Workflow automation is probably not what will get you away from bed each morning, however it has lengthy been a scorching subject on this planet of enterprise software program. There are few companies, in spite of everything, that don’t have dozens and dozens of repetitive workflows which can be at present accomplished manually that may very well be automated. Munich-based Flowers Software program, which initially launched in 2019, is attempting to place its personal stamp on this area by providing a considerably completely different method from a lot of its opponents.
The corporate in the present day introduced that it has raised a $3.2 million seed funding spherical led by La Famiglia VC, with participation from LEA Companions and Collective Ventures. Quite a few angel traders additionally participated, together with Personio’s co-founder Ignaz Forstmeier, SAP Hybris’ founder Carsten Thoma, SevDesk founders Fabian Silberer and Marco Reinbold, and Ironhack co-founder Gonzalo Manrique.
Picture Credit: Flowers Software program
Based by Andreas Martin and Daniel Vöckler, who each frolicked working at a variety of small and medium companies, Flowers at present focuses its advertising and marketing on two use circumstances: bill approvals and normal approvals. However the concept behind the software is to supply a extremely versatile no-code workflow software to automate just about any repetitive enterprise course of.
“After we based Flowers, we already knew that we have been going to unravel this main downside due to our expertise from our earlier jobs, the completely different industries and firm sizes, and many others.,” mentioned Martin. “What we discovered is that there are tons of duties that go fallacious in each firm actually every single day. […] And sadly, since most duties are in recurring workflows, they go fallacious repeatedly. For all of these issues, you’ll find one software that solves precisely this downside. So you’ll be able to have 1,000 issues and 1,001 instruments fixing them. However Daniel and I didn’t need to create one other single-solution software.”
Flowers crew photograph. Picture Credit: Flowers Software program
Martin famous that many conventional workflow automation instruments concentrate on the backend, whereas Flowers offers anybody within the firm with instruments to construct these workflows but additionally entry to a consumer interface to step by these workflows from starting to finish. He famous that this additionally helps to make info extra accessible and clear to everybody inside an organization. And whereas customers can combine a variety of third-party instruments, for most of the present use circumstances, groups are doing a variety of their work in Flowers themselves.
The crew really began constructing Flowers as a general-purpose automation software however discovered that merely giving its customers all of this freedom solely led to confusion. So after some trial and error, Flowers determined to construct out a couple of templates for widespread use circumstances — invoicing being a type of — and with that, the service took off. What the crew must do now — and what Flowers will use not less than among the new funding for — is constructing out templates for extra use circumstances so it will probably develop its consumer base. The crew additionally plans to develop its advertising and marketing efforts to transcend its present core market of most German-speaking nations to extra of Europe and North America.
Picture Credit: Flowers Software program
“We’re going to launch with completely different use circumstances in several nations, or service work to be used circumstances in each nation, however some nations have extra issues with contracts and approvals, or journey bills,” Martin defined. “Our extremely adaptable software program makes it attainable for us to assist these legal guidelines, laws and compliance guidelines very simply as a result of the software is versatile sufficient.”
Flowers Software program was already cashflow optimistic early on in its historical past, however the crew determined to lift now so as to have the ability to develop sooner and seize extra of the market. “We actually need to push as exhausting as we will and scale as exhausting as we will,” mentioned Martin.
“Flowers is altering the sport for SMBs in enterprise effectivity, productiveness and profitability with a special method to workflow creation and automation that’s resonating with many purchasers throughout industries,” mentioned Judith Dada, normal accomplice at La Famiglia VC. “With Flowers, firms lastly have a software program that adapts to the best way they work, slightly than a software program that requires the client to alter. We’re impressed by the product and powerful gross sales traction that Andreas, Daniel and the crew have already acquired and are excited to assist them as they scale to new markets.”
