Workflow Platform Overview

Workflow platforms can offer simpler application customization and integration than conventional software development platforms. The major components of a workflow platform are shown here.

In this report, “workflows” are custom scripts that automate business and IT processes. A workflow platform provides tools for developing, running, and monitoring workflows.

A workflow can be used to customize a single application; for example, a workflow might define custom sales lead processing in a customer relationship management (CRM) application. Workflows can also integrate multiple applications in a larger process; for example, a workflow might implement employee termination across an organization’s human resources application, OS directory service, and outsourced service providers. Applications might be software running on-premises or hosted services. The organization can update a workflow without changing the code of the application(s) it interacts with, which can simplify maintenance, particularly if the workflow changes frequently.