Automation Flows: Ready-Made Recipes for Common CRM Jobs

What are Automation Flows?

Automation Flows are a preset set of useful automations we built for common jobs. Deleting contacts after a given period of time is one example.

You can turn on a preset Automation Flow in a few clicks, instead of assembling the automation by hand.

Requirements for Automation Flows

Some Automation Flows need cron jobs to run their actions. All Automation Flows use the cron system.

That means the server must have a cron enabled that regularly loads a page on the site. The setting that disables the user interface must be off; otherwise the cron will not run.

If we configured your CRM, this is already handled.

How Flows work

Open Automation Recipes from Tools > Automations in the top menu on any CRM admin page, then click the “Flows” button at the top right.

You will see a list of available Flows. The lower-left corner of each Recipe shows whether it is enabled (on) or disabled (off). The lower-right corner shows whether it requires cron.

To enable a Recipe:

1. Click the Recipe.
2. Click the “Activate” button.

To disable a Recipe:

1. Click the Recipe.
2. Click the “Activated” button.

Once the recipe is on, it runs on its own. You do not have to rebuild it.

Automation Flow statistics

After a Flow is enabled, click it to see its statistics. Those include:

• When the Flow was created (usually the date the Automations extension was enabled, which is when Flows were installed on the site)
• The last time a Flow ran
• How many times a Flow has run

Running a recipe by hand

While you are viewing a Flow, click “Run Now” to force it to execute. That is useful when you need the job done before the next scheduled run.

Flows make the common cases easier. You are not limited to the presets. You can also create as many custom Automations as you need.

Knowledge