Create an Automation

Automations enable you to scale Account-Based Marketing (ABM) initiatives by automating repetitive tasks. For example, you can automatically add people to Marketo campaigns or update account data in Salesforce so programs run more efficiently and consistently.

This article explains how to create an Automation by defining:

• Population: The accounts or people eligible for the Automation
• Qualification Rules: How often a record can qualify
• Run Frequency: When and how often the Automation runs

Scheduled Runs and Daylight Saving Time

Demandbase automatically adjusts scheduled run times for Daylight Saving Time. 

For example:

• If an Automation is scheduled to run at 8:00 a.m. PST, it updates to 8:00 a.m. PDT after the time change.
• If scheduled during the hour clocks move forward, the run is skipped.
• If scheduled during the hour clocks move back, the Automation runs only once.

Prerequisites

You must have Admin privileges or be assigned to a permission set with the required access to use Orchestration.

Step 1: Create an Automation

1. From the left navigation bar, go to Orchestration > Automations.
2. Click Create New.
   
3. Enter:
   • Name of Automation.
   • Member Type: Account or Person
     Tip: Available actions depend on the selected object. See Automation Actions.
4. Click Create Automation.
   

Step 2: Define Population

1. Click Set Automation Flow node.
   
2. Click Define Population.
3. Select one of the following tabs:
   • List: Select an existing account or people list.
     Tip: List can be a private list.
     1. Select the desired list.
        
   • Selectors: Apply selectors to set Population criteria.
     1. Click Click to Add Criteria.
     2. Apply selectors.
        
4. Click Apply.

Step 3: Set Qualification Rules

Qualification rules determine how often a record can qualify for the Automation. Configure this step if the Automation is recurring.

1. In the Automation flow node, hover over Frequency and click the right pencil icon.
   
2. In the Run Frequency drop-down, select Make Recurring.
3. Under Set Qualification Rules, select one of the following:
   • One time only: Allow a record to qualify only once.
   • Once every _ Hours/Days/Weeks/Months: Allow record to qualify once within the specified time period. After the time period has passed, the record can qualify again. 
   • Every time: Allow record to qualify each time the Automation runs.

Step 4: Set Run Frequency

1. In the Run Frequency drop-down, select one of the following:
   • Single Run: Run Automation once.
     • Immediately: Run Automation once immediately. 
     • Schedule Date: Run once at a later date and time. 
       Tip: You can use this option multiple times to schedule additional one-time runs.
   • Make Recurring: Run Automation on a recurring schedule.
     • Recurring Run
       • Type: Hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or custom.
       • First Run: Date and time of first run. 
         Tip:  The first run date does not need to align with the recurring cadence.
       • Repeat Every: Recurrence interval (based on the Type selected).
       • End: Date and time of last run.
         Tip: The final run occurs on the last recurrence date before the specified end date.
     • Do Not Run On: Day(s) of the week to exclude the run or click + Add Specific Date to exclude specific dates.
2. Click Confirm.

Next Steps

See Add Actions to an Automation.