---
title: Automation Assets
description: Include all automation assets in the activity picker to add a subflow, flow, or action directly to your playbook without having to create an activity definition.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/automation-assets.html
release: australia
product: Workflow Studio
classification: workflow-studio
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Stages and activities, Understanding the playbook components, Build Playbooks, Playbooks, Workflow Studio, Build workflows]
---

# Automation Assets

Include all automation assets in the activity picker to add a subflow, flow, or action directly to your playbook without having to create an activity definition.

## Use cases

Use automation assets in your playbook if:

-   You need an activity that only requires automation.
-   The activity doesn't need to be reusable.
-   You don't need a UI.

If you need a UI or an activity that is reusable, [create an activity definition](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/create-activity-definition.md).

## Asset types

When [adding an activity](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/process-automation-designer-lanes-activities.md), select **Include all automation assets** in the activity picker to add [flows](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/flows.md), [subflows](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/subflows.md) and [actions](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/actions.md).

\[Omitted image "automation-assets.png"\] Alt text: Activity picker with automation assets enabled

When adding a flow, subflow, or action, a non-usable activity definition is created behind-the-scenes.

**Parent Topic:**[Stages and activities](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/build-workflows/workflow-studio/process-automation-designer-lanes-activities.md)