Is Work Flowing at Your Institution? Here’s How to Break Silos.

Is Work Flowing at Your Institution? Here’s How to Break Silos.
Guest Blog by Jenzabar

When a student applies for a change of major, they must submit numerous documents. These documents must be reviewed and processed by multiple departments—Admissions, Advising, the Registrar’s office, the new major department. In higher education, collaboration is essential for academic success, yet administrative teams often operate in isolation. This makes day-to-day processes—like change of major verification—more cumbersome than they need to be. These silos often result in delays, communications breakdowns, and a great deal of frustration for all involved.

The best way to overcome these frustrations: workflow management software.

Why Do Institutions Struggle With Workflows and Silos?

In many institutions, silos occur because departments operate independently, each preferring different software systems, processes, and communication channels. While these preferences may work well for solo departmental endeavors, this lack of integration leads to disconnected, inefficient, and error-prone workflows between departments. Take the processing of a change of major request: Multiple departments need to collaborate, but without a streamlined process, information can get lost in email threads, phone calls, and paper trails.

Manual processes are another significant contributor to workflow issues. When performed manually, tasks such as approvals, document submissions, and student registrations often require time-consuming, repetitive steps that further compound delays.

How Can Workflow Automation Solve These Issues?

To truly break through campus silos requires workflow automation software. By automating repetitive administrative tasks and centralizing communication, workflow automation software enables institutions to break down silos, significantly improving efficiency and collaboration across campus.

So, what, specifically, can workflow automation software do?

1. Streamline Processes
   Workflow software automates administrative tasks, reducing reliance on paper-based systems and manual interventions. Whether it’s processing applications, handling financial aid, or managing student housing, automation ensures tasks are completed quickly and accurately, freeing up staff to focus on more strategic work.
2. Improve Cross-Departmental Collaboration
   Workflow automation software connects departments, ensuring that tasks are routed to the right people at the right time. By centralizing communication, the software allows teams to work together seamlessly, breaking down silos and ensuring that everyone stays on the same page.
3. Enhance Transparency and Accountability
   With automated workflows, each step of a process is tracked and visible. This transparency allows staff and faculty to monitor progress and follow up on any delays, ensuring timely completion of tasks and reducing the risk of missed deadlines or approvals.
4. Reduce Errors and Increased Accuracy
   Manual data entry is prone to human error. With automated workflows, data is entered once, and tasks are routed correctly, reducing mistakes and ensuring consistency across departments. Fewer errors mean smoother operations and better outcomes for students and staff alike.

5. Increase Engagement
   When processes are streamlined and automated, staff, faculty, and students spend less time navigating complex administrative tasks. As a result, they’re more engaged in their core activities—whether that’s teaching, learning, or supporting students—leading to a more positive campus experience overall.

Is Your Institution Ready to Embrace Workflow Automation?

If you’re looking to eliminate silos, improve collaboration, and enhance the overall campus experience, adopting workflow management software is the first step. Solutions like Jenzabar Workflow enable you to break down departmental silos, automate previously manual tasks, and improve efficiency across campus. In fact, one of the standout features of Jenzabar Workflow is its accessibility for users without extensive technical expertise. With low-code/no-code functionality, Jenzabar Workflow allows non-technical staff to create, modify, and manage workflows tailored to the unique needs of their department—without relying heavily on IT resources. This ease of use leads to faster adoption and empowers teams to act quickly to improve campus processes.

By adopting workflow automation software, you can build a more connected, efficient, and agile institution—one that’s ready to meet the evolving needs of students, staff, and faculty alike.

This guest blog was written by Jenzabar. Created out of a passion for education and a vision for technology, Jenzabar offers disruptive, innovative software solutions and services that empower students’ success and helps higher education institutions meet the demands of the modern student. Over 1,350 higher educational campuses harness Jenzabar solutions for improved performance across campus and a more personalized and connected experience for the student. For further information, please visit https://jenzabar.com.