The Wait Block: Adding Smart Timing to Your Automations

Not every step in an automation should happen instantly. Sometimes, the difference between a good workflow and a great one comes down to when things happen.

That’s where Flowrunner’s Wait block comes in. It gives you precise control over timing so that your automations run not just fast, but right on time.

What It Does

The Wait block introduces intentional pauses in a workflow. Instead of rushing from one step to the next, you can hold execution until the right moment has arrived.

It works in two modes:

• Simple Mode → Add a fixed delay (seconds, minutes, hours, days). Perfect for predictable pauses.
  
• Advanced Mode → Use the Expression Editor to calculate dynamic wait times based on context (like user data, event timestamps, or custom rules).
  

Why Timing Matters

Automation isn’t always about speed. Sometimes you need:

• A short pause before sending follow-ups, so messages feel natural.
  
• A delay until external data has finished updating.
  
• A controlled sequence that holds until another process finishes.
  

The Wait block gives you this flexibility without adding complexity.

Real-World Examples

Onboarding Emails
Delay a welcome email by 10 minutes so it feels intentional, not robotic.

Payment Processing
Pause execution until a transaction has confirmed before releasing order fulfillment steps.

Customer Support
Hold escalation notifications for 2 hours, giving teams a chance to resolve issues before alarms trigger.

Batch Workflows
Use dynamic expressions to stagger processes (e.g., space out API calls to avoid rate limits).

How It Fits Into Flowrunner

The Wait block is a simple but powerful addition to your automation toolkit. Pauses can be:

• Fixed (always the same delay), or
  
• Calculated (different per run, based on data).
  

Either way, you know that when the workflow moves forward, the previous step has truly completed.

The Takeaway

The Wait block turns raw speed into smart sequencing. It ensures your flows don’t just run; they run in harmony with timing, context, and user experience.

👉 Next time you design a flow, ask: “Should this happen immediately, or after a pause?” If the answer is “pause,” the Wait block is your go-to.

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