Skip to main content

Pause Workflows on Certain Dates

The Pause Workflow feature in Stack allows you to temporarily halt specific automations without deactivating or deleting them. This guide will help you understand the benefits, configuration steps, and practical uses of this feature, ensuring smooth and precise automation control.

What is the Pause Workflow Option?​

The Pause Workflow option lets you stop specific workflows during predefined periods without disrupting or losing progress. It's particularly useful for managing seasonal campaigns, holidays, or any adjustments in your automation processes. By using this feature, you can maintain precise communication while optimizing operations for specific timelines.

Key Benefits​

Pausing workflows offers more than just a temporary halt. Here’s why it’s beneficial:

  • Operational Flexibility: Temporarily stop workflows without losing progress or needing to recreate them.
  • Improved Customer Experience: Avoid sending irrelevant messages during holidays or sensitive periods.
  • Enhanced Automation Control: Fine-tune automations by pausing non-essential workflows while keeping vital ones active.
  • Time-Saving Recurrence: Automate pauses for predictable events like annual holidays, reducing manual adjustments.
  • Centralized Management: Manage workflow pauses efficiently from the Global Workflow Settings.

How It Works​

Setting up the Pause Workflow option ensures your automations adapt to specific business needs, like holidays or recurring events. Follow these steps to configure your pauses effectively:

Access the Global Workflow Settings from the automation section of your platform. You can also find it under the "Automation" tab inside the "Settings" area.

Locate Pause Workflow Option​

In the Global Workflow Settings, scroll to find the "Pause Workflow" option.

Select the Start and End Date and Time​

  1. Click the "Start Date and Time" field.
  2. Choose your desired start and end dates and times.
  3. Click "Confirm" to save your selection.

Select Workflows​

  • Click the "Select Workflows" field to choose one, multiple, or all published workflows. Only "Published" workflows will appear in the dropdown.

Add Date​

  • Add multiple date ranges by clicking the "Add Date" button. You can add up to 15 different date ranges to pause workflows.

Run the Pause Feature Annually​

  • To pause workflows on the same dates every year, check the "Annually" checkbox for each date range. This automatically pauses the selected workflows annually on those dates.

Clone & Delete​

  • To duplicate a date range, click the Clone icon next to the row. To remove a date range, click the delete icon.

Paused Status​

  • When workflows are paused, their status will appear as "Paused" on the Workflow Landing Page.

Builder Settings​

In each workflow's builder settings, there's a "Pause Workflow" section. Here, you can view details about when the workflow is paused. You can also access the "Global Workflow Settings" from this page to adjust pause dates.

Points to Remember​

  • Contacts will still enroll even if the workflow is paused.
  • The maximum allowed difference between start and end dates is 15 days.
  • A workflow should not be part of overlapping date ranges.
  • Contacts will proceed through "Wait" and "If/Else" actions, but pause at the trigger or subsequent actions.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Q: Can I pause all workflows at once?
Yes, you can pause all published workflows by selecting the “All Published Workflows” option.

Q: What happens to contacts in paused workflows?
Contacts will enter the workflow but will pause at the trigger or subsequent actions. For workflows starting with a “Wait” or “If/Else” action, contacts will progress through these steps before pausing.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of date ranges I can configure?
Yes, you can configure up to 15 date ranges. Ensure no overlapping ranges to avoid errors.

Q: Can the same pause dates apply to multiple workflows?
Absolutely! You can select multiple workflows for a single date range to ensure consistent pauses.

Q: How do I ensure workflows resume seamlessly after a pause?
Once the pause period ends, workflows automatically resume, provided the settings were saved correctly. No additional action is required.