AI Usage

AI Workflow Automation Terms

Understand workflow triggers, actions, conditions, branches, loops, connectors, approvals, retries, and reliability controls for AI-assisted automation.

12 matching terms

Workflow structure

Workflow

Meaning

An ordered set of steps that moves work from an input or event to a defined outcome.

When to use it

Map the current process before deciding which steps AI or rules should automate.

Practical example

New request -> classify -> draft -> approve -> publish

Workflow structure

Trigger

Meaning

An event or condition that starts an automated workflow.

When to use it

Use event, schedule, or manual triggers that clearly match the business process.

Practical example

Trigger when a new support email arrives.

Workflow structure

Action

Meaning

An operation performed after a workflow starts, such as creating a record or sending a message.

When to use it

Keep each action small, observable, and easy to retry safely.

Practical example

Create a ticket, attach the email, and notify the assigned team.

Logic

Condition

Meaning

A rule that decides whether a workflow should continue or choose a specific path.

When to use it

Use explicit comparisons for important business decisions instead of vague model judgment alone.

Practical example

If confidence < 0.8, send the case to manual review.

Logic

Branch

Meaning

One of several execution paths selected according to a condition or result.

When to use it

Use branches for different risk levels, departments, or approval outcomes.

Practical example

Approved -> publish; rejected -> return to author.

Logic

Loop

Meaning

A control structure that repeats actions for items or until a condition changes.

When to use it

Set item limits and exit conditions so automation cannot repeat indefinitely.

Practical example

For each approved row, create one CRM activity.

State

Variable

Meaning

A named value stored and reused while a workflow runs.

When to use it

Use variables for counters, intermediate results, status, and reusable identifiers.

Practical example

retry_count = retry_count + 1

Integration

Connector

Meaning

A packaged integration that lets a workflow interact with an application or service.

When to use it

Check supported operations, permissions, limits, and data location before use.

Practical example

Use the mail connector to watch an inbox and send replies.

Approval

Approval step

Meaning

A pause that requires an authorized person to approve, reject, or revise work.

When to use it

Place it before external publishing, financial actions, record deletion, or other high-impact changes.

Practical example

Require manager approval before sending the generated contract.

Reliability

Error handling

Meaning

Rules that detect failures and choose a recovery, notification, or stop behavior.

When to use it

Define expected errors separately from unexpected system failures.

Practical example

On validation error, save the input and notify the process owner.

Reliability

Retry

Meaning

Running a failed operation again, usually with a delay and attempt limit.

When to use it

Use exponential backoff for temporary service or rate-limit failures.

Practical example

Retry after 10, 30, and 90 seconds; then open an incident.

Reliability

Idempotency

Meaning

A property that lets the same request run more than once without causing duplicate effects.

When to use it

Design for it when retries could create duplicate payments, messages, or records.

Caution

A retry without idempotency can repeat irreversible actions.

Practical example

Use request_id as an idempotency key before creating an invoice.