Workflow Rules and Actions
With field services increasingly gaining traction worldwide, they are continuously evolving into a more systematic and standardized process. Automation plays a pivotal role in this transformation. Studied automation can make all the difference between a mediocre field service management solution and a great one. From the obvious to the obscure, automation can be introduced to all areas of field services. When done effectively, automation can help every key player, such as field technicians, dispatchers, and call center agents, carry out their tasks efficiently. This translates to successful completion of contact requests, thereby fostering customer loyalty and retention. The following are some of the areas where automation can be useful:
- Providing immediate and accurate response to contact's queries
- Keeping the contact updated on the progress of a service appointment
- Proper inventory management to ensure field technicians have the required resources
- Maintaining knowledge repository to share and record gained experience
- Identifying cross-selling and upselling opportunities
In Zoho FSM, we provide you with the tools to effortlessly carry out automation. Workflow rules and functions offer you ways to automate your business processes.
Workflow rule: Defines conditions and the Custom Function that need to be executed when the specified conditions are met. A given workflow rule is specified for a particular module. The conditions and rule criteria can be defined only on that particular module and its fields. However, the custom functions can be related to other modules as well.
Custom Function: This is a program used for formulating processes, defining business logic and automating repetitive tasks. For example, notify the customer when a new request is created for them.
List of Modules Supported
Workflow rules can be created for the following modules:
- Assets
- Companies
- Contacts
- Estimates
- Requests
- Service Appointments
- Services and Parts
- Work Orders
Components of a Workflow Rule
Basic Information
Specify the following details:
- Module for which the rule has to be triggered
- Name of the workflow rule
- Description of the workflow rule
Rule Trigger
Specify when and on what conditions the workflow rule should be triggered for a record. Workflow rules can be triggered when records are created, edited, created/edited, or deleted. Workflow rules are executed when one of the following record actions occurs:
- Created - When records are created.
- Edited - When existing records are modified.If the checkbox Repeat this workflow whenever a <module_name> is edited is selected and no rule criteria is added, the workflow rule will be executed every time a record is edited else the workflow rule will be executed only the first time the record is edited.
If the checkbox Repeat this workflow whenever a <module_name> is edited is selected and a rule criteria is added, the workflow rule will be executed every time a record is edited else the workflow rule will be executed only when the rule criteria is satisfied. - Created or Edited - When records are created or existing records are modified.
- Deleted - When certain records are deleted
Rule Criteria
Specify filter criteria so that the workflow rule can be selectively applied to matching records.
- Matching field(s) - You can specify the matching field value(s) for which the workflow rule should be triggered.
You can specify a maximum of 5 criteria. - All records - The workflow rule will be triggered for all records of the module.
Actions
Associate action like custom functions that need to be carried out for a workflow rule. You can either associate an existing function to the workflow or create a new function and associate it to the workflow.
Creating a workflow rule
A sample workflow rule has been used to explain the steps involved in creating one. This workflow is used to notify the customer when a new request is created for them.
- Go to Setup > Automation > Workflow Rules and click Create Workflow.
- Enter the following details, then click Next:
- The Module for which the rule has to be triggered
- A Rule Name
- A Description of the rule
- Select the rule trigger as Created and click Next.
- Select the rule criteria as To all Request and click Next.
- Click +Function.
- Select Create your own Function and click Next.
- Enter a Function Name and add the function in the Deluge Script Editor. Click Save and Associate to add the function.
Click Save & Execute to add the function and execute the workflow.
You can also add the function if it has already been defined. Select Existing Functions.
Select the required function and click Next. - Click Save.
Editing a workflow rule
To edit a workflow rule:
- In the Workflow Rules page, select the rule you want to edit.
- Hover over the workflow where you want to make changes and click Edit [
].
- Make the necessary changes and click Save.
Disabling a workflow rule
To disable a workflow rule:
- In the Workflow Rules page, toggle the Status switch to enable/disable the workflow.
Points to remember
- If multiple work flow rules are created for a module, then these rules will be executed in the order in which they were created.
- A maximum of five workflow rules can be created for a module.
- A maximum of 10 workflow rules can be created in total.
- At a time, there can be a maximum of three active workflow rules for a module.
- At a time, there can be a maximum of five active workflow rules in total.
More Examples
Example 1: Notify the customer of service appointment updates
This workflow is used to notify the customer when the status of a service appointment changes.
- Go to Setup > Automation > Workflow Rules and click Create Workflow.
- Enter the following details, then click Next:
- Module: Service Appointments
- Rule Name: Appointment Updates
- Description: Notify the customer when the status of a service appointment changes
- Select the rule trigger as Created or Edited and click Next.
- Select the rule criteria as Only to the Service Appointment matching certain conditions and add a condition as shown below. Click Next.
- Click +Function.
- Select Create your own Function and click Next.
- Enter a Function Name and add the function in the Deluge Script Editor. Click Save and Associate to add the function.
Click Save & Execute to add the function and execute the workflow. - Click Save.
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