# Common automation recipes

> Build a task-stage notification and a weekday scheduled reminder with the triggers and actions available in AgencyTitan.

URL: https://www.agencytitan.com/help/automations/common-recipes/

These recipes use nodes currently available in the global automation builder. Build and test them with safe records and recipients before adapting them to live agency data. Start from **Settings**, then **Automations** ([/settings/automations](https://app.agencytitan.com/settings/automations)).

## Who this is for

Agency team members who build automations. Requires **View Automations**, **Create Automations**, and **Edit Automations**.

## Before you begin

- Choose the task stage change or reminder schedule you want to automate.
- Prepare a safe test task and notification recipients.
- Write the notification subject and message.

## Recipe 1: Notify the team when a task changes stage

1. Create an automation with a descriptive name, such as **Notify on Task Stage Change**.
2. Under **TRIGGERS**, expand **Tasks** and drag **Task Stage Changed** onto the canvas.
3. Give the trigger a descriptive label such as **Task changes stage**.
4. If every stage change should notify the team, leave the trigger without conditions.
5. If only some changes should qualify, add a condition and confirm it still appears after saving and reopening the trigger.
6. Under **ACTIONS**, expand **Communication** and drag **Send Notification** onto the canvas.
7. Enter a subject and message.
8. Choose **Select Users**, **By Department**, or **Dynamic**, then select the recipients.
9. Choose email, in-app, or both delivery channels and set a priority.
10. Save the action and connect the trigger to it.
11. Select **Save Draft**, reload to verify the graph, publish, then turn on **Active**.

![Published active documentation example with Task changes stage connected to Notify task reviewers](/docs/screenshots/automations-v1/connected-steps.png)

## Recipe 2: Send a weekday reminder

1. Create an automation with a descriptive name, such as **Weekday Team Reminder**.
2. Under **TRIGGERS**, expand **General** and drag **On a Schedule** onto the canvas.
3. Choose **Cron**.
4. Select **Weekdays at 9 AM**, or enter another valid cron expression.
5. Confirm the timezone and review **Next Scheduled Executions**.
6. Leave **Query for Entities** off for one agency-wide reminder. Turn it on only when the automation should find clients or tasks and run for each result.
7. Add **Send Notification** from **Communication**.
8. Enter the reminder subject and message, select recipients and delivery channels, then save.
9. Connect the schedule trigger to the notification.
10. Save the draft, publish, and turn on **Active**.

![Published active scheduled reminder with Cron selected, Weekdays at 9 AM preset, cron expression, Eastern Time, and optional entity query](/docs/screenshots/automations-v1/schedule-trigger.png)

:::note[Interval, specific, and field schedules]
The schedule trigger also supports an interval, an exact date and time, or timing based on an entity date field. Complete every required schedule value and check the upcoming executions before publishing.
:::

## Validate either recipe

- Reload the builder and confirm nodes and connections remain.
- Check the issue counter before publishing.
- Use the **Test Automation** panel only with safe recipients and records.
- Open **Activity** after a test or real trigger and confirm the new execution status.
- Turn the automation inactive when testing is complete if it should not continue running.

## Expected result

- The task recipe records a run when its qualifying stage-change trigger fires.
- The schedule recipe shows upcoming weekday executions and runs at the configured time while active.
- Notification recipients receive the configured delivery channels when the action succeeds.

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The automation cannot be published | A node is incomplete, disconnected, or unsaved | Open each issue shown in the builder, complete the required values, connect the nodes, and select **Save Draft** |
| A task stage change does not start a run | The automation is inactive or the trigger conditions do not match the task | Confirm the automation is published and **Active**, then review the **Task Stage Changed** conditions |
| A scheduled reminder runs at the wrong time | The schedule uses a different time zone or cron expression | Open **On a Schedule**, confirm the time zone and expression, and review **Next Scheduled Executions** |
| A notification is not delivered | The action does not include the intended recipient or delivery channel | Open **Send Notification** and review the recipients, **Email**, and **In-app** settings |

## Related articles

- [Create an automation](https://www.agencytitan.com/help/automations/create-an-automation/): Create an automation draft, choose from the triggers available in the builder, and add field or related-record conditions.
- [Add actions and steps](https://www.agencytitan.com/help/automations/add-actions-and-steps/): Add and configure actions, connect nodes in execution order, and use control-flow and utility steps in the automation builder.
- [Publish and manage automations](https://www.agencytitan.com/help/automations/publish-and-manage/): Publish and activate an automation, edit a live version safely, restore an older version as a draft, duplicate, organize, or delete.
- [View automation run history](https://www.agencytitan.com/help/automations/view-run-history/): Use the Activity tab to filter automation runs, open an execution timeline, inspect step errors, copy identifiers, and re-run safely.
- [Troubleshoot automations](https://www.agencytitan.com/help/automations/troubleshoot-automations/): Diagnose validation issues, missing runs, inactive automations, and failed steps using the builder and Activity execution details.