A new workflow platform will let developers build workflow automation directly into Windows applications without requiring external services or servers such as BizTalk. The Windows Workflow Foundation (WWF), a workflow engine, tools, and programming interfaces, will also consolidate Microsoft’s scattered workflow strategy and provide a platform for future versions of many Microsoft business applications and servers. However, the workflow platform is a developer-only technology: it does not supply any readily usable features for end users, client tools, or management and monitoring tools.

WWF will be part of Windows Vista and will also ship with the WinFX Runtime Components, an add-on for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP1.

Software Automates Workflow

WWF is Microsoft’s latest attempt at a software platform for automating workflow, a term that typically refers to the activities, interactions, events, and flow of information that make up business processes. (Microsoft sometimes distinguishes between system workflow that does not involve human participants and human workflow that does.) Using software to automate business processes can relieve workers of repetitive and mechanical tasks, ensure that required business procedures are followed, and improve the reliability, tracking, and transparency of those processes.