Conversational subflows
- UpdatedJul 31, 2025
- 3 minutes to read
- Zurich
- Create Workflows
Run a Workflow Studio subflow from a Now Assist conversation. Create and configure the conversational skill from Workflow Studio.
Workflow Studio offers a selection of preconfigured subflows that are available to run from Conversational Interfaces.
Activating the subflows and actions skill
To activate the subflows and actions skill, see Turn on the subflows and actions skill.
User role access
Give personnel an appropriate role to access conversational subflows. See User roles for conversational subflows and actions.
Making a subflow conversation compatible
- Turn on the subflows and actions skill. See Turn on the subflows and actions skill.
- Give personnel an appropriate role to access conversational subflows. See User roles for conversational subflows and actions.
- Choose subflow inputs that are compatible with Conversational Interfaces. See Supported input data types for conversational subflows and actions.
- Add tooltip hint text to all subflow inputs.
- Publish the subflow.
Conversational settings
- Toggle off or on the option to make an action or subflow conversational.
- See the subflow or action skill name.
- Select one or more assistants that can discover the action or subflow skill.
- Select one or more roles users must have to access the action or subflow skill.
- Set the advanced option to make the action or subflow skill discoverable.
- Set the advanced option to include the action or subflow skill in the list of topics.
- Set the advanced option to retain the context of previous conversations so that the users can ask follow-up questions, provide additional details, and continue the conversation.
- Set the advanced option to include error messages from subflows and actions in the conversation.
When you set these options in Workflow Studio, the system also sets the corresponding options in Virtual Agent Designer.
Supported conversational subflows and actions input data types
Conversational subflows and actions support a limited number of input data types. To be compatible with conversational interfaces, an action or a subflow must only include inputs that use supported data types.
| ServiceNow AI Platform data type name | Workflow Studio data type label |
|---|---|
| array.string | Array of Strings |
| boolean | True/False |
| calendar | Calendar Date/Time |
| choice | Choice |
| date | Date |
| datetime | Date/Time |
| document_id | Document ID |
| date_time | Date/Time |
| due_date | Due Date |
| glide_date | Date |
| glide_time | Time |
| glide_date_time | Date/Time |
| GUID | Sys ID (GUID) |
| html | HTML |
| integer | Integer |
| long | Long |
| longint | Long Integer String |
| reference | Reference |
| schedule_date_time | Schedule Date/Time |
| string | String |
| string_full_utf8 | String (Full UTF-8) |
| table_name | Table Name |
Related Content
- Conversational actions
Run a Workflow Studio action from a Now Assist conversation. Create and configure the conversational skill from Workflow Studio.
- Configure subflow conversational settings
Configure conversation settings to make a subflow available to conversational interfaces.