Overview
Territories in Element451 are designed to be dynamic and user-friendly. Administrators have the ability to define specific conditions that automatically assign individual records to appropriate Territories. This process eliminates the need for separate workflows.
The conditions for Territory assignment are highly versatile, allowing you to use common segment filters like address (including state, county, and country), major, and funnel stage, among others. These conditions are continuously checked to ensure that each person's record remains current and accurately placed within the right Territory.
After configuring your dynamic Territories, you can create a Workflow or Rule to assign staff members, such as admissions counselors, to those Territories.
💡Tip: Choose clear, concise names for your Territories. Skip the abbreviations. This keeps your data clean and user-friendly, not just for now but for the future of your Element451 instance.
Accessing Territory Management
To manage your Territories, navigate to Contacts > Categories > Territories.
Configuring Territories
📙 Note: To configure Territories, you must have the Administer Territory permission.
Each dynamic territory combines a territory segment and a set territory workflow into a single configuration.
Important Notes:
Which territory a person is assigned is determined by two factors: (1) The condition filters associated with a particular territory and (2) the territory order of precedence.
Since a record can only belong to one territory, it is assigned to the first match on the territory list. Generally speaking, this means smaller, more specialized populations should be at the top of your territory list, with more generalized territories at the bottom.
Example: Consider Element University which has two small graduate programs and several UG territories. The undergraduate territories include an international territory, a transfer territory, and 4 geographic territories for first-year applicants. As a graduate, international and transfer territories "override" the undergraduate geography-based territories, they have set their territory list in this order:
Graduate - MBA
Graduate - Education
Undergraduate - Transfer
Undergraduate - International (F-1 Visa required)
Undergraduate - Eastern US
Undergraduate - Central US
Undergraduate - Mountain US
Undergraduate - Pacific US
When are Territories Calculated?
People records are evaluated on an ongoing basis to determine if a territory update is needed.
This evaluation can be triggered by:
A person record is created manually
Changing/updating information on a person record
An import or API integration updates or creates a person record
Adding/removing/updating condition filter(s) for a specified Territory
Reordering the order of precedence on the territory list
📙 Note: This process is asynchronous and may take several minutes to complete updates, especially when creating or editing territories.
Territory List
Each configured Territory is displayed as a row on the Territory list.
Territory Name
Territory Code
The number of people currently assigned to that Territory.
Active Toggle (Only active territories will be assigned and used in Territory logic)
Menu
(open, edit, or delete a Territory)
List Formatting
Gray Row Background: Territories with condition filters active/applied
White Row Background: Territories with no conditions active/applied
While these will not factor into assignment logic, they can be used for manual assignments.
Reordering Your Territory List
Remember that since a record can only belong to one territory and it is assigned to the first match on the territory list, we recommend organizing your list with smaller, more specialized populations at the top with more generalized territories at the bottom.
To reorder your list:
Use the two vertical lines
to click and drag/drop the row to your desired location in the list.
Adding + Managing Terrorities
Adding a New Territory
Navigate to Contacts > Categories > Territories
Click the plus + button in the right corner of your Territory List
Complete the fields:
Name: Your name should be short and specific (e.g., "Last Name = A-G" or "Texas")
Code: The code will prepopulate based on the Name you provide, but it can be adjusted
Description: Give your Territory a description to help explain it to others who may also be working in this Module now and in the future
Condition Active (this enables your Territory to be evaluated on an ongoing basis)
Add Filters (this will determine which students are assigned to this territory)
When you're finished configuring the Territory, click Save
in the top right corner.
Opening, Editing + Deleting Territories
To open, edit, or delete an existing Territory from your list:
Click the three horizontal dots
at the end of the Territory's rowSelect open, edit, or delete based on the action you wish to take
Open: View the Territory information and the people assigned to that Territory
Edit: Edit the basic information and filter conditions for that Territory
Delete: Permanently delete the Territory
Manually Setting a Territory
Territory assignments are evaluated continuously and are updated when data on a person profile changes. However, there are times when a user may need to be excluded from the standard territory assignment process. In this case, you can manually set (or clear) a Territory from a record and/or opt that record out from future territory assignment calculations from the System card located in the sidebar of the person profile.
To manually change or clear a Territory:
Navigate to the person's profile/record
Locate the System card and click on the Territory chip. (Note: Depending on the configuration of your Bolt Person Profiles, the Territory settings may not appear on one or more of your profile templates.)
Once you click on the Territory chip, you can select the X to clear the Territory or simply select a new Territory from the drop-down list.
Toggle on Opt-Out From Automatic Territory Assignment: If the student still meets the conditions in your dynamic Territory configurations, Element451 will revert the Territory back unless the opt-out toggle is enabled.
Video: Territories
Adding Assignee (Staff Member) Based on Territory
Using a Workflow or Rule, you can automate the process of assigning staff members (or a Team) to user/people records based on their Territory assignment.
FAQs
Q: Why don't the people who match this filter count territory People Count match?
A: "People who match this filter" looks at the records that could be included in that territory based on the filter(s) selected. The territory People Count are those who are actually assigned to the territory. These numbers will rarely match exactly. Some common impacts:
Records manually added or removed from a territory.
A person matched another territory higher on the order of precedence.
A territory admin has recently updated the filters, and the territory is pending a large update.
Q: I have older territories with no logic assigned to them, and I'm ready to set up dynamic territories. What should I do first?
A: First, turn off or modify any workflows that include the "set territory" function. Once you get your dynamic territories set up, they will drive your territory assignments moving forward. By disabling/updating those workflows, you'll avoid any potential conflicts between the logic. The "Set Territory" workflow action combined with the "opt out of automatic territory assignment' is still useful to create exceptions to your standard territory logic.
Q: Are there character limits for Territory names and descriptions?
A: Yes. Territory Names are limited to approx. 150 characters and descriptions 250. Exceeding these limits will not allow the territory to save.
Territory Management is only available with the Element Engage package.