Workflow automation

Turn every submission into a secure, automated workflow.

Build the journey your users need, and automate what happens next. Govform validates every submission on the server, applies your rules and securely connects the service to your emails, APIs, webhooks and internal systems.

Workflow capabilities

More than collecting information.

A completed form can trigger a series of automated actions based on the answers provided, the service rules you configure and the systems you connect.

Validate every submission

Validate information page by page on the server before accepting a submission. Apply required fields, formatting rules, conditional validation and calculated values without relying on the user’s browser.

Apply rules and conditional logic

Control what users see and what happens next using a visual rules editor. Create conditional pages, dynamic content, calculated fields and different outcomes for different users.

Send confirmations and notifications

Send personalised confirmations, updates and alerts through GOV.UK Notify or email. Generate PDFs, include attachments and map submitted information into each message.

Connect APIs and webhooks

Send data securely to any system with an HTTP endpoint. Configure request methods, headers and authentication, transform payloads and map response data back into the service.

Move data into existing systems

Connect services with SharePoint, Jira, Azure DevOps, Power BI and cloud storage. Automate uploads, update records and feed submission data into the tools your organisation already uses.

Monitor every action

Track submissions and automation activity from one place. Use clear processing statuses and failure alerts to identify problems quickly and keep services running reliably.

How it works

From an initial idea to a supported live service.

Design, test, connect and deploy your service through a controlled Alpha, Beta and Live process, all within Govform.

Alpha
Design and validate

Turn complex requirements into a focused, testable service before committing to a live implementation.

  • Design your service. Create accessible prototypes using established GOV.UK and GDS patterns. Add file uploads, repeating sections, tables, mapping, search and other reusable components.
  • Test with users. Share secure prototype links directly with user researchers and stakeholders, without setting up separate hosting.
  • Configure rules and dynamic content. Use the visual rules editor to create conditional pages, calculated fields, dynamic text and tailored user journeys.
  • Review with stakeholders. Collect comments against the service, make changes and retain a complete history. Copy, paste or revert work as the design develops.
Beta
Connect and configure

Turn the validated prototype into a working digital service by connecting data, communications and organisational systems.

  • Connect your data and systems. Integrate with APIs and cloud services using secure, configurable connections. Support custom headers, API keys, OAuth and client certificates where required.
  • Add lookups, calculations and mapping. Use postcode and geographic lookups, Ordnance Survey map components and Liquid templates to calculate, transform and map data.
  • Configure communications. Send confirmations, notifications and generated PDFs through GOV.UK Notify or email, with personalised content, mapped data and attachments.
  • Integrate with enterprise platforms. Connect with SharePoint, Jira, Azure DevOps, Power BI and other organisational systems. Automate file uploads, data transformation and reporting workflows.
  • Test safely in QA. Use separate Prototype, QA and Production environments. Test integrations against non-production systems and use mock API responses before releasing the service.
Live
Operate and improve

Deploy confidently, monitor performance and improve the service as user needs and organisational requirements evolve.

  • Promote with confidence. Move approved versions from Prototype to QA and Production in a few clicks. Every promotion is recorded, with complete version history and the ability to revert.
  • Control releases. Use role-based permissions to control who can approve and deploy changes. Update, revert, pause, place into read-only mode or take a service offline when needed.
  • Understand service performance. Use real-time analytics to monitor submissions, completion rates, device usage and user drop-off. Analytics are based on secure, UK-hosted server-side data, with no sampling or tracking cookies.
  • Keep services available. Hosting, upgrades and backups are managed for you, with 99.9% uptime. Enhanced plans include priority support, disaster recovery cover, contracted service levels and a dedicated contact.
  • Use your own domain. Run the service on your organisation’s domain. Provide your own SSL certificate or let Govform manage certification as part of your monthly service.
Questions

Workflow FAQ

Do I need technical skills to build a workflow?

No. Services are created using drag-and-drop components, templates and a visual rules editor. Technical teams can configure more advanced API and integration requirements when needed.

What can happen after a user submits a form?

A submission can trigger confirmations, notifications, PDF generation, API requests, webhook deliveries, file uploads and data updates in connected systems. Actions can be controlled by the rules configured for the service.

What systems can Govform connect to?

Govform can connect to any system with an HTTP endpoint through its REST API client. It also supports GOV.UK Notify, SharePoint, Jira, Azure DevOps, Power BI, AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage and Azure Blob Storage.

How are API connections secured?

Connections can use configurable headers, API keys, OAuth tokens and mutual TLS with client certificates. Integration settings can be managed separately for Prototype, QA and Production.

What authentication and access options are supported?

Services can support anonymous access, passwordless email sign-in, OIDC/OAuth 2.0 identity providers and AWS Cognito with MFA. Additional options include configurable session timeouts, save-and-return and group-based sharing.

How do changes move from testing to live?

Each service has Prototype, QA and Production environments. Approved versions can be promoted between environments in a few clicks, with complete change tracking and the ability to revert to an earlier version.

What happens if an automated action fails?

Govform records the outcome of automation actions and can alert the appropriate team when a production action fails, helping issues to be investigated and resolved quickly.

How long does it take to go live?

Many services can be designed, tested and deployed in days or weeks rather than months. The exact timescale depends on the complexity of the journey, integrations and approval process.

Ready when you are

Build your next digital service with confidence.

Start building for free to explore workflow automation, integrations and more complex service requirements.