Throughout my time at college, I used flowcharts to map out my analysis processes in order that they may very well be clearly understood and repeated throughout peer overview. Recently, I’ve been utilizing flowchart templates to arrange an tutorial ebook on floral design. Immediately, I’ll be exploring flowcharts as they pertain to the enterprise sector.
Flowchart templates assist individuals simply map out enterprise processes, enhance workflows, and even make clear organizational buildings. Any trade could make good use of flowcharts for enterprise, and templates make that work go even quicker.
Bulleted lists, Phrase paperwork, and even displays may help convey a course of, however they don’t provide the identical degree of visible readability and readability {that a} flowchart does — particularly when making an attempt to map out completely different steps or levels. So, let’s reply the primary questions first: what’s a flowchart, and what can you utilize it for?
Desk of Contents
What’s a flowchart?
Flowcharts are perfect for outlining processes, that are the spine of a robust enterprise. In my view, a transparent, repeatable course of has two main hurdles to profitable implementation in any enterprise: first, the event of that course of, and second, getting buy-in from stakeholders on that course of. (Good luck, proper?)
One of the best ways to beat each of those potential roadblocks is to transparently and logically define a course of.
Many companies use flowcharts to handle this, as flowcharts visually define a course of roadmap for a full-scope understanding. They can be simply digested by staff who have to know and comply with the method.
In a enterprise, flowcharts can be utilized for any of the next functions:
- Workforce and organizational alignment. An organizational construction diagram clarifies who reviews to whom in your group.
- Information administration. A data flow diagram will help you understand how information progresses through your business up until deletion.
- Sales process mapping. Creating a sales process flowchart can help you shorten the sales cycle and increase revenue.
- Email nurturing. Email campaigns are famously dependent on workflows, which are a type of flowchart that decides who to enroll in a campaign and when.
- Customer journey mapping. A customer journey flowchart shows how customers find you and what their experience is like at your business.
- Customer or employee onboarding. A customer onboarding process flow can help you define what messaging to send and when during your customer’s first interactions with your business.
- A/B testing. When designing an A/B test, you’ll typically use a flowchart to figure out how many versions you’ll test and the potential results you’ll get.
You can also use flowcharts for QA work, mapping out your career progression, and much, much more. Additionally, you can take advantage of templates to reduce your workload.
How Flowchart Templates Can Help
Pre-designed flowchart templates offer multiple benefits. I’ll take a look at them below:
- Saves time. The primary benefit is pretty straightforward. Using a template is quicker than building a flowchart from square one.
- Applicable for different purposes. Flowchart templates are available online for varied use cases, from university application workflows to loan approval processes. Search for one that fits your requirements, modify it, save/share/export it, and you’re good to go.
- Customizable according to individual or organizational needs. Templates usually offer numerous modification and personalization options. I’ve seen some tools that also allow you to add your brand assets to the design.
To help you create actionable flowcharts for your organization, I’ve listed the best flowchart templates for you to start using today. These can help you to create a smoother process in any area of your business. The first nine come with a download link for you to start using that template right on Google Slides.
Flowchart Templates for Business
1. Basic Process Flowchart Template
I really feel that this primary move chart template is a good resolution for these simply getting began with flowcharts. Why? The template permits its designers to specify a place to begin, two potential outcomes, after which the ensuing processes of these choices. As a result of its limitations, this flowchart template is finest suited for easy processes.
Who ought to use this flowchart? Anybody who must map out if-then processes.
What I like about this flowchart template: The essential course of flowchart is straightforward to make use of and comply with, and it’s preferrred for documenting simple or easy processes.
Professional tip: This flowchart is useful for these trying to design an A/B check to find out one of the best ways to get the outcomes they’re in search of.
2. Swimlane Flowchart Template
The swimlane flowchart template divides the steps of a course of into completely different sectors. For what you are promoting, these completely different sectors may very well be time durations, groups, staff, or work necessities.
Who ought to use this flowchart? Swimlane flowcharts are significantly useful for individuals who oversee cross-functional processes.
What I like about this flowchart template: This template visualizes the completely different course of steps that happen throughout a number of groups or organizations.
3. Task Flowchart Template
A activity flowchart template simplifies complicated processes with distinctive shapes. Every form on the flowchart represents one thing completely different, forming a fast visible key.
This format is useful when the work of a number of groups intertwines all through a course of. It’s because it makes it simpler for group members to determine the duties they’re accountable for.
These roles are sometimes famous in a key on the flowchart for fast reference.
Who ought to use this flowchart? Mission managers trying to hold monitor of assorted duties and their outcomes.
What I like about this flowchart template: The duty flowchart visually depicts how numerous contributions to a product help the tip outcome. Every stakeholder can see how their duties affect the move of the challenge.
Professional tip: The shapes may also characterize various kinds of actions, like back-end improvement of a brand new factor after which front-end testing of these components to create a QA course of.
4. Complex Flowchart Template
For a flowchart that doesn’t want gridlines or completely different shapes, this template is the most effective resolution in my view. It presents the choice for a number of endpoints relying on which steps are taken all through the method. Then it makes use of easy sure or no solutions to drive you towards the endpoint.
Who ought to use this flowchart? Groups trying to handle processes that would have numerous endpoints or initiatives which have a number of steps and stakeholders concerned.
What I like about this flowchart template: Advanced processes may be tough to maintain monitor of. This flowchart template creates an intuitive visible for multi-step processes. This makes it simpler to determine if and when you need to transfer ahead.
5. Circular Flowchart Template
The round flowchart template adjustments issues up with a distinct form, nevertheless it additionally presents a distinct path construction. It helps define each quick and lengthy processes, with completely different outcomes relying on the variety of steps required.
Who ought to use this flowchart? Social media managers, product entrepreneurs, and content material strategists could discover that this template fits their wants.
What I like about this flowchart template: This template has a cleaner look than a few of the extra complicated flowcharts and could also be higher for visible learners.
6. Linear Flowchart Template
A linear flowchart template is an answer for when there’s just one optimum outcome. Each step of the method will both lead somebody to that consequence or outcome within the course of merely ending.
Who ought to use this flowchart? E-mail advertising and marketing specialists and gross sales groups can profit from this template as a result of there’s sometimes one aim: to earn another subscriber or earn another buyer.
What I like about this flowchart template: With one singular aim, this flowchart format has a transparent starting and finish, making it simple to stipulate a easy course of.
Professional tip: This linear move may be so long as you’d prefer it to be. I’ve personally acquired over 30 emails from the identical supply making an attempt to get me to choose into their provide. They actually hope that I’ll purchase, and I actually hope, for his or her sake, that they automate.
7. Tree Flowchart Template
A tree-style flowchart template makes essentially the most sense for conditions the place there are a number of decisions and when every possibility has a transparent and distinct subsequent step.
Who ought to use this flowchart? For companies, this flowchart can be excellent for the help division — which may use this template to map out responses from automated chat help or a telephone tree.
What I like about this flowchart template: Every motion has a transparent subsequent step and a predetermined consequence, however you may add greater than two choices, which is commonly not relevant to different flowcharts.
8. Organizational Flowchart Template
One other flowchart companies would possibly need to use is an organizational flowchart (or org chart) template. That is an important chart that exhibits who reviews to whom and helps all staff perceive their place within the enterprise.
Who ought to use this flowchart? Firm and division heads use this template to stipulate the chain of command in an space of the enterprise. Human Assets groups may also use it to tell group construction and organizational choices.
What I like about this flowchart template: Customers can see group construction at a look and may shortly discover who they should go to for his or her challenge or to have their questions answered.
Professional tip: As individuals tackle further roles and report to varied departments, these conventional org charts will not be versatile sufficient to characterize actuality. It could simply characterize a place to begin that may assist employees get oriented.
9. Decision Tree Flowchart Template
This template is just like the tree-style flowchart template coated above, nevertheless, this template is particularly designed to assist customers arrive at a choice. Learn extra about determination timber and their benefits right here.
Who ought to use this flowchart? For organizations, this template advantages any division that wants help in decision-making and evaluating completely different outcomes.
What I like about this flowchart template: Customers can see the overarching massive image and concurrently assess particular person potential outcomes for an issue assertion. It serves as a visible support within the course of of constructing a extra knowledgeable determination.
10. Algorithm Flowchart Template From Lucidchart
This template helps pictorially define the step-by-step course of concerned in an algorithm.
Who ought to use this flowchart? This flowchart template is useful for individuals concerned in software program and app improvement. Job roles that may profit from this template embody programmers, software program engineers, AI/ML engineers, and knowledge analysts.
What I like about this flowchart template: This template presents a transparent visible illustration for a extra technical course of. (Notice: Whereas the template is free, superior options of the Lucidchart platform require a paid plan).
11. Google Docs Basic Flowchart Template From Smartsheet
Among the many main on-line phrase processors, Google Docs is utilized by companies around the globe. It is smart that customers wish to create flowcharts from throughout the platform. This template helps with that. It presents a primary flowchart design, editable inside Google Docs.
Who ought to use this flowchart? This template is helpful for individuals who need to construct and current flowcharts inside Google Docs.
What I like about this flowchart template: It simplifies flowchart creation inside Google Docs. Customers can click on on the obtain hyperlink, make a replica to their Google Docs account, and get began.
12. Excel Basic Flowchart Template From Smartsheet
Microsoft Excel was downloaded 10.5 million times on cellular units in Q3 of 2024. That’s in simply three months — highlighting the recognition of the spreadsheet instrument. Smartsheet presents a primary flowchart template for Excel that may assist streamline the method of constructing a flowchart throughout the platform.
Who ought to use this flowchart? This template is useful for customers trying to create a flowchart inside Excel.
What I like about this flowchart template: It’s faster to get proper to work relatively than spending time developing a flowchart design utilizing the “Form” components on the platform.
Now that I’ve shared completely different flowchart templates, it’s time to have a look at them in motion. I’ll present examples for the primary eight sorts — so you may visualize how they would seem when constructing one your self.
Flowchart Examples for Enterprise
1. Fundamental Course of Flowchart Instance
This template visualizes how a consumer visiting an organization’s touchdown web page might convert and develop into a lead. Discover how there are two potential remaining outcomes, however due to this chart’s simplicity, I can add as many outcomes as I need. With a flowchart like this, it’s necessary to have clear, outlined targets in thoughts.
2. Swimlane Flowchart Instance
Within the instance above, the swimlanes are divided by division as an example the method of the client journey. That is exceedingly necessary for figuring out which groups have to work together with a buyer and when.
And not using a swimlane flowchart outlining these roles, the shoppers’ expertise with the corporate can appear haphazard and poorly deliberate.
3. Job Flowchart Instance
Within the instance above, the completely different shapes characterize the beginning of, finish of, and actions taken through the strategy of viewing a touchdown web page. This activity flowchart instance follows an “if this, then that” format. It exhibits the assorted outcomes that would happen when a possible buyer visits a touchdown web page.
4. Advanced Flowchart Instance
The above hiring visible is an instance of a fancy flowchart with many occasions and potential outcomes. It presents two potential outcomes at each stage. Then, it exhibits with readability what occurs as a candidate strikes ahead. The colours additionally make it clear which remaining outcomes are constructive or detrimental.
5. Round Flowchart Instance
Within the instance above, a round flowchart presents a decision-making framework.
Right here, it’s used to assist a social media supervisor determine which web site to publish content material on. It contains particular, focused questions that outline the belongings the social media supervisor must create and which social platforms these belongings are finest fitted to.
6. Linear Flowchart Instance
As I discussed earlier, linear flowcharts can be utilized for processes which have just one desired consequence. Within the above instance, it’s for an e-mail nurturing sequence. Within the picture, the method ends whether or not somebody indicators up for an occasion or not.
A time-bound (or finite) e-mail nurturing sequence is particularly an excellent match for all these flowcharts. For steady e-mail advertising and marketing campaigns, I would want a extra agile flowchart the place I can decide when to maneuver a subscriber to a different e-mail checklist.
7. Tree Flowchart Instance
On this tree flowchart instance, a enterprise depicts the alternatives and subsequent steps a caller can take when contacting them by telephone. Discover that there are a lot of endpoints for the client relying on their earlier motion.
A flowchart like that is helpful if I’m making an attempt to stipulate a course of with completely different branches. For example, I would create a touchdown web page flowchart that determines which type or CTA is depicted to a buyer primarily based on their earlier exercise on my web site.
8. Organizational Flowchart Instance
Whereas not precisely procedural, this visualization helps these throughout the firm shortly perceive who reviews to whom and who handles what.
One of the best a part of this instance is that it may be as detailed or so simple as you’d prefer it to be; you may delve right down to your junior particular person contributors or just define your management map.
Free Flowchart Templates
Flowchart templates are extremely helpful for fixing enterprise issues and simplifying processes. That mentioned, some points want extra customized options.
I’ve gathered up some free and paid flowchart templates, instruments, and software program to check out — I’ll take a look at the free ones first.
The software program and adjustable templates I’ve hunted down may even assist your group join and work collectively on flowcharts. They make it easy to create distinctive and easy-to-read flowcharts that match quite a lot of wants — together with mine.
I’ll be utilizing demos of the free instruments under to ascertain data flows for my tutorial ebook about floristry. Hopefully, we’ll each be taught one thing new.
Free Flowchart Templates, Instruments, and Software program
1. Miro
Pricing: Free, with paid choices for prolonged options and enterprises.
Who ought to use this instrument?
Groups that use flowcharts for all kinds of customers and stakeholders. This instrument can be useful for groups that create move charts collaboratively or need to embody a number of flowcharts in a single doc.
What I like: Miro presents instruments to construct and plan complicated flowcharts for groups. Moreover visible whiteboard instruments, Miro additionally presents templates for technique mapping, workflows, UX design, and extra. I personally beloved the digital sticky be aware characteristic that makes it simple so as to add feedback to in-progress flowcharts.
Right here’s a link to their flowchart template.
2. Draw.io
Pricing: Free
Who ought to use this instrument?
This instrument is well-liked with customers who need diagramming software program for instant enterprise software. This flowchart instrument additionally contains customizable templates. I used it to create the flowchart under that maps out how one can organize a dozen pink roses.
What I like: This open-source expertise is easy and fast to make use of for sensible flowcharts and course of mapping. It creates course of diagrams for modeling, databases, networks, wireframes, and extra. It additionally presents tons of customization choices, however I didn’t discover it overwhelming to make use of.
3. Zen Flowchart
Pricing: Free, with paid choices for prolonged options.
Who ought to use this instrument?
Informal customers and enterprise corporations in search of web-based flowchart software program.
The free possibility is restricted to twenty components, so I used to be capable of whip up a easy flowchart to assist me resolve which model centerpieces to create for an occasion. I didn’t discover the arrows to be intuitive, nevertheless it does have icons to select from, which was a enjoyable contact.
What I like: Zen Flowchart is easy to make use of with a variety of options. You’ll be able to create thoughts maps, wireframes, or whiteboards with this drag-and-drop instrument. The easy workspace helps restrict distractions so you may deal with what you are promoting course of. This flowchart instrument additionally has options for collaboration and real-time commenting.
4. Lucidchart
Pricing: Free, with paid choices for prolonged options and enterprise.
Who ought to use this instrument?
Lucidchart presents options for each particular person customers and collaborative skilled groups. There are positively sufficient choices to do some superior, skilled chart work. I made a decision to construct an org chart for my preferrred floral store:
What I like: Past real-time collaboration and ease of use, this diagram software program additionally has a variety of superior options. You’ll be able to personalize flowcharts with customized shapes pulling from libraries of shapes and icons.
Automated diagramming may help new customers create a flowchart with out time-consuming edits and tweaks. For extra expert customers, there are integrations with Atlassian, Zapier, Notion, and extra that are additionally tremendous helpful.
These connections may help combine flowchart collaboration into your present tech stack and workflows.
5. Cacoo
Pricing: Free, with paid choices for prolonged options and enterprises.
Who ought to use this instrument?
This cloud-based and user-friendly instrument is beneficial for quite a lot of customers and groups. Cacoo presents a bunch of collaboration instruments — together with video chat — in addition to integrations with Adobe Inventive Cloud and Google Drive. I used it to create this swimlane flowchart of how my preferrred florist store would handle buyer complaints.
What I like: Cacoo is a complete instrument that makes it simple to personalize flowcharts for a variety of makes use of. Whether or not you are making a advertising and marketing flowchart with imported photos or a wireframe with customized symbols, this instrument may help.
The central dashboard can be useful for understanding every little thing your challenge wants at a look and differentiates between non-public and shared folders.
Paid Flowchart Templates, Instruments, and Software program
6. Textografo
Pricing: Begins at $4/month.
Who ought to use this instrument?
This text-to-diagram generator is a straightforward manner for much less visually oriented customers to create flowcharts. It is for customers who perceive the worth of graphical move diagrams but in addition will not be as fast or comfy with visible instruments.
What I like: This flowchart instrument presents a distinct method to flowchart creation that may save many customers effort and time. Textografo may help customers create a flowchart, mindmap, determination timber, or animated diagrams. Customers may also collaborate on the method with this on-line instrument.
7. Microsoft Visio
Pricing: Begins at $5/month.
Who ought to use this instrument? This selection is nice if you happen to’re already embedded within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
What I like: This flowchart instrument may help you create complicated flowcharts or easy diagrams. The interface and styling are acquainted to many enterprise customers, which may help velocity up the method of visualizing complicated concepts. It additionally presents themes to enhance the look of your flowcharts.
Visio additionally comes with tons of of templates for a variety of trade wants. It additionally makes it easy to import knowledge from Excel, Entry, and different Microsoft sources.
What makes an excellent flowchart template?
There are specific elements that make a flowchart template go from “simply okay” to nice — I’ll cowl them under.
Visible Readability, Hierarchy, and Group
An amazing template follows a logical move, with the content material offered in an easy-to-digest manner.
Good Design and Aesthetics
A number of features go into the design of a flowchart template — coloration, font, sizing, form, arrows, and spacing, amongst others. All should work collectively cohesively and legibly to make it an excellent template.
Consistency
Ever observed inconsistent or jarring design immediately stands out (and never in a great way)?
I’ve, quite a few instances. Our eyes can instantly spot inconsistencies, be it only a completely different font measurement or an irregular coloration scheme.
The aim of flowchart design is to supply a seamless expertise for the viewer, making the data visually comprehensible. Consistency helps with that. It additionally kinds one of many ten usability heuristics by Jakob Nielsen, co-founder of the Nielsen Norman Group.
Ease of Use
Two questions I’d ask on this part are:
- Are the shapes, format, textual content, and formatting choices user-friendly to navigate and modify?
- Is the template easy to edit, preview, save, and obtain?
Hopefully, the reply is sure.
Utilizing Enterprise Flowchart Templates
Enterprise flowchart templates are the quickest and best technique to construct flowcharts, even quicker than instruments that take a while to be taught to make one thing customized. From among the many free instruments I examined in the present day, listed here are my takeaways:
- I can simply say that Cacoo was my favourite. They’ve way more intuitive arrows that connect with auto-docks across the shapes, conserving traces tight and clear.
- Draw.io felt a bit like Photoshop to me, however not practically as overwhelming. Skilled graphic designers would possibly like that one in addition to Lucidchart for the acquainted, double-paneled interface.
- I’d put Miro and Zen Flowchart in the identical class of being simple for learners to check out, however I believe Miro edges out Zen Flowchart when it comes to what you get without cost. Zen Flowchart works effectively, however the free model is really only for small initiatives — 20 components isn’t a lot to work with.
I additionally hope that the templates mentioned earlier on this publish aid you higher illustrate and talk processes in your organization shortly and intuitively — with out having to put money into or be taught new software program.
Editor’s be aware: This publish was initially revealed in July 2018 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
