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Common Module Flows & Outbound Call Flows

Two additional Architect flow types that complete the flow coverage for Chapter 5.


Common Module Flows

Section Description
Feature Area Architect / Flows
Flow Type Common Module
Navigation Admin → Architect → Flows → Common Module
Primary Function Build reusable logic once and call it from multiple flows — reduces duplication across flow types

A common module flow is a reusable container of Architect logic. Instead of rebuilding the same authentication check, language selection, or routing block in every flow, you build it once as a common module and call it from any compatible flow using the Call Common Module action.


Study Notes

Topic Explanation
Common Module A flow that contains reusable logic callable from other Architect flows
Call Common Module action The action used within a parent flow to invoke a common module — available in all flow types
Compatible Flow Types Defined when creating the common module — determines which flow types can call it
Snapshot behavior When a consuming flow publishes, Architect snapshots the current version of the common module into that flow
Update behavior Changes to a common module do not automatically propagate — consuming flows must be republished to pick up changes
Older version usage If you want a consuming flow to stay on an older version, publish the consuming flow before updating the common module
Size limit Common module flows have a lower size limit than other flow types
Input variables Optional — pass values into the common module from the calling flow
Output variables Returned from the common module back to the calling flow (visible in the right panel)
Dependency tracking Use dependency tracking to view common module version numbers in use

Compatible Flow Types

When creating a common module, you select which flow types it's compatible with. The available actions inside the common module depend on these selections — flow-specific actions are not shared.

Flow Type Category Examples
Voice Inbound Call, Outbound Call, In-Queue Call, Secure Call
Digital Inbound Message, Inbound Email, Inbound Chat
Back-office / Automation Workflow, Workitem
Bot Bot Flow, Digital Bot Flow

You can add or remove compatible flow types after creation under Settings → Common Module Settings.


Common Module vs Reusable Task (within a flow)

Attribute Common Module Reusable Task (in-flow)
Scope Callable from multiple flows Only within a single flow
Where defined Separate Common Module flow Within the flow itself
Callable from Any compatible flow type via Call Common Module action Only the parent flow
Versioning Snapshot taken at publish time Part of the parent flow's version

Call Common Module Action

Attribute Detail
Available in All flow types
Configuration Name the action · Select common module flow · Select version (Published or Debug)
Input variables Map values from the calling flow into the common module
Output variables Appear in the calling flow's right panel after the action
Version note Always uses the most recently published version unless you explicitly select an older published version

Size Limit

Common module flows have a lower size limit than other Architect flow types. Monitor the flow size indicator under Insights & Optimizations → Flow Size (available at 4 levels: Low / Medium / High / Full).


Use Cases

Use Case Example
Authentication block Verify account number → look up in data table → set customer tier variable
Language selection menu Play language options → capture choice → set language variable
Business hours check Evaluate schedule → return open/closed flag
Emergency routing check Check emergency group status → return emergency flag
Standard queue transfer Unified transfer logic used across multiple flows

Key Takeaways — Common Modules

Topic Summary
Purpose Reusable logic across multiple flows — reduces duplication
Call action Call Common Module — available in all flow types
Snapshot on publish Consuming flow snapshots the common module at publish time
Must republish to update Changes don't auto-propagate — consuming flow must be republished
Lower size limit Common modules have stricter size constraints than other flows
Compatible flow types Defined at creation — determines available actions


Outbound Call Flows

Section Description
Feature Area Architect / Flows
Flow Type Outbound Call
Navigation Admin → Architect → Flows → Outbound Calls
Primary Function Process outbound calls placed by dialing campaigns — handles live answers and voicemails for agentless outbound
Key Dependency Requires a Contact List and a default Wrap-Up Code before the flow can be created

Outbound flows process calls that are made without agents — specifically those made by Outbound Dialing Campaigns. The campaign's Call Analysis Response determines which outbound flow handles a live answer versus a voicemail, so the IVR can behave differently depending on what answered the call.


Study Notes

Topic Explanation
Outbound Flow An Architect flow that handles calls placed by an outbound campaign — no agent connected
Contact List Required — must be associated when creating the outbound flow; provides the call.contact variable and its properties
Default Wrap-Up Code Required — must be selected at creation; used to tag the interaction if no other wrap-up is set during the flow
call.contact variable Automatically available in outbound flows — contains properties from the associated contact list (name, phone, custom fields)
Call Analysis Response Configured in Outbound Dialing — determines which outbound flow receives a live answer vs a voicemail
Agentless use case The flow handles the entire interaction with no agent handoff — plays a message, collects data, or transfers
Flow author vs admin Flow authors design the routing logic; outbound admins configure which flow runs for a given campaign

Outbound Flow vs Inbound Flow — Key Differences

Attribute Inbound Call Flow Outbound Call Flow
Initiator Inbound customer call Outbound campaign dials the contact
Agent involvement Routes to agent No agent — fully automated unless transferred
Contact List required No Yes — required at creation
Wrap-Up Code required No Yes — required at creation
call.contact variable Not available Automatically available
Assigned via Call Routing config Outbound → Call Analysis Responses

Creation Requirements

Before creating an outbound flow, the following must exist in the org:

Prerequisite Why
At least one Contact List Required field at flow creation
At least one Wrap-Up Code Required default selection at flow creation

Navigation

Task Path
Create Outbound Flow Admin → Architect → Flows → Outbound Calls → Add
Configure outbound settings within the flow Settings → Outbound (within the flow's configuration page)
Assign flow to a campaign Admin → Outbound → Campaign Management → Call Analysis Response

Configuration Fields (Create Flow Dialog)

Field Description Required
Name Unique name for the flow (max 200 characters) Yes
Description Optional context No
Default Language Language for TTS in the flow Yes
Division Division assignment Yes
Contact List The contact list associated with this flow Yes
Default Wrap-Up Code Wrap-up code applied if no other code is set Yes

Toolbox Limitations

Some Architect Toolbox actions are not available in Outbound Call flows (not displayed in the toolbox). Outbound flows share most features with inbound flows but have certain omissions related to inbound-specific functions (e.g., queue wait, in-queue handling).


Call Analysis Response — Connection to Outbound Flows

The Call Analysis Response (configured in Outbound Dialing) is what connects a campaign to specific outbound flows:

Call Analysis Result Action
Live Voice Answer Route to the live answer outbound flow
Answering Machine / Voicemail Route to the voicemail outbound flow
Busy / No Answer Configure retry behavior

This means an organization will typically have separate outbound flows for live answers and voicemails within the same campaign.


Key Takeaways — Outbound Call Flows

Topic Summary
Purpose Handle agentless outbound campaign calls (live answer + voicemail)
Required at creation Contact List + Default Wrap-Up Code
call.contact variable Auto-available — contains contact list field values
Assigned to campaign Via Outbound → Call Analysis Response
Flow author role Designs the logic; does not specify which campaign uses the flow
Outbound admin role Configures which flow the campaign uses via Call Analysis Response
Differs from inbound No inbound queue routing; contact list required; call.contact available