A workflow is the method of automating actions based on events. A chain of events can be set up leading from a start to an end action with each event waiting for a trigger in the chain before being activated, all under the whatchful eye of the workflow runtime. Workflows are commonly used in many different areas, for instance in content publishing procedures and in online e-commerce business processes.
In EPiServer Commerce, workflows are used for validation and calculating totals in the checkout process, and there are several default workflows included (BusinessLayer/OrderSystem/OrderWorkflow project). Checkout activities like calculating cart totals, updating inventory, and processing payments are handled outside of the core API usingWindows Workflow Foundation (WWF) workflows shipped with the .NET Framework.
Each workflow contains a number of activities, each with a distinct purpose such as calculating discounts, and the activities may be re-used among workflows. This division allows for greater flexibility and easier business rules management. If you want to change the business rules associated with checkout, EPiServer Commerce allows you to incorporate your own workflows. Refer to Customizing Order Processing Workflows for more information.