afv-library/skills/agentforce-development/assets/patterns/multi-step-workflow.agent

# Multi-Step Workflow Pattern
# Track progress through complex multi-stage processes using boolean flags
#
# ★ When To Use This Pattern:
#   - User onboarding with multiple steps
#   - Order/checkout processes
#   - Application submissions (loan, support case, etc.)
#   - Any workflow requiring completion tracking
#
# ★ Key Insights:
#   - Use boolean flags to track step completion
#   - Use number variable for step counter
#   - Conditionally show instructions based on completion state
#   - Chain actions with `run` for deterministic sequences
#
# ★ Why This Pattern:
#   - Clear visibility into workflow progress
#   - Resume interrupted workflows
#   - Prevent skipping required steps
#   - Show progress indicators to users
#
# This is a COMPLETE template - customize for your use case
#
# ★ Step Guard Pattern (Feb 2026 Community Best Practice):
#   - The topic selector re-evaluates on EVERY user utterance
#   - Without a step guard, follow-up messages ("my email is X") get re-routed
#   - The `if @variables.current_step > 1:` guard in start_agent forces
#     re-entry to the current workflow, bypassing LLM topic selection
#   - Reset current_step to 1 when the workflow completes

system:
	instructions: "You are an onboarding assistant. Guide users through the account setup process step by step. Ensure all required steps are completed before finishing."
	messages:
		welcome: "Welcome! I'll help you set up your account. Let's go through this step by step."
		error: "I encountered an issue. Let me try to continue from where we left off."

config:
	agent_name: "Onboarding_Agent"
	default_agent_user: "agent@company.salesforce.com"
	agent_label: "Onboarding Assistant"
	description: "Guides users through multi-step onboarding workflow"

variables:
	# Standard linked variables
	EndUserId: linked string
		source: @MessagingSession.MessagingEndUserId
		description: "Messaging End User ID"
	RoutableId: linked string
		source: @MessagingSession.Id
		description: "Messaging Session ID"

	# ★ WORKFLOW PROGRESS TRACKING - Boolean flags for each step
	step_1_account_created: mutable boolean = False
		description: "Step 1: Account has been created"
	step_2_profile_completed: mutable boolean = False
		description: "Step 2: Profile information has been collected"
	step_3_preferences_set: mutable boolean = False
		description: "Step 3: User preferences have been configured"
	step_4_verification_done: mutable boolean = False
		description: "Step 4: Email/phone verification completed"
	onboarding_complete: mutable boolean = False
		description: "All onboarding steps are complete"

	# ★ STEP COUNTER - For progress indication
	current_step: mutable number = 1
		description: "Current step number (1-4)"
	total_steps: mutable number = 4
		description: "Total number of steps"

	# Data collected during workflow
	customer_id: mutable string = ""
		description: "Created customer ID"
	user_email: mutable string = ""
		description: "User's email address"
	user_name: mutable string = ""
		description: "User's full name"
	phone_number: mutable string = ""
		description: "User's phone number"
	notification_preference: mutable string = "email"
		description: "Preferred notification method"
	verification_code: mutable string = ""
		description: "Verification code for confirmation"

language:
	default_locale: "en_US"

start_agent onboarding:
	description: "Multi-step account onboarding workflow"

	actions:
		# Step 1: Create account
		create_account:
			description: "Create a new customer account"
			inputs:
				email: string
					description: "Customer email address"
					is_required: True
				name: string
					description: "Customer full name"
					is_required: True
			outputs:
				customer_id: string
					description: "Newly created customer ID"
				success: boolean
					description: "Whether account creation succeeded"
			target: "flow://Create_Customer_Account"

		# Step 2: Update profile
		update_profile:
			description: "Update customer profile information"
			inputs:
				customer_id: string
					description: "Customer ID to update"
					is_required: True
				phone: string
					description: "Phone number"
					is_required: False
			outputs:
				success: boolean
					description: "Whether profile update succeeded"
			target: "flow://Update_Customer_Profile"

		# Step 3: Set preferences
		set_preferences:
			description: "Configure customer notification preferences"
			inputs:
				customer_id: string
					description: "Customer ID"
					is_required: True
				notification_method: string
					description: "Preferred notification method: email, sms, or both"
					is_required: True
			outputs:
				success: boolean
					description: "Whether preferences were saved"
			target: "flow://Set_Customer_Preferences"

		# Step 4: Send verification
		send_verification:
			description: "Send verification code to customer"
			inputs:
				customer_id: string
					description: "Customer ID"
					is_required: True
				method: string
					description: "Verification method: email or sms"
					is_required: True
			outputs:
				success: boolean
					description: "Whether verification was sent"
			target: "flow://Send_Verification_Code"

		# Verify code
		verify_code:
			description: "Verify the customer's code"
			inputs:
				customer_id: string
					description: "Customer ID"
					is_required: True
				code: string
					description: "Verification code entered by user"
					is_required: True
			outputs:
				verified: boolean
					description: "Whether code was correct"
			target: "flow://Verify_Customer_Code"

	reasoning:
		instructions: ->
			# ★ STEP GUARD — Force re-entry if workflow in progress
			# This prevents the topic selector from re-routing the user
			# mid-workflow when they provide follow-up information
			if @variables.current_step > 1:
				| Continuing your account setup...
			# ★ PROGRESS DISPLAY - Show current status
			| Welcome to account setup!
			| Progress: Step {!@variables.current_step} of {!@variables.total_steps}
			|
			# ★ SHOW COMPLETED STEPS
			if @variables.step_1_account_created == True:
				| ✓ Step 1: Account Created
			if @variables.step_1_account_created == False:
				| ○ Step 1: Create Account (current)
			if @variables.step_2_profile_completed == True:
				| ✓ Step 2: Profile Complete
			if @variables.step_2_profile_completed == False and @variables.step_1_account_created == True:
				| ○ Step 2: Complete Profile (current)
			if @variables.step_3_preferences_set == True:
				| ✓ Step 3: Preferences Set
			if @variables.step_3_preferences_set == False and @variables.step_2_profile_completed == True:
				| ○ Step 3: Set Preferences (current)
			if @variables.step_4_verification_done == True:
				| ✓ Step 4: Verified
			if @variables.step_4_verification_done == False and @variables.step_3_preferences_set == True:
				| ○ Step 4: Verify Account (current)
			|
			# ★ STEP-SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
			if @variables.step_1_account_created == False:
				| Let's start by creating your account.
				| I'll need your email address and full name.

			if @variables.step_1_account_created == True and @variables.step_2_profile_completed == False:
				| Great! Account created. Now let's complete your profile.
				| What's your phone number? (optional but recommended)

			if @variables.step_2_profile_completed == True and @variables.step_3_preferences_set == False:
				| Profile saved. Let's set your notification preferences.
				| How would you like to receive notifications: email, sms, or both?

			if @variables.step_3_preferences_set == True and @variables.step_4_verification_done == False:
				| Almost done! I've sent a verification code.
				| Please enter the code you received.

			if @variables.onboarding_complete == True:
				| 🎉 Congratulations! Your account is fully set up.
				| Customer ID: {!@variables.customer_id}
				| You're all ready to go!

		actions:
			# ★ STEP 1: Create Account
			# Uses action chaining with `run` for automatic next step
			do_step_1: @actions.create_account
				with email=...
				with name=...
				set @variables.customer_id = @outputs.customer_id
				set @variables.step_1_account_created = @outputs.success
				set @variables.current_step = 2
				available when @variables.step_1_account_created == False

			# ★ STEP 2: Update Profile
			do_step_2: @actions.update_profile
				with customer_id=@variables.customer_id
				with phone=...
				set @variables.step_2_profile_completed = @outputs.success
				set @variables.current_step = 3
				available when @variables.step_1_account_created == True
				available when @variables.step_2_profile_completed == False

			# ★ STEP 3: Set Preferences
			do_step_3: @actions.set_preferences
				with customer_id=@variables.customer_id
				with notification_method=...
				set @variables.step_3_preferences_set = @outputs.success
				set @variables.current_step = 4
				# Automatically trigger verification after preferences
				run @actions.send_verification
					with customer_id=@variables.customer_id
					with method=@variables.notification_preference
				available when @variables.step_2_profile_completed == True
				available when @variables.step_3_preferences_set == False

			# ★ STEP 4: Verify
			do_step_4: @actions.verify_code
				with customer_id=@variables.customer_id
				with code=...
				set @variables.step_4_verification_done = @outputs.verified
				set @variables.onboarding_complete = @outputs.verified
				available when @variables.step_3_preferences_set == True
				available when @variables.step_4_verification_done == False

# ★ Insight: Multi-Step Workflow Best Practices
#
# BOOLEAN FLAGS:
#   - One flag per step for clear completion tracking
#   - Use meaningful names: step_1_account_created, not flag1
#   - Check flags to enable/disable actions
#
# STEP COUNTER:
#   - Provides simple progress indication
#   - Can be used in template expressions for display
#
# ACTION AVAILABILITY:
#   - Use `available when` to prevent out-of-order execution
#   - Multiple `available when` clauses work as AND conditions
#
# ACTION CHAINING:
#   - Use `run` for automatic sequential actions
#   - Good for: send confirmation after save, log after complete
#
# RESUME CAPABILITY:
#   - Boolean flags persist across conversation turns
#   - User can pick up where they left off