Workflow Task
A workflow action in Salesforce that automatically creates a task record and assigns it to a specified user, role, or record owner when a workflow rule fires, used for follow-up reminders and action items.
Definition
A workflow action in Salesforce that automatically creates a task record and assigns it to a specified user, role, or record owner when a workflow rule fires, used for follow-up reminders and action items.
In plain English
“A Workflow Task automatically creates a task record and assigns it to a user, role, or record owner when a workflow rule fires. It's a way to generate follow-up actions automatically. Legacy; Flow creates tasks in modern automation.”
Worked example
A legacy Workflow Rule at Hartfield Capital fires when a Lead's Status changes to Qualified. Among its actions is a Workflow Task - automatically creating a Task record assigned to the Lead's Owner with the subject "Schedule Discovery Call," due in 2 days. The Workflow Task fires immediately, without the rep manually creating a follow-up. Workflow Tasks are the legacy automation primitive for generating to-do items; in modern Flow, the same outcome is achieved via the Create Records element creating a Task record. Hartfield is gradually migrating their Workflow Tasks to Flow.
Why Workflow Task matters
A Workflow Task is a workflow action in Salesforce that automatically creates a task record and assigns it to a specified user, role, or record owner when a workflow rule fires, used for generating automated follow-up activities based on record changes or criteria.
Workflow tasks are legacy alongside other workflow actions. Flow's Create Records action handles task creation with more flexibility. Migrate legacy workflow tasks to Flow as part of automation modernization.
How organizations use Workflow Task
Migrates legacy workflow tasks to Flow Create Records actions.
Uses Flow for all new automated task creation.
Treats workflow task references as migration candidates.
Trust & references
Straight from the source - Salesforce's reference material on Workflow Task.
- Workflow TasksSalesforce Help
Test your knowledge
Q1. What is a Workflow Task?
Q2. What replaces them?
Q3. Who can tasks be assigned to?
Discussion
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