What is it?
The delay node makes a profile wait at a certain step before moving on to the next step in the flow. You set two things here:
The duration: how long the delay lasts, for example 2 hours. This field is required.
An optional time and day window: the moments at which a profile is allowed to leave the delay and move on to the next step.
Important to understand: the window doesn't control when the delay itself takes place. The duration simply counts down as set. Once that duration has passed, the flow checks whether the current moment falls within the set window.
If it falls outside the window, the step is postponed until the next moment that does fall within the window. This can be a few hours later, but also days later.
Note on selecting a single day: if you only check one day (for example, only Monday), and the duration ends on a Tuesday, the profile waits until the following Monday.
In the worst case, a profile can wait almost a full week extra, on top of the set duration. Keep this in mind if you only check one day.
Why use this?
A delay lets you control the pace of your flow. The time and day window makes sure messages are never sent outside certain hours or days, for example never at night or during the weekend.
How do you add a delay?
Click the plus icon, select Delay, then choose Relative.
Choose the duration: a number of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years.
Do you want the step to only complete within certain times? Enable Time and day window.
Choose the times and days within which the step is allowed to complete. If the duration ends outside this window, the flow waits until the next allowed moment.
Save the node.
Example: sending emails only during business hours
Want an email to always be sent during business hours, for example between 9am and 6pm on weekdays? Set it up like this:
Duration: the desired wait time, for example 2 hours.
Time and day window: From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with Monday through Friday checked.
Result: the 2-hour delay counts down as normal. If the moment those 2 hours are up falls within business hours, the profile moves on right away. If it falls outside business hours (for example, in the evening or during the weekend), the flow waits until the next business day between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Tip: check multiple days (such as all weekdays) to avoid profiles waiting unnecessarily long for one specific day.
