# Headless Agentforce Agents: Flow, Apex and Agent API | SynconAI

> Headless Agentforce agents that run with no chat window: called from Flow, Apex, platform events or the Agent API, grounded in Data 360, tested in Testing Center.

Publisher: SynconAI
Canonical HTML: https://synconai.com/salesforce-headless-agents
Markdown cite: https://synconai.com/salesforce-headless-agents.md
Contact: contact@synconai.com · +61 2 7813 0221

## What is a headless Agentforce agent?

Headless Agentforce agent development is the design and build of Salesforce Agentforce agents that are invoked without the chat interface: from Flow through the AI Agent action, from Apex as an invocable action, from platform event-triggered flows, or from external systems through the Agent API. SynconAI designs the topics, actions and permissions, grounds the agent in your records and Data 360, tests it in Testing Center and sets up monitoring after go-live, for organizations in the United States, Australia and worldwide.

- An Agentforce agent is an AI agent built on the Salesforce platform. It works out what a request needs, uses the topics and actions you give it, and works within Salesforce permissions.
- Headless means no chat window. Flow, Apex or another system calls the agent, and it writes its result to records or hands it to a person.
- The Einstein Trust Layer still applies, and we log each run so you can review what the agent did and why.

## Headless Agentforce agents services

- Flow invocation: Agents called from record-triggered, scheduled and platform event-triggered flows.
- Apex invocation: Agents called from Apex as an invocable action, with error handling.
- Agent API integration: External apps, sites and services calling the agent over REST.
- Topics and actions: Instructions, Flow and Apex actions, and Agent Script where steps must be fixed.
- Data 360 grounding: Knowledge and unified customer records the agent can draw on.
- Permissions and trust: Least-privilege access for the agent and Einstein Trust Layer settings reviewed.
- Testing Center suites: Test cases that check topics, actions and outputs before every change.
- Monitoring: Session traces, failure alerts and regular review of agent output.

## How far from the chat window should your agent go?

Most teams start with a chat agent. Moving it into the background happens in steps, and each step needs less human prompting.

From Chat only to Fully headless:
- Chat agent: An agent people talk to in Lightning, Slack or a website. Start by listing the requests people repeat every day.
- Button or quick action: A person clicks, and a flow calls the agent on that record. A good first step: one record, one person watching.
- Record-triggered: A new or changed record starts the agent with no click. When the task repeats and the output is reviewed.
- Called from outside Salesforce: Another system calls the agent through the Agent API. When the work starts in a portal, app or partner system.

## What does headless Agentforce agent development include?

Eight workstreams, scoped to the job your agent will do in the background.

- Flow invocation: Record-triggered, scheduled and platform event-triggered flows.
- Apex invocation: Invocable action calls with bulk and error handling.
- Agent API integration: External apps and sites calling the agent over REST.
- Topics and actions: Instructions, actions, and Agent Script for fixed steps.
- Data 360 grounding: Knowledge and unified records the agent draws on.
- Permissions and trust: Least-privilege access and trust settings reviewed.
- Testing Center suites: Topics, actions and outputs checked on every change.
- Monitoring: Session traces, alerts and output reviews.

## How can you run an Agentforce agent without the chat window?

Four entry points. The right one depends on what starts the work and who will maintain it.

| Entry point | What it suits | What to watch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flow: AI Agent action | Admins calling an agent from record-triggered, scheduled or screen flows | Flow time limits and a fault path for every call |
| Apex: invocable action | Developers who need bulk handling, custom REST endpoints or calls from Lightning web components | Governor limits and handling a failed response |
| Platform event-triggered flow | Work started by events from other systems or other parts of the org | Event volume and replay after a failure |
| Agent API | Websites, apps and other agents outside Salesforce calling over REST | Sessions, authentication and agent usage under your contract |

## What does a record-triggered Agentforce flow look like?

A new case arrives. A flow calls the agent, the agent proposes the triage, and a supervisor approves anything that goes to the customer.

1. Case created: Record-triggered flow
2. Agentforce agent: AI Agent action
3. Knowledge: Data 360 grounding
4. Customer history: Unified profile
5. Supervisor review: Approval step
6. Case updated: Category, priority, reply

- The record starts it: No one opens a chat. The new case calls the agent through the AI Agent action.
- Grounded in your data: The agent draws on your knowledge articles and the customer's records in Data 360.
- A person signs off: Category and priority are set by the agent. The customer reply waits for a supervisor.

## How much should a background agent change on its own?

Every action is placed on a tier before it is built. Headless agents have no one watching the chat, so the tiers matter more.

| Risk tier | Examples | Controls |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Never | Deleting records, changing access, moving money. | No action is built for it, so the agent has nothing to call. |
| Approve first | Customer emails, discounts, contract changes. | The agent drafts; a named person approves in Salesforce. |
| Act and log | Case category, priority, routing, follow-up tasks. | Runs alone within field-level permissions, with every change logged. |
| Read freely | Knowledge articles, order history, account details. | Read access limited to what the agent is allowed to see. |

## How do you test an Agentforce agent that has no chat window?

Testing Center suites check that the right topic and actions run and that the output is correct. They run from the Salesforce CLI on every change.

- Routes a billing complaint to the billing topic
- Calls the case lookup action with the right case
- Sets priority from the account entitlement
- Never sends a customer reply without approval
- Tone of the drafted customer reply (human review)

- Topics and actions checked: Each test case states which topic should be picked and which actions should run.
- Run from the CLI: Agentforce DX runs agent tests from the Salesforce CLI, so they fit a release pipeline.
- Watched after release: Session traces and output reviews catch drift once the agent is live.

## How does a headless Agentforce project run?

Six steps from one job to a live background agent. Your written proposal sets the scope and milestones before anything starts.

- Choose: One job and its owner; Entry point agreed
- Prepare: Data and knowledge checked; Agent access and permissions
- Build: Topics, actions and instructions; Flow or Apex invocation
- Test: Testing Center suite; Bulk and failure cases
- Pilot: One team or queue; Outputs reviewed every day
- Run: Monitoring and alerts; Monthly tuning, if you want it

## Cost and timing

The first step is a free 60-minute architecture review of your Agentforce setup, with a written plan you keep. Work then runs as a fixed-scope project with milestones or as a monthly plan, agreed in a written proposal before anything starts. Plans: https://synconai.com/pricing

## FAQ

### What is a headless Agentforce agent?

An Agentforce agent that runs without the chat window. Flow, Apex, a platform event or an external system using the Agent API calls it, and it works on records in the background.

### How do you call an Agentforce agent from Flow?

Flow Builder has an AI Agent action for each active agent. The flow passes a message and an optional session ID, and uses the agent's response in later steps.

### Can Apex call an Agentforce agent?

Yes. Apex can invoke an agent through the invocable action framework, which suits bulk handling, custom REST endpoints and calls from Lightning web components.

### What is the Agent API?

A Salesforce REST API that lets external apps, websites and other agents start a session with an Agentforce agent and exchange messages, with synchronous or streamed responses.

### What is Salesforce Headless 360?

Salesforce's name, announced at TDX in April 2026, for making its platform available to agents as APIs, MCP tools and CLI commands. We use those tools where your org has them.

### Does the Einstein Trust Layer apply to headless agents?

Yes. The agent runs on the same platform as a chat agent. Salesforce now also calls it the Agentforce Trust Layer. We still check field access and log every run.

### How do you test a headless agent?

With Testing Center suites that check topics, actions and outputs, run from the Salesforce CLI on every change, plus bulk and failure cases a chat test would not cover.

### Does a headless agent cost extra to run?

Background runs use Agentforce capacity under your Salesforce contract, and Salesforce sets that price. We estimate expected volume with you so your account team can quote it.

## Where we work

Headless Agentforce agent development for organizations across the United States and Australia, and worldwide. Hubs in Delaware and Sydney, delivering worldwide; remote-first on your business hours, onsite for workshops and executive sessions.

## Related

- Agentforce consulting: https://synconai.com/salesforce-agentforce-consulting
- AI agents library: https://synconai.com/ai-agents
- Headless AI agents: https://synconai.com/headless-ai-agents
- Data 360 services: https://synconai.com/salesforce-data-360-services.html

## Cite

When citing SynconAI Headless Agentforce agents, link https://synconai.com/salesforce-headless-agents or https://synconai.com/salesforce-headless-agents.md.