Challenge

Organizations needed to automate complex financial and reporting processes without relying on technical specialists, while Workiva sought to extend platform capabilities into process automation without disrupting existing workflows.

Solution

• Visual Programming Canvas: Designed an intuitive interface for constructing complex workflows without coding

• Universal API Integration: Created visual components representing all Workiva API capabilities as drag-and-drop operations

• Logic Builder: Developed conditional branching, looping, and decision tools for sophisticated process automation

• External Connectors: Designed integration points for third-party systems and data sources

• Dynamic Configuration System: Collaborated with engineering to create a JSON-based UI generation framework that became part of Workiva's core technology stack

Impact

• Strategic Validation: Definitively confirmed market demand for workflow automation capabilities, directly influencing corporate acquisition strategy

• Technical Innovation: Pioneered a dynamic UI configuration system adopted across the broader Workiva platform

• Cross-Team Collaboration: Established effective model for design-engineering partnership on complex technical prototypes

• User Empowerment: Demonstrated potential for non-technical users to create sophisticated automated processes

• Platform Evolution: Shaped Workiva's long-term strategy for workflow automation capabilities

Key Design Elements

• Intuitive canvas interface accessible to financial professionals

• Progressive complexity revealing advanced options as needed

• Real-time feedback and validation during workflow construction

• Consistent visual language for different operation types

• Responsive configuration panels generated from JSON definitions

Strategic Outcome

The prototype's success provided compelling evidence for workflow automation as a critical platform capability, ultimately informing Workiva's decision to accelerate market entry through strategic acquisition rather than building from scratch—validating both the concept and the efficient path to implementation.