâŚ
Put a couple of post-its up on a whiteboardâŚ
Or just go observe a process.
You always need to start by just listing the stages of a process.
Donât forget to establish how much detail you want on the map!
Step 3: Organise the tasks into process map elements
Take that list and translate each task into the corresponding shape.
Each element has a different symbol or shapes.
Hereâs all the shapes you need to know:

Step 4: Draw your flowchart
This is the easy bit.
Start laying out the elements and connecting them with arrows.
You can do this by hand with olâ fashioned pen nâ paperâŚ
Or opt for a digital tool that can edit and share a flowchart in a single click.
Step 5: Verify your flowchart with stakeholders
So, youâve produced a flowchart.
And youâre pretty proud of it!
But your manager takes one look and furrows his brow.
Your entire team needs to agree that the process has been mapped accurately - and then are able to understand it.
Walk through the steps with your colleagues.
If youâve missed out a step or gotten something wrong, get on with editing.
(This is where digital tools really come in handy.)
Chapter 5
5 Easy-To-Use Flowchart Templates
Ready to get process mapping?
I bet.
But, like anything new, it can be tough to get started.
Itâs all well and good for me to chuck a few symbols at youâŚ
Talk about steps and planning and arrowsâŚ
And then recommend online platforms for your flowchartâŚ
I know what you need.
I know why you came here.
You want some templates.

Did you know?
1 out of 4 employees believes their employers take their feedback and suggestions into account.
Joanna Grimbley-Smith - Business Automation Expert
Source: Tiny Pulse
You want to just change up the text and shake up the shapes.
You want someone else to take the lead.
Thatâs exactly what one of our newest clients asked for.
4 months ago, we started producing software for an online beauty retailer.
When they heard we use process maps, they quickly asked for a session.
Problem is, their team was struggling.
They werenât flowchart experts.
And they were concerned theyâd start wasting time as they didnât know how to start one!
This inspired us to make a quick change to our sessions.
We start off by showing them example flowcharts and process map templates.
Even before weâve talked about their processes!
This means they can understand how they workâŚ
And task some inspiration right off the bat.
Read More
10 Tips to Improve Business Efficiency
Ready to be inspired?
Here are 5 flowchart templates to get you started.
Basic Flowchart Template

Swimlane Flowchart Template

Decision Flowchart Template

Data Flow Flowchart Template
This kind of flowchart is unique.
Also known as a data flow diagram, it maps out the data flow in a process or system.
DFDs use different symbols than flowcharts.
It shows data inputs, data outputs, data storage points and the route the data follows.

Decision Flowchart Template

Chapter 6
Our Top-Rated Tools For Drawing Flowcharts
Letâs recap:
You know what flowcharts are
You know your team needs to start using them
And you know what your finished process map should look like
Now itâs time to actually start creating your flowchart.
But how?
You could keep things old school and stick to trusty pencils and a notepad.
Could even chuck in a post-it or two, if youâre feelinâ creative.
These days, more and more executives are logging on to online flowchart generators or downloading helpful software.
Lucidchart
This is an intelligent diagramming application.
You can build process maps, share them with your team and collaborate on them.
It comes loaded with basic flowchart templates and is easy to use.
It can even be used to produce data flow diagrams!
Lucidchart is the perfect option for teams - especially remote ones.
You can try Lucidchart for free, or set your team up with unlimited flowcharts and advanced collaboration tools from $108 per person per year.

Microsoft Visio
You know you can trust Microsoft.
Heck, most people use Microsoft Word to produce their process maps!
Just like Lucidchart, itâs packed full of helpful process map templates and an easy-to-use interface.
Anyone can get to grips with this flowchart software.
You can also use it to produce org charts, floor plans and network diagrams.
In addition, it allows real-time collaboration.
It starts at $299.99 per year.

Did you know?
21% of UK employees believe they are fully productive for an entire workday.
Joanna Grimbley-Smith - Business Automation Expert
Source: Go Remotely
Draw.io
This free online tool might not be as sharp as Lucidchart or Microsoft, but it gets the job done.
Simply type âdraw.ioâ into your browser and youâre ready to start process mapping.
You can save your finished flowchart to your computer, browser or online file storage service.
And you can share it via Google Drive or One Drive.
If youâre looking to give flowcharts a go, start here.
Gliffy Diagram
This diagramming software puts team-building flowcharts first.
Not only can you collaborate with any team member on this easy-to-use tool, you can import and edit old flowcharts.
No more starting from scratch!
Plus, you can integrate the software with Atlassian to improve communication that much more.
Gliffy starts at $72 per user per year.
Miro
This collaborative whiteboard tool can be used for all sorts of things.
Brainstorming, design, strategyâŚ
And, of course, flowcharts!
Starting at $96 per user per year, this tool can provide you with far more than process mapping.
It also integrates with Jira and Asana to help remote teams keep connected.
Conclusion
You made it!
You should now know:
What flowcharts are
Have a few basic flowchart templates on hand
And be ready to download some flowchart software
Still not sure how to get started?
We can help.