Use custom objects with automations

With ActiveCampaign, you can use custom object data to build automations. Doing so can help tailor your workflows and customize your customer experience. This article will show you what to expect when building automations once you have created custom object templates.

Take note

• Required: You need to create a contact custom object to use these features. You can create a custom object schema with the ActiveCampaign API or your account's Manage Data page. Some integrations, like Zendesk Support and Calendly, support custom objects
• All ActiveCampaign plans have access to custom objects through supported apps and integrations that import a custom object.
• These triggers will appear in the “Apps” section of the trigger modal
• Enterprise plan customers can create custom objects via the API or your account’s Manage Data page. These triggers will appear in the “Objects” section of the trigger modal
• Automation triggers for Deal and Account custom objects are not available at this time

Custom Object Automation triggers

Once a contact custom object is added or synced to your account, you can access two new automation triggers:

• "[Custom object] Created"
  The related contact is pulled into the automation whenever a new record is created for the object.
• "[Custom object] Updated"
  The related contact is pulled into the automation when a custom object field you specify is updated from one value to another. With this trigger, you can choose "Any" or a specific starting value and "Any" or a specific final value.
  
  

If you create a custom object using the API or the Manage Data page in your account, the trigger will appear under the "Objects" section of the trigger modal.

If a supported third-party application or integration imports a custom object, the triggers will appear in the "Apps" section of the trigger modal.

Here are some guidelines when using custom objects in your automation:

• You can only use one trigger for your automation
• If your automation is using a trigger, then you cannot add a custom object trigger
• If your automation is using a custom object trigger, then you cannot use any other triggers
• You can manually add contacts to your automation if it has a Custom Object trigger
• If you select a personalization tag for a custom object in an automation action, we use the custom object referenced in the automation trigger. Otherwise, we use the most recently created custom object record
• If you want to reference a custom object in an automation action that differs from the custom object in your trigger, copy and paste the personalization tags from the Manage Objects page in your account, or look for the lightning bolt and select a custom object from the personalization menu

Automation triggers for Deal and Account custom objects are not available at this time.

Use the "[Custom object] Created" trigger

This trigger starts an automation when a custom object is created for a contact. In this trigger, you choose which object records to include. Note that this trigger is set to run "Multiple Times," and cannot be adjusted.

There are two options to choose from when configuring this trigger: 

• All [Custom object] records
  This trigger runs if any record under the specified [Custom object] is created.
• Segment [Custom object] records
  This option lets you add a filter the trigger, giving you more control over who can enter your automation. Only fields related to the custom object can be used here.

Use the "Segment [Custom object] records" option in the "[Custom object] Created" trigger:

1. Click Automations to go to the Automation Overview page.
2. Click "Edit" for the automation you want to update, or click "Create an automation."
3. Click "Add a start trigger."
4. In the "Select a Trigger" modal, click "Objects" > your preferred object > "[Custom object] Created."
5. A modal window will appear where you can configure the trigger. Click the “Segment” option.
6. The modal will expand, and you'll see the segment builder with options related to your custom object. Use the builder to create a segment. As a reminder, only contacts who meet your trigger and segment conditions can enter your automation.
   
7. When finished, click "Save."

Use the "[Custom object] Updated" trigger

This trigger starts an automation when a custom object field is updated from one value to another. As a reminder, you can only use one custom object trigger with your automation and no other triggers.

Use the "[Custom object] Updated" trigger:

1. Click Automations to go to the Automation Overview page.
2. Click "Edit" for the automation you want to update, or click "Create an automation."
3. Click "Add a start trigger."
4. In the "Select a Trigger" modal, click "Objects" > your preferred object > "[Custom object] Updated."
5. A modal window will appear where you can configure the trigger:
   • The custom object field - Specific field or "Any" field
     • If you choose "Any," you then choose how often the automation will run for each contact and can segment contacts entering your automation. When finished, click the “Save” button
   • If you choose a field:
     • "From" value - select from "Any" or a specific value. This appears if you select a specific field instead of "Any" field above
     • "To" value - select from "Any" or a specific value
     • Runs - choose to run once or multiple times
     • (Optional) Segment contacts entering the automation through the trigger:
       • • Click the “Segment the contacts entering this automation” option to further restrict who can enter your automation
     • Click “Save”
       

Use custom objects with automation actions

You can use custom objects with many automation actions. For example, you can use custom object fields to personalize your SMS messages and notes. You can also use custom object fields to build conditions with the segment builder, such as when creating If/Else forks or conditional waits.

Custom object personalization in automation actions

Custom object personalization is available with the following automation actions:

• Send a direct 1:1 email
• Send a transactional email
• Send an SMS
• Send an internal notification email
• Add a contact note
• Add a deal
• Update a title (deals)
• Add a deal task
• Add a deal note
• Add an account note
• Add contact to account

If you create an automation with a custom object trigger and use a custom object personalization tag in an action, we’ll refer to the custom object in the trigger.

If you create an automation without a custom object trigger and use a custom object personalization tag in an action, we’ll refer to the most recently created object.

Custom object segment conditions in automation actions

You can use custom object fields with any automation action that uses the segment builder to create conditions. This includes:

• If/Else
• Goal
• Conditional wait
• Split

If you create an automation with a custom object trigger and use a custom object field in an action’s segment builder, we’ll refer to the custom object in the trigger.

If you create an automation without a custom object trigger and use a custom object field in an action’s segment builder, we’ll refer to the most recently created object.