My team hates writing out the 'why' and 'what' in SOPs and only takes screenshots; what tool forces or automates better context?
Use a workflow capture tool with AI-generated step descriptions. Glyde automatically writes the "what" for each step using a multimodal pipeline that analyzes the clicked element, page context, and action type. Your team just performs the task normally — the tool captures screenshots and writes descriptions simultaneously. The result is a complete SOP with both visual and written context, without anyone having to type a single description manually.
What does AI-generated context look like?
| What the User Did | Screenshot Only | AI-Generated Description |
|---|---|---|
| Clicked a dropdown | Screenshot of the page | "Click the Status dropdown in the order details panel" |
| Typed in a field | Screenshot with cursor in field | "Enter the customer's email address in the Contact Email field" |
| Navigated to a page | Screenshot of new page | "Navigate to Settings → Billing → Payment Methods" |
| Clicked a button | Screenshot with button visible | "Click Submit Order to finalize the purchase" |
Why do teams default to screenshot-only SOPs?
| Reason | Why It Happens | How Automation Fixes It |
|---|---|---|
| Writing is slow | Describing 15 steps takes 20+ minutes | AI writes all descriptions in seconds |
| It feels redundant | "The screenshot shows what to do" | But screenshots don't explain which element or why |
| No writing standard | Everyone writes differently | AI produces consistent, concise descriptions |
| Context is forgotten | By the time they write, they forget details | Descriptions are generated at capture time |
How do you add the "why" that AI can't generate?
AI handles the "what" (which button, which field, which page). The "why" still needs a human touch, but only in a few places:
| Where to Add "Why" | Example |
|---|---|
| At the top of the SOP | "This process ensures refunds are processed within 24 hours per our SLA" |
| Before a decision point | "Check the order date — refunds are only available within 30 days" |
| Before a non-obvious step | "We CC the manager on this email because orders over $500 require approval" |
You only need 2-3 "why" annotations per SOP. The AI handles the other 90% of the writing, which is the part your team was skipping entirely.
This answer is part of our guide to SOP tools compared.