Overview:
You are new in the SRM or is upgrading your system and is in doubt about using Application Controlled Workflow or Process Controlled Workflow?
I will give you some information which shall help you with this question
1. What is Application Controlled Workflow?
The existing workflow environment from SRM 5.0 and lower – the Application Controlled Workflow – is still supported with SRM 7.0 on .
These are approval workflow's based on SAP Business Workflow, in which the application is in control over the SAP Business Workflow templates. Multiple workflow templates can be used, using defined start conditions.
2. What Is Process Controlled Workflow?
The Process Controlled Workflow was introduced with SAP SRM 6.0 (which was delivered to only a few customers). As of SRM 7.0, the Process-Controlled Workflow is the recommend workflow, as this workflow concept offers enhanced features and will be developed further, while the Application-Controlled Workflow only remains in support.
These are approval workflow's based on SAP Business Workflow, in which the modeled or configured process, and not the application itself, controls the process flow. A unified workflow template is used, and a process is evaluated by way of a process schema containing a set of distinct process levels. The process schema itself utilizes the SAP Business Rules Framework (BRF) to evaluate rules and expressions that operate the single workflow.
3. Which one should you choose?
Customers which are upgrading from SRM5.0 (or below) can save their workflow investments to a large extent without disruption within SRM7.0 using the Application Controlled WFL. After the upgrade, customers may consider to go for the process-controlled workflow in order to make use of the new features.
For new customers installations is advisable to use PC WFL.
Be careful: Once you choose the Process controlled WFL and create documents you cannot revert it back to Application Controlled WFL
RELATED LINKS:
Understand and Configure SRM Process Controlled Workflow
Application-Controlled Workflows
