> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Create operations workflows > Build step-by-step checklists for repeated facility work, such as vehicle intake, pickup, transport, or detailing. Use this guide when your team follows the same steps for a job over and over. **Workflows is no longer a section on Operations** The **Workflows** block used to live on [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations). That page now covers bays, odometer units, cars for sale, and parking audits. See [Configure operations settings](/docs/settings/configure-operations-settings). To set up the services each checklist step uses, open [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events). To run work on a specific day, open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule). If your facility already has a workflow, staff can still open it from a vehicle or a scheduled event. New facilities can start with clearly named services instead of a multi-step checklist. ## What you will accomplish * Plan a named process such as **New Vehicle Intake** or **Vehicle Departure**. * Link each step to a service from [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events). * Set durations and optional delays between steps. * Test the checklist once on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) before asking the whole team to use it. A workflow is a saved checklist. It helps staff do the right work in the right order. You might use a workflow for vehicle intake, vehicle departure, transport, detailing, or a special service package. ## When to use a workflow (and when not to) * **Use a workflow** when the same steps happen in the same order every time (intake, departure, transport handoff). * **Use a single appointment** when the job is one visit with no checklist—for example a one-hour detail with no follow-up steps. * **Build services first** in [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) before you link them in a workflow. Services and schedule settings showing service cards such as New Car Intake, Dealer Service, and Vehicle Drop Off *Create the services a checklist will use on [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) before you try to chain them together.* ## Before you start * You should be signed in as a team admin or manager. * Open [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) and confirm each step already exists as a service. * Know the real-world process you want to turn into a checklist. ## Plan the workflow before you build it Write the steps in plain English first. This keeps the setup simple. Example: **New Vehicle Intake** 1. Confirm drop off 2. Photo intake and condition check 3. Assign first care task **Keep the first workflow small** Start with the steps staff must complete every time. You can edit the workflow later after your team uses it. ## Build the same process with services Until a Workflows settings page returns, create each step as its own service, then book those services in order. Example for **New Vehicle Intake**: 1. Vehicle Drop Off 2. Photo intake and condition check 3. Assign first care task Open [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) and add a service for every step that does not already exist. Use the same names you wrote down. Follow [Configure services and schedule settings](/docs/settings/configure-events-and-schedule-settings). Open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) and create the first appointment (for example **Vehicle Drop Off**). Add the later visits on the same car when they should happen. **Expected result:** Staff see the same order you planned, one appointment at a time. **Already have a workflow?** If your facility created a workflow before this settings change, staff can still open it from a scheduled event. Look for **Open Event** on [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule). See [Run event workflow from Schedule](/docs/schedule/run-event-workflow-from-schedule). ## Test the workflow on Schedule Before you ask the whole team to use a new checklist, run it once on a sample vehicle or test event. Open [Schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/schedule) and follow [Create an appointment](/docs/schedule/create-an-appointment) for a test vehicle. Choose an event type that matches the **first step** of your workflow. Click the calendar block to open the event detail panel on the right. Look for **Open Event** near **Edit Event** at the top of that panel. **Expected result:** The floor workflow screen opens with the checklist steps you configured. Complete or skip optional steps the way a technician would on a real visit. **Why this matters:** Testing catches missing event types, wrong durations, or steps marked optional by mistake. Schedule event detail panel showing Open Event button next to Edit Event for running a linked workflow ***Open Event** on Schedule is how staff run an existing checklist. See [Run event workflow from Schedule](/docs/schedule/run-event-workflow-from-schedule).* ## What success looks like * The workflow name matches how your team talks about the job. * Each step exists as an active service on [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events). * Required steps are not marked optional. * A test event shows **Open Event** and the checklist opens correctly. * Staff know when to start the workflow from Schedule or a vehicle record. ## Helpful tips Workflow is another word for a repeatable checklist. Some teams also say "SOP," which means standard operating procedure. You do not need to use that term with your staff. A simple name like **New Vehicle Intake** is easier to understand. ## Troubleshooting **I cannot find Add workflow on Operations** That section is no longer on [Settings > Operations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/operations). Create each step as a service on [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) instead. **The step duration does not look right** Open that service with **Set up** on [Settings > Services & schedule](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/events) and review its duration. **Staff are skipping important work** Open the service with **Set up** and confirm staff know which visits are required. Keep names clear so people do not skip a step by accident. **Open Event does not appear** Not every service uses a checklist. If your facility has an older workflow, confirm the scheduled event is linked to it and is not a simple **Calendar Block**. See [Run event workflow from Schedule](/docs/schedule/run-event-workflow-from-schedule). ## What to do next After your test run works, train technicians with [Run event workflow from Schedule](/docs/schedule/run-event-workflow-from-schedule). If staff also need clearer progress labels, continue with [Manage custom statuses and amenities](/docs/settings/manage-custom-statuses-and-amenities). ## Related topics - [Configure operations settings](/docs/settings/configure-operations-settings.md) - [Manage custom statuses and amenities](/docs/settings/manage-custom-statuses-and-amenities.md) - [Use the Create event home page](/docs/basics/use-the-create-event-home.md) - [Set up vehicle service plans](/docs/settings/set-up-vehicle-service-plans.md) - [Set up event checklists](/docs/events/set-up-event-checklists.md) This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.