The difference between a Grid and a Workflow

The difference between a Grid and a Workflow

Workflows vs. Grids

Simply put, workflows exist without grids, but grids do not exist without workflows. The grid is a specific method of running a workflow, whereas workflows can also run outside the grid in other ways.

Running Workflows Outside the Grid

Workflows in AirOps can be executed without ever touching a grid. Common alternatives include:

• Single-run forms (the “run once” view)
• API endpoints

Example: Single-Run Form & Integration

• After you publish a workflow (e.g., the Social Post workflow), a pop-up appears with a Run Workflow button.
• Clicking it opens the single-run form—ideal for prototyping and sharing with others.
• Under Integrate, you’ll find documentation on all the other ways to run that workflow via API or other integrations.

Even though you can get creative with how you run a workflow, grids remain the go-to for orchestrating large content workflows in AirOps.

CSV Consumption Differences

Grids and workflows handle CSV inputs differently:

Grid CSV Behavior

• Uploading a CSV to a grid triggers one workflow run per row.
• Only the horizontal data in each row is passed into that run.
• Each row’s execution is independent; one row’s data never affects another.

Workflow CSV Behavior (Run Once Form)

• In the single-run view, you can upload a CSV and provide the entire file as context to the model.
• This enables workflows to use data from any part of the CSV in a single execution.
• It’s rare to upload a CSV directly into a workflow—grids are typically the better choice for batch operations.

Input Types: Grid vs. Workflow

Grids currently support a limited set of inputs:

• Text
• JSON
• Brand kit
• Knowledge base

Workflows in the run-once (single-run) form support all of the above, plus additional inputs:

• Single-select and multi-select dropdowns (only for the single-run view)
• File text (docs, PDFs)
• File media (MP3s, images, etc.)

Note that dropdowns and file uploads configure inputs only for the single-run form; they aren’t available in grids yet.

Download Options

The grid offers an output format that workflows do not:

• In a workflow alone, you can return text or JSON.
• In a grid, you can download the entire result set as a CSV.

These are the primary differences between grids and workflows in AirOps. Grids serve as a powerful orchestration layer for batch workflows, while workflows themselves can run independently, consume more varied inputs, and accept full-CSV context in single-run mode.