A safe automation rollout has three stages. Skipping stages is the most common reason automations fail in production.
Stage 1 — Manual run
Run the workflow as a one-off prompt. Review every action by hand. The goal is to confirm the agent understands the task and chooses the right tools.
Stage 2 — Approval mode
Schedule the workflow on a recurring trigger but require human approval before any external action (sending email, creating records, posting journal entries). Run for at least two weeks. Track the override rate — how often you change or reject what the agent proposed.
Stage 3 — Auto-approval
Once your override rate is below 5% over two weeks, switch to auto-approval. Set up alerts on outcomes (e.g., notify on any unusual volume, errors, or failures).