How to use custom objects in flows

You will learn

Learn how to use custom objects in flows, so you can use object data to create date-triggered flows and set up splits.

Note that you must create an object first before you can use custom object data in flows. The object must have a relationship to profiles. To use a date trigger, map the property you want to use as a date.

Date-triggered flows

Date-triggered flows enable you to automatically send messages based on date properties in an object (e.g., a child’s birthday, a pet’s adoption date, the expiration date of a product warranty, an upcoming restaurant reservation, etc.).

Learn how to create a date-property triggered flow in Klaviyo.

Using the flow library

Go to Flows > Create flow to browse the flow library. Use the search bar to find pre-built birthday and anniversary flows, such as First Purchase Anniversary. In standard date-triggered templates, Trigger lists profile date properties.

To use a date property from your own custom object, create a flow from scratch using the steps below.

Create a flow from scratch

To create a date-triggered flow from scratch:

1. Navigate to the Flows tab.
2. Click Create flow.
3. Click Build your own.
4. Enter a name for your flow, then click Create manually. If your dialog shows Create flow instead, click that button.
5. In the trigger panel, select All triggers > Date property.
6. In the Date property dropdown, select your object’s date property under Object properties. Each option includes the object name and property name.

Configure the date trigger

1. Select whether the flow should start Before the date property value or On the date property value. If you choose to start before the date, enter how far in advance to start. For example, a birthday flow can start sending messages to a recipient before their birthday. To send messages after the date, start on the date and add a time delay before the first message.
2. Set the time of day and timezone, and choose any day-of-week restrictions you need. Click Next.
3. Under Re-entry criteria, choose No re-entry, Allow re-entry, or Allow re-entry after a time period. If you choose a time period, enter the amount of time that must pass before re-entry. These settings control whether the same profile can enter the flow again, including for another record of the same object.

If you allow re-entry, use Repeat on date to choose whether the date repeats. Profiles must also meet your re-entry criteria:

• Monthly
  Recipients will qualify to enter this flow on a monthly recurring basis on the same day each month; for example, a monthly subscription reminder series. Note that if you schedule this on the 31st, it will automatically pick up on the last day of the month for any month that has fewer than 31 days.
• Yearly
  Recipients will qualify to enter this flow on a yearly recurring basis on the same month/day; for example, a yearly anniversary or birthday series.
• Never
  The flow uses the full date (day, month, and year), without monthly or yearly repetition; for example, a wedding or pregnancy due date. This setting does not prevent a profile from entering again for another qualifying object date if your re-entry criteria allow it.

Review your selected date property before saving; you cannot change the trigger after saving it. Click Save, then Confirm and save. You can still add or edit trigger and profile filters.

Flow filtering

You can also use custom object data within trigger filters, profile filters, and splits in flows, allowing you to limit flows to certain customers, filter based on the specific object that started the flow, or send customers down different paths.

For example, say you have a Pet object. You can use a trigger filter to ensure a 'Pet Birthday' flow only sends if the specific pet having the birthday is a 'Dog'. You can also use a profile filter to limit that same flow to owners who have at least 2 records (i.e., multiple pets).

Alternatively, after a customer places an order, the split can check if a customer has a dog with a known birthday. If this data is available, you can send them a standard order confirmation. However, if this data has not been collected you send them an order confirmation with a prompt to fill out a survey to collect their dog's birthday.

You can set filters or splits to be based on:

• The count of object records associated with a profile.
  • Profile has 2 or more pet records in the Pet object
• The existence of an object’s records and values.
  • Example: Profile has an Appointment object record with a date property that hasn’t passed yet.
  • Example: Profile does not have any active subscription records in the Subscription object.
• The properties of the object that triggered the flow.
  • Example: The Pet object entering the flow has a Type property equal to 'Dog'.

Trigger filters

Learn about trigger filters and how to set them.

Trigger filters allow you to restrict who enters a flow based on data from the specific object instance that triggered it. Unlike profile filters, which look at all data associated with a person, trigger filters only evaluate the object (e.g., the specific Pet or Appointment) that started the flow. For a custom object date trigger, these filters are checked again before each action using the object’s current values.

To set trigger filters:

1. Select your trigger in the flow builder.
2. Click Add or Edit next to Trigger filters.
3. Define criteria using the triggering object's properties (e.g., Pet Type equals Dog), then click Save.

Profile filters

Learn about profile filters and how to set them.

Profile filters are checked when people enter your flow and before each action, including email and SMS messages. If someone no longer qualifies, they skip that action but continue through the flow and are checked again at later actions. You can set up profile filters based on data from your objects.

To set profile filters for an entire flow:

1. Select your trigger once it has been set and click Add or Edit next to Profile filters.
2. Select Properties about someone from the dropdown to choose your custom object.
3. Define the criteria for the filter based on the available object properties, then click Save.

To add additional filters to individual flow messages:

1. Select the individual flow message.
2. In the message settings, find Additional filters.
3. Select Properties about someone from the dropdown to choose your custom object.
4. Define the criteria for the filter based on the available object properties, then click Save.

Create a split using trigger object data

While profile conditions look at a profile's total data (e.g., "Does this person have any active subscriptions?"), trigger conditions look strictly at the specific object that started the flow.

For example, in a "Pet Birthday" flow, you can use a split to send one email if the specific pet having the birthday is a "Dog," and a different email if it is a "Cat."

To add a split into a flow series:

1. Drag Split from the Logic section of the sidebar and drop it where you want to create the split.
2. Click on the split to view the details panel. Unconfigured paths display a warning label. A new split starts with one condition path and an "Everyone else" path.
3. If you insert a split midway into a flow, all components below that point are placed on the first path. To swap the components between the two paths of a two-path split, click the settings icon (3 dots) and choose Flip split.
4. On the path you want to configure, click Add path criteria.
5. Under Trigger-based conditions, select Properties of Custom Object, then choose a property such as Type or Breed.
6. Define the criteria using that object’s properties, then click Save. If the path editor shows Apply, click it, then click Save in the split panel.
7. To create another path, click Add path in the split panel, then set and save its criteria. Save any remaining changes in the split panel before closing it.

Create a split using profile object data

Learn how to use multi-branch splits in flows.

To add a new split into a flow series:

1. Drag Split from the Logic section of the sidebar and drop it where you want to create the split.
2. Click on the split to view the details panel. Unconfigured paths display a warning label. A new split starts with one condition path and an Everyone else path.
3. If you insert a split midway into a flow, all components below that point are placed on the first path. To swap the components between the two paths of a two-path split, click the settings icon (3 dots) and choose Flip split.
4. On the path you want to configure, click Add path criteria.
5. Select Properties about someone from the dropdown to choose your custom object.
6. Define the criteria for the path based on the available object properties, then click Save. If the path editor shows Apply, click it, then click Save in the split panel.
7. To create another path, click Add path in the split panel, then set and save its criteria. Save any remaining changes in the split panel before closing it.

You can set up to 4 additional where conditions for object conditions in a split.

Turn on your flow

When your messages, filters, and splits are ready, click Review and turn on, select Live, then click Save.

For more help with message setup and activation, see getting started with flows.

Additional resources