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Step Up Nodes

A Step Up Node is a type of Journey node that requires additional identifying information from an applicant. This information could be a selfie or a picture of a driver's license and is typically gathered using the Alloy SDK. Once submitted by the applicant, the identifying image or document is sent to the configured data service for validation.


Core concepts

  • Step Up Node - A Journey node that uses the Alloy SDK to gather additional identifying information from the applicant. Configured in the Journey builder.
  • Alloy SDK - A tool provided by Alloy to gather documents or images from applicants. Read more about the Alloy SDK here.
  • Data Service - Alloy is connected with hundreds of external APIs, allowing you to choose whatever vendor you wish to verify documents, perform credit checks, and more.

How it works

When an entity reaches a Step Up Node during Journey processing:

  1. Alloy sets the entity application status (and potentially the top-level application status) to pending_step_up.
  2. The applicant receives a request for a document image, such as a selfie or image of their driver's license.
  3. Journey processing halts until the image or document is uploaded.
  4. The Journey resumes upon notification by the Alloy SDK, using the newly uploaded information in the subsequent Workflow.

When to use it

Use Step Up Nodes when your decisioning flow needs to obtain more information about one or more Entities in the Journey Application.

We recommend you add expiration for your Step Up Nodes. This means that after a configured time, the node stops waiting for additional information. It progresses the Entity down an Expired outcome, and what happens next can be configured in your Journey.


How it fits in Alloy

Step Up Nodes work alongside Action Nodes and Manual Review Nodes as ways to pause a Journey Application for external input. The choice of which to use depends on the type of input needed:

  • Step-Up: for end-user verification (document upload, etc.)
  • Manual Review: for human analyst review in Alloy's dashboard
  • Action Node: for any other external action that doesn't fit the above