Workflow management system and method

A method for managing workflow within one or more entities comprising:

• electronically outputting an input object to a first drop-box application program included in a first computing system from an application program;
• generating a workflow package in the first drop-box application program, the workflow package including the input object, a plurality of workflow tasks defined by a user, and a set of predetermined workflow rules defined by the user;
• transferring the workflow package to a second drop-box application program included in a second computing system from the first drop-box application program;
• and
• implementing at least one workflow task based on the set of workflow rules via the second computing system.

A workflow management system for managing workflow within one or more entities comprising:

• a first drop-box application program executed on a first computing system including:
• a first input object directory configured to receive an input object electronically outputted from an application program;
• and
• a first workflow engine configured to generate and send a workflow package including the input object, a plurality workflow tasks defined by a user, and a set of workflow rules defined by a user, to a second drop-box application program executed on a second computing system, the second drop-box application program including:
• a second input object directory configured to receive and store the input object included in the workflow package;
• and
• a second workflow engine configured receive the workflow package and execute at least one workflow task included in the workflow package based on the set of workflow rules.

A method for managing payment and billing in a workflow management system, the method comprising:

• generating a workflow package in a first drop-box application program included in a first computing system, the workflow package including a plurality of workflow tasks defined by a user, and a set of predetermined workflow rules defined by the user;
• sending the workflow package to a second drop-box application program included in a second computing system;
• at the second drop-box application program, implementing at least one billable workflow task based on the set of workflow rules via the second drop-box application program;
• modifying the workflow package to include a billing notification corresponding to the billable workflow task, and to include a new payment task;
• sending the modified workflow package to the first drop-box application program;
• at the first drop-box application program, processing the payment task at the first drop-box application program;
• and
• sending a request for a payment transaction based to a third party financial institution, according to the payment task.