# Automations overview

> Learn what Spacebrain Automations do, where to find each page, and how to go from an idea to a tested, live automation.

Canonical: https://help.spacebrain.ai/automations/
Last modified: 2026-09-25T00:00:00.000Z

Automations do repeatable work for you. When something happens, such as a form submission, a new lead, a missed call or a paid order, an automation runs the steps you choose, like tagging the lead, creating a task or sending a message. This page is for anyone who wants to understand how Automations are organized before building one.

## How an automation works [#how-an-automation-works]

Every automation has the same three parts:

1. **A trigger:** the event that starts it. For example, **Form Submitted**, **Lead Created**, **Message Received** or **Deal Won**.
2. **Steps:** what happens next, in order. Steps can be actions (**Add Tag**, **Create Task**, **Send Email**), checks (**Condition**, **Switch**, **AI Classifier**) or timing (**Delay**).
3. **A status:** an automation is a **Draft** until you publish it. Only **Active** automations run on real events. You can **Pause** an active automation at any time.

Nothing runs while an automation is a draft, so you can build, change and test it safely.

> **Note — Example**
>
> "When the Contact us form is submitted, add the tag *website-enquiry*, then create a task for the lead's owner due in one day." The trigger is **Form Submitted**, and the steps are **Add Tag** and **Create Task**.

## Where to find Automations [#where-to-find-automations]

Open **Automations** in the main navigation. It has these pages:

| Page                              | What you use it for                                                            |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Automations → Overview**        | Build with AI, see usage and spending, and jump to recent automations.         |
| **Automations → All Automations** | Search, filter, open, pause, duplicate, archive or delete every automation.    |
| **Automations → Templates**       | Start from a ready-made automation for a common job.                           |
| **Automations → Runs**            | See every time an automation ran, what happened and where it stopped.          |
| **Automations → Connections**     | Check the email, SMS, WhatsApp, voice and webhook connections your steps need. |
| **Automations → Usage**           | Track active automations, executions and credits used.                         |

Some modules also have their own **Automations** page that lists only the automations connected to that module, for example **CRM → Automations** and **Chat & Voice → Automations**. They use the same editor. Choosing **New Automation** there shows starting points for that module only.

## Choose how to build [#choose-how-to-build]

There are three ways to start. All three create a draft that opens in the same editor.

| Start with              | Best when                                                                | Guide                                                            |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Describe with Orbit** | You can describe the job in a sentence and want AI to draft the steps.   | [Build an automation with Orbit](/automations/build-with-orbit/) |
| **Build manually**      | You know which trigger you want and prefer to add steps yourself.        | [Build an automation in the editor](/automations/workflows/)     |
| **Templates**           | A common job, like following up after a webinar, already has a template. | [Build an automation in the editor](/automations/workflows/)     |

## Before you begin [#before-you-begin]

* **Role:** you need editing permission in the workspace to create or change automations. Viewers can open automations and runs but cannot change them.
* **Plan:** some steps are premium. If a draft uses one your plan does not include, the editor shows **Upgrade to activate** or **Start trial to activate** instead of **Publish**.
* **Connections:** steps that send email, texts, WhatsApp messages or calls need a connected account. Check **Automations → Connections** first.
* **Credits:** building with AI and some AI steps use credits. AI Classifier steps are free. See [Free AI classifiers](/automations/ai-classifiers/).

## From idea to live automation [#from-idea-to-live-automation]

Follow the same path every time:

1. **Write the job in one sentence.** "When X happens, do Y." Name who should be included and who should not.
2. **Create a draft** with Orbit, manually or from a template.
3. **Finish setup.** Open **Setup** in the editor and choose senders, task owners and other required settings.
4. **Fix issues.** Open **Issues** and clear every error.
5. **Test.** Open **Test** and run a dry test with sample data. Nothing is sent or changed.
6. **Publish.** Choose **Publish**. The automation becomes **Active** and runs on new events.
7. **Check the first runs.** Open **Automations → Runs** and confirm the results in the CRM, inbox or task list.

## Change a live automation safely [#change-a-live-automation-safely]

When you edit an active automation, your changes are saved as a draft. The published version keeps running until you choose **Publish changes**. If a change could affect people who are already partway through (for example, you remove a delay), pause the automation first, publish the change, then resume it.

## FAQ [#faq]

### What happened to Sequences? [#what-happened-to-sequences]

Sequences have been replaced by email automations. Old Sequences links now open the email automations page. See [Sequences](/automations/sequences/).

### Does a draft ever run? [#does-a-draft-ever-run]

No. Only active automations run on real events. Dry tests and classifier tests never send messages or change records.

### Can two automations react to the same event? [#can-two-automations-react-to-the-same-event]

Yes. Each active automation with a matching trigger runs. Check **All Automations** for overlapping triggers so a lead does not get two welcome emails.

## Next step [#next-step]

  - [Build with Orbit](/automations/build-with-orbit/) — Describe the job in plain language and get a tested draft.

  - [Build in the editor](/automations/workflows/) — Pick a trigger, add steps, set up, test and publish.

  - [Free AI classifiers](/automations/ai-classifiers/) — Sort leads and messages with AI at no credit cost.

  - [Runs and troubleshooting](/automations/runs-and-troubleshooting/) — See what ran, why a run failed and how to retry safely.