Groundhog Day of Automation | How to Handle Errors?

In the classic movie Groundhog Day, Phil Connors finds himself trapped in an endless loop, reliving the same day over and over. As he tries to break free, he repeats the same mistakes—much like we sometimes do with automation errors in our workflows. But just as Phil eventually learns to adapt and master his circumstances, we, too, can handle automation errors and achieve efficiency in our workflows. Let’s explore how automation challenges, akin to Phil's repeating mistakes, can be overcome in Monkedo, a no-code automation tool.

Monkedo No-Code Automation Tool

Monkedo is a robust no-code automation platform built to serve both technical and non-technical users alike. With its intuitive, user-friendly interface, you can effortlessly create custom workflows by dragging and dropping action blocks—no programming skills needed. Whether you're automating personal tasks, optimizing business operations, or managing intricate data workflows, Monkedo integrates smoothly with hundreds of apps, enabling you to automate virtually any process with ease.

Who Can Use Monkedo?

Monkedo is a versatile automation platform designed to be accessible and beneficial for a wide range of users, regardless of their technical expertise or business size. Here's how various users can take advantage of Monkedo's capabilities:

• Individuals: Streamline everyday tasks such as sending reminders, organizing files, or managing social media accounts, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.

• Non-Technical Users: With its simple drag-and-drop interface, anyone can create custom workflows without writing a single line of code. Automate tasks like scheduling, data entry, and email management with ease.

• Small Businesses: Save time and resources by automating routine tasks such as customer support, invoicing, and lead management, enabling small teams to operate more efficiently.

• Large Organizations: Leverage workflow automation to simplify complex processes across departments, improve approval workflows, enhance productivity, and reduce human error on a larger scale.

• Software Developers & IT Professionals: Utilize Monkedo’s integration features to seamlessly connect apps, manage APIs, and create serverless functions, drastically cutting down on development time.

• App Developers: Easily integrate apps with hundreds of popular tools, creating seamless workflows without the hassle of dealing with complex API documentation.

• Hobbyists: Experiment with automation for personal projects, such as managing a blog, automating home tasks, or integrating with smart devices—no programming knowledge required.

Workflow Automation Use Cases

With Monkedo, the possibilities for automation are endless. Whether you're looking to automate a simple task or a complex, multi-step process, Monkedo adapts to your needs. From managing workflows to automating repetitive tasks, you can create powerful automations that save time and increase efficiency. Here are some examples of what you can automate with Monkedo:

• Task Creation: Automatically generate tasks based on incoming emails or scheduled events, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.

• File Management: Streamline file handling by reading content from files, processing data, and exporting it into new formats or destinations without manual effort.

• Lead Management: Automatically capture leads from web forms and add them directly into your CRM, eliminating the need for manual data entry.

• Sales Automation: Automate follow-up emails, task creation, and reminders based on prospect actions within your sales funnel to keep deals moving forward.

• Support Ticketing: Automatically assign and update support tickets to ensure your customer service team is always on top of requests, improving response times and accuracy.

• Data Entry: Extract and sync data across forms, spreadsheets, and databases, reducing errors and ensuring that your data is always up-to-date.

• Browser Tasks: Automate form filling, data extraction, and other tasks on websites, even if those sites don't have pre-built integrations.

• Report Generation: Collect data from various sources and generate reports on a scheduled basis, freeing up time for more strategic work.

• Client and Employee Onboarding: Automate onboarding workflows by creating task series to guide new clients or employees through the process, reducing the risk of human error and speeding up the transition.

With Monkedo, these are just a few examples of the automation you can set up, making your work easier, faster, and more efficient.

How to Handle Automation Errors in Monkedo

When building an automation, errors can occasionally occur due to issues with how components are connected or configured within the flow.

In the editor, potential flow issues are identified and highlighted in a dedicated window, accessible by clicking the yellow warning button located on the right side of the top menu bar. Let's examine them.

No Trigger

Like setting an alarm clock that never goes off, your automation won’t start until you’ve added a trigger. While individual components can be run manually using the "Run" button, a trigger is required for the full workflow to execute or to save the automation to run in the background.

Multiple Triggers

In automation, as in life, one wake-up call is enough. Only one trigger is needed to start your workflow; adding more can create conflict.

Unconnected Nodes

Each component in the flow should be properly connected to receive data, either from another component or from a widget. Use the toggle on the right side of each input to manage these settings. If a component’s data source isn’t connected, the flow can’t progress, leaving the automation stalled, like Phil Connors reliving the same day over and over.

Unconfigured Nodes

Mandatory fields are marked with a red asterisk (*), indicating they require data to proceed. If any of these fields are left empty, the flow won’t work as intended. This issue is easily resolved by checking the widget for missing data entries in required fields.

Invalid End Iterator

An End Iterator component, found under "Control," is used to end an iteration when needed. It must be connected to an iteration component for it to function. Otherwise, it’s like trying to end the day without breaking the cycle—nothing happens.

Unreachable Nodes

Several situations can lead to unreachable nodes. Here’s a breakdown:

“Not Found” and Other Outputs

Components like "Get Task" or "Find Note" have a “Not Found” output that activates if no matching data is found, while other outputs activate when data is found. Since “Not Found” and other outputs can’t be active simultaneously, connecting them later in the flow causes this error. Think of it as trying to take two paths at once—it just doesn’t work.

Solution: Only connect outputs that can be active at the same time.

Condition Outputs

The Condition component evaluates data based on a set condition, and only one of its outputs (e.g., "Exists" or "Otherwise") will activate. Connecting both in the same sequence creates a dead-end, as only one will activate at any given time.

Solution: Make sure that outputs active under different conditions aren’t linked in the same flow.

“Item” and “Done” Outputs

In components that iterate (like "Iterate List"), the "item" and "number" outputs activate in each cycle, while the "done" output only activates when the iteration completes. Connecting "item" and "done" together can cause the component to stall, since they can’t be active simultaneously.

Solution: Avoid connecting outputs that won’t activate at the same time.

Connection from Another Iteration

Iteration components process one item at a time, meaning each round resets the data at the end. If a component depends on data from a previous iteration, it will fail once that data is cleared. In this case, treat your flow like a sequence: make sure earlier iterations execute fully and store their data for later use.

Solution: Run the "Iterate Table" component first if it provides essential data. Use the "Set Named Value" component to store data, so it’s available throughout the flow.

Data from Iteration Outside Component

When a node’s data is reset at the end of an iteration, any component relying on that data will fail. Like repeating the same day over and over, you need a clear sequence to ensure each step happens in order.

Solution: Adjust the order by changing the flow number in the connection details. This lets you establish a sequence that keeps the data intact.

After Deployment of Automation

When you save an automation, it won’t start immediately, allowing you time for a final review or any last adjustments. Once it’s ready, you can deploy it, and from that point, the automation will run on its set schedule without further manual input. If issues arise after deployment, you’ll receive an error message by email, which will also appear on the automation’s reports page. When this happens, simply go to the automation’s editor page to make any needed corrections.

Need More Help?

Still can’t resolve the issue after trying everything? The Monkedo team is here to support you. Reach out anytime at support@monkedo.com, and we’ll help you troubleshoot errors or set up your automation smoothly. Just as Phil Connors in Groundhog Day leaned on Rita and the kind folks of Punxsutawney to overcome his repeating challenges, you can rely on us for guidance—don’t hesitate to get in touch!