Not contained to content approvals.
DAM Migration
I worked on a DAM migration project, having complex transformation rules for different folder levels. I implemented using multistep custom workflow. Each step performed specific validation/transformation/ ingestion/post-processing task. Workflow console helped to track migration status and prepare reports easily.
Process Orchestration:
Adobe workbench is a tool bridging creative team with marketing team. Relies on workflows. We create follow on workflows at AEM to allow creative assets into AEM.
Micromanagement:
Any generic maintenance process followed your project team can be automated using workflows. We had certain routine processes followed during production releases or AMS maintenance team. once we identify and define exact process steps followed, it was easy to automate them.
In our case, we run content backup, regression tests, send business team mail, do log rotation, clear dispatcher cache, clear cdn cache, invalidation sessions etc, during every production run. Once we prepared exact steps to follow, we automated using workflow.
Workflows are one versatile swiss knife. More time to define the process. quicker to implement. Hope this helps.