A system provides workflow management functions over a messaging or data protocol. A workflow management object defining functions and values and events for sending and receiving workflow management data is defined on a first device and transmitted to a second device. On the second device the workflow is rendered for interaction and response, and an interaction with the workflow object is captured. A captured or generated response is transmitted back to the first device or intermediary system via the messaging protocol. The response to the workflow object (e.g. an event) may be used by the device or intermediary systems to update a status of a workflow such as hosted by a remote server system. Events detected by a workflow system may invoke processing of subsequent workflow objects in a chain such that a complex workflow may be processed over the messaging protocol.
