Dynamic Form Generation Infrastructure for Workflow Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interdepartmental communication, workflow, and data gathering processes in large corporations often rely on paper, phone, spreadsheets, and email, leading to information silos, miscommunication, delays, and high costs due to the need for custom workflow applications and frequent changes, which require knowledgeable software development staff.
Innovation Solution
A network-based system that allows users to design and generate data entry forms and templates without coding, using artificial intelligence and machine learning to guide form creation, enabling centralized storage and access across departments, and providing a user-friendly interface for assembling and customizing forms with path logic options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If custom workflow applications are developed to improve communication and data gathering, then workflow efficiency and data centralization are improved, but development costs and maintenance complexity increase due to requiring knowledgeable software development staff
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables business users to independently design, create, and modify workflow forms without requiring software developers. The form designer interface allows users to drag-and-drop fields, configure sections, and customize workflows through a user-friendly point-and-click interface, eliminating the need for custom software development while maintaining workflow efficiency improvements
2Device complexity
If traditional paper, phone, and spreadsheet processes are used, then no software development resources are required, but information silos and communication delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides a universal form designer that can create multiple types of workflows (communication, data gathering, process management) through a single platform. This multi-functional approach centralizes information across departments while maintaining simple, intuitive operation, eliminating information silos without requiring complex specialized systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If workflow applications are modified to adapt to evolving processes, then adaptability and process evolution are improved, but change request costs and implementation delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The form designer enables dynamic, real-time modification of workflow forms without requiring code changes or software updates. Users can instantly add, remove, or reconfigure fields and sections through the interface, allowing workflows to adapt to evolving business processes immediately without implementation delays
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein provide a database-driven interdepartmental workflow, communication, and data gathering tool that allows forms to be designed without relying on trained software developers. A network device stores control object definitions and provides a section user interface to solicit a compilation of control objects for a section template. The network device provides a forms user interface to assemble multiple section templates, from a group of stored section templates that includes the section template, into an interactive form. The forms user interface generates section path logic options for each of the selected sections based on a multi-level hierarchy and key input terms supplied by a user. The network device provides for access, by other registered users, to the interactive form; receives form data via the interactive form; and stores the form data associated with the interactive form.