Flow Control Nodes

Flow Control Nodes define how a workflow runs, when it progresses, and which path it should take.
While Trigger Nodes start a workflow, Flow Control Nodes shape its entire execution sequence — enabling branching, waiting, looping, service-based operations, and conditional navigation.

These nodes are essential for building dynamic automation that adapts to data, external services, and business rules.

What Are Flow Control Nodes?

Flow Control Nodes are responsible for:

  • Directing workflow execution
  • Pausing or scheduling workflow continuation
  • Branching logic based on conditions
  • Repeating a set of steps in a loop
  • Controlling execution using external service data
  • Coordinating multi-step, multi-system flows

They essentially act as the logic layer of a workflow.

What Problems Do Flow Control Nodes Solve?

Flow Control Nodes help you:

  • Build complex conditional flows
  • Integrate decision-making into automations
  • Process dynamic data sets (lists, tasks, events)
  • Control workflow timing
  • Adapt execution based on external system states
  • Optimize workflows to run only when necessary

With these nodes, workflows become smarter, dynamic, and context-aware.

Core Categories of Flow Control Nodes

Below are the major groups of Flow Control Nodes and what they allow you to do.

1. Routing & Decision Nodes

These nodes direct the workflow based on rules or conditions.

Router

Route the workflow into different branches based on:

  • Conditions (e.g., amount > 100)
  • Data checks (status == "success")
  • Field comparisons
  • Logical evaluation

Use cases:

  • Success / failure branching
  • Payment validation flows
  • Conditional approval processes

2. Looping Nodes

Loop nodes allow repeating a sequence until a condition is met.

Loop

Supports:

  • For-each loops
  • Do-while logic
  • Iterations over arrays
  • Paginated API loops

Use cases:

  • Batch processing
  • Iterating over tasks
  • Repeating retries
  • Processing list-based data

3. Delay & Timing Nodes

Delay For

Pause the workflow for a specific duration.

Delay Until

Hold the workflow until a specific timestamp.

Use cases:

  • Scheduling
  • Throttling
  • Time-based branching
  • Reminder systems

4. Service-Based Flow Nodes

Some Flow Control nodes interface with popular platforms and tools.
Bunların bir kısmı veri yönetimi veya task yönetimi sağlar, ama workflow’un akışını etkiledikleri için Flow Control kategorisine girer.

Aşağıdaki liste tam bir özellik listesi değil, bu node tipinin neler yapabildiğini göstermek için örneklendirilmiş bir özet niteliğindedir.

Acuity Scheduling

Automate scheduling tasks such as:

  • Creating appointments
  • Updating appointments
  • Checking availability dates & times
  • Managing clients
  • Adding or removing blocks

Flow control use case:
Route the workflow based on calendar availability or scheduling results.

Asana

Manage teams, tasks, projects, and workflow states.

  • Create & update tasks
  • Add tags
  • Modify projects
  • Fetch stories or activity logs

Flow control use case:
Branch based on task status, due dates, or team assignments.

AWS SES

Email-based flow controls:

  • Send email or template email
  • Verify email addresses
  • Manage templates

Flow control use case:
Trigger branching based on email send success or verification status.

AWS SNS

Message-based triggers:

  • Create & delete topics
  • Publish notifications

Flow control use case:
Route workflow depending on publish result or topic status.

AWS SQS

Queue-based flow logic:

  • Send messages into a queue
  • Initiate downstream processing

Flow control use case:
Push control signals into message queues.

ClickUp

Used for task, list, space, and project operations.

Flow control patterns:

  • Wait for task completion
  • Branch based on task priority
  • Schedule reminders

GitLab

Use GitLab data to control flow:

  • Issues
  • Pipelines
  • Merge requests

Flow control use case:
Trigger branches when merge request fails or passes review.

Google Workspace Admin

Workflow control based on:

  • User creation
  • Group membership
  • Policy status

Jira

Integrate with issue workflows.

Use cases:

  • Branch if issue is resolved
  • Loop through issue lists
  • Check current sprint state

Keap, Kommo, Salesforce, Salesmate

CRM systems used for:

  • Checking deal stage
  • Routing based on lead status
  • Scheduling follow-ups

Flow control use case:
Branch logic depending on sales pipeline progress.

Monday, Linear, ServiceMB, ClickUp, QuickBase, Trello, Todoist, Vikunja

Task-management flow:

  • Move tasks
  • Check statuses
  • Assign owners
  • Branch based on task priority or completion state

Slack, Mattermost, TheHive

Chat-based flow control:

  • Post messages
  • Fetch channels
  • React to alerts
  • Conditional branching based on user actions

SIGNL4

Incident-based routing:

  • Alert dispatching
  • Routing based on acknowledgment status

UniSender, Xero, Trellix, Onfleet

Workflow control examples:

  • Email campaign results
  • Invoice status checks
  • Delivery / courier status
  • Security event responses

What Can You Build With Flow Control Nodes?

Flow Control Nodes empower you to build workflows like:

Multi-branch decision trees

Approval → rejection → escalation flows

Process loops / batch jobs

Delayed or scheduled tasks

Conditional automation based on external services

Retry and fallback structures

Multi-system orchestration

They act as the logic brain of your automation.

Summary

Flow Control Nodes:

  • Direct how workflows execute
  • Enable decision-making
  • Support loops & repeats
  • Control timing
  • Integrate with external task, CRM, and scheduling systems
  • Allow branching, pausing, retrying, and adaptive logic

They are essential for building robust, intelligent, and dynamic automation flows.