The End of an Era: What’s Changing?

Microsoft has officially announced that Microsoft Workflow Manager 1.0 (WF3), used in SharePoint Server 2013, 2016, 2019, and early versions of SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE), will no longer be supported as of July 14, 2026. For many organizations, this means it’s time to rethink their SharePoint-based business process automation strategy.

The Microsoft Option: Moving to Newer Solutions

SharePoint Workflow Manager
Microsoft is offering SharePoint Workflow Manager as a supported successor to WF3 beyond 2026. While technically similar in concept, it requires:

A fresh installation and environment setup,
Manual migration of existing workflows (there is no automatic conversion tool for WF3),
A re-evaluation of your automation architecture.
Power Automate (Microsoft 365)
For organizations operating in the Microsoft 365 cloud environment, Power Automate brings entirely new possibilities:

Integration with multiple services (Teams, Outlook, Dynamics 365),
Ready-to-use workflow templates,
A low-code / no-code interface.
However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Organizations with on-premises SharePoint deployments, specific security requirements, or without Microsoft 365 access may need alternatives.

An Alternative Path: A Workflow Engine Independent of Microsoft WF: Datapolis Workbox

Datapolis Workbox
Datapolis has developed a proprietary workflow engine that operates independently of Microsoft Workflow Foundation. Notably:

It will not be discontinued in 2026, as it’s not based on WF3 or its infrastructure,
It is fully integrated with SharePoint (on-premises and SE),
It supports advanced process scenarios with clear logic, broad automation, and an intuitive graphical workflow editor.
Advantages of the Datapolis Approach:
Long-term availability and solution stability – independence from Microsoft Workflow Manager’s lifecycle,
Support for existing SharePoint on-premises environments without needing cloud migration,
Advanced process logic, AI-assisted execution, dynamic forms, robust automation, API integration, version control, and monitoring.
Conclusion

The year 2026 marks a key milestone for everyone using WF3-based workflows in SharePoint. Fortunately, there are several robust paths forward:

Power Automate – something to test for those transitioning to Microsoft 365,
SharePoint Workflow Manager – strictly for on-premises environments sticking with SharePoint,
Datapolis Workbox – A future-proof, independent alternative for those wanting to break free from Microsoft’s product lifecycle while continuing to use SharePoint lists as a user interface either on-premises or in cloud.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — the key lies in analyzing your organization’s needs, IT environment, and development plans.