Business processes are typically triggered by an event, such as the filing of an expense report. This trigger event initiates a set of predefined processes, or workflow steps. The workflow concludes when the final step is taken, such as when the employee is reimbursed for the submitted expenses.

When you automate a workflow, you create an owner for each step of the process. Typical steps include initiation of a transaction, input of related data, and approval or rejection. Each is bound to one or more individuals expected to perform an action as part of the step.