🚀 Case Management is Coming Soon!
This feature is currently in Closed Beta and limited to select partners. We'll keep you in the loop as we work toward a wider release.
Overview
Automation Rules let you handle routine Alert and Case work automatically. Instead of manually assigning reviewers, setting priorities, escalating to Cases, or creating follow-up Tasks, you can build rules that fire as soon as an Alert or Case is created and apply the actions you choose.
Every rule follows the same pattern—Trigger → Conditions → Actions. The Trigger fires the rule (today, that's "Alert Created" or "Case Created"). Conditions narrow which records the rule applies to. Actions are what the rule does when those conditions are met. You can stack multiple conditions and multiple actions on a single rule.
Alerts and Cases each have their own Automation Rules page, with vocabulary and capabilities scoped to that record type.
Automation Rules vs. Workflows + Rules
🧠 Looking for the broader picture? See Automating Case Management for a full side-by-side comparison covering triggers, actions, and where each engine is configured.
Element451 has two automation engines that can both act on Alerts and Cases. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right tool for the job.
Engine | Best for |
Case Management Automation Rules (this article) | Dedicated automation that lives inside Case Management. Lighter weight and scoped to Alert/Case data (Reviewer, Assignee, Related Alert). |
Workflows + Rules module | Cross-module automation that needs to coordinate Alerts and Cases with email campaigns, contact updates, segments, or other platform-wide actions. |
Both paths are valid. Use Case Management Automation Rules for dedicated, case-specific logic. Reach for the Workflows + Rules module when you need to coordinate Case Management automation with broader platform workflows.
Choosing Where to Build
Use Case | Recommended Approach |
Auto-assign reviewers based on Alert type or student segment | Case Management Automation Rules |
Auto-escalate Alerts to Cases when conditions are met | Case Management Automation Rules |
Auto-assign Cases to specific teams based on type | Case Management Automation Rules |
Create follow-up Tasks when a new Case is created | Case Management Automation Rules |
Trigger a Bolt Agent Job when a Case is created | Case Management Automation Rules |
Coordinate Case actions with email campaigns or other platform workflows | Workflows + Rules module |
Where to Find Automation Rules
Automation Rules live inside Case Management Settings, with separate pages for Alerts and Cases.
Navigate to Engagement > Case Management.
Click the ⋮ (more menu) at the top right of the page and select a settings option to open Case Management Settings.
In the settings sidebar, expand Alerts or Cases, then click Automation Rules.
📌 Note: Alert rules and Case rules are configured independently. A rule you build on the Alerts page does not affect Cases, and vice versa. For configuring the underlying Alert and Case fields these rules act on, see Alert Settings and Case Settings.
The Rules List
Both Automation Rules pages share the same layout. The list shows every rule you've created for that record type.
Columns
Column | Description |
Name | The rule's name (set in the side sheet Title field). |
Description | Free-text description from the side sheet; shows — if empty. |
Actions | Comma-separated summary of every action configured on the rule (e.g., Update Reviewer, Update Resolution). |
Last Updated | When the rule was last edited. |
Enabled | Inline toggle to switch the rule on or off without opening it. |
Creating a new rule
Two entry points open the same rule side sheet:
The + icon button at the top right of the table
The + Add Rule button at the bottom of the list
Row actions
Click the ⋮ (more menu) at the end of any rule's row to:
Edit — open the rule in the side sheet
Delete — remove the rule
Creating a Rule
Clicking +, + Add Rule, or Edit opens a side sheet that takes up most of the screen. The side sheet is structured top to bottom around the same pattern: Title → Settings → Trigger → Conditions → Actions.
1. Title
At the top of the side sheet, the Title field defaults to Alert Rule on the Alerts page or Case Rule on the Cases page. Click into the field and replace the default with a descriptive name (for example, "Auto-assign high-priority attendance alerts"). This is the name shown in the rules list.
2. Settings
Enabled — Toggle that controls whether the rule runs. On by default. You can also flip this from the list view without opening the rule.
Description — Optional free-text field for explaining what the rule does. Shows in the Description column on the list view (or — if empty).
3. Trigger
The Trigger field is prefilled and read-only:
On the Alerts page: Alert Created
On the Cases page: Case Created
This means each rule evaluates whenever a new Alert or Case is created. No other trigger options are available today.
4. Conditions
Conditions are optional filters that narrow which records the rule applies to. If you add no conditions, the rule applies to every Alert or Case that fires the trigger.
To add a condition, click + Add Condition and pick a condition type from the menu (see the reference table below). You can stack multiple conditions on a single rule.
5. Actions
Actions are what the rule does when its trigger fires and its conditions are met.
To add one, click + Add Action. Each action renders as its own card with an Action dropdown at the top, action-specific fields below, and a trash icon to remove it. You can add multiple actions to a single rule—they appear comma-separated in the Actions column on the list view.
6. Save
Click Save at the top right of the side sheet to commit the rule. Save stays disabled until required fields are filled in (Title, at least one valid Action, plus any required fields on each action—such as a Due Date on Update Due Date). Click the X at the top left to close the side sheet without saving.
Conditions Reference
The condition types available depend on whether you're on the Alerts or Cases page.
Alert Conditions
Condition | What it does |
Segment Reference | Apply the rule only when the Alert's contact matches an existing saved segment. |
Segment Builder | Build an inline segment in place instead of referencing a saved one. |
Date Condition | Filter on a date field or relative date. |
Alert Property | Filter on the Alert's own fields (Type, Priority, Reviewer, etc.). |
Case Conditions
Condition | What it does |
Segment Reference | Apply the rule only when the Case's contact matches an existing saved segment. |
Segment Builder | Build an inline segment in place instead of referencing a saved one. |
Date Condition | Filter on a date field or relative date. |
Case Property | Filter on the Case's own fields (Type, Priority, Status, Assignee, etc.). |
Related Alert | Branch the rule on properties of an Alert linked to the Case. |
🧠 Good to Know: When you stack multiple conditions on a rule, all of them must be true for the rule to apply.
Actions Reference
Different actions are available on each page, reflecting the different fields available on Alerts vs. Cases.
Alert Actions
Action | What it does |
Update Reviewer | Assign a Reviewer. Supports Selected, Rotational, or Balanced assignment across users, teams, or the Contact's Assignee (see Assignment Behavior below). |
Update Priority | Change the Alert's priority. |
Update Resolution | Update the Alert's resolution status. |
Update Due Date | Set or update the Alert's due date—either an exact date or a number of days from when the rule runs. |
Create Case | Spin up a new Case from the Alert. |
Enroll in Workflow | Enroll the Alert's contact in a Workflow. |
Enroll in Bolt Agent Job | Trigger a Bolt Agent Job for the Alert. |
Case Actions
Action | What it does |
Update Assignee | Assign an owner. Supports Selected, Rotational, or Balanced assignment across users, teams, or the Contact's Assignee (see Assignment Behavior below). |
Update Priority | Change the Case's priority. |
Update Status | Move the Case to a different status. |
Update Type | Change the Case Type. |
Update Due Date | Set or update the Case's due date—either an exact date or a number of days from when the rule runs. |
Add Subscriber | Add a Subscriber to the Case. |
Remove Subscriber | Remove a Subscriber from the Case. |
Mark as Private | Mark the Case as Private. |
Create Task | Create a Task linked to the Case. |
Enroll in Workflow | Enroll the Case's contact in a Workflow. |
Enroll in Bolt Agent Job | Trigger a Bolt Agent Job for the Case. |
Assignment Behavior
When you add an Update Reviewer action on the Alerts page or an Update Assignee action on the Cases page, you'll see an Assignment Behavior dropdown with three options. This controls how the rule chooses among the users or teams you've selected in the Reviewer / Assignee field.
Behavior | What it does |
Selected (default) | Assigns to the specific user(s), team(s), or Contact Assignee chosen. |
Rotational | Rotates assignment across the chosen pool, one record at a time, in order. |
Balanced | Balances load across the chosen pool, sending each new record to whoever currently has the lightest open workload. |
✨ Pro Tip: Use Balanced when you have a team that should share work evenly. Use Rotational when you want round-robin assignment regardless of current load.
Editing, Enabling, and Deleting Rules
Edit — Click the rule row's ⋮ (more menu) and choose Edit to reopen the side sheet.
Enable / Disable — Flip the Enabled toggle in the list view to pause or resume a rule without losing its configuration.
Delete — Click the rule row's ⋮ (more menu) and choose Delete.
🚨 Important: Deleting a rule cannot be undone. If you want to pause a rule temporarily, disable it instead.
Examples
Auto-assign new high-priority alerts to a specific reviewer
Create an Alert rule with a single Alert Property condition (Priority = High) and an Update Reviewer action set to your advising lead. Every new high-priority Alert will be assigned automatically.
Escalate alerts for first-year students to a Case
Create an Alert rule and combine a Segment Reference condition (First-Year Students) with a Create Case action. Alerts for that population will spin up a Case automatically.
Set a 7-day due date on new advising cases
Create a Case rule, add a Case Property condition (Type = Advising), and an Update Due Date action with Due Days = 7.
Distribute incoming cases evenly across the advising team
Create a Case rule, add an Update Assignee action, set Assignment Behavior = Balanced, and choose your advising team. Each new Case will go to whichever team member has the lightest workload.