Abstract: A workflow for a work item may be executed using an on-device persistent state machine-based architecture. The on-device state machine-based architecture may include a state machine manager that executes the workflow in accordance with a state machine that includes multiple states corresponding to stages of execution in the workflow. Each state in the state machine is associated with one or more tasks to be executed in connection with that state. The state machine further specifies one or more state transitions for each state of the state machine. A state transition associated with a particular state indicates a next state to transition to from the particular state upon completion of the one or more tasks associated with the particular state.