Build an automation with Orbit

Orbit, Spacebrain's AI assistant, can turn a sentence like "When a form creates a lead, email them and create a follow-up task" into a draft automation. You review the plan, save it as a draft, then test and publish it when you're ready. This guide is for anyone who wants a working first draft without placing every step by hand.

Before you begin

• Permission: you need editing permission in the workspace. Without it, the builder shows You need editing permission in this workspace to build or change automations.
• Credits: building with AI uses credits. If you run out, you'll see Add credits to keep building automations with AI.
• Connections: if the automation will send email, texts or calls, connect those accounts first under Automations → Connections. Orbit can still build the draft without them, but it leaves the missing settings for you to fill in.
• Know your trigger: write down what should start the automation (for example "a form is submitted") and what should happen, in order.

Where to find it

You can build with Orbit from two places:

• Automations → Overview: the Build automations with AI panel is at the top of the page.
• Automations → All Automations: choose New Automation, then Describe with Orbit.

The New Automation button on a module's own Automations page (for example CRM → Automations) opens the manual starter list instead. To use Orbit, go to the main Automations pages.

Build a new automation

1. In the builder, make sure Create new is selected.
2. Type what you want in Describe your automation. Include the trigger, each action and any timing. You can also choose an idea under Start with an idea, such as Review each new lead or Follow up after a webinar, and edit the text.
3. Select Build automation, or press Ctrl + Enter (⌘ + Enter on a Mac).
4. Wait while Orbit works. You'll see progress such as Understanding your request and Connecting triggers and actions. Select Stop if you want to change your request.
5. If Orbit needs more detail, it shows A question before we continue. Type your answer and select Send reply.
6. Review the plan. It's marked Draft plan and shows:
   • Starts when: the trigger.
   • Actions & steps: each step in order, including waits such as "Wait 1 day".
   • Finish setup in Automation setup: any settings you still need to choose, such as a sender or a task owner.
   • Plan details: how many steps and connections will be added, and any notes.
7. To change the plan, type in What would you like to change? and select Update plan. Try the suggestions Add an SMS follow-up, Adjust the timing or Add an AI phone call.
8. When the plan looks right, select Save draft.
9. You'll see Draft saved. Continue here to inspect, test or request activation. Select Open saved automation to open the draft in the editor.

Example request

When the Contact us form is submitted, add the tag website-enquiry, create a task called "Call new enquiry" for the lead's owner due in one day with high priority, then wait one day and send the "Thanks for getting in touch" email.

A good request names the form, the tag, the task details, the wait and the email. The more specific you are, the fewer follow-up questions Orbit asks.

Test and publish from the same conversation

After you save, you can keep talking to Orbit in the same panel. For example, ask it to test the draft or publish it. Orbit prepares each request as a proposal, and you confirm it with a button:

You can also finish in the editor instead. It's often easier to check setup there. See Build an automation in the editor for Setup, Issues, Test and Publish.

Change an existing automation

1. In the builder, select Edit existing.
2. Choose the automation. You can search with Search by automation name….
3. Describe the change in Describe your changes, for example "Wait two days instead of one. Keep the other steps unchanged."
4. Select Plan changes and review the plan.
5. Select Apply changes.

If the automation is live, the published version keeps running while you edit. Your changes only go live after you publish them. If a plan would switch a live automation back to a draft, Orbit warns you: Applying this plan stops new runs of the live automation until you activate it again.

What you should see

• A draft appears in Automations → All Automations with the status Draft.
• Open saved automation opens that draft on the editor canvas, with the trigger and steps from the plan.
• Any settings Orbit couldn't fill in are listed under Setup in the editor.

If something goes wrong

To start again at any time, select Start over.

FAQ

Will Orbit send anything while it's building?

No. Orbit only creates or changes drafts. Messages are sent only after you publish the automation and a real event triggers it.

Can Orbit fix a failed run?

Yes. On a failed run's details page, select Prepare AI repair. Orbit proposes a repair as a draft. It does not replay the failed run. See Runs and troubleshooting.

Can I also ask Orbit from the Orbit panel?

You can ask Orbit about your automations from the Orbit panel too. Building and editing drafts step by step works best in the Build automations with AI panel. See Orbit, your AI assistant.

Next step

Open your saved draft and finish it in the editor: complete Setup, run a dry Test, then Publish.