1. A computer-implemented method for processing requests in a document management and collaboration system, the method comprising: under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions, receiving a request to upload a document to a document management service; initiating an execution of a database write operation based at least in part on the received request, the execution of the database write operation being initiated to reserve a namespace for the document or set a user permission for accessing the document, the initiating being performed synchronously in relation to receiving the service request; transmitting an indication of successful execution of the request based at least in part on the database write operation being successfully completed and despite one or more workflows awaiting successful completion; provisioning the one or more workflows for generating an underlay associated with the document; queuing the one or more workflows for execution, the one or more workflow being executed asynchronously in relation to receiving the request; receiving a second request to access the document; and in response to the second request, causing the generated underlay provided based at least in part on the reserved namespace for the document.