Flow

If Workflow Manager is unavailable, select Retry. If the connection still cannot be made, return to the Dashboard and contact your 3PM Command administrator.

Key concepts

• Flow: The area in 3PM Command where you open Workflow Manager.
• Workflow: A set of configured steps that responds to an event and performs actions.
• Step: One part of a workflow. Steps can perform an action, apply a condition, or direct what happens next.
• Execution: One run of a workflow. Use executions to see whether a workflow ran and whether a step reported an error.
• Enabled: The setting that allows a workflow to run. A disabled system workflow does not run.
• System workflow: A built-in workflow that responds to activity in 3PM Command. System workflows can send in-app notifications or create a bill, depending on their configuration.

A workflow normally has three parts: the event that starts it, the steps that follow, and the result of the execution. For example, a workflow can start when a Timesheet is submitted, then send a notification to the manager.

How to use Workflow Manager

1. Open Flow and wait for Workflow Manager to load.
2. Use Workflow Manager to view your workflows.
3. Select a workflow to view or change its configuration.
4. Configure the event, steps, conditions, and any values required by the workflow.
5. Save your changes.
6. Use the Executions tab to review runs of that workflow.

Use the labels shown in Workflow Manager for the available actions and settings. The available workflows and configuration options can vary by organization.

How to create a workflow

1. Open Flow, then open Workflow Manager.
2. Choose the option to create a workflow.
3. Enter the workflow details requested by Workflow Manager.
4. Select the event that should start the workflow.
5. Add and configure the required steps.
6. Add conditions when an action should happen only for matching information.
7. Review the order of the steps and the values used by each step.
8. Save the workflow.
9. Switch the workflow to Enabled when it is ready to run.

Test the workflow by carrying out the activity that should start it. Then open the workflow's Executions tab and check the result. If the workflow is not ready for live use, leave it disabled until its configuration has been checked.

How to review workflow executions

1. In Workflow Manager, open the workflow you want to check.
2. Select the Executions tab.
3. Review the list of runs and their status.
4. Open an execution to see its details.
5. Check the individual steps for an error or an unexpected result.

If a workflow did not produce the expected result, confirm that it is Enabled, repeat the activity that starts it, and check the newest execution. For notification workflows, also check the notification bell for the intended recipient. For workflows that create a bill, check Bills after a successful execution.

Tips & things to know

• A disabled system workflow silently does nothing. Check that it is Enabled before testing.
• Open Flow at least once for an organization before testing workflows for that organization.
• Configure conditions carefully. A condition can prevent later steps from running when its criteria are not met.
• For a workflow that sends a notification, make sure the intended recipient can be identified from the information available when the workflow starts.
• For a workflow that creates a bill from an invoice, the supplier, invoice number, bill date, and total must be available. The supplier name must match an existing supplier exactly for the supplier to be selected automatically.
• If required invoice information is missing, the resulting bill can be marked NEEDS REVIEW and reviewers can be notified.
• The Executions tab is the best place to check whether a workflow ran and to find a step error.
• If Workflow Manager does not load, select Retry. If it remains unavailable, your organization may not be connected to Workflow Manager or the service may be temporarily unavailable.

FAQ