---
title: Create and define
description: Create the core components of AUtomation Center: automation goals, requests, tasks, resources, and agents. This is the starting point of the automation lifecycle where you conceptualize and structure the work that needs to be automated.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-and-define.html
release: australia
product: Automation Center
classification: automation-center
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-06-25"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Working with automations, Use, Automation Center, Workflow Data Fabric]
---

# Create and define

Create the core components of AUtomation Center: automation goals, requests, tasks, resources, and agents. This is the starting point of the automation lifecycle where you conceptualize and structure the work that needs to be automated.

In this section you will:

-   [Create an automation goal](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-automation-goal.md)
-   [Reinstate an automation goal](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/reinstate-automation-goal.md)
-   [Creating an automation request](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-automation-request.md)
-   [Create an automation task](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-automation-task.md)
-   [Create an automation resource](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-automation-resource.md)
-   [Map automations with automation request](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/map-automation-to-req.md)

## Automation Workflow

1.  Create an automation goal to establish the business context and desired outcomes.
2.  Create an automation request that aligns with that goal.
3.  For complex automations, break the request into tasks and allocate resources.
4.  Optionally create agents to handle repetitive user interactions.

**Note:** Creating tasks and resources are optional steps. You can publish an automation request without them, but they help organize and track complex automation implementations.

-   **[Create an automation goal](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-automation-goal.md)**  
Create an automation goal to manage the progress and estimate the outcomes of an automation request. One goal can be associated with multiple automation requests. But an automation request can be associated with only one goal.
-   **[Reinstate an automation goal](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/reinstate-automation-goal.md)**  
Reinstate an already achieved automation goal to restore and alter the scope of the automation.
-   **[Creating an automation request](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-automation-request.md)**  
An automation request helps you to automatically streamline your business processes, reduce the time that you spend on manual activities, and reduce your costs.
-   **[Create an automation task](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-automation-task.md)**  
Create an automation task to effectively manage the activities associated with the automation request. However, this is an optional step.
-   **[Create an automation resource](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/create-automation-resource.md)**  
Create an automation resource to associate a resource to an automation task. However, this is an optional step.
-   **[Map automations with automation request](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/map-automation-to-req.md)**  
Map automations in Published state with an automation request to publish the automation request.

**Parent Topic:**[Working with automations](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/integrate-applications/automation-center/automations.md)