Workflow Triggers
When Something Changes, Your CRM Acts.CRM workflow triggers that start your rules the moment a record changes.
Pick what should start a rule: a deal changing stage, a field updating, a new record, a new owner, a date arriving, or a record nobody has touched. Narrow it to the record type and field value you care about, and the rule acts only when it matters.
- Six trigger types
- Filters before it fires
- A log of every run
How it works
- Something changesA deal moves stage, a field updates
- The filter checksRight record type? Right field value?
- Not a matchThe rule stays asleepA matchIts actions run in order
- The run is loggedStatus, errors and how long it took
Your CRM Reacts, So Your Team Doesn’t Have To.
Stage changes, field updates, new records and reassignments start rules as the change is saved.
An inactivity trigger finds records nobody has touched, so they get attention before they go cold.
Narrow each trigger to a record type and a field value, so it ignores everything else.
Every run is logged with its result, errors and timing, so “did it run?” always has an answer.
Build a Rule in Three Steps.
Choose the Trigger
Pick one of six events, like a deal stage change or inactivity.
Narrow It Down
Set the record type, and optionally a field and the value it must change to.
Add Actions, Switch on
Add the actions to run, in order, then turn the rule on. Every run is logged.
What Are CRM Workflow Triggers, and Which Can You Use?
CRM workflow triggers are the events that start an automated rule. When one happens, such as a deal moving stage, the rule checks it is the right kind of change and runs its actions, so the CRM reacts without anyone clicking.
Adoptiv has six: a deal stage change trigger, a field update trigger, a record created trigger, an assignment change when a record gets a new owner, a time-based workflow trigger for dates that arrive, and an inactivity trigger for records nobody has touched. The first four fire as the change is saved. The other two are found by a regular sweep that looks for dates that have come round and records left untouched.
Each trigger carries a wide filter: a record type, and optionally one field with the value it must have changed to. Leave it empty and it matches everything. Each workflow action can then add a finer check of its own with workflow conditions.
Workflow run history shows every time a rule fired: its status, any errors and how long it took. Rules live in one list with create, edit, delete and an on switch, and only people with the manage-workflows permission (roles and permissions) can change them. For follow-up that runs over days, use email sequences.
Six Triggers for the Changes That Matter.
Act when a field changes, optionally to a set value.
Act as soon as a new record is saved.
Act when a record gets a new owner.
Act when a date on a record arrives.
Act on records nobody has touched in a while.
For Teams with Rules Worth Automating.
Workflow Triggers vs Watching the Pipeline.
| What | Checking records by hand | With Adoptiv |
|---|---|---|
| A deal changes stage | Checking records by hand: Someone notices, eventually | With Adoptiv: The rule runs as the change is saved |
| A lead goes quiet | Checking records by hand: Found in a weekly review, if at all | With Adoptiv: Picked up by the inactivity trigger |
| A date arrives | Checking records by hand: A calendar reminder per record | With Adoptiv: A time-based trigger runs the rule |
| Knowing what happened | Checking records by hand: Ask around | With Adoptiv: Every run logged with status and timing |
Workflow Triggers Questions, Answered.
What is a workflow trigger?
The event that starts an automated rule in your CRM, such as a deal changing stage or a new lead being created. When the trigger happens, the rule’s actions run.
What triggers can I use?
Six: deal stage change, field update, record created, assignment change, time based and inactivity.
Can a trigger fire only for certain records?
Yes. Narrow it to a record type, and optionally to one field changing to a set value. Each action can add its own finer check too.
How do I know if a rule ran?
Every run is logged with its status, any errors and how long it took, so a rule that matched and did nothing looks different from one that never matched.
Can I turn a rule off without deleting it?
Yes. Each rule has an on and off switch, so you can pause it and keep its setup.
What is the difference between a workflow and a sequence?
A workflow reacts to a change on a record and acts right away. A sequence carries a person through steps over days, like emails, waits and calls.
Can I add my own trigger types?
No. The six triggers are fixed, which keeps every rule predictable.
Who can create workflows?
People whose permission profile includes managing workflows. Without it, the workflows menu is hidden.
How does the inactivity trigger work?
A regular sweep looks for records nobody has touched past their window, then starts the rules waiting for that event.
Still have a question? A real person replies in under 60 seconds in US business hours. Talk to our team →
14-day free trial
Let Your CRM React for You.
Build your first workflow in the free trial. Free for 14 days, no credit card.
14-day trial · no card · migration included