Wait is designed to ensure workflows proceed only when a specified external action—such as a payment confirmation, document upload, or data update—or a Shadow Flow is completed. By clearly marking a waiting stage in the flow, Wait enhances workflow transparency, reduces errors, and ensures critical steps aren't missed.
How Wait Works
When a workflow reaches Wait, it pauses until the defined action occurs. This can include situations like:
- Payment confirmations from external platforms (e.g. Stripe, Xero)
- Document uploads from external partners or clients
- Data updates or approvals from third-party application (e.g. Hubspot, Google Sheets)
- Shadow Flow completion, ensuring a parallel process finishes before the next step begins
Once the required action is completed, the workflow automatically resumes. If the action fails or is cancelled, the workflow will not proceed.
Key Benefits
- Control - Ensures workflows progress only when required actions are completed.
- Transparency - Clearly marks workflow pauses, preventing confusion about stalled processes.
- Error Prevention - Reduces risks associated with incomplete or missing information.
- Time Management - Optimizes workflow timing by preventing premature or unnecessary steps.
Key Features
- Trigger-Based Execution - The workflow pauses until the specified external action or Shadow Flow is completed.
- Success or Paused - Wait results in either:
- Success - The required action was completed, and the workflow continues again.
- Paused - The action is not completed, so the workflow is paused.
- Editing and Deletion Restrictions - Only the authentication owner can edit the Wait step within a workflow.
- Template Flexibility - When saving workflows as templates, Wait is removed to maintain adaptability.
- Mobile App Limitations - Editing Wait is currently not supporting in the mobile app, but it is fully functional on the desktop.
By using Wait in your flows, you can gain greater control, clarity, and efficiency, ensuring processes move forward at the right time, keeping all stakeholders on the same page.
Adding Wait to a Flow Template and Instant Flows
- Once you are in the flow builder, locate the desired flow step where you want to add Wait.
- Add Wait by dragging and dropping the Wait step from the left-side menu under Control. Alternatively, click the '+' icon between actions in the flow, then select Wait.
Configure Wait Details
- When configuring Wait, specify the action that the flow is waiting for. This can be a payment confirmation, document upload, or a data update in a third-party application or a Shadow Flow.
- There is now assignee for Wait. It will be automatically marked as Completed when the specified action is fulfilled.
- Provide a title, description, and due date for Wait. You can also use DDR to pull data from the workspace, previous flow steps, or action details.
- Once the details are configured, choose the trigger event by selecting the app or action that needs to be completed, before the flow can proceed.
- The interface shows how to add app details by searching the app name or action details on the left side, and the available shadow flow actions available for wait on the right side.
- Select any third-party app according to your requirements.
- Enter the App, Event, and Account Details. Then click Next to proceed.
- If your select Stripe, you'll need to provide the relevant Invoice ID (can use Dynamic Data Referencing, also known as DDR) and configure the appropriate account details.
- After configuring the event, review the settings and click Add to incorporate Wait into the flow.
Using Wait with Shadow Flow
When using Wait with Shadow Flow, completion of actions in the Shadow Flow will ensure the main workflow resumes seamlessly. In the flow builder, add Wait in the main flow after the Shadow Flow to indicate another action needs to take place in a parallel process, for the main flow to continue.
- Once the Shadow Flow is added in the flow builder, drag and drop Wait from the Control section of the left-side panel, or click the '+' sign and select Wait.
- Add Wait details like Title, Description, and Due Date. Then click Next.
- The interface shows how to add app details by searching for the app name or action details on the left side, and the available Shadow Flow actions for Wait on the right side.
- Link Wait to the Shadow Flow Event and click Next.
- Preview the set up and click Add.
You cannot add Wait for a Shadow Flow in a live workflow. Instead, you must add Wait for Shadow Flow during the template creation process in the template builder.
Once Wait is completed, it cannot be opened.
Wait pauses the flow until a specified event occurs in a connected app. It does not require an assignee and will automatically be marked as 'Completed' once the event is triggered. The main flow will then proceed seamlessly.
Adding Wait to a Live Flow
To add Wait in a live flow workspace, follow these steps:
- Go to your desired flow workspace.
- Click on the '...' icon next to the member icons or near the workspace name.
- From the dropdown menu, select +Add New Action.
- Once the action menu opens, scroll down to the Control section and select Wait.
- Select the position in the flow where you want to add Wait and click +Add Here at the chosen position.
Managing Wait
Once Wait has been added, you have a few options to manage the Wait step.
Edit Wait:
- Hover over the Wait step you want to edit.
- Click the 'Edit' icon to make necessary changes.
- After making changes, click Save Changes.
Deleting Wait:
- Hover over the Wait step you want to delete.
- Click the 'Delete' icon to remove Wait.
Duplicate Wait:
- Identify the Wait step you want to duplicate.
- Click the 'Duplicate' icon to create a copy of the Wait step.