> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.coachiq.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What Are Automations?

> Let CoachIQ handle repetitive tasks automatically so you can focus on coaching

<Info>
  **Where to find this**: Tools → Automations
</Info>

You're busy coaching—not sitting at a computer sending emails. But the follow-ups pile up: welcome messages for new members, reminders about expiring credits, check-ins with people who haven't trained in a while. Things slip through the cracks.

Automations handle these tasks for you, automatically, in the background.

## How Automations Work

Every automation follows a simple formula:

<Card title="When THIS happens → Do THAT" icon="arrow-right">
  A member signs up, so CoachIQ sends them a welcome email. A booking gets cancelled, so CoachIQ follows up. You set it up once, and it runs forever.
</Card>

Each automation has three parts:

| Part           | What It Does                                | Example                                                               |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Trigger**    | The event that starts it                    | Someone purchases a [membership](/payments/product-overview)          |
| **Conditions** | Optional filters to target the right people | Only if it's their first purchase                                     |
| **Actions**    | What happens automatically                  | Send a welcome email + add a "New Member" [tag](/people/tags-filters) |

## What This Looks Like in Practice

Here are automations CoachIQ coaches use every day:

| When this happens...                      | CoachIQ automatically...                        |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| Someone buys a membership                 | Sends a welcome email with booking instructions |
| A member hasn't trained in 2 weeks        | Sends a "we miss you" message                   |
| Credits are expiring in 7 days            | Sends a reminder to book sessions               |
| Someone submits a trial request form      | Sends them a link to book their free session    |
| A new member finishes their first session | Sends a follow-up asking how it went            |

## What Can Start an Automation?

Automations can trigger when:

* Someone makes a [purchase](/payments/product-overview) or starts a subscription
* Someone [books or cancels a session](/scheduling/overview)
* A [form](/forms/overview) gets submitted
* A session is completed (including no-shows)
* A subscription is cancelled
* On a schedule—daily, weekly, or monthly

## What Can Automations Do?

Once triggered, automations can:

* Send emails, SMS messages, [in-app messages](/inbox/inbox-overview), or [announcements](/inbox/announcements)
* Add or remove [tags](/people/tags-filters) from members
* Add or redeem credits
* Grant or revoke program access
* Book or remove someone from a session
* Send data to external tools via webhooks

<Tip>
  **Best uses for automations:**

  * Messages you send over and over (welcome emails, booking confirmations)
  * Follow-ups you forget to send (trial conversions, re-engaging inactive members)
  * Time-sensitive alerts (credit expirations, camp prep reminders)
</Tip>

## What's Next?

Ready to build your first automation? It takes about 5 minutes.

<Card title="Build Your First Automation" icon="play" href="/automations/build-your-first-automation">
  Step-by-step guide to creating a welcome email that sends automatically when someone purchases a membership.
</Card>

## Related articles

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Forms Overview" icon="file-lines" href="/forms/overview">
    Create forms that can trigger automations when submitted
  </Card>

  <Card title="Scheduling Overview" icon="calendar" href="/scheduling/overview">
    Manage sessions and bookings that trigger automations
  </Card>

  <Card title="Product Overview" icon="credit-card" href="/payments/product-overview">
    Set up products whose purchases can kick off automated workflows
  </Card>

  <Card title="Inbox Overview" icon="inbox" href="/inbox/inbox-overview">
    Where automated messages land for your members
  </Card>
</CardGroup>