## Introduction
In fast-paced product development environments, introducing new features frequently can overwhelm users if not guided properly. Interactive walkthroughs or onboarding guides help users understand new functionalities effectively, enhancing their experience and reducing support queries. However, manually triggering these walkthroughs for every user after each feature release is impractical.
This article provides a detailed, step-by-step guide for product and automation teams on building a robust automation workflow using n8n to trigger walkthroughs for new features automatically. This automation ensures that when a new feature is released and a user interacts with the product, the appropriate walkthrough is triggered seamlessly.
### Who Benefits?
– **Product teams** benefit from increased user engagement with new features.
– **Users** receive timely, relevant guidance.
– **Support teams** experience reduced onboarding-related tickets.
### Tools and Services Integrated
– **n8n**: The workflow automation tool used to orchestrate the process.
– **Product Analytics Platform (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude)**: To track user behavior and feature release events.
– **User Database (e.g., Firebase, PostgreSQL)**: To check user status and feature access.
– **Walkthrough Platforms (e.g., Appcues, Pendo, WalkMe)**: To host and trigger walkthroughs.
– **Slack (optional)**: For internal notifications when walkthroughs are triggered.
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## Technical Tutorial: Building the Automated Walkthrough Trigger Workflow
### Problem Statement
When a new product feature is released, it’s critical to notify and guide users through the new functionality. Manually configuring walkthroughs per release and per user segment is time-consuming and error-prone. Automating this ensures timely delivery and enhances product adoption.
### High-Level Workflow Overview
1. **Feature Release Event Trigger:** Detect when a new feature is released.
2. **User Segmentation:** Identify users who qualify for the walkthrough (e.g., existing customers, beta testers).
3. **User Interaction Tracking:** Detect when a qualified user first interacts with the new feature.
4. **Trigger Walkthrough:** Initiate the corresponding walkthrough in the product.
5. **Notify Teams (optional):** Inform product or support teams via Slack.
### Step 1: Setting up n8n Trigger for Feature Release
– Use the **Webhook Node** to receive HTTP POST requests from your release pipeline or product analytics tool that signals a new feature release.
– The payload should include feature ID, release date, target user segments, and walkthrough ID.
*Example of Webhook Node configuration:*
– Method: POST
– Path: /feature-release
This webhook acts as the entry point for the workflow.
### Step 2: Retrieve Target Users
– Use the **HTTP Request Node** or **Database Node** (depending on where user info is stored) to query users who fit the target segment.
– For example, a SQL query selecting users with a flag denoting they are in the beta program or have not seen the feature.
Example SQL snippet:
“`sql
SELECT user_id, email FROM users WHERE beta_tester = true AND feature_x_seen = false;
“`
– Pass this list to the next stage.
### Step 3: Listen for User Interaction with the New Feature
– Configure **Product Analytics** to emit events when users interact with the new feature. For example, in Mixpanel, set up an event called “FeatureX_Interaction.”
– In n8n, set up a **Webhook Node** to listen for these events or poll the analytics API periodically via the **HTTP Request Node**.
– Filter interactions only for users in the target list.
### Step 4: Trigger the Walkthrough
– Use the **HTTP Request Node** to interact with the Walkthrough platform’s API (e.g., Appcues API) to trigger or schedule the walkthrough for the user who interacted with the feature.
– API payload should include user ID and walkthrough ID.
Example payload:
“`json
{
“user_id”: “12345”,
“walkthrough_id”: “feature_x_walkthrough”
}
“`
– Update the user record in your database to mark that the walkthrough has been triggered, preventing duplicate triggers.
### Step 5 (Optional): Send Slack Notifications
– Use the **Slack Node** to send internal notifications for records or if errors occur.
### Example n8n Workflow Node Breakdown
1. **Webhook Node:** Receives feature release event.
2. **Database Node:** Queries user segments.
3. **SplitInBatches Node:** To process users individually.
4. **Webhook or HTTP Request Node:** Listens or fetches user interaction events.
5. **If Node:** Checks if user interacted.
6. **HTTP Request Node:** Calls Walkthrough platform to trigger guide.
7. **Database Node:** Updates user status.
8. **Slack Node:** Sends notification.
### Common Errors and Tips
– **Duplicate Walkthrough Triggers:** Prevent by flagging users in the DB immediately after triggering walkthrough.
– **API Rate Limits:** Respect limits of analytics and walkthrough platforms; use n8n’s built-in retry and delay capabilities.
– **Data Consistency:** Ensure user identifiers are consistent across analytics, DB, and walkthrough tools.
– **Security:** Secure webhooks with tokens or IP whitelisting.
### Scaling the Workflow
– For large user bases, use the **SplitInBatches Node** to control API calls.
– Employ caching strategies to minimize repeated DB queries.
– Add error logging to external monitoring tools for proactive alerting.
– Extend the workflow to handle multiple feature walkthroughs by dynamic mapping based on the feature ID.
—
## Summary and Bonus Tips
Automating walkthrough triggers for new features using n8n bridges the gap between product releases and user onboarding. This workflow reduces manual effort, improves user adoption, and enables product teams to focus on feature innovation.
**Bonus Tip:** Integrate A/B testing within the Walkthrough platform and n8n. Use n8n to assign users to different walkthrough variants automatically upon feature interaction and track conversion metrics back into your analytics platform to optimize your onboarding flow continuously.
By following the steps outlined above, product and automation teams can build scalable, reliable automation that delivers timely guidance to users exactly when they need it.