Recently I had a project where I needed to have a number of people perform the same multi-step process on about 1,000 different objects. At the end of the process, other people needed to verify everyone’s work. Looking around for a tool that could create a semi-sophisticated checklist process, I ran across Manifest.ly, which fit all of my requirements and was cheap ($7.50/user/month).
To use Manifest.ly, first you define a workflow which, at its most basic, is simply a series of steps that someone goes through to accomplish a task. Manifest.ly presents a fairly straightforward method of creating workflows, but includes some advanced features should you need them.
For example, you can collect data at any step in the workflow and then use that data to release or hide parts of the workflow conditionally. In the example used in the Manifest.ly documentation, a real estate workflow could ask if the property was built before 1978 and then show an additional lead-based paint workflow that is not displayed for properties built after 1978.
Once the workflow is configured, then individuals run checklists, which are instanced versions of the workflow. Checklists can be assigned to specific users, and conditional logic can assign specific tasks to specific users as well.
Finally, each point in the checklist allows for comments, including attachments, to be appended. So people running the checklists can add screenshots, documentation, or just clarifying notes as they’re going through the process.
I was really impressed by Manifest.ly overall. I regularly use other tools where I could build something like this, but with Manifest.ly it took me just a couple days from the first time I ever looked at the website until I was able to deploy my checklist process to the actual end users.
