What a process map shows
FEMA’s guidance treats a process map as a start-to-finish picture of how one process runs today. It identifies inputs, actions and outputs.
It also uses common symbols that everyone on the team can read.
Examples
Process mapping examples you can copy
Five example maps of common business processes, each with its steps and where automation fits. Use them as a starting point for your own.
Updated 5 min read
The short answer
Good process mapping examples show a process from first step to last, with each input, action and output. The five maps below cover order to cash, onboarding, invoice approval, support tickets and lead to deal, and mark where automation fits.
Key points
- A map lists inputs, actions and outputs in order
- Automation fits where work is repeated and rule-based
- People keep the approvals and the exceptions
- Map the process as it runs today first
Examples
Five process mapping examples with automation points
These are illustrative maps, not client cases. Your own steps will differ.
Finance
Order to cash
Order received, credit checked, goods shipped, invoice sent, payment matched. Automation fits invoice creation, payment reminders and matching payments to invoices.
HR
Employee onboarding
Offer accepted, forms collected, accounts created, equipment ordered, first-week plan sent. Automation fits form collection, account requests and scheduled reminders.
Accounting
Invoice approval
Invoice received, data read, matched to a purchase order, routed to an approver, then paid. Automation fits data entry, matching and routing. A person approves.
Customer service
Support ticket
Request received, categorized, answered or escalated, resolved, closed. Automation fits categorizing and answering routine questions. People handle complex cases.
Sales
Lead to deal
Lead captured, contacted, qualified, proposal sent, deal closed. Automation fits first contact, follow-up and proposal drafts. A person runs the conversation.
How to read these maps
Each example above lists steps in order. Read them left to right as a chain.
Look for steps that repeat, follow fixed rules or move data between tools. Those are the first candidates for workflow automation examples in your own company.
Where automation fits in a map
Automation fits steps with a clear trigger and a clear rule. Examples of automated processes include sending reminders, reading documents and updating records.
Steps that need judgment stay with people. You approve every step that matters.
These are typical process automation examples: the routine work moves, the decisions stay.
- Data entry between systems
- Routing and notifications
- Document reading and matching
- First replies to routine requests
How to map your own process
Start with one process. Write each step as it runs today, including the workarounds.
Mark who does it, which tool they use and how long it takes. Our process mapping glossary entry covers the basics.
Then put a cost on each step. The costliest repeated step is your first automation target.
From map to working system
A map is only the start. It tells you what to automate, in what order.
If you want help, Nexum maps the processes, orders them by payback and automates the first one on your current tools. See our business process automation service. For more ideas, browse these AI use cases.
Our data
What AI answers when buyers ask
We asked ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity 10 buyer questions about business process automation. They named 123 companies, and 86% appeared in only one of the three.
| Criterion | ChatGPT | Gemini | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companies named | 39 | 45 | 60 |
| Sites cited most | ibm.com and promenteur.com (4 of 10) | zapier.com and dailyemerald.com (2 of 10) | dailyemerald.com (6 of 10) |
Nexum measurement, October 20, 2026, via DataForSEO: 10 buyer questions to each AI, US English, 30 answers in total. 4 companies appeared in all three. Google showed an AI Overview for 8 of the 10 questions.
FAQ
Questions about process mapping
- A process map is a flowchart: boxes for steps, arrows for the order, and symbols for decisions. It runs from the start of the process to the end.
- Order to cash, employee onboarding, invoice approval, support tickets and lead to deal are common starting points. Each has clear steps and measurable time.
- An as-is process flow is a map of how a process works today, including workarounds. You map the as-is first, then design the improved version.
- Pick repeated, rule-based steps with a high yearly cost. Data entry, routing and follow-up reminders are common first picks.
- Common IT process automation examples include account creation, access requests, ticket routing and status notifications. Each follows fixed rules.
- No. A whiteboard or simple diagram works. The value is in listing every step honestly, not in the tool.
- A single process usually takes a short working session with the people who run it. Our full roadmap takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Final step
Pick a time. Let's talk.
You leave knowing which processes to automate first and what each one costs you today, whether we work together or not.
You can keep paying for manual work, or find out this week exactly what it costs you.
What happens on the call
Before
You answer 3 quick questions when you book, so we come prepared.
On the call
We find the manual work that costs you most and put a number on it, live.
Decide
An honest read on whether we're the right fit. If we're not, you'll hear it on the call.
Once you book, we look at your site and tools before the call, so the 30 minutes go to your numbers, not introductions.
Prefer to write first? Email us directly: contact@nexumautomations.com