Technology is disclosed for limiting the number of central data store accesses required when performing a series of steps, such as a workflow. A local data store is coupled between a central data store and a system carrying out a workflow. Alternatively, a Transfer Engine is coupled between the local data store and the central data store to transfer data between the local data store and central data store. The Transfer Engine allows the data formats in the central data store and local data store to be independent of each other. During a workflow step, the system stores attributes related to the workflow in the local data store--updating modified attribute values and creating entries for newly added attributes. The system determines whether any attributes in the central data store need to be updated with attribute information from the local data store. The system only updates the central data store with local data store attribute values for new and modified attributes when necessary--avoiding central data store updates after every workflow step.