08.5 workflow human

Workflow Human Template

The Workflow Human template demonstrates how a workflow can pause execution, create a task for a human user, and resume only after that task has been completed.

This pattern enables human-in-the-loop automation, where AI performs repetitive work while people remain responsible for important decisions.

It is one of the most common workflow patterns used in production business systems.

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Purpose

This template demonstrates how to:

• pause workflow execution
• create a Human Task
• wait for user input
• resume execution
• continue the workflow after approval

It introduces long-running workflows that may remain paused for minutes, hours, or even days.

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Workflow Structure

A typical Human Task workflow looks like this.

Start

↓

Agent

↓

Human Task

↓

Resume

↓

End

Execution pauses at the Human Task node until someone completes the task.

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Execution Flow

The workflow executes normally until human input is required.

Workflow Running

↓

Create Task

↓

Pause

↓

Resume

↓

Complete

The workflow continues from the same point after resuming.

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Creating a Human Task

When the Human Task node executes, it creates a task object.

Conceptually:

Workflow

↓

Human Task

↓

Task Created

The task can then be displayed by any user interface or external application.

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Waiting State

After creating the task, the workflow enters a waiting state.

Running

↓

Waiting

↓

User Action

↓

Running

No additional workflow nodes execute while waiting.

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Example

Suppose an AI generates a purchase request.

Generate Request

↓

Manager Approval

↓

Continue

The manager reviews the request before the workflow proceeds.

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Approval Example

A common approval process looks like this.

Draft Contract

↓

Legal Review

↓

Approved

↓

Send Contract

If approval is denied, the workflow may instead follow a rejection path.

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Human + AI Collaboration

Human Tasks integrate naturally with AI agents.

AI Agent

↓

Generate Report

↓

Human Review

↓

Publish Report

The AI performs the initial work while humans verify accuracy and quality.

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Workflow Context

Human decisions may be stored in workflow variables.

Example:

approved = True

↓

Resume Workflow

Subsequent nodes can use these values in Conditions or later processing.

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Long-Running Workflows

Unlike most workflow nodes, Human Tasks may remain paused indefinitely.

Day 1

↓

Waiting

↓

Day 5

↓

Resume

The workflow instance remains intact until execution resumes.

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External Interfaces

The workflow engine is independent of the interface used to manage tasks.

Possible interfaces include:

• web dashboards
• mobile applications
• internal portals
• administrative tools
• external approval systems

Any system capable of completing the task may resume the workflow.

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Human Task Lifecycle

A complete lifecycle typically looks like this.

Create Task

↓

Waiting

↓

Complete Task

↓

Resume Workflow

↓

Finish

Each step is tracked as part of the workflow execution.

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Typical Use Cases

Human Tasks are commonly used for:

• approval workflows
• financial authorization
• document review
• compliance verification
• AI output validation
• quality assurance
• customer escalation
• security review

These processes require human judgment before automation can continue.

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Human Tasks vs Conditions

These workflow nodes solve different problems.

Human Task	Condition
Waits for human input	Makes an automatic decision
Manual action	Programmatic logic
Long-running	Immediate execution
Pauses workflow	Continues instantly

Many workflows combine both patterns.

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Best Practices

• Use Human Tasks only where manual judgment is necessary.
• Store important decisions in workflow variables.
• Provide clear task descriptions.
• Keep workflow logic separate from user interface implementation.
• Monitor workflows waiting for long periods.
• Resume workflows only after validating task completion.

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Summary

The Workflow Human template demonstrates how BindAI workflows safely pause, wait for human input, and resume execution.

This pattern enables reliable human-in-the-loop automation, combining AI efficiency with human oversight for business-critical decisions.