Workflow automation isn't new. For years, tools like IFTTT and Zapier have empowered us to connect apps with simple "if this, then that" logic. A new email in Gmail can create a Trello card. A new row in a spreadsheet can send a text message. This is great for simple, linear tasks.
But what happens when your process isn't simple? What if it requires decisions, branching logic, error handling, and interaction with multiple complex systems? This is where traditional automation hits a wall, and a new paradigm takes over: agentic workflows.
Agentic workflows represent the next evolution in business process automation. Instead of a rigid, pre-defined path, they are executed by intelligent "agents" that can operate autonomously to achieve a goal. They are dynamic, resilient, and powerful.
This post will introduce you to agentic workflows and show you how a robust, event-driven foundation is the key to unlocking their potential.
Linear automation tools are powerful but often brittle. They typically suffer from a few key limitations:
To orchestrate truly complex business processes, you need something more—something that thinks, adapts, and executes with intelligence.
An agentic workflow is a set of tasks carried out by a software agent designed to achieve a high-level goal. Unlike a simple script, this agent can:
Think of it as hiring a hyper-efficient digital employee. You don't give them a rigid, step-by-step checklist. You give them a goal—"Process all high-value orders"—and they use their programmed skills to get it done, no matter what.
Even the smartest agent needs a signal to start working. This starting signal is the most critical part of an automated system. The agent needs to know when to act and what data to act on.
This is the entire focus of Triggers.do. We provide the definitive starting pistol for your agentic workflows. By defining triggers as simple, declarative code, you create a robust, version-controllable entry point into your most complex automation.
With Triggers.do, you can initiate workflows from any event source:
Let’s see how simple it is to define a powerful trigger. Imagine you want to launch a special workflow only for Shopify orders over $100.
This short snippet does three powerful things:
This code is clear, maintainable, and can live alongside the rest of your application code in version control.
So, what does the process-high-value-order agentic workflow actually do? It goes far beyond just sending a notification.
When started by our trigger, the agent could perform this sequence of tasks:
This is the power of an agentic workflow. It's not a simple chain of events; it's an intelligent process that handles the complete business logic from start to finish.
What is a trigger in the context of agentic workflows?
In Triggers.do, a trigger is a defined event that automatically initiates one or more workflows. Think of it as the 'When this happens...' part of a 'When this happens, do that' rule, all managed as simple code.
What kinds of events can I use as triggers?
You can trigger workflows from virtually any event source: incoming webhooks from services like Stripe or GitHub, messages from a queue, database changes, scheduled times (cron jobs), or custom events emitted from your own applications.
Can I filter events so a workflow only runs under certain conditions?
Yes. Our platform allows you to apply conditional logic to incoming event payloads. You can write simple expressions to filter events, ensuring that workflows only run when specific criteria are met, such as an order value exceeding $100.
Can one trigger start multiple workflows?
Absolutely. A single event can be configured to trigger multiple, parallel workflows. This enables you to orchestrate complex, branching business processes, like notifying sales, updating inventory, and starting fulfillment, all from one new order event.
Simple, linear automation has its place, but modern business processes demand more. By combining a powerful, code-based event triggers platform like Triggers.do with the intelligence of agentic workflows, you can build automation that is robust, scalable, and truly works for you.
Ready to trigger workflows from any event? Visit Triggers.do to learn more and get started.
import { trigger } from '@do-sdk/triggers';
// Define a trigger that starts a workflow when a new
// high-value order is received from Shopify.
await trigger.create({
name: 'High-Value Shopify Order',
event: 'shopify.order.created',
filter: 'body.total_price > 100.00',
workflow: 'process-high-value-order',
});