K2 as the Solution: Overcoming SharePoint 2013 Workflow Retirement for On-Prem Businesses

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, Microsoft is continuously enhancing its solutions to offer more secure, optimized, and modernized services. One of the significant changes on this journey is the gradual phasing out of legacy workflows, such as the SharePoint 2010 workflow (retired on November 1, 2020) and now, the upcoming retirement of SharePoint 2013 workflow.

As a Microsoft 365 customer, you are encouraged to transition to modern workflow solutions such as Power Automate. However, what if you're an on-premise SharePoint user, and cloud migration isn't part of your immediate plan? This brings up a critical challenge: how do you ensure seamless business continuity and robust workflow automation without transitioning to the cloud? Fortunately, Nintex Automation (K2) presents itself as a strong alternative for organizations still rooted in on-premise infrastructures.

Why Stick with On-Prem?

There are multiple reasons organizations may prefer to maintain an on-premises solution:

• Data Sovereignty: Certain industries or regions may have strict regulations regarding where data is stored, limiting the feasibility of cloud migration.
• Custom Legacy Solutions: Many organizations have built highly customized solutions that are difficult to replicate or migrate to a cloud environment.
• Control and Security: Some companies prefer to maintain full control over their infrastructure for security or compliance reasons.

Enter Nintex Automation (K2): A Powerful On-Premise Alternative

For organizations hesitant to move to the cloud, Nintex Automation (K2) can be an excellent alternative. Nintex Automation (K2) is a business process automation platform that allows for advanced workflows, data integration, and form building, all while maintaining the control and flexibility that on-premise environments offer.

Here’s why Nintex Automation (K2) could be your go-to solution:

• Advanced Workflow Capabilities Nintex Automation (K2) provides advanced workflows beyond the traditional SharePoint 2013 workflows. Its visual interface allows business users and IT professionals to design workflows that cater to complex business processes with ease.
• Integration with Existing Systems One of the strengths of Nintex Automation (K2) is its ability to integrate seamlessly with your existing on-premise systems, including SharePoint, ERP systems, and other databases. This ensures that you don’t need to re-architect your entire infrastructure to adopt a new workflow solution.
• On-Premise and Hybrid Flexibility Nintex Automation (K2) is designed to support both on-premise and hybrid scenarios. So, while you can continue to operate within your on-premise infrastructure, Nintex Automation (K2) also allows you to scale or transition to the cloud when your business is ready.
• Governance and Compliance With Nintex Automation (K2), you can retain full control over your data. This is particularly beneficial for organizations bound by stringent governance or compliance regulations, ensuring that your workflow solutions adhere to local and industry-specific requirements.
• Low-Code Development Like Microsoft’s Power Automate, Nintex Automation (K2) embraces low-code development, empowering business users to automate workflows and create business applications without needing extensive technical expertise. This approach reduces the reliance on IT departments for workflow updates and improvements, speeding up time-to-value.

Steps for Transitioning to Nintex Automation (K2)

• Evaluate Current Workflows: Begin by auditing your existing SharePoint 2013 workflows to identify which processes are most critical and how they can be replicated or improved with Nintex Automation (K2).
• Plan for Migration: Develop a roadmap for transitioning from SharePoint 2013 workflows to Nintex Automation (K2). This should include identifying resources, timelines, and key milestones.
• Leverage K2’s Low-Code Environment: Work with your IT team to start building and testing workflows in Nintex Automation (K2). Take advantage of Nintex Automation (K2) low-code capabilities to prototype and iterate quickly.
• Train Users: Ensure your teams are familiar with Nintex Automation (K2) and its workflow-building tools. This will make the transition smoother and empower users to create their own automations in the future.
• Integrate with Existing Systems: Use Nintex Automation (K2) integration capabilities to ensure your workflows can connect with other systems, databases, and applications your business relies on.

Preparing for the Future While Staying On-Prem

With the retirement of SharePoint 2013 workflows, organizations must explore alternatives that ensure they can continue automating business processes without interruption. While the cloud offers many advantages, on-premise solutions like Nintex Automation (K2) provide the flexibility, security, and control that many businesses still require.

If you're not ready to move to Microsoft 365’s modern solutions but need an advanced, reliable, and on-premise-friendly workflow system, Nintex Automation (K2) should be on your radar. Its robust feature set and commitment to supporting on-premise users make it a strong contender for organizations wanting to modernize workflows while maintaining their existing infrastructure.

Now is the time to evaluate your workflow needs and ensure that your organization is ready for the SharePoint 2013 workflow retirement, with Nintex Automation (K2) offering a smooth transition path for on-premise users.

Conclusion

Change is inevitable, but it doesn’t mean you have to compromise. Nintex Automation (K2) presents an opportunity for organizations to maintain control while enhancing their workflow capabilities. With the SharePoint 2013 workflow retirement on the horizon, now is the perfect time to explore alternatives like Nintex Automation (K2) and ensure that your on-premise processes remain uninterrupted and efficient.

Nintex Nintex Automation On-Prem (formerly K2) Ross Zboralski Steve Barkla Ana Zelenkov Michael A. Calvaruso Ranjit R. Nair Darius Fong

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