Quick Answer
How do you trigger a workflow from Conversation AI?
Go to Settings → Conversation AI, open the bot, select Bot Goals, and add a Trigger Workflow action. Name the action, select a published workflow, define clear trigger conditions, save the action, and test it in a conversation.
What Trigger Workflow Does
A conversation can reach the point where a contact is ready for a next step, but nothing happens unless someone manually takes action.
The Trigger Workflow action lets Conversation AI start a published automation workflow when the configured conditions are met.
This allows the AI to move beyond replying and start actions such as tagging contacts, sending follow-ups, beginning onboarding, or routing leads.
Clear trigger conditions are important because broad or duplicate conditions can create unintended automation behavior.
Only published workflows appear
The source guide states that the workflow must be published before it will appear in the Trigger Workflow selection list.
Trigger Workflow at a Glance
Before You Begin
Prepare the workflow and define the intent that should trigger it before configuring the Conversation AI action.
- Create the automation workflow you want Conversation AI to trigger.
- Publish the workflow so it appears in the selection list.
- Decide exactly which user phrases or intent signals should activate it.
- Avoid using the same trigger condition for multiple actions on the same bot.
- Decide whether the bot needs to gather qualifying information before triggering the workflow.
- Prepare test conversations that should and should not trigger the automation.
Step-by-Step: Trigger a Workflow
Connect the Conversation AI goal to the published workflow and define when the bot should activate it.
Open Bot Goals
Go to Settings → Conversation AI, select the bot, and open Bot Goals.
Add Trigger Workflow
Add a new action and choose Trigger Workflow.
The wording may vary slightly depending on the account interface.
Name the Action
Give the action a clear name that explains its purpose.
The source guide gives examples such as Appointment Workflow and Subscribe Workflow.
Select the Workflow
Choose the workflow from the available dropdown.
Only published workflows appear in the selection list.
Define the Trigger Conditions
Add the phrases, intent signals, or other conditions the AI should detect before launching the workflow.
Save the Action
Save the Trigger Workflow configuration.
Test the Trigger
Run a test conversation and confirm the workflow starts when the intended condition is met.
Avoid overly broad trigger phrases
The original guide recommends specific conditions instead of broad phrases such as help or pricing, which can create accidental workflow triggers.
Example Trigger Workflow Use Cases
Subscription or Sign-Up Workflow
Trigger the workflow when a contact says something such as “I’d like to subscribe,” “Sign me up,” or “How do I join?”
The workflow can then tag the contact, send onboarding information, or move the contact into a nurture sequence.
Appointment Scheduling Workflow
Trigger the workflow when a contact indicates they want to book, such as “I want to book a time” or “Schedule a call.”
The workflow can send the booking link, apply a tag, and trigger reminders.
Support or Ticket Routing Workflow
Trigger the workflow when the contact uses defined support phrases such as billing issue or login problem.
The workflow can route the contact to a team, create a task, and send a confirmation response.
Important Trigger Workflow Behavior
User or Bot-Driven Conditions
The source page states that conditions can be designed around user input or bot-driven prompts, depending on the setup.
Trigger Conditions Can Be Edited
You can update the trigger condition later without changing the underlying workflow itself.
Duplicate Conditions Can Conflict
When two actions share the same trigger condition, the source guide notes that internal logic may prioritize one action.
Avoid duplicate conditions on the same bot when possible.
Workflow Trigger Best Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if two workflows share the same trigger condition?
Can I trigger workflows for both user and bot responses?
What if my workflow isn't appearing in the dropdown menu?
Can I update a trigger condition after saving the workflow action?
Are there any limitations to using this feature?
Continue Learning
Continue learning how Conversation AI actions connect conversations, workflows, contact updates, and automation.
