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Getting Started with Prompting in NOVA

Learn how to have AI help you get valuable insights with UpKeep Nova

Updated this week

NOVA is UpKeep’s intelligence agent that helps you generate reports, analyze data, and manage workflows with simple, natural-language instructions. These instructions are called prompts. The clearer your prompt, the more accurate and useful NOVA’s response will be.

This article explains the basics of prompting, a simple prompt formula, and best practices for getting the most value from NOVA.


What is a Prompt?

A prompt is the instruction you give NOVA. Think of it like a request you’d make to a teammate: short, specific, and action‑oriented.

Example: “Show me all open work orders for the HVAC system at Main Plant for the last 30 days.”


The Prompt Formula

Use this formula to make prompts easy:

[Action] + [What] + [Context/Filter] + [Timeframe]

Examples

  • Generate a work order aging report by priority for the last 90 days.”

  • List parts below minimum stock at Main Warehouse this month.”

  • Create a PM schedule for Asset ABC every 3 months.”

Tip: If you’re not sure what to ask, tell NOVA your goal (e.g., “I need to prepare for an audit”) and it will recommend the right prompts.


Best Practices for Prompting

Principle

Weak Prompt

Strong Prompt

Why It Works

Be Specific

“Compliance.”

“Create a PM compliance report for all safety‑critical assets this quarter.”

Adds scope and timeframe.

Use Context

“Inventory.”

“List all parts below minimum stock at Main Warehouse.”

Narrows results to what matters.

Ask for Outcomes

“Show downtime.”

“Highlight assets with increasing downtime in the last 90 days.”

Focuses on actionable insight.

Request Formats

“Show users.”

“Show all inactive users as a table, export to CSV.”

Structures data for use.

Think in Batches

“Update these.”

“Assign all overdue work orders to the night shift.”

Handles repetitive work at scale.

Follow Up

“Start over.”

“Now filter to only the Electrical Team.”

Builds on results without restarting.

Share Your Goal

“Show reports.”

“I want to reduce emergency work orders. What reports should I run?”

NOVA can suggest recommendations.


Follow‑Up Example Flow

NOVA is conversational — refine results step by step instead of starting over.

  1. Prompt: “Generate a technician productivity report for last month.”

  2. Follow‑up: “Filter to only the Electrical Team.”

  3. Follow‑up: “Now compare their completion times to the Mechanical Team.”

  4. Follow‑up: “Highlight which team had the fastest average response time.”


How to Get the Best from NOVA

  • Be specific: Include asset, location, team, and timeframe.

  • Use context: Narrow results with filters.

  • Ask for outcomes: Request insights, not just lists.

  • Request formats: Tables, summaries, charts, or exports.

  • Think in batches: Delegate bulk tasks to NOVA.

  • Follow up: Refine results conversationally.

  • Share your goal: Let NOVA recommend the best workflow.

  • Keep data clean: Consistent asset names and categories improve accuracy.


Bottom line: The more specific and goal‑oriented your prompt, the more NOVA can do for you. Treat it like a teammate ask clearly, refine as you go, and delegate the busywork.

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