What is a sharepoint workflow ?
SharePoint Workflow is a feature in SharePoint that allows users to automate and streamline business processes. Workflows define a series of tasks that lead to an outcome or end point. These tasks can be driven by user actions or can run automatically based on predefined criteria. Workflows can help ensure that tasks are done consistently and in the correct order, making them valuable for business processes that need standardization or for tasks that require approval or review.
Some common scenarios where SharePoint Workflows are used include:
- Document Approval: Automating the process of sending a document for approval, notifying the approver, and then either publishing the approved document or sending it back for revisions.
- Collect Feedback: Sending a document to a group of users for feedback. Each member can then provide comments and the original author can be notified.
- Signature Collection: Gathering digital signatures for a document.
- Task Assignment: Creating tasks for different users and then tracking the progress of those tasks.
- Issue Tracking: Automatically routing issues to appropriate teams or individuals for resolution.
Key Features:
- Associations: You can associate a workflow with a particular list, library, or content type. This means that the workflow will be available for items in that list or library.
- Initiation Forms: When a user starts a workflow, they might be presented with a form to fill out additional information. This form is called an initiation form.
- Task Lists: Some workflows create tasks for users. These tasks can be aggregated in a central task list or can be associated directly with the item the workflow is running on.
- History Lists: Workflows maintain a history of events so you can see what actions were taken and when.
Over the years, SharePoint Workflow has evolved. In earlier versions of SharePoint, workflows were primarily built using SharePoint Designer. However, Microsoft introduced Flow (now known as Power Automate) as a more powerful and flexible successor to SharePoint Designer for building workflows. Power Automate integrates not only with SharePoint but with many other services and platforms, both inside and outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
If you’re considering building workflows in SharePoint, it’s worth looking into Power Automate, especially given Microsoft’s push towards this platform for automated processes.
What is a sharepoint workflow ?
