# Workflow Philosophy

{% hint style="info" %}
Did you know there's a full 🧑‍🎓 [**Optro Academy course on Analytics**](https://academy.auditboard.com/page/analytics)? It's a great place to start if you like watching short videos.
{% endhint %}

### What is a workflow?

A workflow is a system of organization used to streamline and manage analytical tasks. Analytics is a library of personalized workflows that allow users to build, process, and automate audit-logic. With the aid of a workflow, large and complex data processes can be simplified, while small, tedious tasks can be automated.

<figure><img src="https://1817223046-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5mI0ilekQtcGTXKGQ2EF%2Fuploads%2FIABL5t2hwe56L9fadnRh%2Fdocs_workflowphilosophy_intheabstract%402x.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=18c60499-4992-486b-97fa-2961ee8b48d5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### What do workflows do?

Workflows execute a defined process and eliminate the need to manually update, adjust and share results. In Analytics, tools are used to define a workflow. A workflow executes each tool in sequential order. Tools streamline and consistently apply the same rules and logic for every iteration the workflow is executed, or as we say in Analytics - “Run”.

<figure><img src="https://1817223046-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F5mI0ilekQtcGTXKGQ2EF%2Fuploads%2FEWlv21H6cCA7qCwKJufr%2Fdocs_workflowphilosophy_tidyexample%402x.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=4878c055-badd-424f-90e6-1379203c99f2" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Benefits of building workflows in Analytics

Analytics workflows provide a consistent and reliable way to perform tasks, save resources, increase transparency and accountability, and are self-documenting. Additionally, they are reusable and expandable to meet individual needs, making them an invaluable asset to any organization.

We encourage you to take the next step:

{% content-ref url="build-a-workflow" %}
[build-a-workflow](https://docs.auditboardanalytics.com/introductions/build-a-workflow)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="start-from-a-template" %}
[start-from-a-template](https://docs.auditboardanalytics.com/introductions/start-from-a-template)
{% endcontent-ref %}