What Is Process Mapping?

Process mapping is the practice of visually documenting how work flows from start to finish across people, roles, and systems within a business.

Why Growing Businesses Need Process Mapping

Growth introduces complexity:

• More employees

• More customers

• More handoffs

• More systems

Without documented workflows, growth creates chaos. Process mapping replaces chaos with clarity.

As-Is vs To-Be Process Mapping

As-Is Mapping

• Documents how work is done today

• Exposes bottlenecks and gaps

To-Be Mapping

• Defines the ideal future workflow

• Aligns improvements to business goals

Both are essential. You can’t improve what you haven’t mapped.

Process Mapping vs Workflow Automation

Process mapping comes before automation.

Automating a broken process only makes problems happen faster. Mapping ensures the workflow makes sense before tools are applied.

Common Process Mapping Mistakes

• Mapping only one department

• Skipping leadership participation

• Turning maps reminding documents

• Not assigning ownership

Effective process mapping is collaborative, not theoretical.

When to Use a Process Mapping Consultant

A consultant is valuable when:

• Processes span multiple departments

• Internal bias clouds decision-making

• Growth or scaling is planned

• Knowledge is undocumented

Clarity comes before efficiency.
Process mapping creates the foundation for scale.

Process Mapping Services | Errol Allen Consulting

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