---
title: Workflow Automation Overview
description: "Workflow Automation lets you build \"when this happens, do that\" automations using a visual, node-based canvas — no code required."
url: "https://hiveplugins.com/docs/workflow-automation-overview/"
updated: "2026-09-27"
category: HiveCRM
---

# Workflow Automation Overview

Workflow Automation lets you build "when this happens, do that" automations using a visual, node-based canvas — no code required.

## How to Open Workflows

Go to **Hive CRM → Workflows**.

## What a Workflow Is Made Of

Every workflow is built from three kinds of nodes on the canvas:

- **Trigger** — the CRM event that starts the workflow, such as a lead being created or a deal being updated.
- **Conditions** (optional) — one or more checks that must all match before the workflow continues.
- **Actions** — one or more things HiveCRM does automatically: send an email, create a task, add a tag, update a field, or call an external webhook.

## Workflow Runs

Every time a workflow's trigger fires and its conditions pass, HiveCRM records a run so you can review what happened and troubleshoot if an action didn't behave as expected.

## When Should You Use Workflow Automation?

Workflow Automation is useful when you want to:

- Automatically notify a staff member when a new lead comes in
- Follow up with a client by email a set number of days after a deal is won
- Tag records automatically based on their field values
- Push CRM events to an external system through a webhook
- Reduce repetitive manual follow-up work

## Related Documentation

- [Building a Workflow](building-a-workflow.md)
- [Workflow Action Types Reference](workflow-action-types-reference.md)