Document Workflows Driven by Business Events

Document workflows are commonly built on top of an enterprise’s existing data storage systems. The data payload in such workflows begins—and in some cases, ends—with one or more existing database records being passed into the workflow and then used, in many cases, to generate a custom document or set of documents, which can then be routed for approval, etc.

Often, document generation processes within workflows are triggered by a business event, such as a contract, lawsuit, or other type of transaction, requiring that legal documentation be produced. Because this documentation may require multiple, discrete data items that the enterprise does not possess, an information-gathering component is necessary. Put another way, someone—potentially, someone outside the enterprise—may need to key in data.

HotDocs, the world leader in document automation technology, stands alone in its ability to let workflow architects design and deploy the most sophisticated question-and-answer interviews (forms) imaginable—the type of interviews that are necessary for the generation of sophisticated legal instruments. Such interviews could consist of dozens of forms containing groups of related questions, and individual forms could interactively add other questions or entire forms of questions, based on the answers being entered into the HotDocs interview.

HotDocs enables a workflow architect to guide system users to enter correct answers into the form questions via range validation and question-specific resources that provide additional instructions. HotDocs also allows system users to move forward and backward within an interview and supports tri-state scripting logic: a critical protocol that allows users to leave certain questions unanswered without disrupting the document generation cycle.

HotDocs has platforms for on-premises hosting or cloud-based hosting and can deliver interviews into any workflow via the standard web services protocols SOAP and REST.