Understanding automation triggers
Last updated: March 18, 2025
Overview
Automation triggers tell automations when to start. This guide provides an overview of standard and integration-specific automation triggers.
For information on how to set up an automation trigger, see How to configure an automation trigger.
For information on how to change an automation's trigger once it is set, see How to change an automation's trigger.
Standard automation triggers
The table below briefly describes the action required to start an automation.
Trigger | Trigger Description |
Subscribes to a List | Contacts subscribe to at least one of the specified list. Using the "any" option will start the automation for contacts when they subscribe to any List in your Sendlane account. |
Submits a Form | Contacts submit at least one of the specified forms. |
Tag Added / Tag Removed | A specified Tag is added or removed from a contact's profile. |
Event Triggered | Contacts visit a page on your website that has Beacon/Event Tracking enabled. |
Custom Field Added | A specified Custom Field is populated or updated in a contact's profile via a form or integration. |
Email Campaign Opened* | Contacts open a specified Campaign email. |
Email Campaign Clicked | Contacts click any link in a specified Campaign email. |
Another Automation | Contacts reach the end of a specified automation. |
SMS Campaign Clicked | Contacts click a tracking link in an SMS message. |
SMS Consent Received | Contacts provide consent to receive SMS messages. |
SMS Reply | Contacts reply to an SMS Campaign message. |
Integration automation triggers
The following integrations enable automation triggers specific to the integration:
Shopify
See Understanding automation triggers for Shopify.
BigCommerce
See Understanding automation triggers for BigCommerce.
Recharge
Trigger | Trigger Description |
Subscription Created | Subscription has been created |
Subscription Activated | Subscription has been activated |
Subscription Cancelled | Subscription has been cancelled |
Subscription Expired | Subscription has expired |
Subscription Renewed | Subscription has been renewed |
Upcoming Subscription Renewal | Subscription will renew within a specified period of time |
Custom Integration eCommerce
Trigger | Trigger Description |
Product Purchased | Customer purchased the specified product(s) |
Product Viewed | Customer viewed the specified product(s) |
Abandoned Product Viewed | Customer viewed the specified product(s) and did not purchase after a specified period of time |
Order Placed | An order has been placed (includes options to drill down by order status and/or order frequency) |
Added to Cart | Customer added the specified product(s) to their cart |
Checkout Started | Customer began the checkout process |
Abandoned Checkout | Customer began the checkout process but did not complete it before a specified period of time passed |
Customer Created | A new customer has been created in the specified store |
Custom Event | Parameters for a custom event were met |