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New Feature: Add Ad Hoc Steps to Workflow Runs

Photo of New Feature: Add Ad Hoc Steps to Workflow Runs
Sometimes a run needs an extra one-off task. Now you can add ad hoc steps directly to a run without breaking future workflow updates.

Workflows are designed to be repeatable, but reality doesn't always match the template. A client asks for something extra. An inspector notices an issue that needs a follow-up task. A new regulation requires a one-time verification. In all these cases, you need a step that exists on this run but not on the workflow itself.

With ad hoc run steps, you can add one-off tasks directly to a run while keeping the workflow as the source of truth for the standard process.

How it works

  1. Enable the Allow ad hoc steps setting in your workflow settings.
  2. On any run created from that workflow, add a new step that exists only on that run.
  3. The ad hoc step is tracked, assigned, and completed just like any other step.

What makes this safe

The biggest concern with adding steps to a run is what happens when the workflow gets updated later. Ad hoc steps are designed to survive workflow edits:

  • Workflow updates ignore ad hoc steps — they won't be removed or overwritten when you push changes from the workflow to the run.
  • The workflow stays clean — ad hoc steps exist only on the run, so the workflow template remains the standard process.
  • Full traceability — ad hoc steps show up in the run's history and reports like any other step.

When to use it

  • Exception handling — a step that's only needed because of an unusual circumstance on this particular run.
  • Client-specific tasks — extra requirements for a particular client without modifying the shared workflow.
  • Temporary additions — tasks you need to track once but don't want baked into the permanent process.

If you find yourself adding the same ad hoc step repeatedly, that's a signal it should be added to the workflow itself. But for true one-offs, this feature keeps your runs accurate without cluttering your workflows.

See the full feature details for a video walkthrough.

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