Add Actions to an Automation

Actions define what an Automation does after records meet the specified selector criteria. 

After Demandbase identifies qualifying accounts or people, Actions determine what the Automation does next.  Actions can send data to integrated systems, create tasks, or trigger sales and marketing workflows.

Configure actions by adding and connecting sub-action nodes on the Automation canvas.

Main Action Types

Automations support the following main action types:

• Content Syndication
• CRM & MAS
• Demandbase
• Sales
• Connectors

Select a main action type, then add the appropriate sub-action to the canvas. For a complete list of sub-actions, see Automation Actions Reference List.

What are Connectors?

Connectors are conditional nodes that control the flow of an Automation. They apply logic so different records follow different action paths.

There are two types of Connectors:

• Filter: Routes records to a single action based on a condition.
• Decision: Routes records to different actions based on conditions. you can create Salesforce tasks based on role by assigning a Call task to Directors and an Email task to CXOs.
  Important: 
  • Decision nodes require at least two sub-actions.
  • Each record can qualify for only one Decision path. If a record matches multiple paths, Demandbase executes the first matching path in the list.

You can also connect a Decision node to a Filter node, a Filter node's sub-action, or another Decision node to further evaluate records based on additional conditions.

Prerequisites

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

Add Standard Actions

Standard actions execute all selected sub-actions without conditional criteria.

1. Create an Automation or select an existing Automation.
2. From Select an action, select one of the following:
   • Content Syndication
   • CRM & MAS
   • Demandbase
   • Sales
     
3. Select a sub-action to add it to the canvas.
   
4. In the canvas, click the sub-action node. 
5. In the right action settings panel, complete the required fields. See Automation Actions.
   
6. (Optional) Repeat steps 2–5 to add more actions.
   Tip: To delete an action, select the node, and click Delete Action.
7. Connect the nodes by clicking the blue circle at the bottom of the Set Automation Flow node and dragging it to the blue circle at the top of each sub-action node.
   
8. Click Save Draft.

Add Filter Connector

1. Create an Automation or select an existing Automation.
2. From Select an action, click Connectors.
   
3. Select Filter to add it to the canvas.
4. Configure Filter path:
   1. In the canvas, click the Filter node.
   2. In the right settings panel, select the path.
      Tip: Rename a path by hovering over its name (in both the canvas or right settings panel), clicking the pencil icon, and entering a new name.
   3. Click the + icon and create the condition logic using selectors.
   4. Click Save.
5. Add a sub-action from Content Syndication, CRM & MAS, Demandbase, or Sales.
   Important: Filter can only connect to one sub-action.
   
6. Configure sub-action:
   1. In the canvas, click the sub-action node.
   2. In the right action settings panel, complete the required fields. See Automation Actions.
7. Connect nodes:
   1. Click the blue circle at the bottom of the Set Automation Flow node, then drag the connector to the blue circle at the top of the Filter node.
   2. Click the blue circle at the bottom of the Filter node, then drag the connector to the blue circle at the top of the sub-action node.
      
8. Click Save Draft.

Add Decision Connector

1. Create an Automation or select an existing Automation.
2. From Select an action, click Connectors.
   
3. Select Decision to add it to the canvas.
4. Add sub-actions from Connectors, Content Syndication, CRM & MAS, Demandbase, or Sales.
   Important: Decision requires at least two sub-actions.
   
5. Connect nodes:
   1. Click the blue circle at the bottom of the Set Automation Flow node, then drag the connector to the blue circle at the top of the Decision node(s).
   2. Click the blue circle at the bottom of the Decision node(s), then drag the connector to the blue circle at the top of the sub-action node(s).
6. Configure Decision path(s):
   1. In the canvas, click the Decision node.
   2. In the right settings panel, click a path.
      Tip: Rename a path by hovering over its name (in both the canvas or right settings panel), clicking the pencil icon, and entering a new name.
   3. Click the + icon and create a condition logic using selectors.
   4. Repeat for each path.
   5. Click Save.
      
7. Configure Decision path hierarchy:
   1. In the canvas, click the Decision node.
   2. Drag and drop paths into the desired order. The hierarchy is as follows:
      1. If (Evaluated First): Records that match the criteria follow this path. Records that do not match go to the next path.
      2. Else If (Evaluated Next): Records go to this path if they don't match the previous path.
      3. Else (Default): Records that don't match any previous paths go to this path.
         
8. Configure the sub-actions:
   1. In the canvas, click a sub-action node.
   2. In the right action settings panel, complete the required fields. See Automation Actions.
   3. Repeat for each sub-action.
9. Repeat steps 3-7 for each Decision node.
10. Click Save Draft.

Sub-action Node Menu Options

Within a sub-action node, click the right three dots to see the following options:

• Delete Action: Delete the action.
• Show or Hide Action IDs: Shows the action ID, which helps identify actions when reviewing automation reports.

Next Steps

After configuring actions, choose one of the following options:

• Save Draft: Click Save Draft.
• Publish: See Publish an Automation.
• Discard or save the Automation:
  1. Click top left back to Automations.
  2. Select Discard & Continue (doesn’t save edits) or Save & Continue (saves edits).