Triggers: How Automations Wake Up

Every automation starts the same way: something tells it to begin. That “something” is a trigger. Mastering a handful of trigger types—time, event, webhook, manual, and chat—gives you the power to launch workflows exactly when you need them.

Time-Based (Schedule) Triggers Think of these as alarm clocks. You set a specific moment—every day at 07:00, the first Monday of each month, or a five-minute interval—and the workflow runs on schedule. Perfect for routine reports, backups, and reminders.

Event Triggers These watch for a data change. New row in a sheet, fresh email in your inbox, message in Slack—when that event happens, the workflow fires. Ideal for real-time dashboards, lead capture, or instant notifications.

Webhook Triggers A webhook supplies a unique URL. Whenever another app or service sends an HTTP request to that address, the workflow launches immediately. Great for custom forms, payment confirmations, or any system without a native integration.

Manual Triggers Manual triggers are test buttons. You click “Run” in the editor, and the workflow executes once—no scheduling, no external calls. Use them for debugging or on-demand utilities that you only need occasionally.

Chat Triggers Some platforms include a built-in chat node. You send a message, and the workflow treats that input like live data. This is a low-friction way to prototype conversational agents or support bots without deploying extra interfaces.

A daily “bring an umbrella” text needs only a time-based trigger, a weather API call, and a messaging node. A client-onboarding workflow might rely on an event trigger (new CRM entry) or a webhook (online form submission). Choose the simplest trigger that matches the moment your workflow should start, and you’ll avoid complexity while keeping everything reliable.