What is a Scheduled Execution Trigger Node?

The Scheduled Execution Trigger node runs your workflow automatically at specific times and intervals that you define. This time-based trigger allows you to automate recurring tasks, generate periodic reports, perform maintenance operations, or execute any workflow on a predictable schedule.

Outputs

When the scheduled time is reached, the trigger node provides the following outputs:

Time (datetime): The timestamp when the scheduled execution was triggered

Scheduled Execution (object): Contains metadata about the scheduled execution, including timing information and execution context

How to set up the Scheduled Execution Trigger Node

  1. Add a Scheduled Execution Trigger node to your workflow
  2. Configure the schedule settings:
    • Day of the week: Select which days the workflow should run (Every day, specific weekdays, weekends, etc.)
    • Hour: Set the hour of the day when execution should occur (0-23, 24-hour format)
    • Minute: Set the minute of the hour when execution should occur (0-59)
    • Timezone: Choose the timezone for the task scheduler (UTC, EST, PST, etc.)
  3. Connect the Scheduled Execution trigger to downstream nodes in your workflow
  4. Publish your workflow to activate the scheduled trigger

Important Notes

  • The trigger will not work until you publish the workflow
  • All times are based on the timezone you select in the configuration
  • The scheduler uses 24-hour format (0 = midnight, 12 = noon, 23 = 11 PM)
  • Minimum execution interval depends on your platform’s scheduling limitations
  • Scheduled triggers run independently and don’t require external events

Using Schedule Data in Your Workflow

You can reference the execution data in downstream nodes by:

  • Using the Time output to timestamp your workflow executions
  • Accessing Scheduled Execution metadata for logging and tracking purposes
  • Creating time-based conditional logic using the execution timestamp
  • Recording when automated tasks were performed

Common Use Cases

  • Daily Reports: Generate and send daily, weekly, or monthly reports
  • Data Backups: Automatically backup databases or files at regular intervals
  • System Maintenance: Run cleanup tasks, cache clearing, or system health checks
  • Content Publishing: Schedule blog posts, social media updates, or newsletters
  • Monitoring and Alerts: Check system status and send alerts if issues are detected
  • Data Synchronization: Sync data between systems on a regular schedule
  • Batch Processing: Process accumulated data in batches at off-peak hours
  • Reminder Systems: Send periodic reminders or follow-up messages
  • Inventory Management: Update stock levels or reorder supplies automatically
  • Performance Analytics: Collect and analyze metrics at regular intervals

Schedule Configuration Examples

  • Daily at 9 AM: Day of week: “Every day”, Hour: 9, Minute: 0
  • Weekdays at 6 PM: Day of week: “Monday to Friday”, Hour: 18, Minute: 0
  • Weekly on Sundays: Day of week: “Sunday”, Hour: 8, Minute: 30
  • Every 30 minutes: Use multiple triggers or configure based on platform capabilities

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure your workflow is published for the schedule to be active
  • Verify timezone settings match your intended execution time
  • Check that your schedule configuration doesn’t conflict with system maintenance windows
  • Monitor execution logs to confirm scheduled runs are completing successfully
  • Consider system load and resource availability when scheduling frequent executions