An interactive story of how work gets done
Workflows are the invisible machinery that shape how businesses run. Once driven entirely by people, today’s systems encompass human touch, predictable programming, and advanced AI tools.
Let’s go on a journey through workflow history and evolution. Be sure to answer the questions along the way to learn how these systems can help your business run seamlessly and securely.
Question 1 of 6
How would you describe your current workflows?
Pre-2000s
The earliest workflows were conversations. Decisions passed hand-to-hand and tracked through handwritten notes. Teams had clear roles and simple escalation paths all supported by human judgment.
But these systems had limits. They relied on consistency, attention, and time. As systems got bigger, margins for error widened and cracks began to appear.
Processes needed to be repeated reliably without losing key human oversight.
Enter the deterministic era.
Question 2 of 6
What is your biggest frustration with your workflows today?
2000s – Late 2010s
The 2000s marked the rise of the internet, mobile devices, and the cloud. It’s also when software systems began talking to each other. APIs and scripts made it possible to automate tasks like pulling data, triggering actions, and coordinating responses. Workflows turned into programmable systems that could run without human input.
By the 2010s, low- and no-code tools even let teams visually drag and drop components to build predictable, deterministic workflows. The resulting tools were fast and consistent. Perfect for repeatable tasks. Yet they struggled to adapt, improvise, and operate in uncertain contexts. Despite their speed and precision, deterministic systems still needed human judgment.
Question 3 of 6
How do you plan for edge cases?
2020 – Today
Pushing technological boundaries even further, the early 2020s shifted as advancements in AI took center stage. Natural language interfaces have introduced systems that don’t just follow the rules, they’re able to reason, adapt, and act.
Agents and copilots fetch large data sets, read context, and make decisions without the pre-determined, rigid scripts.
These workflows are flexible, comfortable with complexity, and require minimal training to use, but they’re also unpredictable, expensive, and hard to maintain.
While they are powerful, AI systems can’t replace people. The humans behind intelligent workflows must continue to guide, validate, and shape the tasks agents perform.
“Each time we’ve entered a new era of workflows, we’ve kept the best parts of the old era and applied them in new ways.”
Question 4 of 6
How often do your business priorities change?
The evolution of workflows is as much a story of where we’ve been as where we’re going. The best, most helpful parts of every technology will still hold value for modern teams. What will change is how these principles are applied.
The most powerful intelligent workflows will blend human judgment, deterministic reliability, and agentic agility to the unique needs of the businesses they serve.
What will yours look like?
If we know the most powerful workflows will require blending deterministic automation, agentic intelligence, and human-led understanding, businesses need one balanced system that makes this possible.
Intelligent workflow platforms, like Tines, connect tools, teams, and data to turn disconnected efforts into a collaborative ecosystem. They automate routine tasks so people can focus on creative problem-solving, judgment, and impact—the work that matters.
Tines is built on four pillars: control, integrate, automate, and interact. Together, these principles form a foundation that evolves with every shift in the ways teams work. We ensure teams can integrate AI and automation sustainably at scale to become more agile without sacrificing security or reliability.
Question 5 of 6
How would you describe your team’s approach to workflows?
There’s no clear path for navigating the balance of workflows and technology that your business needs. But with Tines, you can prioritize trust, clarity, and control as your North Star, making your workflows run efficiently and deliver bigger impacts.
Trust
Systems and automations should be transparent and reliable via auditability, versioning, monitoring, and reporting.
Clarity
Only add AI tools when goals and benefits are clear. Just because you can use AI, doesn't always mean it's the right time and place.
Control
Focus on systems that offer the autonomy to tailor workflows to your needs without sacrificing crucial oversight.
Question 6 of 6
What is the main goal you want to achieve with your workflows?
Our tour of workflow technology past, present, and future has come to an end. We have helpful resources and exclusive wallpapers prepared for you – but before we can reveal the results, please scroll back up to complete the quiz.
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