Building Automated Programs

• Automated Programs: Setup, Settings, and Management

  The Automated Journey Builder User Guide explains how to configure, manage, and maintain Automated Programs in Act-On. Use this article to understand program settings, sources, entry methods, messages, early exits, and how to safely start, pause, and update programs over time.This article does not walk through building the workflow step by step. If you are actively designing or editing the sequ...

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• Automated Programs: Designing the Program Flow

  The Automated Journey Builder Program Flow Guide explains how to design, build, and edit the workflow inside an Automated Program. Use this article when you are adding, moving, branching, or deleting steps between the Start and Exit points.Use this article only when you are building or editing steps. It assumes your program already has contact sources, entry settings, and program messages confi...

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• Using Act-On's Automated Programs Dashboard

  The Automated Programs Dashboard is the home for monitoring, starting, pausing, and reviewing performance for any Automated Program. This page shows program status, errors, contact activity, message metrics, and your current program settings.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to ExpandOpen a Dashboard: Automation → Automated Programs → Hover → Show dashboardStart or Pause: Use the Actions...

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• Edit an Automated Program

  You can pause and edit your Automated Programs to update steps, messages, source lists or segments, Early Exits, and program settings. This guide explains how to safely make changes, how contacts behave when steps are updated or removed, and how to keep reporting consistent.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to Expand Pause before editing: A program must be paused before you can edit it ...

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• Use Lists and Segments in Automated Programs

  You can use lists and segments to control who enters your Automated Program, who exits it early, and how contacts move through different branches. This article explains how to add and manage lists and segments in your program and how they influence program flow.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to Expand Source Lists: Define who enters your program Entry methods: Manual, Immediate, Sch...

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• How To Use Early-Exit Conditions

  Early Exit Conditions remove contacts from an Automated Program as soon as they meet specific criteria. This helps prevent redundant messages, respect suppression rules, and move contacts into more relevant programs once they have completed an action.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to ExpandWhere to add: Build → Early exitsHow it works: Before each step, Act-On checks if the contact ma...

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• How to Manage Automated Program Messages

  Automated Program messages are managed through either the program editor or through your outbound triggered messages. Review the following best practices guidelines to ensure consistent metrics and reporting while editing your program messages. Instructions: Add a Message to Your Program Go to Automation > Automated Programs & either create a new or edit an existing program. In your Automated ...

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• Use an Automated Program Webhook to Send Contacts to an External System

  Automated Programs can use outgoing webhooks to send contacts to an external system. This is a flexible way to send new leads to your CRM or another application when they become qualified.If you are using one of Act-On's native CRM integrations, use the Create in CRM program step instead of a webhook.Contact webhooks are available for Act-On Contacts based Automated Programs only.Quick Referenc...

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• Create a Birthday or Renewal Segment in Automated Programs

  Collecting birth dates or renewal dates in your Act-On Forms allows you to engage your contacts with an annual birthday or anniversary message. Automating these yearly touchpoints is a simple way to show appreciation, strengthen customer relationships, and encourage continued engagement.You can apply this same method to subscription renewals or any other recurring annual milestone. Tips: Use A...

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• Allow Contacts to Re-Enter an Automated Program

  By default, a contact can only complete an Automated Program one time. In some cases you may want contacts to repeat the program, such as sending a birthday message every year or processing renewals on an annual cycle. Use caution when enabling re-entry.Allowing contacts to re-enter a program is an optional controlled feature. Incorrect program logic can cause contacts to loop indefinitely, whi...

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• Setting an Alternate Unique ID for Automated Programs

  You can set an alternate unique ID when you want your Automated Program to treat each entry as a separate journey, even if multiple entries share the same email address. This is useful for programs that track repeated actions such as orders or registrations.Quick Reference (Advanced Users) - Click to ExpandWhere to set: Settings → Program Settings → Alternate Unique IdentifierWhy use it: Allows...

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