---
sourceDocument: Yokohama Build workflows
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/yokohama/build-workflows

 Release :

    - yokohama

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Yokohama Build workflows

ft:clusterId :

    - crworkflow

bundleId :

    - crworkflow

workflow :

    - Creator


---

# Optional activities

# Optional activities {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Yokohama  
Updated January 30, 2025  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
Enable your agents and fulfillers to add additional activities as they go through a playbook.

## Overview {#optional-activities__section_kyz_fnb_xzb}

Admins enable and add optional activities in the Workflow Studio
Playbooks builder, while agents and fulfillers add and complete optional activities in Playbook Experience.

As an example, if you have a playbook for a Security Incident, a playbook admin could add an optional activity for a virus scan. When the activity runs, the optional virus scan activity would take the parent Security Incident record and run third-party virus
scanning integrations on Configuration Management Database (CMDB) assets associated with the parent record. The security analyst can decide at runtime whether to run a virus scan based on their assessment of the situation.  
The flow of working with optional activities:

1. Turn on and add optional activities to a playbook in Workflow Studio.
2. Optional activities are configured like other activities. To see [design an automated process](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/OynyzdxYrLI2quKA_FNsJg "Create a sample playbook to standardize and automate how Service Desk agents handle chat interactions with VIP users.").
3. Agents add optional activities in Playbook Experience.
{#optional-activities__ol_br2_bqb_xzb}
**Related concepts**   

* [Activity definitions](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r014Lhz_11xoMRZZRHOzcA "Activity definitions describe how the activities in your playbook get the data that they need when your playbook runs.")
* [Automation Assets](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/mU389THCpCX6TcjWJLTNJg "Include all automation assets in the activity picker to add a subflow, flow, or action directly to your playbook without having to create an activity definition.")
* [Playbook activity state mapping](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/fmXbaKoPUaBr1Y8dpLJFYA "Use playbook activity state mapping to override the status of a playbook card.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Add and configure a stage in a playbook](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/Vk3iDYyg_Df62zD4oj~nDQ "Add and configure a stage in your playbook.")
* [Add and configure an activity in a playbook](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/eH66_4Re8HXK8adZ1kzWiw "Add and configure an activity in your playbook.")
* [Decision activities](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/4rX5cqI_FXRlYNq~tfDHiQ "Create and define branches with different conditions for different paths that an agent can follow in playbook.")
* [Parallel branches](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/PNev5QskKuGUAmoIHUw0fQ "Add branches for activities and stages that run in parallel to another branch of activities and stages.")
* [Add dynamic inputs to an activity](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/8XnLc2y4MM0hKIntwpZR5A "Configure your activity to show a certain set of fields based on the value of another input, such as a selected catalog item, selected decision table, or even a REST API response.")  
**Related reference**   

* [Start with delay input properties](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ZO5_TxRewwK7XqnX5otC7A "Specify a duration of time to wait before running an activity or a stage whose start rule and conditions have been met. Give users time to act during automated playbooks. Give users time to wait for a specific date and time to complete actions.")
* [Questionnaire activity](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/0Zhk1Qtvq62no8BNvPsGbQ "Collects inputs from a user during a playbook run to use later in the playbook.")

## Add an Optional Activity to a playbook {#ariaid-title2}

As a Playbooks administrator, add an optional activity to a playbook that Playbook Experience agents and fulfillers can choose to add and complete during the playbook runtime.

### Before you begin

Role required: playbook.admin or pd_author

### Procedure

1. Navigate to AllProcess AutomationWorkflow StudioPlaybooks.
2. Open the playbook that you want to add an optional activity to.
3. Switch to Board view.  
   ![Toggle for Diagram and Board views]()  
4. In the upper right-hand corner, toggle on Optional activities.  
   ![Toggle on Optional activities]()  
   The optional activities swimlane opens.
5. Add an optional activity.  
   Global optional activities can be inserted by the agent or fulfiller anywhere in the playbook, while a stage-specific optional activity can only be inserted within its specific stage.
6. Configure your activity the way that you would configure a regular activity.

*[\>]: and then