Map the process first
Write down each step, the system that owns it, and the person responsible for exceptions. A process with unclear ownership will still be unclear after it is automated.
Design for retries
External APIs can be unavailable, slow, or rate limited. Use deliberate retry policies and idempotent operations where possible. Make sure rerunning a workflow does not create duplicate records or send the same message twice.
Keep a human route
Send exceptions to a useful queue with context and an obvious next action. People need a way to correct data, approve a decision, and restart a job without editing the workflow itself.
Leave a useful handover
Document the connections, credential owners, expected inputs, and alert destinations. A short runbook is often more valuable than a complicated diagram nobody keeps current.