Generative Journey® (Slots)

From start to finish, set up a flow using Generative Journey in slot capture mode with NLX

What's Generative Journey in slot capture mode?

The Generative Journey® node is a powerful building block in your flow that brings a large language model (LLMs) into the process. In slot-capture mode, it's designed to gather multiple pieces of information (slots) from a user in a natural, conversational way. Instead of relying on rigid question-and-answer sequences, the LLM flexibly interprets how users provide details, as some users might give all information in one sentence, skip around, or provide answers out of order. This makes the experience more fluid and efficient, while reducing the number of separate nodes you need to build into a flow.

Imagine a customer uses your conversational app and says: "I need a hotel in Boston this weekend."

With slot-capture Generative Journey:

  • A flow is invoked that is designed to handle hotel booking

  • When the Generative Journey node is hit, the LLM recognizes and fills location = Boston and dates = this weekend without the user needing to explicitly answer a question

  • It naturally asks follow-up questions like, "How many people will be staying?"

  • It notices that other required slots (number of guests, room type, budget) are still missing

  • It allows the user to answer in any order (e.g., “It’s for two adults, and under $200 a night would be great”)

Once all slots are collected, the node ejects from the Success path, and the resolved slot variables can be used to complete the rest of the workflow. All of this happens within one node, keeping the flow streamlined while still giving the user freedom to provide details conversationally.

Checklist

You'll complete the following to successfully launch a workflow powered by Generative Journey in slot mode:

Step 1: Use Generative Journey node in a flow

Est. time to complete: ~8 minutes

Begin by identifying the tasks your conversational AI application will automate and organize them into individual topics handled by flows. Determine the sequence of steps and messaging that the conversational application follows to assist a user with the task. The conversation workflow is assembled in the Canvas builder with a pattern of nodes similar to a flow diagram.

Each flow is invoked when your chosen AI model identifies user intent from a user's utterance ("I want to order room service") and matches it to a flow you've created OrderRoomService. This match is done based on the training data you provide for your AI model.

  • Select Resources from workspace menu > Choose Flows > Click New flow

  • Enter a descriptive name (no spaces or special characters) > Select Save

  • Complete Flow setup by attaching training data and attaching slots

  • Add nodes by right-clicking on the Canvas & choosing New node (see available node types)

  • Connect first node to Start node > Connect sequential nodes via node edges or stacking

  • Add conversational AI messages to nodes by selecting + Add message on a node's side panel

  • Place a Generative Journey node on the Canvas

  • Select Slot capture > Choose LLM integration

  • Provide a succinct prompt to the LLM on what flow the task is part of, the end goal of the task, specific messaging or branding requirements (if any), and things to avoid (if any)

  • Assign all Required slots needed to complete the task

  • Link from the node's Success edge to the next node in the flow

  • Click Save

Repeat for any additional flows your application will help automate.

🧠 Looking for more? See Intro to flows

Step 2: Deploy application

Est. time to complete: ~2 minutes

Now you'll create the conversational AI application users will interface with. This step involves attaching all flows you want your application to access, defining flows to handle certain behaviors, setting up the channel(s) your application supports, and deploying.

  • Select Applications from workspace menu > Choose New application

  • Enter a descriptive name > Click Save

  • Click Flows tab of application > Select Attach flows > Attach one or more flows created to make available to your application > Click Attach selected then Save

  • Select Default behaviors tab of application > Assign any attached flows to the application's behaviors > Click Save

A build constructs the array of workflows that make up your application and updates any changes made to your flows, while deploying makes a successful build live:

  • Click Deployment tab of application > Select Create or Review & build

  • Wait for validation to complete > Select Create build*

  • When satisfied with a successful build, click Deploy

*After a build status appears as 🟢 Built, you may use the Test feature to test the conversation with your application using the latest build.

🧠 Looking to deploy on other channels? See Manage channels

Last updated