90-Second Guide to Bronto Automation

Automation is one of the pillars of the Bronto Marketing Platform, and it’s an area that is seeing a lot of innovation, and some change as well. Here's a quick guide to help you make the most of the automation features in Bronto.

Currently, there are three levels of automation available in Bronto. Here’s a snapshot of each, followed by some guidance on when to use which type.

1. Automated Message Rules (AMRs) - AMRs are available as part of the add-on Workflow Automation module. This is our legacy automation technology, which we are slowly phasing out and replacing with Automators, a simpler version of AMRs with most of the same functionality.

Until Automators reach near-parity in functionality with AMRs, you will want to continue to use AMRs for certain types of campaigns. See below for more guidance.

For more insight on Automated Message Rules, visit this section of the Help & Learning Center.

2. Automators - Automators are part of the Bronto Marketing Platform (no additional module required). The first of these automators is now available, and it lets you trigger an email to a contact when they are added to Bronto. Look for more automators in the near future!

For more information on Automators, visit this section of the Help & Learning Center.

3. Workflows - This is the most advanced automation available in Bronto, and it’s offered as part of the optional Workflow Automation module. Workflows let you combine business logic, behavior filtering, multiple channels (email, mobile and social) and various actions to visually map out campaign workflows on a canvas.

For more insight on Workflow Automation, visit this section of the Help & Learning Center.

Key Use Cases

So when should you use which type of automation? Here are three common automation scenarios and some guidance for what to use in each case:

• Welcome series - You can run a welcome series campaign with all three types of automation, but Workflows are the fastest and simplest way to do it, with the most flexibility and fewest steps involved.
   
• Behavior-triggered campaigns - Again, Workflows are the most efficient and powerful way to trigger campaigns based on contact behavior. This can also be accomplished with AMRs, albeit with more effort and less flexibility.
   
• Date-based, recurring or scheduled campaigns - Automated Message Rules are currently the only way to execute date-based campaigns. This functionality will be available in Automators and Workflows in the near future.

Stay tuned for more on Automation!

Damian Trzebunia (Che-boon-ya)
Product Marketing Manager
Bronto Software