Understanding Event-Triggered Automation vs. User-Triggered Automation
Automation is revolutionising the way businesses operate, making processes more efficient, accurate, and cost-effective. At the core of automation are triggers—specific events or actions that initiate an automated workflow. There are two primary types of triggers: event-triggered automation and user-triggered automation. Understanding the differences between these triggers, their use cases, and the benefits they offer can help businesses leverage automation more effectively.
User-Triggered Automation
What is User-Triggered Automation?
User-triggered automation is initiated by a specific action taken by a user. This can include clicking a button, filling out a form, or selecting an option in a software application. The user's action acts as the trigger that starts the automation workflow.
Use Cases for User-Triggered Automation
Document Generation:
Allow users to generate specific documents on-demand, such as generating a pre-filled compliance document by clicking a “Generate Document” button.
AI-Generated Meeting Notes:
Let users record and customise their meeting summaries by choosing specific points of interest or action items they want the AI to highlight, making the summaries more relevant to their needs.
Streamlined Scheduling:
Provide users with a self-service scheduling tool where they can click a button to automatically send an email or text message to clients with a link to book a meeting. Once the client books a meeting, the system updates the calendar and sends confirmations.
Data Collection:
Allow users to initiate data collection forms or surveys when they need to gather specific information from clients or stakeholders, ensuring the process is user-driven and timely.
Benefits of User-Triggered Automation
Control: Gives users the ability to initiate processes when needed, providing greater flexibility.
Personalisation: Allows users to trigger processes that are tailored to their specific needs and preferences.
Interactivity: Enhances user experience by providing immediate feedback and results based on their actions.
Simplicity: Simplifies complex workflows by breaking them down into user-initiated steps, making processes more manageable.
Event Triggered Automation
What is Event-Triggered Automation?
Event-triggered automation is initiated by specific events or conditions occurring within a system. These events can be predefined actions, changes in data, or system notifications. Once the event is detected, the automation workflow is executed automatically without human intervention.
Use Cases for Event-Triggered Automation
Automated Client Onboarding:
Automatically create a client account in your CRM, generate a folder in your designated storage service, and produce pre-filled onboarding documents when a client completes a new client form.
Automated Alerts and Notifications:
Send an alert to a team member when a client completes a specific action such as signs a document, books a meeting or completes a form.
Data Updates and Synchronisation:
Updating a customer record in your CRM with client information received during a specified process.
System Maintenance:
Initiating a backup process when a database reaches a certain size.
Benefits of Event-Triggered Automation
Efficiency: Automates repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more strategic activities.
Accuracy: Reduces the likelihood of human error by performing tasks consistently.
Timeliness: Ensures tasks are performed immediately after the triggering event, leading to quicker responses.
Scalability: Can handle large volumes of transactions or events without manual intervention.
Comparing Event-Triggered and User-Triggered Automation
| Feature | Event-Triggered Automation | User-Triggered Automation |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger Source | System events or conditions | User actions or inputs |
| Automation Initiation | Automatic based on predefined events | Manual initiation by users |
| Key Benefits | Efficiency, accuracy, timeliness, scalability | Control, personalisation, interactivity, simplicity |
| Ideal For | Continuous, repetitive tasks without human intervention | Processes requiring user decision or specific input |