What is a workflow, i.e. a fixed sequence of work?
Answer out loud or in your head first, then compare.
Answer
A workflow describes successive steps and the conditions for running them. A program can, for example, fetch a document, read the text, check the required fields and send the result for approval. Some steps can use a model, but the application still sets the order.
It's a good choice when the process is known and control matters. An agent adds more freedom to choose the next action. That doesn't make a workflow “worse” or less modern. With financial documents, a predictable order and a clearly defined point of human approval may matter more than the model planning on its own.
Why it matters: Clarifies the difference between autonomy and a controlled process.
Possible follow-ups: When does the model deciding the next step actually add value?
How did it go? Be honest — “Not yet” puts the question on your review list.
Further reading
- Anthropic: Building effective agents(opens in a new tab)19.12.2024. Workflows versus agents; architectural patterns. The tools in the article have evolved since.