# Envelope Processing Flow Overview

The envelope processing flow defines the order in which recipients receive an envelope.

DocStudio supports three flow types:

1. parallel (AUTO)
2. step-by-step (manual)
3. serial-parallel (manual)

### Parallel flow (AUTO)

Parallel flow is configured automatically. Recipients receive the envelope at the same time, based on their role type.

![](https://d295evyo48.ucarecd.net/e50b5cbc-6809-4547-abaf-27a17e962720/Screenshot_2025-12-29_at_14.35.00.png)

### Step-by-step flow (manual)

Step-by-step flow sends the envelope in the exact order you define.

1. Enable **Set processing order**.
2. Configure roles in the required sequence.

![](https://d295evyo48.ucarecd.net/96d49084-7f54-4ae1-a043-34732388fe79/Screenshot_2025-12-29_at_14.34.17.png)

### Serial-parallel flow (manual)

Use the **serial-parallel flow** when multiple roles have the same step number.

In this case, all roles at that step receive the envelope at the same time (in parallel), while the overall process still follows the step order. To change a step number, click the **Edit** ![](/files/CRvoPQ2BxGLFPjf9Y1Ej)  icon and update the processing step for each role.

![](https://d295evyo48.ucarecd.net/08758cab-96e6-4d09-86ef-b605cf0e17d0/Screenshot_2025-12-29_at_14.36.02.png)


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