MIKE LAFFIN · OCTOBER 23, 2026
Write down the actual sequence
Start with the trigger, the information received, the decisions made and the result you want. Include the exceptions: incomplete data, duplicate records, unavailable services and actions that need approval.
Separate rules from judgment
A fixed field mapping or a calculation usually benefits from deterministic code. Summarizing an unstructured document may benefit from AI. The useful design puts each technique where it helps and checks the output before relying on it.
Plan for the day something fails
Define what happens when a connection times out or a model produces an uncertain result. Useful automation needs clear errors, safe retries, and a way for a person to review important decisions.