The definition and execution of Workflow can be divided into four main areas.The workflow system takes over control of the business processes. You can combine the existing functions of the R/3 System to form new business processes with SAP Business Workflow. SAP Business Workflow uses the existing transactions and functions of the R/3 System and does not change the functions. These workflows do not require much implementation SAP provides several workflows that map predefined business processes.SAP Business Workflow is particularly suitable for situations in which work processes have to be run through repeatedly, or situations in which the business process requires the involvement of a large number of agents in a specific sequence.These may be simple release or approval procedures, or more complex business processes such as creating a material master and the associated coordination of the departments involved. SAP Business Workflow can be used to define business processes that are not yet mapped in the R/3 System.These work items can be received in the R/3 business workplace, MS Outlook (or any other MAPI compatible client), Lotus Notes, or work item notifications can be distributed by e-mail They provide their own functionality so that the operational user has access to everything that is useful to improve the flow of the process, they disappear on their own when they have been executed by someone else or made obsolete When the workflow runs it creates work items which are like e-mails, but they have the advantage that they contain the intelligence needed to execute the relevant task with the correct data when the operational user executes them,
Work items are sent to the participants notifying them of what they have to do, and a single click on the notification calls the correct transaction and navigates to the relevant screen.
When the duration of the process is critical and deadlines have to be metīy automating the process, you free the users from having to know what to do when.when the users need to be reminded of what they need to do.when different people are involved in different parts of the process.Workflow is defined as the automation of a business process, in whole or part, during which documents, information or tasks are passed from one participant to another for action, based on set of procedural rules.