What is an Automation?
An Automation (or flow) is a process that connects Darwin with your external applications to perform repetitive tasks autonomously. Each automation consists of an initial event that "wakes up" the system and a series of steps that execute the work.
Linked Apps / Connectors
A Linked App (also known as a Connector App) serves as the vital link between your Darwin account and an external application (such as HubSpot, Google Sheets, or Slack).
Its primary function is to facilitate seamless data transfers and the execution of actions across various platforms. It is the essential component for any efficient automation workflow, as it allows Darwin to "speak" the same language as your other work tools.
Key Concepts in Darwin
Automation (Flow): This is the complete scenario. It includes the trigger and all the actions and tools you configure to solve a business process.
Trigger: The first step of any automation. It is the event that occurs in a linked app (such as "New message received") which initiates the entire process.
Action: The automated response. For example, "Create a contact in HubSpot" or "Send a WhatsApp message."
Steps: These are the individual building blocks (triggers, actions, or tools) that form your automation sequence.
Solutions (Marketplace): Pre-configured, ready-to-install automations that solve common use cases, such as reporting conversions to Meta or Google Ads.
Monitoring & Control
Status: Indicates if your process is active. It can be Started or Paused (blue)
History: The log where you can review each individual execution, verify if it was successful, or understand why a specific step failed.
Connections: The place where you manage your credentials and access to external apps (such as your Google or CRM accounts).
Transactions: Every time an Action step is successfully completed, it counts as a transaction. Triggers typically do not consume transactions.
Data Transfer Methods
For an automation to work, information must travel between Darwin and your other applications. These are the two primary methods:
Webhook
A key data transfer method that allows for instant, real-time information delivery. When an event occurs (like a new chat message), the Webhook "pushes" the data to the automation so that actions are triggered immediately.
API Key
A transfer mode that uses a security key to allow different applications to communicate with each other. It ensures fast data exchange (usually in less than 1 minute) and allows for secure and consistent data sharing or action execution across platforms.
Summary of an Automation Structure
To help you navigate the Integrations panel, remember this logical order:
Trigger: The event that starts everything (e.g., a lead came in).
Connection Method: How that data travels (via Webhook or API Key).
Tools: Intermediate steps to clean or pause data (e.g., Delay, Iterator, Value Parser).
Action: The final result in your other application (e.g., the contact was created in the CRM).
