Automating workflows with AI
Add Pilla briefings, decisions, actions and conditional follow-up steps to your workflows.
Pilla briefings
A Pilla briefing is an AI-powered step on the canvas that gathers information and writes a short note. The usual kind sits to the left of an element and shows live Pilla or third-party data to staff before they fill that step in. You can also add a briefing on the right of a step, so Pilla writes a note from the value in front and passes it into a later Classify, Score, Decision or Action. Briefings can use Pilla's own teams, users and workflow data. Managers and Admins can also read from connected third-party services.
What a Pilla briefing is for
A left-side briefing reads the data sources you enable, then composes a contextual message based on your prompt. The worker sees it at the top of that step, just above the instruction, when they open that part of the workflow.
Good fits include:
- Showing today's open Shopify orders above an "Opening kitchen check" element so staff know what to prep first
- Pulling today's Google Calendar events above a meeting summary element so the worker knows which meetings to write up
- Surfacing yesterday's unresolved chat threads above a handover element so the next team picks up where the last one left off
- Reminding staff who is on the team today and what their roles are before a daily briefing element
If you find yourself writing the same context paragraph by hand every day, a left-side briefing is probably the right tool.
A right-side briefing is different. It reads the value on the step it hangs off (or an earlier Extract, Classify, Score or Calculate) and writes a note that later AI steps can use. Staff do not see that note as a card above a step the way they see a left-side briefing.
Where a briefing sits on the canvas
Left of an element. A left-side briefing attaches to a single element and sits to its left as a satellite. It does not change what staff have to fill in, it just adds context above it when they open the step. You cannot attach a left-side briefing to a group, only to an individual element. It has one connection only, to its parent element, and it is read-only for the worker.
Right of a step. A right-side briefing is offered from the Plus menu on the right of a step that can feed it (including File and photo steps). The menu label is Briefing, with the tip "A note from the value in front." It can continue into Classify, Score, Decision or Action. It cannot continue into another Briefing.
The header on the node reads Pilla briefing (done by Pilla) with a grey header bar.
How to add a left-side Pilla briefing
You add a left-side briefing from the element it should attach to. There is no right-click menu on the canvas; you add nodes using the circular Plus button.
- Find the element on the canvas, where a small circular Plus button sits just to its left
- Click the Plus button to open the add menu
- Pick Briefing from the menu
- A new Pilla briefing node spawns to the left of the element, already connected
- Click the new node to focus it and fill in the fields
The Plus button to the left of an element is always there while the element has no briefing yet, so you do not need to hover over the element to find it.
How to add a right-side briefing
- Hover over a step on the canvas to reveal the round + button on its right side
- Click the + to open the add menu
- Pick Briefing (the menu may also offer Extract, Classify, Score, Calculate, Action, Decision and Look, depending on the step)
- A new briefing node appears to the right of the step, already joined
- Fill in the prompt (and data sources, when you need outside context for the note)
Configuration fields
The briefing node has two fields to fill in.
Prompt (textarea, required)
This is where you tell Pilla what the briefing should say. On a left-side briefing the label reads Tell Pilla what information should be added to the [element-type] node, with the element type filled in based on which element the briefing is attached to. For example, a briefing attached to a Text element shows Tell Pilla what information should be added to the text node. On a right-side briefing the label reads Tell Pilla what information to look up.
The placeholder text on a left-side briefing reads: e.g. Brief the worker on yesterday's open issues, today's team, and any calendar meetings they're invited to.
Write the prompt in plain English. Pilla reads your prompt at runtime, looks at the data sources you have enabled, and composes the briefing.
Data sources (multi-select picker)
This is the list of data sources Pilla can read from when it builds the briefing. Click the picker to open it. Pilla itself sits at the top, marked Always on with a green dot, so briefings can read your own teams, users and workflow data. Managers and Admins can also use supported third-party services: connected services show a tick, while services that are not connected show a Connect button. Staff personal briefings use Pilla data only.
Tick every service you want Pilla to consider. Pilla will only query the ones you tick, so leaving a service unticked means it will be ignored even if it is connected. The picker button summarises your choice: a single service shows its name, and more than one shows a count like "3 data sources".
How a left-side briefing renders for staff
A finished left-side briefing shows up wherever staff open the workflow run, on both the mobile app and the web app. It appears as a full-width card just above the element's instruction, headed Pilla via {name} in blue, where the name is the person whose briefing it is. It reads like a short message from Pilla. It is read-only: the worker cannot tap, edit, or dismiss it, they just read it and then fill in the element below.
A left-side briefing is not generated the moment a worker opens the step. Pilla composes it shortly before the workflow run is due to start, so the text is ready and waiting by the time staff open the run. A briefing only appears once it has been generated successfully; if Pilla cannot build it (for example a data source it needs is disconnected), no card shows and the rest of the step is unaffected.
Availability
Pilla briefings are available on Pay as you go and Enterprise while your trial or subscription is active. Left-side briefings use the left Briefing satellite button on an element. Right-side briefings use the right Plus menu. Any user can add their own Pilla-native briefing to a live workflow without changing the shared step. Managers and Admins can also use supported outside data sources after connecting them through Manage my integrations or from the picker.
Tips
- Keep the prompt short and specific, "show today's open orders from Shopify" works better than "tell the worker everything they need to know about today"
- Tick only the data sources the prompt actually needs, every extra source adds latency and noise
- If a service in the data sources list shows a Connect button instead of a tick, it is not linked yet, connect it from the picker (or the Integrations page) before ticking it for a briefing
- If a data source becomes disconnected after you have set up the briefing, the briefing fails silently for that source, the rest of the briefing still runs with whatever sources remain connected
- Left-side briefings are one-way for the worker, so if you need staff to make a decision based on the context, pair the briefing with a Pilla decision in the same workflow
- Use a right-side briefing when the next step needs a written note from the value in front, then continue into Classify, Score, Decision or Action. See Extract, Classify, Score and Calculate
Pilla decisions
A Pilla decision lets a workflow branch yes or no based on what staff actually answered. Managers and Admins can add an inline decision that changes the shared workflow's steps. Any user on Pay as you go or Enterprise can instead add their own satellite decision, which can run personal Pilla actions without changing the shared workflow.
Pilla decisions are available on Pay as you go and Enterprise while your trial or subscription is active.
What a Pilla decision is for
A decision lets the workflow do something different depending on what happened, not just what was scheduled. You write the question, Pilla gives the yes or no answer, and what runs next depends on that answer.
Good fits include:
- After a number element, run an extra check on the No branch when the reading is out of range, and skip straight on when it is fine
- After a checklist or text note, send the work down a "looks fine" or "needs attention" path
- After an inspection checklist, add a follow-up step only when something failed
- After a complaint note, route the work down a "minor" or "major" path based on what the worker wrote
If the workflow needs to take a different path based on what a worker entered, a Pilla decision is the step that decides which path.
How a Pilla decision works now
Managers and Admins add this shared kind of decision directly to the element whose answer Pilla should judge. Most input and choice elements on the canvas (text, number, checklist, and so on) can carry one Pilla decision. Staff cannot add or edit this kind because it changes the shared workflow and its ordinary steps.
When you write the question, two branch dots appear under the element: a green dot on the left for the Yes branch and a pink dot on the right for the No branch. You then add a step to each branch. After staff complete the element in a work run, Pilla reads their answer, decides yes or no, and the workflow follows the matching branch.
On a photo, signature, sketch pad or annotated photo element, Pilla judges the picture itself. Guidance elements (written, photo and video guidance) cannot carry a decision, because there is no answer to judge. A voice note element does not offer one either. Elements inside a group cannot carry one either, because group steps do not have their own branches.
How to add a Pilla decision to an element
You add a decision in the element's own card on the canvas. There is no separate menu item for it.
- Click the element on the canvas to open its card
- Near the bottom of the card, tick the checkbox labelled Add conditional follow-up steps
- In the field that appears, labelled Instructions for Pilla to make a yes/no decision, type your question, for example
is the entered number above 8 - A green Yes dot and a pink No dot appear under the element card
Write the field as a yes or no question. Pilla reads the worker's answer to that element, answers your question, and follows the Yes or No branch you build next. The field placeholder shows e.g. is the entered number above 8 as a guide.
How to build out a branch
Each branch starts empty with its own circular Plus button. The green Plus on the left builds the Yes branch and the pink Plus on the right builds the No branch.
- Click the Plus button under the Yes dot or the No dot
- Pick an element type from the toolbar that opens (the same element types as the rest of the canvas)
- The chosen step is added at the end of that branch, already connected
- Fill in the new step like you would any other
You can also drag a branch dot onto an existing element to connect it, instead of adding a new step. You can only attach one step directly to each branch dot; to add more, chain extra steps off that first step. You do not have to build both branches. If a branch has no step, the workflow simply carries on after the decision when Pilla picks that branch.
How to remove a Pilla decision
To remove the decision, clear the Instructions for Pilla to make a yes/no decision field on the element card, or untick Add conditional follow-up steps.
If you have already wired up Yes or No branches, a confirmation popup appears headed Remove this Pilla rule? It warns that removing the rule also deletes its Yes and No connections, and that the steps on those branches stay on the canvas as unconnected steps so you can re-wire or delete them. Click Remove rule to confirm, or Cancel to keep the decision. If you have not wired any branches, the decision is removed straight away with no popup.
Validation warnings
The canvas flags an unfinished decision when you try to save.
- A red border around the question field means the decision has a question but neither the Yes nor the No branch is wired to a step
- The save warning lists it as
{N} Pilla rules with no steps wired, where N is the number of decisions that still need at least one branch connected
Connect at least one branch, or clear the question, and the warning clears.
The satellite decision that runs actions
There is a second kind of Pilla decision that sits beside an element as its own node and branches to Pilla actions or briefings rather than ordinary steps. It is available on Pay as you go and Enterprise from the right Decision option in the Plus menu on a step, while your trial or subscription is active. Any user can add their own satellite decision and connect it to their own Pilla actions without changing the shared steps. Managers and Admins can also connect it to a third-party action, such as posting to Slack.
You add one by hovering over a step to reveal the circular Plus button on its right, clicking it, and picking Decision from the menu (the menu may also offer Extract, Classify, Score, Calculate, Action and Briefing, depending on the step). This adds a separate node to the right of the element, headed Pilla decision (done by Pilla) with a grey background. It has a single question field labelled What should Pilla decide? with the placeholder e.g. Were all critical items ticked? Was the photo clean and well-lit?. Pilla evaluates the question when the upstream step runs.
A satellite Decision needs a readable value in front. It can follow text, number, date, checklist, choice, rating and similar steps, and it can follow a finished Extract, Classify, Score, Calculate or right-side Briefing. It cannot follow a photo, signature, sketch pad, annotated photo or voice note. To get a yes or no from a photo, signature, sketch pad or annotated photo, add a Pilla look instead. A voice note can take a Pilla briefing or action on the right. See Extract, Classify, Score and Calculate.
Under the question is a slider labelled How confident should Pilla be?. It runs from 51% to 100% and starts at 85%. Pilla answers Yes only when it is at least that sure the answer is yes, and No only when it is at least that sure the answer is no. Anything in between is Unsure, for example when the value is missing or unclear. Move the slider up to send more borderline answers to Unsure, or down to get more firm Yes and No answers.
The satellite decision has three dots on the right of the node: Yes at the top, Unsure in the middle, and No at the bottom. Clicking the Plus button on a dot opens a menu with Action and Briefing. You only need to wire the branches that should do something. If Pilla picks a branch with nothing wired to it, nothing runs. A red border means the node is not connected to anything.
The shared decision on an element, added with Add conditional follow-up steps, still answers only Yes or No. The Unsure branch and the confidence slider are on the satellite decision and on the Pilla look.
Tips
- A decision is most useful right after the element whose answer it judges, so phrase the question about that one answer, for example
is the entered number above 8 - Phrase the question so Yes is the "happy path", it makes the canvas easier to read at a glance
- You do not have to build both branches. Wire only the branch that needs an extra step, and the workflow carries on as normal on the other one
- A decision needs at least one branch wired before the canvas will save, so either connect a branch or clear the question
- Clearing the question on a decision that has wired branches always asks you to confirm, and leaves the branch steps on the canvas so you can re-use them
- For a satellite Decision after a file upload, Extract the value you care about first, then attach the Decision to that Extract
- On a satellite Decision, wire the Unsure branch to a Pilla action that sends you a direct message, so a person looks at the answers Pilla could not judge
Pilla actions
A Pilla action is an AI-powered step you add on the canvas in the web app. Pilla reads the answers from the steps above it plus your written instruction, works out the right details and carries out the action through the service you chose. On Pay as you go and Enterprise, any user can add their own Pilla-native actions without changing the shared workflow. Managers and Admins can also use connected third-party services. You add an action from the right Action option in the Plus menu on a step, and the trigger node can also run an action at the start of a workflow.
What a Pilla action is for
An action is the "do something useful" step at the end of a chain. The element gathers the answer, optional Extract, Classify, Score or Calculate steps shape the value, a Pilla decision picks a branch, and the action gets the work done in another tool. Actions run quietly in the background when a workflow run reaches that point, so staff never see the action node on their phone.
Good fits include:
- Posting a summary of a daily inspection to a #site-updates Slack channel after a step is completed
- Creating a Google Calendar event for a maintenance follow-up after the No branch of a Pilla decision
- Uploading a generated report to a Google Drive folder after a closing step
- Sending a polite team message inside Pilla to thank staff after the Yes branch confirms a clean handover
If the workflow ends with "and then this should happen in tool X", that is an action.
Pilla acts on your behalf
Actions run under the identity of whoever connected the service, not as a separate Pilla robot.
If you connected Slack, a message posted by a Pilla action appears in Slack as if you posted it. The same goes for Google Calendar (the event shows you as the organiser), Google Drive (the file is created in your Drive), and WhatsApp (the message is sent from your WhatsApp Business number).
This applies to every outside integration. The only exception is Pilla itself, where the team message is sent from Pilla, so the on-behalf-of note does not apply.
The reason is consistency. Most integrations have no robot mode at all, so a single "your account did this" model is simpler to explain and matches how a person would have used the tool by hand.
How to add a Pilla action
You add an action node with the circular Plus button on the canvas; there is no right-click menu.
From the right of a step
- Hover over a step on the canvas to reveal the round + button on its right side
- Click the + to open the add menu
- Pick Action (the menu may also offer Extract, Classify, Score, Calculate, Decision, Look and Briefing, depending on the step)
- A new action node appears to the right of the step, already joined to it
From a Pilla decision's or Pilla look's Yes or No branch
- Add a Pilla decision or a Pilla look to the right of a step first (it has a green Yes branch and a pink No branch on its right side)
- Click the round + button next to the Yes branch or the No branch
- Pick Action or Briefing from the menu that opens
- A new node appears at the end of that branch, already joined
The header of the new action node reads Pilla action (done by Pilla) with a grey background. The grey is the same on every action node, whichever branch it sits on.
Configuration fields
The action node has three fields, filled in top to bottom. Later fields only appear once earlier ones are picked. Until you choose a service the field shows Pick a service, and until you choose a tool it shows Pick a tool.
Service (picker, required)
This is the integration the action will run through. The picker only lists services that have actions ready to use, which today are Pilla, Slack, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Shopify and WhatsApp. Pilla itself sits at the top and is always available; the rest only become selectable once they are connected. A service that is not connected yet shows a small Connect button you can use to link it on the spot. Other services you may see on the "Manage my integrations" screen do not appear in this picker until they have actions wired up.
To connect a service ahead of time instead, open the avatar menu in the top-left corner of the top bar and pick Manage my integrations (managers and admins only).
Tool (picker, required)
Once a service is picked, the Tool picker appears. It lists the actions available on that service, which vary by service. The connected services that have tools wired up today are:
| Service | Tools available |
|---|---|
| Pilla | Send team message, Send me a direct message, Send a message to a group |
| Slack | Post message to channel |
| Google Calendar | Create event, List today's events |
| Google Drive | Upload file, Create folder |
| Shopify | List orders |
| Send message |
Pick one tool. The instruction field below updates to match the chosen tool. A one-line note under the Tool picker says what the tool does.
Group (picker, required for "Send a message to a group")
When you pick Pilla and Send a message to a group, a Group picker appears. It lists the group chats you are a member of. Team chats and direct messages are not listed. Choose the group the message should go to. Pilla only writes the message, and it always goes to the group you picked. The message is posted as you and shows as "{your name} via Pilla".
If you are not in any group chats yet, the picker reads "You are not in any groups yet." If you later leave the chosen group, the action shows "You are no longer in this group. Choose another group, or the send will fail." You can only add this action from the canvas, not by asking Pilla in chat. See Group chats to create one.
Instruction (textarea, required)
This is where you tell Pilla what to do. The label changes based on the tool you have picked, for example:
- Pilla "Send team message" and "Send a message to a group" show Tell Pilla what to send *
- Pilla "Send me a direct message" shows Tell Pilla what to say *
- Slack "Post message to channel" shows Tell Pilla what to write on your behalf *
- Google Calendar "Create event" shows Tell Pilla what event to create on your behalf *
A short helper line below the label reminds you where the action will run (for example "The message will be posted in Slack as you."). The helper line is only shown for outside integrations, not for Pilla.
Write the instruction in plain English. Pilla reads your instruction, looks at the answers from the steps above the action, and works out the details when the workflow runs.
For example, the placeholder for Slack reads: e.g. Post a polite summary to the #ops channel. Mention the worker and how many issues were raised.
Availability
Pilla actions are available on Pay as you go and Enterprise from the right Action option in the Plus menu on a step and from the trigger node at the start of a workflow, while your trial or subscription is active. Any user can add and manage their own actions that use Pilla itself, such as "Send team message", "Send me a direct message", or "Send a message to a group"; those actions need no connection. Managers and Admins can also use supported outside services such as Slack, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Shopify and WhatsApp. Connect those services from Manage my integrations or from the service picker before using them.
Validation warnings
A red border around the action node means it is orphaned: it is not joined to the rest of the workflow, so nothing leads to it from the trigger. This usually happens when the step it was attached to is deleted, or when you drag the node away from the chain. The fix is to connect it back into the flow, either to the right of a step or to the Yes or No branch of a Pilla decision.
The test button (the play icon in the header) is disabled until the action has a service, a tool and an instruction. The tooltip tells you what is still missing: "Add a prompt first" if there is no instruction, or "Pick a service and action first" if the service or tool is empty. When everything is filled in, the tooltip reads "Test this action".
Tips
- Be specific in the instruction. "Post a polite one-line summary to #ops mentioning the worker and the issue count" works better than "let Slack know"
- Mention channel names, calendar names or folder names directly in the instruction. Pilla uses those names to pick the right destination
- Test the action with the play button before you save, so you can see what Pilla sends through the integration on a real workflow run
- If you delete the step an action was attached to, the action node is left with a red border because nothing leads to it any more, so reconnect it into the flow before you save
- Use a Pilla "Send team message" action when you want an action that needs no outside connection
- Use "Send a message to a group" when the right people are in a group chat rather than the workflow's team chat
- When the value you need lives in a PDF or Word file, add Extract (and optional Classify, Score or Calculate) before the action. See Extract, Classify, Score and Calculate
Decision connector
A decision connector lets Pilla read a worker's answer on a step, judge it against a rule you write, and branch the workflow onto a Yes path or a No path. You add it by attaching a Pilla rule to a single step on the canvas, then building out a Yes branch and a No branch underneath it. Pilla picks the branch at run time, so staff only ever see the steps on the path that applies to them.
What a decision connector is for
A decision connector lets a workflow take a different path depending on what a worker actually entered, not just on what was scheduled. You write the rule, Pilla reads the answer on the step above and judges it Yes or No, and only the matching branch runs.
This is the third way to link steps together on the canvas. An Open connector lets staff do both steps in any order, a Gated connector hides the next step until the first is done, and a decision connector splits the flow in two and follows only one branch.
Good fits include:
- Routing a number entry onto a "fine" or "out of range" path, like revealing an escalation step only when a temperature reading is too high
- Splitting a complaint check onto a "minor" or "major" path based on the photo and the worker's note
- Branching after an inspection so the No branch runs a fix-it sequence and the Yes branch runs a quick sign-off
- Picking between two different chains of follow-up steps based on the live answer, not just on a fixed schedule
How a decision connector is built
A decision connector is not a separate node you drop between two steps. It is a Pilla rule attached to a single step. When you write a rule on a step, two extra connection points appear under that step: a green Yes handle on the left and a pink No handle on the right. You build a branch out of each one.
The step keeps its normal bottom handle for the main flow, so a step can carry on down the main column AND fork on a Yes / No rule. Only steps that capture an answer can carry a rule, because Pilla needs something to judge. Guidance steps, which only show information, cannot carry one, and the rule field does not appear on a step that sits inside a group.
Only one branch runs in any given workflow run. Pilla reads the worker's saved answer, judges it against your rule, then reveals the steps on the matching branch.
How to add a decision connector to a step
You add the rule from the step's own card on the canvas, then wire up the two branches.
- Click the step on the canvas to focus it
- Near the bottom of the card, tick the checkbox labelled Add conditional follow-up steps
- In the field that appears, labelled Instructions for Pilla to make a yes/no decision, type the rule as a plain instruction. The placeholder reads
e.g. is the entered number above 8 - The green Yes handle (left) and pink No handle (right) appear under the card, each with its own + button
Once a rule is written, build out each branch from its + button:
- Click the + button under the green Yes handle or the pink No handle. The tooltip reads
Add step - A picker opens showing the element types you can add
- Pick an element type. The new step spawns on that branch, already connected
- Keep adding to that branch using the connector picker on the new step, the same way you build the main column
A branch root must be a step, so the picker only offers element types, not groups. Write the rule so the Yes branch is the "happy path" and the No branch handles the exception. It makes the canvas easier to scan.
How a decision connector behaves on mobile
On mobile a worker never sees the branch steps up front. They see the step that carries the rule, answer it, and save.
The moment the answer is saved, a quiet line reading Pilla is checking... appears under the step while Pilla judges it. Once the verdict lands, the steps on the matching branch appear, and the steps on the other branch never show at all. The first step of the branch that ran carries a short note headed Pilla decision explaining why that path was chosen.
The same thing happens in the workflow runs view on the web app. A step being judged shows Pilla is checking..., and once Pilla decides, the matching branch steps appear with the Pilla decision note on the first one.
How to remove a decision connector
To take the rule off a step, clear the Instructions for Pilla to make a yes/no decision field back to empty, or untick Add conditional follow-up steps.
If the Yes or No branches are already wired up, a confirmation popup appears titled Remove this Pilla rule?. It reads: "Removing the rule also deletes its Yes and No connections. The steps on those branches stay on the canvas as unconnected steps, so you can rewire or delete them." Click the red Remove rule button to confirm, or Cancel to keep the rule.
To clear a single branch without removing the whole rule, click the line between the step and the first step on that branch, then click the red trash icon in the line's toolbar. The + button on that branch reappears so you can wire a different first step.
Tips
- Use a decision connector when a step's answer should change what runs next. If you only need to gate a later step on completion order, a Gated connector is simpler
- Phrase the rule as a clear yes or no question, like "is the entered number above 8", so Pilla has something definite to judge
- Keep the Yes branch as the happy path and put the exception handling on No. It makes a quick scan of the canvas easier to follow
- Each branch can be as long as you like. Staff on mobile only ever see the path that ran, never the other branch
- Pilla judges the answer at run time when the worker saves the step, so there is no preview button on the canvas. To see how a rule plays out, run the workflow and watch the branch appear in the workflow runs view
- Removing a rule leaves its branch steps on the canvas as loose steps rather than deleting them, so check the canvas afterwards and rewire or delete anything you no longer need
Extract, Classify, Score and Calculate
Extract, Classify, Score and Calculate are AI-powered steps you add beside a canvas step in the web app. Each one reads the value in front of it, writes one result, and can continue into a Pilla decision, briefing or action. They save the same way as Pilla briefings, decisions and actions. They are available on Pay as you go and Enterprise while your trial or subscription is active.
What each step does
| Step | What it does | Best attached to |
|---|---|---|
| Extract | Pulls one named value out of a single PDF or Word file | A File step |
| Classify | Reads the value in front and picks one of the choices you list | Text, number, date, checklist, choice (including multiple selections), rating and similar steps, or a finished Extract / Score / Calculate / briefing |
| Score | Reads the value in front and picks one of the levels you list, from low to high | The same kinds of steps as Classify |
| Calculate | Applies a sum (minus, plus, times, or divided by) to a number or date in front, using a number you type | Number or date steps, or a finished Extract / Calculate that wrote a number or date |
Good fits include:
- After a File step, Extract the invoice total, then Calculate a due date, then run a Decision on whether to pay
- After a complaint note, Classify it as minor or major, then Score how urgent it is
- After a temperature reading, Calculate the difference from your target, then decide whether a follow-up action is needed
- After a checklist or a choice with multiple selections, Classify whether the answers need a follow-up
Where they sit on the canvas
These steps sit to the right of the step they read, like a Pilla decision or action. You add them from the circular Plus button on the right of a step. The menu only offers the steps that can read the value in front, so a guidance step (written, photo or video guidance) does not show a right Plus menu at all.
A photo, signature, sketch pad, annotated photo or voice note step can still take a Pilla briefing or action on the right, but it cannot take Extract, Classify, Score, Calculate or a Pilla decision. A photo, signature, sketch pad or annotated photo step can also take a Pilla look, which answers yes or no from the picture. Extract needs a File step with one PDF or Word file, not a photo.
The header on each new node reads Extract (done by Pilla), Classify (done by Pilla), Score (done by Pilla) or Calculate (done by Pilla).
How to add one
- Hover over a step on the canvas to reveal the round + button on its right side
- Click the + to open the add menu
- Pick Extract, Classify, Score or Calculate (the menu may also offer Action, Decision, Look and Briefing, depending on the step)
- A new node appears to the right of the step, already joined to it
- Fill in the fields on the new node
You can also chain these steps. For example, Extract can continue into Classify, Score, Calculate, Decision, Briefing or Action. Classify and Score can continue into Decision, Briefing or Action. Calculate can continue into Classify, Score, another Calculate, Decision, Briefing or Action. A Pilla briefing on the right can continue into Classify or Score (as well as Decision or Action).
Configuration fields
Every node has a Step name field (required before you can save). The placeholder matches the step type, for example Extract.
Extract
- About this step (optional) - short note for Pilla, for example amounts are in pounds. Placeholder:
Optional. Amounts are in pounds. - What to pull out (required) - the field name, for example
Invoice total, plus whether the value is Text, Number or Date - Prompt (optional) - what to find in the file. Placeholder:
Blank uses the name.If you leave it blank, Pilla uses the field name
Extract needs exactly one PDF or Word file on the File step. It fails if the file is missing, is the wrong type, or does not contain the value.
Classify
- What to do (required) - plain-English instruction. Placeholder:
Should we pay this invoice? - Choices it can pick (required) - the list Pilla must choose from. Defaults start as
YesandNo. Use Add a choice to add more, or the cross on a row to remove one. Leave no blank rows
Score
- What to do (required) - plain-English instruction. Placeholder:
How serious is this? - Levels, from low to high (required) - the ordered levels Pilla can pick. Defaults start as
Low,MediumandHigh. Use Add a level to add more. You need at least two filled levels, and no more than ten
Calculate
- Then - pick minus, plus, times or divided by
- A number (required) - the number to apply. Placeholder:
14 - Result type - pick Number or Date
Calculate does not call AI. It applies the sum to the number or date in front.
Saving and validation
Empty required fields on these steps are marked in red and listed in the validation summary under Save, the same way other canvas steps block a save. Fill in the step name and the required fields for that step type before you save.
How results continue into other steps
When a step finishes successfully, the next step in the chain can read its result. Extract results use the field name you chose. Classify results are labelled Classification. Score results are labelled Score. Calculate results are labelled Calculated value. A Pilla decision, briefing or action further down the chain can use those labels when it reads the work.
Classify can read a checklist as the list of ticked and not-yet-ticked items, and a choice with multiple selections as the selected options joined together.
These steps run in the background when the workflow reaches them. Staff do not fill them in on mobile. They only complete the ordinary steps (for example uploading the file or typing the note) that sit in front.
Availability
Extract, Classify, Score and Calculate are available on Pay as you go and Enterprise from the right Plus menu on a step that can feed them, while your trial or subscription is active. Any user can add their own without changing the shared workflow steps, the same way they can add a Pilla decision or action.
Tips
- Put Extract only on a File step, and ask for one clear field, for example the invoice total or the delivery date
- Keep Classify choices and Score levels short and distinct so Pilla has an obvious pick
- Use Calculate when you already have a number or date and only need a fixed sum, not a judgement
- If you need a yes or no from a photo, signature or sketch, add a Pilla look to that step instead of a Decision
Pilla look
A Pilla look checks a photo, signature, or sketch that staff add to a workflow run and answers yes, no, or unsure. Each answer can then run its own Pilla action or Pilla briefing, so a picture can trigger the right follow-up without anyone reading it first.
Pilla look is available on Pay as you go and Enterprise while your trial or subscription is active. You set it up in the web app.
What a Pilla look is for
Use a look when the answer you care about is in the picture itself rather than in a typed value. For example:
- Does the fridge display show 5°C or below?
- Is the delivery signed?
- Is the fire exit clear in the photo?
- Does the sketch show where the damage is?
A Pilla decision judges a written or chosen answer. A Pilla look judges a picture. Both give a Yes branch, an Unsure branch, and a No branch.
Which steps can take a look
A look sits to the right of the step whose picture it checks. It is offered on these steps:
- Photo
- Annotated photo
- Signature
- Sketch pad
It is not offered on a voice note, a file, or a text, number, or choice step. For a typed or chosen answer, use a Pilla decision instead.
How to add a Pilla look
- Open the workflow template on the canvas in the web app
- Hover over a photo, annotated photo, signature, or sketch pad step to reveal the round + button on its right
- Click the + and pick Look from the menu (the menu also offers Action and Briefing)
- A node headed Pilla look (done by Pilla) appears to the right of the step, already joined to it
- Fill in What should Pilla look for? with a yes or no question about the picture. The field is required
- Set How confident should Pilla be? with the slider. It runs from 51% to 100% and starts at 85%
- Click the + on the Yes, Unsure, or No dot on the right of the node and pick Action or Briefing for that answer
The three dots sit on the right of the node: Yes at the top, Unsure in the middle, and No at the bottom. You only need to wire the branch that should do something. The canvas will not save a look that has an empty question.
How the confidence setting works
How confident should Pilla be? sets how sure Pilla must be before it gives a firm answer. At the 85% default, Pilla answers Yes only when it is at least 85% sure the answer is yes, and No only when it is at least 85% sure the answer is no. Anything in between goes down the Unsure branch, for example when the photo is blurred or the thing you asked about is hard to see.
Move the slider up to send more borderline pictures to Unsure. Move it down to get more firm Yes and No answers.
What happens in a workflow run
When staff fill in that step in a workflow run, Pilla looks at the picture and answers yes, no, or unsure to your question. It then runs whatever is wired to the matching branch. If nothing is wired to that branch, nothing runs. If the step has no picture, the look cannot answer and nothing on its branches runs.
Who can add one
Any user can add their own look and connect it to their own Pilla actions or briefings without changing the shared workflow steps. Connecting a branch to a third-party action, such as posting to Slack, follows the same rules as a Pilla action.
An Admin can hide new looks for the whole account with Should Pilla look steps be available on the canvas? in Settings. See Account AI settings.
Tips
- Ask about one thing you can see, for example
Is the temperature on the display 5°C or below? - Phrase the question so Yes is the normal, good result. The canvas is easier to read that way
- Ask staff to take a clear, close photo in the step instructions, so Pilla has a good picture to check
- Wire the Unsure branch to a Pilla action that sends you a direct message, so a person checks the pictures Pilla could not judge