Workflows

Workflows automate and orchestrate complex, multi-step processes: chaining microservices, APIs, and functions into a single, reliable application.

Workflows are the engine for coordinating distributed systems, defining a structured series of steps (states) to execute tasks reliably. They manage the sequence, logic (if/then), and state of a process, ensuring steps complete in the correct order. Key platforms like AWS Step Functions and Google Cloud Workflows use a visual state machine model to build these flows. This technology is critical for use cases such as ETL pipelines (Extract, Transform, Load), automating invoice approval processes, or building 'human-in-the-loop' systems that wait for external input for up to one year. Workflows automatically handle error retries and fault tolerance, significantly reducing the boilerplate code required to manage application complexity and dependencies across dozens of services.

https://cloud.google.com/workflows