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Workflow Delays & Timing: Building Sequences with Wait Steps

Adding time to a workflow#

Not everything should happen at once. The Wait / Delay block — found in the Timing group of the palette — pauses a workflow for a set amount of time before the next step runs. This is what turns a one-shot automation into a timed sequence.

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It is recommended to add a delay of 1 minute to all workflows.
Adding time to a workflow

How the Wait block works#

Drop a Wait / Delay block between two other blocks. In its config, set Wait for a number and a unit:

  • Minutes

  • Hours

  • Days

When a record reaches the Wait block, the workflow pauses for that duration, then continues to the next connected block. You can place several Wait blocks in one workflow to build multi-step sequences over days or weeks.

How the Wait block works

Example: a three-touch follow-up#

  1. Trigger: Record Created (Contacts)

  2. Send Email — welcome message (immediately)

  3. Wait / Delay — 2 Days

  4. Send WhatsApp — a helpful tip

  5. Wait / Delay — 3 Days

  6. Create Record — a task for the owner to call the contact

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Delays are what make drip campaigns and nurture sequences possible without anyone remembering to follow up. Space your touches out — back-to-back messages feel spammy; a well-timed sequence feels helpful.
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A delay holds the record inside the workflow until the wait completes — even if that is days later. You can see records still in progress from the workflow list and report.

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