Workflow actions reference – Applaud Support

Workflow actions are the building blocks of a workflow. Each action performs a specific function, such as interacting with employees, calling an integration, evaluating conditions, or transforming data.

Every workflow begins with a single Start action. Other actions are added from the Actions palette in the workflow designer.

For guidance on choosing the right action, see Understand workflow actions.

Action categories

Category	Actions
Workflow	Start
Conversation	Agent
Integrations	Run Tool
Logic	Condition
Flow control	Wait, Process List
Data	Transform, Set State
Events	Send Event
Documentation	Note

Actions

Action	Purpose	Typical uses	Produces	Notes
Start Starts a workflow and defines how each workflow run begins.	Configure the workflow trigger and define the input data available to later actions.	Start a workflow from the AI assistant. Start a workflow from an external event. Define workflow inputs.	Workflow inputs	Every workflow contains exactly one Start action. The Start action can't be deleted.
Agent Interacts with employees using conversational AI.	Collect information, answer questions, explain next steps, and use approved tools during a workflow.	Gather information. Confirm details. Guide employees. Use AI reasoning.	Configured output fields.	Can pause while waiting for an employee response. Supports tools, knowledge, and structured outputs.
Run Tool Calls an integration or API.	Perform work in another system without interacting with the employee.	Create records. Update data. Retrieve information. Trigger external processes.	Configured output fields.	Executes deterministically. Doesn't use conversational AI.
Wait Pauses a workflow until it can continue.	Delay execution or wait for external activity.	Wait for employee responses. Wait for approval events. Delay until a specific date or time.	Optional outputs, depending on the wait type.	Workflow runs remain active while waiting.
Condition Routes a workflow based on an expression.	Evaluate workflow data and determine which path to follow.	Branch approval paths. Check eligibility. Skip unnecessary actions. Route by employee type.	True or False execution paths.	Expressions evaluate at runtime. Only the selected branch continues.
Process List Repeats a sequence of actions for each item in a collection.	Execute the same child actions for every item in a list.	Process multiple employees. Create several requests. Perform repeated integration calls.	Outputs from child actions.	Child actions execute once for each list item. List item variables are available inside the Process List.
Transform Creates or reshapes workflow data.	Prepare data before another action uses it.	Format values. Combine objects. Build payloads. Convert data structures.	Configured output fields.	Supports workflow expressions.
Set State Stores values for later actions.	Create workflow state variables that remain available throughout the workflow run.	Save intermediate results. Store identifiers. Reuse calculated values.	State variables.	State variables remain available until the workflow completes.
Send Event Publishes an event.	Notify another workflow or external system that an event has occurred.	Trigger downstream processes. Notify external services. Signal workflow milestones.	Event payload.	The receiving system determines how the event is handled.
Note Adds documentation to the workflow canvas.	Explain workflow logic or provide guidance for other designers.	Document design decisions. Explain complex logic. Leave implementation notes.	No runtime output.	Notes never execute. Notes aren't visible to employees.