Use Loop Engine When
- AI agents make recommendations that affect operational systems
- Human approvals are required at defined checkpoints
- Policies must be enforced consistently, not through prompt instructions
- Decisions must carry an attributable audit trail
- Multiple actor types (human + AI + automation) participate in one flow
- Your industry requires demonstrable decision governance (healthcare, finance, pharma, regulated manufacturing)
You Probably Don't Need It When
- Your workflow has a single actor and no approval gates
- The operation is fully deterministic with no AI or human decision points
- You only need retry logic and scheduling (use a workflow engine)
- You are building a prototype or exploration system
Good Fits by Industry
- Healthcare and pharma: governed clinical and supply workflows with audit trails
- Financial services: fraud review, credit decisions, and change approvals
- Supply chain: AI-assisted procurement and demand signal response
- Infrastructure: change management and deployment gates
- Content and trust: moderation escalation and editorial approval
Loop Engine works alongside workflow engines and agent frameworks - it does not replace them.
Not Sure?
If you are asking, "can the AI just do this without approval?" that is usually the signal that you need Loop Engine.