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Exit Step: Prevent Future Workflow Runs

An Exit Step ends the current workflow run and can prevent the same workflow from running automatically again for that contact.

Manual workflow runs are treated differently. When you manually run a workflow on a contact, the workflow starts even if that contact previously reached an Exit Step in the same workflow.

Overview

A contact can enter a workflow through automatic triggers such as Contact Created, Contact Updated, Appointment Created, or Form Submission Created. If that contact reaches an Exit Step, the workflow run ends and the contact is permanently blocked from re-entering that same workflow through those automatic triggers.

Important: Automatic-trigger blocking applies across all versions of the same workflow. Publishing a new version does not remove the exclusion.

Manual Workflow Runs

Manually running a workflow is a deliberate action. If you open a contact, choose a workflow, and click Run Workflow, LeadCenter starts a new workflow run for that contact even if the contact previously reached an Exit Step in that workflow.

For manual runs, the Exit Step still ends the workflow run. It does not prevent you from manually running that workflow on the same contact again later.

How It Works

1. A contact enters a workflow through an automatic trigger or a manual run.
2. The contact progresses through the workflow steps.
3. When the contact reaches an Exit Step, that workflow run completes.
4. If the same automatic workflow trigger happens again later for that same contact, the workflow will not start again.
5. If a user manually runs the workflow again from the contact's page, the workflow starts normally.

Example

1. A contact goes through an Annuity Transfer workflow and reaches its Exit Step, so the run completes.
2. Later, you need to run Annuity Transfer on the same contact again for a new transfer.
3. You open the contact, choose the workflow, and click Run Workflow.
4. The workflow starts normally, because manual runs are not blocked by the earlier Exit Step.

What Is Not Blocked

• Manual workflow runs - A user can manually run the same workflow on the same contact again.
• Filtered contacts - Contacts that did not match the workflow filters are not excluded and can enter later if they match.
• Terminated or failed runs - Contacts whose runs were stopped manually or failed because of an error are not excluded.
• Workflow paths without an Exit Step - If the workflow finishes without an Exit Step, no permanent automatic-trigger block is created.

When to Use an Exit Step

• Use an Exit Step when an automatic workflow should run only once per contact.
• Let the workflow end naturally if you want the workflow to remain repeatable through automatic triggers.
• Use Run Workflow manually when a contact needs to go through the same workflow again as a deliberate one-time action.

Common use cases

• Onboarding workflows - Make sure a contact goes through onboarding only once automatically.
• One-time follow-up workflows - Prevent repeat automatic sends of the same communication.
• Branching workflows - End specific paths permanently while other paths may complete differently.
• Repeat manual processes - Run the same workflow again when a contact has a new case, transfer, or request.

Important Notes

• Exit Step exclusions apply to automatic workflow triggers, including Contact Created, Contact Updated, Appointment Created, and Form Submission Created.
• Exit Step exclusions for automatic triggers apply across all versions of the same workflow.
• No changes are needed to existing workflows. Manual runs are allowed automatically.
• When a manual run reaches an Exit Step, the workflow still completes as expected.

Troubleshooting

• A contact is not entering the workflow again automatically: Check whether they previously reached an Exit Step in that workflow.
• I published a new version, but the contact is still blocked from automatic re-entry: Exit Step exclusions apply across all versions of the same workflow.
• A workflow ended, but the contact can still re-enter automatically: The workflow may have ended naturally without an Exit Step, or the previous run may have been terminated or failed.
• I need to run the workflow again for the same contact: Open the contact, choose the workflow, and click Run Workflow.

FAQs

Does an Exit Step stop only the current run or future runs too?

It ends the current run and blocks future automatic runs of the same workflow for that contact.

Can I manually run the same workflow again after a contact reaches an Exit Step?

Yes. Manual workflow runs are allowed even if the contact previously reached an Exit Step in that workflow.

Can filtered contacts still enter later?

Yes. If a contact was filtered out and never reached an Exit Step, they can still enter later if they match the workflow conditions.

Can I re-enroll a contact automatically after they reach an Exit Step?

No. Reaching an Exit Step permanently excludes that contact from future automatic runs of the same workflow.