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Understanding Modes in UpKeep Nova

Learn about the different modes of the UpKeep Nova and how each mode can help your team.

Updated this week

UpKeep Nova offers three different modes so you can explore, test, and run tasks with the right level of safety and control. Choosing the right mode helps you balance learning, accuracy, and speed.


Playground Mode — Safe Exploration

Playground Mode is the best way to understand how the bot works. Because it runs only on simulated data, nothing in your account will change.

What it does

  • Runs in a sandbox environment with simulated data

  • Lets you see how the agent interprets prompts and structures actions

  • No changes are saved to your real account

When to use it

  • Exploring how the agent thinks

  • Learning to prompt without risk

  • Training new team members or demoing

Example prompts

  • “Simulate creating a new warehouse location with 10 assets”

  • “Show me how you would triage all pending requests”

  • “Preview a preventive maintenance schedule for my top 3 assets”


Ask Mode — Guardrails with Control

Ask Mode is where you start using the bot in your real account while keeping full control over every step. You decide what gets confirmed and saved.

What it does

  • Prepares a plan for your request

  • Shows each action in the sidebar for you to confirm step by step

  • No action is taken until you approve it

When to use it

  • Running real actions with extra control

  • Reviewing and approving every change before it’s saved

  • Building trust in the agent with your data

Example prompts

  • “Create a new facility and add 5 assets — ask me to confirm each step”

  • “Triage my pending requests but show me the plan first”

  • “Propose PMs for my top 3 assets and let me approve before saving”


Agent Mode — Full Autonomy

Agent Mode is where you let the bot run at full speed. Once you send a prompt, the agent executes immediately without step-by-step confirmation.

What it does

  • Executes your requests immediately after you send them

  • Applies changes directly to your account

  • ⚠️ Important: Deletions (e.g., deleting a work order, request, or asset) always require your approval, even in Agent Mode

When to use it

  • Confident users who know exactly what needs to be done

  • Repeatable tasks the agent has proven reliable with

  • High-volume actions where speed matters most

Example prompts

  • “Triage my pending requests”

  • “Create PMs for my top 5 assets this quarter”

  • “Decline all duplicate requests from this list”

Quick Comparison

Mode

Safety Level

Best For

When to Use

Playground

100% safe (no real changes)

Learning & testing

Use when you’re exploring how the bot works and want to understand its capabilities without risk

Ask

High (you confirm each step)

Early production use

Use when you want to see exactly what will happen before applying changes

Agent

Lower (no confirmations, except deletions)

Confident, repeat users

Use when you know exactly what needs to be done and want it applied immediately — deletions still always require approval


✨ By choosing the right mode, you can safely learn, stay in control, or move fast with autonomy. Start in Playground, step up to Ask for real control, and switch to Agent once you’re confident. Remember: deletions always require confirmation in every mode.

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