Understanding Workflow Trigger Performance and Logic
Overview of Trigger Narration and Statistics
Within the Workflow Builder, you can access detailed insights into the logic and performance of your workflow triggers. Two key features—Trigger Narration and Trigger Statistics—provide clarity on why triggers behave the way they do and how many contacts they are processing. These tools help you audit, troubleshoot, and optimize your automations with confidence.
Key Benefits
Using these features offers several advantages for managing your workflows:
- Improved Clarity: Quickly understand complex trigger logic without opening each one.
- Performance Monitoring: See which triggers are actively enrolling contacts and which are not.
- Rapid Troubleshooting: Identify and diagnose why specific contacts did not match a trigger's conditions.
- Data-Driven Optimization: Use real performance data to refine your workflow logic and improve efficiency.
Trigger Narration
Trigger Narration provides a human-readable summary of the conditions and filters set on a trigger. This summary appears directly on the trigger card within the workflow canvas.
How It Works
Below the trigger's name, you will see a plain-language description of its logic. For triggers with multiple or complex conditions, the initial view shows a compact summary. You can click a link, such as "Details" or "+X more," to open a panel displaying the complete list of filters. This feature is especially useful during reviews or when handing off workflows to team members, as it eliminates the need to open each trigger individually to recall its purpose.
Trigger Statistics
Trigger Statistics offer a diagnostic view of how contacts are interacting with a trigger. This feature is available in both the Standard and Advanced Workflow Builders. To access it, you must enter a special Stats View mode within the builder. Note that workflows cannot be edited while in this view.
Performance Metrics
For each trigger, you will see three key metrics:
- Attempted: The total number of contacts evaluated by the trigger.
- Matched: The number of contacts that successfully met all the trigger's conditions and enrolled in the workflow.
- Unmatched: The number of contacts that were evaluated but did not qualify for the trigger.
This data is calculated for the last 30 days and updates in near real-time as new triggering events occur.
Drilling into the Details
By clicking on any of the stat numbers (Attempted, Matched, or Unmatched), you can open a detailed Trigger Stats Panel. This panel shows:
- A list of the specific contacts involved, including their names, email addresses, and timestamps.
- Their match status (Matched or Unmatched).
- For unmatched contacts, the specific reason they failed to qualify (e.g., a field value mismatch, missing required data).
- A summary of the most common reasons for contacts not matching, helping you spot recurring issues.
You can use filters within this panel to narrow the data by a specific date range or search for a particular contact. This is ideal for investigating performance spikes or validating test records.
Best Practices
- Review your Trigger Statistics regularly to catch potential issues early.
- Use the success rate (Matched vs. Attempted) as a key health metric for your triggers.
- Compare trigger performance across similar workflows to identify optimization opportunities.
- When you see a high "Unmatched" count, use the detailed stats panel to review the specific reasons before adjusting your filters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these features change how triggers work?
No. Trigger Narration and Statistics are purely for visibility and analysis. They do not alter how triggers fire or how workflows execute.
What does "Attempted" mean?
"Attempted" counts every contact that was evaluated against the trigger's conditions, regardless of whether they matched or not.
How long is the statistical data retained?
Data in the Trigger Stats panel is available for the last 30 days only.
Can I edit my workflow while viewing stats?
No. The Stats View is a read-only mode for analysis. You must exit this view to make any changes to the workflow.