---
sourceDocument: Australia Build workflows
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Build workflows

ft:clusterId :

    - crworkflow

bundleId :

    - crworkflow

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Start with delay input properties

# Start with delay input properties {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
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## Summary of Start with delay input properties

The "Start with delay" input property in ServiceNow playbooks allows you to specify a waiting period before an activity or stage begins, even after its start rules and conditions are met.
This feature helps provide users with time to act or wait until a specific date and time to complete actions, improving control and timing in automated workflows.
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## Roles and Availability

* This input is available for all stages and common activities except for the Placeholder activity.
* Users with the following roles can configure it: **admin** , **playbook.admin** , **pdauthor** , and **pdcontentauthor**.

## Input Properties

To configure "Start with delay," open the properties panel of an activity or stage, enable the option, and set these key inputs:

* **Duration Type:** Choose how the delay duration is defined:
  * **Explicit Duration:** Fixed wait time (e.g., 5 minutes).
  * **Relative Duration:** Wait time relative to a selected data pill or date/time value (e.g., 5 minutes after playbook start).
  * **Percentage Duration:** Percentage of elapsed time between the activity/stage start and a defined end time (valid values 0-100%).
* **Wait for Template Value:** Specify the duration manually or select a Duration data pill from the picker.
  * For Explicit Duration: Input hours, minutes, and seconds.
  * For Relative Duration: Specify wait time before or after a date/time. Note that past dates do not affect wait duration, and wait values can be up to 999 hours.
* **Wait for Percentage Integer:** When using Percentage Duration, enter the percentage of time to wait relative to a specified end date or select a date/time data pill. If the end date is in the past, the wait duration defaults to zero.
* **During the following schedule:** Optionally select a schedule (Reference.Schedule \[cmnschedule\]) to ensure the calculated end date aligns with business hours, such as a standard workweek. If left blank, the end date does not consider schedules.

## Practical Considerations

* The actual wait time can vary slightly due to instance processing delays, but the playbook always respects the configured delay duration.
* Using schedules helps align delay periods with business operating hours for accurate timing in workflows.  
Specify a duration of time to wait before running an activity or a stage whose start rule and conditions have been met. Give users time to act during automated playbooks. Give users time to wait for a specific date and time to complete actions.

## Roles and availability {#start-with-delay-properties__section_pwq_rb5_kcb}

This input is available for all stages and common activities, except for the Placeholder activity. Users with the admin, playbook.admin, pd_author, or pd_content_author can configure the properties of this input.

## Input properties {#start-with-delay-properties__section_yb4_zq3_plb}

Open the activity or stage properties panel, show additional options, and enable the Start with delay option to configure the following input properties. {#start-with-delay-properties__table_ajt_sr3_plb__entry__3}

| Input | Type | Description |
|-|-|-|
| Duration Type | Choice | Option to specify how long of duration to wait. Options include * Explicit Duration: Wait for a specific time period, such as 5 minutes. * Relative Duration: Wait for a specific time period from a selected Duration data pill or date/time value, such as 5 minutes after the playbook starts. * Percentage Duration: Wait for a specific percentage of a time period between the start of the activity or stage and a specified end time, such as 50%. Note: The percentage value must be from 0 through 100 only. {#start-with-delay-properties__ul_ixy_42f_ffc} |
| Wait for | Template Value | Option to set a duration value manually or to select a Duration data pill from the data pill picker ![Data pill picker](). * Explicit Duration: Wait duration in hours, minutes, and seconds. * Relative Duration: Wait duration in hours, minutes, and seconds before or after a specific time. Select Relative Duration to specify a wait duration from a specific date. Note: Past dates don't affect the wait duration. {#start-with-delay-properties__ul_mg2_ykw_fhc}You can enter a wait value of up to 999 hours. Note: The actual wait duration can vary due to the instance processing time. The playbook always waits for the time that you specify for this field, but other work in the queue may add to the wait time. |
| Wait for Percentage | Integer | Percentage of time to wait from a specified end date before running an activity or stage. You can manually enter an end date or select a date/time data pill from the data pill picker ![Data pill picker](). If you select an end date in the past, the wait duration is set to 0. This field is only available when you set the Duration Type to Percentage Duration. |
| During the following schedule | Reference.Schedule \[cmn_schedule\] | Schedule used to calculate an end date that occurs during your hours of operation. For example, the calculated end date for a 10-hour duration that occurs during a 8-5 weekdays schedule will always be one or more business days in the future. If you leave this field blank, the calculated end date does not follow a schedule. For information on creating schedules, see [Define a schedule](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=t_DefineASchedule&version=australia&pubname=australia-platform-administration&ft:locale=en-US). |
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{#start-with-delay-properties__table_ajt_sr3_plb}