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Draft:FlowForma

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  • Comment: Can you find more sources that are like newspapers and the like? Also headings are a bit unencyclopediac. 🚂ThatTrainGuy1945 Peep peep! 22:50, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
FlowForma
TypePrivate
IndustryDigital Process Automation
Founded2012 (incubated); 2016 (independent)
FoundersJohn Purdy
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
Key people
John Murphy (CEO), Gerard Newman (CTO)
ProductsFlowForma Process Automation / FlowAssure
Websiteflowforma.com

FlowForma is an Irish software company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, that develops AI and digital process automation (DPA) platforms. The company is a Microsoft Gold Partner. The platform integrates with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint, and is used by organisations in sectors including healthcare, construction, financial services, and education.[1]

History

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Origins and founding

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FlowForma originated from Ergo, a Dublin-based information technology services company and Microsoft consultancy co-founded in 1993 by John Purdy and Tim Sheehy. Ergo grew to become one of Ireland's larger IT services firms, with a focus on Microsoft technologies and cloud services.[2]

Product development on what would become FlowForma began in January 2012, when Ergo employees identified a market opportunity while delivering client work on Microsoft SharePoint, recognising demand for a no-code process automation tool that would allow organisations to digitise workflows without software development skills. The Irish Times reported in 2014 that FlowForma had been developed within Ergo, launched in Ireland, and exported to the United Kingdom.[3]

The product was officially launched in May 2013 and continued to be developed within Ergo while receiving early-stage funding and support from Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government's enterprise development agency.[4] In early 2016, FlowForma was established as a separate legal entity, making it Ergo's second company spin-off after Fenergo, a fintech firm whose stake had been sold to US private equity firm Insight Partners in 2015. At the point of incorporation, Padraig Canavan, founder and former chief executive of Derry-based software firm Singularity, which he sold for $48.1 million in 2011, was appointed as FlowForma's first chairperson.[5][6]

Early growth

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Following incorporation, FlowForma began building its user base across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and beyond. The company received a grant from the European Union's EASME (Executive Agency for SMEs) in 2018, supplementing its Enterprise Ireland backing.[1]

In 2017, Forrester Research included FlowForma as a Strong Performer in its Forrester New Wave: Low-Code Platforms for Business Developers report, with differentiated rankings in startup experience, user interface development, and digital process automation.[7]

Funding and expansion

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In June 2022, FlowForma raised a funding round of €4 million from new and existing investors to support product development and international expansion. Colm Heffernan, former Chief Operating Officer of Fenergo, was appointed as a director following the round.[8]

In March 2023, FlowForma opened a New York office to support its North American customer base, which at the time represented approximately 30 per cent of the company's revenue. The opening was attended by Tánaiste Micheál Martin. US customers at the time included Rimkus Consulting Group and Dresser Natural Gas.[9]

AI development

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In November 2024, John Murphy was appointed chief executive officer, with a background in AI and real-time data analysis.[10]

From 2024, FlowForma introduced a series of AI-based features into its platform, including a conversational interface for building automated processes from natural language descriptions, and AI agents that execute steps such as approvals, data validation, and document processing.[1][10]

In November 2025, FlowForma launched FlowAssure, a product built around autonomous AI agents for vendor risk management. FlowAssure is designed to automate the assessment of cybersecurity questionnaires, penetration test reports, ISO certifications, and SOC 2 Type II reports.[11]

Products

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FlowForma Process Automation

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FlowForma Process Automation is a no-code platform that independent analyst firm Deep Analysis described as a "quick-to-adopt process workflow platform focusing on medium to large businesses in industries that are not typically early adopters of high-tech software".[1] The product runs within an organisation's own Microsoft 365 and SharePoint tenancy and is available through Microsoft AppSource.

The platform combines forms, workflow automation, document generation, analytics, AI capabilities, and governance in a single interface, allowing users to build and deploy processes without software development skills.[1] Users can access processes via desktop, iOS and Android mobile apps, and Microsoft Teams.[1]

FlowAssure

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In November 2025, FlowForma launched FlowAssure as a standalone product for vendor risk management. The product uses AI agents to review vendor submissions, classify risks, score compliance documents, and route decisions without manual input.[11] The product supports compliance frameworks including ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and NIST.[11]

Microsoft partnership

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FlowForma is a Microsoft Gold Partner. The platform integrates with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams, and is listed on Microsoft AppSource.

Analyst coverage

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FlowForma has been assessed by several industry analyst firms:

  • Forrester Research included FlowForma as a Strong Performer in its New Wave: Low-Code Platforms for Business Developers, Q4 2017 report, with differentiated rankings in startup experience, user interface development, and digital process automation.[7]
  • Forrester Research included FlowForma in its digital process automation and rapid application delivery reports from 2019 onwards.[12]
  • Deep Analysis published an independent Vendor Vignette assessment of the platform in March 2023, covering capabilities, market positioning, and sectoral focus.[1]
  • MWD Advisors published an independent analyst review of the platform in October 2018.[13]

Notable deployments

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A14 road scheme

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FlowForma was used on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme, a £1.5 billion road construction project carried out by a joint venture between Balfour Beatty, Costain, and Skanska. The A14 Integrated Delivery Team used FlowForma to digitise 76 processes including permit-to-dig approvals, labour procurement, and risk monitoring. The project received four awards at the 2019 British Construction Industry Awards, including Productivity Initiative of the Year, Digital Transformation Initiative of the Year, and the overall Initiative of the Year Award.[14][15]

Leadership

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Key figures in FlowForma's history have included:

  • John Purdy, co-founder of Ergo; initiated and funded the FlowForma product; investor and board member of FlowForma.[2][3]
  • Padraig Canavan, chairperson from 2016; founder and former CEO of Singularity, sold for $48.1m in 2011.[5][6]
  • John Murphy, chief executive officer from November 2024; previously at KX.[10]
  • Marc Murphy, investor and board member from 2016; co-founder and CEO of Fenergo.[8]
  • Colm Heffernan, joined as director following the 2022 funding round; previously Chief Operating Officer at Fenergo.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "FlowForma". Deep Analysis. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  2. ^ a b Kennedy, John (2024-06-07). "How John Purdy's Ergo conquered the cloud | ThinkBusiness". /. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  3. ^ a b Newenham, Pamela. "John Purdy, Ergo". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  4. ^ Business & Finance Ireland. "Ones to Watch: FlowForma". January 2017. https://businessandfinance.com/ones-to-watch-flowforma/
  5. ^ a b "'Pioneer' is 'perfect fit' for tech company". www.derryjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-13. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  6. ^ a b Editor, Gary McDonald Business (2017-01-05). "New owners for former Derry software firm Singularity as it posts hefty £9 million loss". The Irish News. Retrieved 2026-06-26. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ a b Forrester Research. "The Forrester New Wave: Low-Code Development Platforms For Business Developers, Q4 2017". 2017.
  8. ^ a b c O'Brien, Ciara. "FlowForma raises €4m in funding as it targets further expansion". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  9. ^ O'Brien, Ciara. "FlowForma targets new growth as company opens US office". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
  10. ^ a b c Automation & Self-Service. "AI automation firm FlowForma names John Murphy CEO". November 19, 2024. https://www.automationandselfservice.com/news/ai-automation-firm-flowforma-names-john-murphy-ceo/
  11. ^ a b c The AI Journal. "FlowForma Launches FlowAssure: Smarter Vendor Oversight with AI Agents". November 13, 2025. https://aijourn.com/flowforma-launches-flowassure-smarter-vendor-oversight-with-ai-agents/
  12. ^ Forrester Research. "Now Tech: Rapid App Delivery". January 2019.
  13. ^ Business Process Incubator (MWD Advisors). "On the Radar: FlowForma". October 2018. https://www.businessprocessincubator.com/content/on-the-radar-flowforma/
  14. ^ Balfour Beatty. "A week of success for Balfour Beatty's A14 Integrated Delivery Team". 2019. https://www.balfourbeatty.com/media-centre/latest/a-week-of-success-for-balfour-beatty-s-a14-integrated-delivery-team/
  15. ^ Construction News. "How digital is delivering for the construction industry". December 6, 2019. https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/tech/digital-delivering-construction-industry-06-12-2019/
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Category:Software companies of Ireland Category:Companies based in Dublin Category:Business process management Category:Software companies established in 2016

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