What is a workflow trigger?
The trigger is the starting gun of a workflow: nothing runs until it fires.
Its precision determines whether the automation is helpful or a nuisance - a vague trigger fires too much, a wrong one misses the moment entirely.
Short answer
A workflow trigger is the event or condition that starts an automated workflow - a record being created or updated, a field reaching a value, a stage changing, or a date arriving. The trigger defines exactly when the workflow runs. Choosing a precise trigger is what makes automation fire at the right moment instead of too often or not enough.
Key takeaways
- The event or condition that starts a workflow.
- Can be a record change, field value, stage change, or date.
- Defines exactly when the automation runs.
- Precision determines whether it fires at the right moments.
Why it matters
The trigger is where automation succeeds or annoys. A precise trigger fires exactly when the process should run; a loose one spams tasks and alerts, and a wrong one never fires when needed. Getting the trigger right is most of getting the workflow right.
How Ardovo handles it
Ardovo supports triggers on record events, field values, stage changes, and dates, with conditions to scope them tightly. Rook helps pick the right trigger from a described intent, so workflows fire at the intended moments rather than too broadly.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of triggers can start a workflow?
Record events (created or updated), field conditions (a value reaching a threshold), stage changes (a deal moving forward), and time-based triggers (a date arriving or an interval passing). The trigger type you choose defines exactly what moment sets the automation running.
Why does trigger precision matter?
Because a loose trigger fires too often - spamming tasks and alerts - while a wrong one never fires when needed. A precise trigger, often paired with conditions, ensures the workflow runs at exactly the right moments. Getting the trigger right is most of getting the automation right.
What is the difference between a trigger and a condition?
The trigger is the event that starts evaluating the workflow; conditions further constrain whether it actually runs. For example, a trigger might be any deal update, with a condition that it only proceeds for deals over a certain value. Trigger starts it, conditions scope it.