---
description: Learn how AI Agents trigger existing Workflows in respond.io to run advanced automations and integrations.
title: AI Skill: Trigger Workflow
image: https://assets1-proxy.respond.io/api/v1/image/assets%2F11f7a662b80a4675973850b067c01fa5%2F3f43c48b21b24f4e8b02b100c0c8fab0
---

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5. AI Skill: Trigger Workflow

# AI Skill: Trigger Workflow

The Trigger Workflow skill starts an existing Workflow from the conversation based on your AI Agent's instructions. Use this when the AI Agent needs to kick off more complex automations you already manage in Workflows, such as sending HTTP requests, adding a Google Sheets row, or sending a CAPI event. The Workflow then runs as configured, independently of the AI Agent.

## When to use

* When you already rely on Workflows to execute core business processes and want AI Agents to plug into them instead of rebuilding logic with other skills.
* When the next step goes beyond what AI skills can do on their own—for example, pushing data to external tools or orchestrating multi-step automations.
* When you want to keep business logic centralized in Workflows but let the AI Agent decide _when_ that logic should run.

## Best practices

* Turn on **Trigger Workflows** in your AI Agent's **AI skills** and describe your conditions in the **When and how should this skill be performed?** field.
* Use ! to reference the exact Workflow name in your instructions. For example:

```html
If the Contact asks for a refund, trigger !refund_processing.
```

* Make sure the Workflow you reference is **published,** unpublished Workflows will not run when triggered.
* Avoid building the same automation twice. If a Workflow performs the same skills as your AI Agent (for example, sending a follow-up message or updating the same Contact field), you may see duplicate messages or Contact updates.

> You can define multiple conditions in the same instruction field; each condition can trigger the first step of a different Workflow.

## Limitations

* Trigger Workflows only works with existing Workflows in your Workspace. If there are no Workflows, this skill cannot be enabled and you'll be prompted to create a Workflow first.
* Variables are **not** passed from the AI Agent to the Workflow. The Workflow cannot automatically see conversation variables like collected answers unless you configure that logic inside the Workflow itself.
* Information is **not** passed back from the Workflow to the AI Agent. The AI Agent does not “wait” for the Workflow’s result and cannot react to its individual steps.
* When testing an AI Agent, you’ll see a Workflow {workflow name} Started event in the Test AI Agent panel when a Workflow is triggered. Unpublished Workflows will not produce events in the test panel.

## FAQ and Troubleshooting

### Can I trigger multiple Workflows from the Trigger Workflows skill?

Yes. You can define multiple conditions in the same instruction field; each condition can trigger the first step of a different Workflow.

### Can my AI Agent pass data to a Workflow?

No. At the moment, variables and conversation data are not passed from the AI Agent to the Workflow when it is triggered. The Workflow will only use the data available from its own trigger and configuration.

### Why didn’t my Workflow run when the AI Agent tried to trigger it?

Check the following:

* The **Trigger Workflows** skill is enabled for the AI Agent.
* The Workflow exists in your Workspace and is **published**.
* The Workflow name in your instructions matches exactly, including capitalization, after the ! symbol (for example: !refund\_processing)

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## 

Related articles 👩‍💻

* [AI Agent Action: Add commentsLearn how AI Agents add internal comments in respond.io to share context, tag teammates, and support smooth handoffs. ](/help/ai-skills/ai-agent-action-add-comments)
* [AI Agent Action: Assign to agent or teamLearn how AI Agents assign conversations to agents, teams, or other AI Agents in respond.io, including assignment methods, handoff behavior, and key limitations. ](/help/ai-skills/ai-skill-assign-to-agent-or-team)
* [AI Skill: Close conversationsLearn how the Close conversations skill works for AI Agents in respond.io, including how to trigger it, apply closing notes, and handle summaries. ](/help/ai-skills/ai-skill-close-conversations)
* [AI Skill: Handle CallsLearn how AI Agents handle inbound calls in respond.io, including voice behavior, setup options, and key limitations. ](/help/ai-skills/ai-skill-handle-calls)
* [AI Skill: Make HTTP requestsLearn more about how the make HTTP requests AI skill allows your AI Agent to call external APIs during conversations to retrieve real-time data or trigger actions in third-party systems. ](/help/ai-skills/ai-skill-make-http-requests)

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2026-10-02T10:05:03.555Z

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