mintel.me/apps/web/src/content/automation.ts

/**
 * Example workflows for the automation section. They are illustrations of typical
 * cases, not descriptions of specific client projects.
 */

export type NodeKind = "trigger" | "rule" | "ai" | "action" | "human";

export type FlowNode = {
  readonly id: string;
  readonly kind: NodeKind;
  /** Position of the node centre on the wide 920 x 400 canvas. */
  readonly x: number;
  readonly y: number;
  /** Position of the node centre on the tall 400 x 540 canvas for phones. */
  readonly nx: number;
  readonly ny: number;
  readonly system: string;
  readonly label: string;
  /** What appears in the log when a run reaches this node. */
  readonly log: string;
};

/** One step of a run: the connections travelled at the same time. */
export type FlowStep = readonly (readonly [from: string, to: string])[];

export type Workflow = {
  readonly id: string;
  readonly name: string;
  readonly summary: string;
  readonly byHand: string;
  readonly automated: string;
  readonly nodes: readonly FlowNode[];
  /** Every connection that exists, for drawing. */
  readonly edges: readonly (readonly [from: string, to: string])[];
  /** The runs that play in turn. Each run is a list of steps. */
  readonly runs: readonly (readonly FlowStep[])[];
};

export const WORKFLOWS: readonly Workflow[] = [
  {
    id: "order",
    name: "Order to invoice",
    summary:
      "A new order arrives in the shop. The invoice, the customer record and the confirmation follow without anyone typing.",
    byHand:
      "Someone opens the order, writes the invoice, updates the customer record and sends an email.",
    automated:
      "The order triggers everything. People only see the finished result.",
    nodes: [
      {
        id: "shop",
        kind: "trigger",
        x: 110,
        y: 200,
        nx: 200,
        ny: 60,
        system: "Shop",
        label: "New order",
        log: "order received",
      },
      {
        id: "stock",
        kind: "rule",
        x: 340,
        y: 200,
        nx: 200,
        ny: 190,
        system: "Rule",
        label: "In stock?",
        log: "stock checked: available",
      },
      {
        id: "invoice",
        kind: "action",
        x: 580,
        y: 110,
        nx: 105,
        ny: 330,
        system: "Accounting",
        label: "Create invoice",
        log: "invoice created",
      },
      {
        id: "crm",
        kind: "action",
        x: 580,
        y: 290,
        nx: 295,
        ny: 330,
        system: "CRM",
        label: "Update customer",
        log: "customer record updated",
      },
      {
        id: "mail",
        kind: "action",
        x: 810,
        y: 200,
        nx: 200,
        ny: 470,
        system: "Email",
        label: "Send confirmation",
        log: "confirmation sent",
      },
    ],
    edges: [
      ["shop", "stock"],
      ["stock", "invoice"],
      ["stock", "crm"],
      ["invoice", "mail"],
      ["crm", "mail"],
    ],
    runs: [
      [
        [["shop", "stock"]],
        [
          ["stock", "invoice"],
          ["stock", "crm"],
        ],
        [
          ["invoice", "mail"],
          ["crm", "mail"],
        ],
      ],
    ],
  },
  {
    id: "documents",
    name: "Incoming documents",
    summary:
      "Invoices arrive as PDF by email. An AI step reads them, a rule checks the result, and a person only sees the unclear ones.",
    byHand:
      "Someone opens every PDF, reads supplier, amount and date, and types them into the accounting system.",
    automated:
      "Clear cases are booked directly. Unclear ones go to a person with the document attached.",
    nodes: [
      {
        id: "inbox",
        kind: "trigger",
        x: 110,
        y: 200,
        nx: 200,
        ny: 60,
        system: "Inbox",
        label: "Email with PDF",
        log: "document received",
      },
      {
        id: "read",
        kind: "ai",
        x: 340,
        y: 200,
        nx: 200,
        ny: 190,
        system: "AI step",
        label: "Read the document",
        log: "supplier, amount and date extracted",
      },
      {
        id: "check",
        kind: "rule",
        x: 570,
        y: 200,
        nx: 200,
        ny: 320,
        system: "Rule",
        label: "Plausible?",
        log: "values checked",
      },
      {
        id: "book",
        kind: "action",
        x: 810,
        y: 110,
        nx: 105,
        ny: 460,
        system: "Accounting",
        label: "Book it",
        log: "booked automatically",
      },
      {
        id: "ask",
        kind: "human",
        x: 810,
        y: 290,
        nx: 295,
        ny: 460,
        system: "A person",
        label: "Review and decide",
        log: "unclear: sent to a person for review",
      },
    ],
    edges: [
      ["inbox", "read"],
      ["read", "check"],
      ["check", "book"],
      ["check", "ask"],
    ],
    runs: [
      [[["inbox", "read"]], [["read", "check"]], [["check", "book"]]],
      [[["inbox", "read"]], [["read", "check"]], [["check", "book"]]],
      [[["inbox", "read"]], [["read", "check"]], [["check", "ask"]]],
    ],
  },
  {
    id: "lead",
    name: "Enquiry to follow-up",
    summary:
      "Someone fills in the contact form. The contact is created, the right person is told, and a reminder makes sure nobody forgets.",
    byHand:
      "Someone copies the enquiry into the CRM, forwards it by email and hopes the follow-up is not forgotten.",
    automated: "The enquiry is filed, assigned and followed up on schedule.",
    nodes: [
      {
        id: "form",
        kind: "trigger",
        x: 110,
        y: 200,
        nx: 200,
        ny: 60,
        system: "Website",
        label: "Contact form",
        log: "enquiry received",
      },
      {
        id: "contact",
        kind: "action",
        x: 340,
        y: 200,
        nx: 200,
        ny: 190,
        system: "CRM",
        label: "Create contact",
        log: "contact created",
      },
      {
        id: "notify",
        kind: "action",
        x: 580,
        y: 110,
        nx: 105,
        ny: 330,
        system: "Team chat",
        label: "Notify sales",
        log: "sales notified",
      },
      {
        id: "wait",
        kind: "rule",
        x: 580,
        y: 290,
        nx: 295,
        ny: 330,
        system: "Rule",
        label: "No reply in 3 days?",
        log: "follow-up scheduled",
      },
      {
        id: "remind",
        kind: "action",
        x: 810,
        y: 290,
        nx: 295,
        ny: 470,
        system: "Tasks",
        label: "Create reminder",
        log: "reminder created",
      },
    ],
    edges: [
      ["form", "contact"],
      ["contact", "notify"],
      ["contact", "wait"],
      ["wait", "remind"],
    ],
    runs: [
      [
        [["form", "contact"]],
        [
          ["contact", "notify"],
          ["contact", "wait"],
        ],
        [["wait", "remind"]],
      ],
    ],
  },
];

export const KIND_LABEL: Readonly<Record<NodeKind, string>> = {
  trigger: "Trigger: something happens",
  rule: "Rule: a fixed check",
  ai: "AI step: reads or sorts",
  action: "Action: a system does something",
  human: "Person: decides the unclear cases",
};

export const AUTOMATION_NOTES = [
  {
    title: "Worth automating when",
    items: [
      "The same steps repeat every day or every week",
      "Data is typed from one tool into another",
      "Mistakes happen because the work is monotonous",
    ],
  },
  {
    title: "What stays with people",
    items: [
      "Decisions and exceptions",
      "Anything a customer should hear from a person",
      "The final say when the automation is unsure",
    ],
  },
  {
    title: "What I need from you",
    items: [
      "Access to the tools and their interfaces (APIs)",
      "Someone who knows the process as it is done today",
      "Real examples to test with",
    ],
  },
] as const;