Triggers in Shape
System Setup and Customization
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Triggers in Shape
One-time automations that respond to specific events
Triggers in Shape are designed to automate one-time actions when a specific event occurs. Unlike drip campaigns, which run over time based on status, triggers fire once and complete their task immediately or at a scheduled time.
What a Trigger Is
A trigger is a single automated event that runs one time when a defined condition is met. Common examples include birthdays, holidays, status changes, or checklist completion. Once the trigger fires, the action is completed and does not repeat unless the event happens again.
Triggers vs Drip Campaigns
Triggers and drip campaigns are often confused, but they serve different purposes. Drip campaigns run continuously while a record stays in a specific status, delivering a sequence of outreach over time. Triggers run once and stop.
Triggers are ideal for:
- Holidays and birthdays
- Status-based notifications
- One-time emails or texts
- System updates tied to a single action
Pre-Built Triggers
Depending on your industry template, Shape includes pre-built triggers that follow best practices. These commonly include holiday messages and birthday outreach. These triggers are ready to use and can be toggled on or off at any time.
Managing Trigger Folders
Triggers are organized into folders for easy management. Turning off a folder disables every trigger inside it. If you only want to disable a single trigger, you can delete it or move it into an inactive folder. Custom folders can be created to keep inactive or seasonal triggers organized.
Creating a New Trigger
Creating a trigger starts with selecting a trigger event, which defines what action inside Shape will initiate the automation. Trigger types include status changes, checklist completion, dates, holidays, call outcomes, AI call scores, and more.
Choosing Trigger Actions
Once the trigger event is set, you define what Shape should do when that event occurs. Action options vary by industry but commonly include:
- Sending an email or text
- Assigning users or teams
- Adding tags
- Updating record status
- Creating tasks
- Completing checklist items
- Triggering webhooks
Setting the Run Schedule
Triggers can run immediately when the event occurs or be delayed by a specific amount of time. You can also schedule triggers to run at a specific date and time, which is especially useful for holiday or birthday messages that should be sent at a consistent hour.
Editing Existing Triggers
Pre-built triggers can be edited at any time. You can change what event triggers them, what action they perform, or which template they send. If the trigger sends an email or text, you can jump directly into the template editor to make updates without rebuilding the trigger.
Why This Video Matters
Triggers allow you to automate meaningful moments without building complex workflows. They help ensure timely communication, reduce manual effort, and keep your system responding intelligently to key events. When used correctly, triggers quietly handle important tasks in the background so your team can stay focused on higher-value work.
