Overview
Actions in Workflows + Rules are what make things happen. They're the steps defining each Contact's outcome. For instance, actions can send a communication like an email or SMS, submit a completed application, or apply a label such as "prospect" to a person's profile.
Action Types
There is a wide range of action types. Each type serves a unique purpose, enabling you to customize your Workflow or Rule precisely.
All action types are available when using Workflows or a triggered Rule.
If you are using a scheduled Rule, your action types are limited to
create login token
,create profile
,validate phone numbers
, andrun rule
.
Multiple Actions per Step
You can add more than one action to a single step. This flexibility lets you handle different tasks simultaneously.
Conditions for Tailored Actions
If you're using conditions to have more granular control over your actions and steps, you can have an action for each "yes" and "no" branch. You may also add more than one action to a branch.
How to Add an Action
The process of adding Actions is outlined in our help articles on creating Workflows + Rules:
Workflows
Rules
Types of Actions
Activities
Activities
Add Custom Activity
Add a custom activity that happened outside of Element451.
Applications
Applications
Move to a new campus
Move unsubmitted applications from one campus to another.
Move to a new degree
Move unsubmitted applications from one degree to another.
Move to a new major
Move unsubmitted applications from one major to another.
Move to a new school
Move unsubmitted applications from one school to another.
Move to a new student type
Move unsubmitted applications from one student type to another.
Move to a new term
Move unsubmitted applications from one term to another.
Register Application as Decision
Create a decision for submitted applications.
When using this action, the application must have a submitted status for a decision to be created.
Submit Application
Automatically submit completed applications.
Campaigns
Campaigns
Send Communication
Send an ongoing communication.
The Send Communication action allows you to set the Time to Send setting to User Preferred Open Time to send the campaign when the contact is most likely to open it based on previous activity.
Labels
Labels
Add Label
Add a label if not already present.
Remove Label
Remove a label from a person.
Set Territory
Set the person's territory.
Milestones
Milestones
Set Milestone - Application Deposit
Add a deposited milestone.
Set Milestone - Application Start
Add an application start milestone.
Set Milestone - Application Submit
Add an application submit milestone.
Set Milestone - Checklist Complete
Add a checklist complete milestone.
Set Milestone - Date of Inquiry
Add a date of inquiry (prospect) milestone.
Set Milestone - Defer
Add a defer milestone.
Set Milestone - Enrolled
Add an enrolled milestone.
Set Milestone - Interview
Add an interview milestone.
Set Milestone - On Hold
Add a hold milestone.
Set Milestone - Unsubscribe Email
Add an email unsubscribe milestone.
Set Milestone - Unsubscribe SMS
Add an SMS unsubscribe milestone.
Set Milestone - Visit
Add a visit milestone.
Set Milestone - Waitlist
Add a waitlist milestone.
Set Milestone - Withdrawn
Add a withdrawn milestone.
Tasks
Tasks
Create Task
Create a new related task.
Users
Users
Add network connection: Add a network connection to another user.
Add custom source to user: Add a custom source.
Change assignee: Set the person's assignee (an individual or a Team).
When using the Change Assignee action, you can configure the Assignment Behavior to determine how the internal user is assigned to a contact.
Remove assignee: Clear a person's assignee.
Set user's custom date property: Set a date value for a custom field.
Set user's custom property: Set a value for a custom field (value must be exact).
Set user's property: Set a value for a system field (value must be exact).
Advanced Features When Using Set User's
Actions
Formula Fields
Add custom-calculated fields by employing formulas
Works with any of the set user's actions (custom date property, custom property, or property)
AI Workflow Evaluations
Dynamically generate values by selecting AI Prompt as the property’s value. This allows AI to populate custom fields with relevant, real-time data based on predefined criteria, unlocking powerful data manipulation possibilities.
This is a premium feature that is subject to usage-based billing.
Must be enabled in Billing Settings.
Works with set user's custom property or set user's property actions.
Webhooks
Webhooks
Execute Webhook
Execute Webhook for the person
Workflows
Workflows
Abort Workflow
Finish the current workflow (stops processing but does not remove the record).
Enroll to Workflow
Enroll the person in the selected workflow.
Apply Overlapping Enrollment: This setting allows you to enroll a user in the same workflow more than once simultaneously for different applications. This option is only available when using
application
,decision
, andevent signup
triggers.
How does it work?
When enabled, users can be enrolled in the same workflow multiple times simultaneously, provided each enrollment is associated with a unique trigger context, such as an application registration ID or event signup ID. Overlapping enrollment is not available for workflows triggered by joined segments or manual enrollments, as these do not have a specific trigger context.
Finish Workflow
Finish the current workflow (stops processing but does not remove the record).
Remove from Workflow
Remove from the workflow (stops processing and deletes any record of this run).
AI Workflow Evaluations
AI Workflow Evaluations are a premium feature and are subject to Element451's usage-based pricing and must be enabled in Billing Settings.
When using the Set User’s Property or Set User’s Custom Property workflow actions, you can dynamically generate values by selecting AI Prompt as the property’s value. This allows AI to populate custom fields with relevant, real-time data based on predefined criteria.
How It Works
Enable Premium Feature – Ensure 'AI Workflow Evaluations' is enabled in your Billing Settings. Premium features are disabled by default to prevent unexpected credit usage.
Select an Action – Choose Set User’s Property or Set User’s Custom Property within your workflow.
Choose AI Prompt – In the Value field, select AI Prompt as the data source.
Enter an AI Prompt – Provide a structured prompt for AI to generate the value. Example: “Based on a student’s major, recommend a relevant career path and set their ‘Career Interest’ custom field accordingly.”
Test the Output – Select a contact and click Evaluate to preview the AI-generated value before finalizing.