Automations Builder

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Updates to Automations Builder

Introduction

The November 2024 update to ActiveCampaign’s Automations Builder marks a significant enhancement to the visual interface and usability of the Automations Canvas. As a result, users can now expect a faster, more intuitive experience when designing automated workflows for their contacts. The update includes improvements like new chip styling, reinstated scrollbars, and an efficient Find and Search function that altogether improve workflow clarity, reduce setup steps, and save time.

These updates are designed to make automation management smoother and more efficient across the board — from marketers building simple automations to advanced users managing complex funnels. With usability at the core of these enhancements, the renovated Automations Canvas accelerates your ability to build end-to-end customer journeys that drive business impact.

How to Access the Automations Builder

Accessing the updated Automations Builder is simple and immediate since the new interface rolls out as the default experience for all ActiveCampaign users.

To access it:

1. Log in to your ActiveCampaign account. 2. Navigate to the left sidebar and click on Automations. 3. Then click the Create an Automation button or choose to edit an existing automation.

From here, you are taken directly to the enhanced Automations Canvas, where you can take advantage of all the upgraded features and UI improvements released in November 2024.

Step-by-Step Instructions

The process of building or editing an automation remains fundamentally the same but is now enhanced by new features that improve ease of use.

1. Opening the Automation

- Go to Automations in the navigation panel. - Click + Create an Automation or select from the list of existing ones.

2. Adding Actions and Conditions

- Within the canvas, click the + icon to add a new automation step. - Use the updated visual elements to select triggers, actions, and conditions easily. - Each action now appears with new chip styling, making actions like "Send Email" or "Wait" visually distinct and easy to locate in your workflow.

3. Navigating Complex Workflows

- Use the updated scrollbars, now reintroduced, to easily traverse large or multi-path automations. - This is especially helpful when managing automations with many branches or conditional logic.

4. Finding Specific Steps with Keyword Search

- Press CTRL + F while within the builder to enable the new Find and Search functionality. - Type in procedure keywords, such as "email" or "tag", to instantly locate corresponding steps in your automation.

5. Saving and Publishing

- Once edits are complete, click Save and then Active to begin running the automation for your contacts.

Configuration Options and Settings

While the workflow logic remains customizable as before, the interface updates bring enhancements to how you interact with your automations:

• Chip Styling for Actions: Each automation action is now visually formatted as a chip — these compact, labeled blocks improve readability and make distinguishing steps easier.
• Scrollbars: Easily scroll through your automations, even when they grow long or multi-branched.
• Find and Search: An intuitive CTRL + F–based search within automations allows for fast discovery of relevant steps or variables.
• Automation Canvas: The entire canvas has received a visual refresh, improving contrast, spacing, and clarity between steps.

Although these don't change the underlying mechanics of automation triggers or conditions, they significantly enhance the visibility and manageability of each configuration step.

Best Practices and Tips

Here are recommended practices when working with the new Automations Builder:

• **Use Search Often**: Leverage Find and Search to streamline revisions and audits of automation logic. Quickly narrow down steps by keyword.
• **Segment in Advance**: Before building complex workflows, organize your contacts into appropriate segments. This helps when applying conditional logic.
• **Utilize Visual Groupings**: Thanks to the new chip styling, it's easier to group similar actions visually. Make use of this to cluster similar tasks together.
• **Test Before Activation**: Always test automation logic fully using test contacts before making it live.
• **Scroll Strategically**: Use the restored scrollbars to check entire workflows at a glance, ensuring you don’t miss isolated pathways or tasks in a larger build.

Common Use Cases with Examples

The updated builder caters to marketers and automators building campaigns of all complexities. Below are standard use scenarios:

1. Welcome Series

Use the visual enhancements to set up a clean, multi-email onboarding series. The new layout allows for chunked views of emails, delays, and list-joins.

2. Lead Nurturing

Chip styling helps distinguish nurturing actions, such as sending emails or applying tags, improving the ability to audit workflows.

3. Re-engagement Campaigns

Using Find and Search can help you locate inactive triggers or outdated wait conditions quickly for updates.

4. Webinar Follow-Ups

Quickly build out multiple post-event paths (attended, missed, etc.) and use scrollbars to manage the extensive branching logic.

5. E-Commerce Purchase Follow-ups

Maintain individualized thank-you messages, cross-sell sequences, and product-specific paths, easily scannable and grouped using chip-style actions.

Troubleshooting

Despite its improvements, some users may encounter unfamiliar situations. Here are common issues and how to solve them:

• The Find and Search feature doesn't respond — Ensure you are clicked directly inside the Automations Canvas before triggering CTRL + F. Note: This is a custom feature, not tied to browser search.
• Scrollbars not visible — If scrollbars don’t appear, try expanding the browser window or zooming out. Some display settings might limit visibility.
• Old UI still loading — Clear your browser cache or open in incognito. The new layout is now the default but may be cached.
• Action chips displaying improperly — Refresh the browser and confirm you're using the latest version; styling may render inconsistently in outdated browsers.

Related Features

These features and articles may assist in extending your use of automations in ActiveCampaign:

• Automation
• 2024 Release Notes
• ActiveCampaign Release Notes
• Create an automation from scratch
• Blog: Setting new standards for marketing automation in 2024
• A new, simpler automation builder
• New: ACHQ Pushdown Automations

FAQ

Is the new Automations Builder enabled for all users?

Yes, as of November 2024, the updated Automations Canvas is the default experience for all ActiveCampaign users.

What does “chip styling” mean in this context?

Chip styling refers to compact, rounded visual elements that represent individual automation steps (like "Send Email" or "Add Tag"). It visually differentiates actions and enhances readability.

How do I search within an automation?

Press CTRL + F while inside the Automations Builder. This activates a new custom Find and Search feature that lets you locate specific steps by keyword within your automation.

Can I still access previous versions of the Automation Builder?

No, the updated Automations Builder is now the default. All users are migrated to this new experience.

My visual actions look misaligned. What should I do?

Try refreshing your browser or clearing cache. If the issue persists, ensure your browser is up to date.

Will my existing automations be affected?

No, your existing automations remain intact. The new update only enhances how you view and interact with automation workflows, not the logic itself.

Who can access these updates?

All ActiveCampaign customers now have access to the updated Automations Canvas, regardless of plan level.

Summary

The November 2024 updates to the Automations Builder reinforce ActiveCampaign’s ongoing commitment to simplifying complex workflows. From the return of scrollbars and enhanced visual styling to the new built-in keyword Find and Search function, this release prioritizes user experience and productivity. Whether you're optimizing legacy automations or creating new journeys from scratch, the new enhancements make it easier to build automated processes that drive results.

For more details on automation structure, read the article on creating an automation from scratch.