Starting with a workflow template: faster than from scratch
Writing an instruction from nothing is harder than adapting an existing one. With a template the setup is already there, and you only fill in what belongs to your business.
New to this topic? Start with How to Build Your First Agentic Workflow with dGENIX
The blank page problem
When you create a scheduled task for the first time, you face an empty input field. What should the assistant do? How do you phrase that? What are you forgetting?
It is the same hurdle as a blank page in a word processor. Not because it is hard, but because you do not know where to start. Many people then write something vague like "keep track of my mail", and get a result that is just as vague.
A template removes that hurdle. The setup is there, the wording has been tested, and you only adjust what fits your situation.
What a template is
In dGENIX, a workflow template is a ready-made instruction for a recurring task. Every template has a title, a short description and the skills it needs. When you open one, the title and instruction are already filled in, with a suggested frequency.
You find them on the Tasks page, under the Templates tab. They are grouped by category:
| Category | What it is about |
|---|---|
| Marketing | Visibility, reviews, findability |
| Sales | Leads, follow-up, pipeline |
| Content | Articles, posts, repurposing |
| Research | News, competitors, market information |
| Communication | Email, messages, summaries |
| Reporting | Overviews and numbers |
| Operations | Internal processes and planning |
| Personal | Your own day and week |
At the top is a For you row: six templates that best match your plan and the skills you already have active. The Refresh button gives you a new selection.
Step by step
1. Choose a template that fits
Search for what you want to achieve, or browse by category. The search bar filters on title, description and skill name. Start with something you now do by hand and that comes back every week.
2. Fill in the details between brackets
The instruction contains pieces of text between brackets, such as [my segment name] or [email address]. You replace them with your own details. That is the most important part of the work: the more concrete you are, the better the result.
If you leave something empty, that is not fatal. The assistant asks for it on the first run. But a template that has to ask every week who your audience is does not really run automatically.
3. Adjust the instruction where needed
A template is a starting point. Want the overview in bullet points instead of paragraphs, or only mail from customers and not from suppliers? Add that. Write it the way you would say it to the assistant.
4. Set the frequency and time
Daily, weekly or monthly, with a time and optionally the day of the week or month. Pick a moment when you actually use the result. A weekly overview on Monday at eight works better than on Friday evening.
5. Check the first run
After the first run, look in the run history to see what happened. Is the result right? Is anything missing? Adjust the instruction and let it run again. After two or three rounds it works the way you want.
Watch the warnings
If a template needs skills you have not activated yet, you see that in two places: a yellow badge on the card with the number of missing skills, and an orange notice in the form with a link to the skills.
You can still create the workflow, but it fails on every run until the skills are active. The same goes for connections: a template that summarises your mail needs a connected Google account. The difference between a skill and a connection is explained in connecting your tools as a small business.
Three templates to start with
If you do not know where to start, these are good first candidates, because they mainly read and summarise:
- Daily overview of inbox and calendar. Every working day a summary of what came in and what is scheduled.
- Weekly report. Every Monday last week's numbers and highlights in your inbox.
- Monthly SEO audit. A measurement of your site with the SEO Engine, so you see what changed.
Why you are better off starting with reading than with sending is covered in which task to automate first.
No template found
If your search returns nothing, you see two buttons. New workflow lets you create one from scratch yourself. Request template lets you describe which workflow you are missing; that request goes straight to the team.
From scratch is less daunting than it sounds once you have used a few templates. You have seen what a good instruction looks like by then. How to build a workflow yourself is covered in build your first agentic workflow.
What to know about slots and confirmation
Every active workflow uses a slot. How many slots you have depends on your plan. If you pause a workflow with the toggle, it is kept but does not run.
Irreversible actions ask for confirmation even inside a workflow. A template that sends emails or publishes something prepares it and waits for your approval. More about scheduling itself is in scheduled tasks explained.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change a template after creating the workflow?
Yes. With the pencil icon next to the workflow you change the name, instruction and frequency. The template itself stays unchanged for next time.
Does a template cost extra?
No. Only the work the workflow carries out costs credits, just as when you give the same instruction by hand.
Can I share a template with my team?
You can link directly to the Templates tab, so a colleague sees the same list. The workflow itself lives on your account.
