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Understanding Automations

Create a recorded journey that users can launch to run automatic tasks or flows in your platform

Chameleon Team avatar
Written by Chameleon Team
Updated over a week ago

With Automations, you can create explicit product guides that perform step-by-step actions for users, teaching them how to use your product and enabling them to get started and find value faster.

Automations can teach users to perform specific onboarding tasks, leverage more advanced features, or access valuable insights. This happens without the user needing to know your apps' flows but by watching them play back and continue from the last step.

πŸ•ΉοΈ Try out an interactive demo and learn how to create your Automations.

πŸ” "Automations" are currently in BETA and available for early access. πŸ“© Contact us to receive access.

You can use Automations as Actions (in buttons and HelpBar) and as Launcher Items. Users can start an Automation by clicking your CTAs or the Action/Item title.


Availability & Usage

πŸ§ͺ Open Beta for Startup, Growth, Enterprise

βš™οΈ Find them in the Dashboard


How do Automations work?

In Chameleon, an Automation is a sequenced recording of clicks within your product interface. Chameleon will record clicks, inputs, or searches you perform, and users can launch Automations to kickstart processes or better understand your app's functionality.

As the Automation plays out for users as a recorded sequence of clicks, it enables them to learn more effectively and follow through with each action in your UI. The key difference is that Automations also gives users a starting point, making it easier for them to continue.

The Automation recording can include:

  • page navigation

  • element clicks

  • keyboard events

  • inputs

  • form submissions

  • dropdown selections

How can end-users engage with Automations?

Users will see the Automation similar to a video and can choose to pause or exit anytime during viewing. Chameleon will run all the actions you recorded, and users can see them being performed in their accounts. Once the Automation ends, users can continue using your app as usual.


How do I create an Automation?

To create an Automation, visit the Automations page under Data Management in your Dashboard. Here, you can review existing Automations on your account and find the "Create an Automation" button.

Next, you'll open the Builder in your product to record your Automation. There's a countdown that indicates when Chameleon will start recording your actions. Go through the flow as you would expect an end-user to do.

β„Ή Unless you switch domains, Chameleon will continue to capture your clicks and record your Automation.

You'll notice the number of actions recorded in the Builder Topbar, and once you're done, click "Finish Recording".

From the Topbar, you can also restart recording your Automation or cancel your recording.

After you finish recording your Automation, you can review the list of actions in the Builder and adjust if needed. For example, you can update the page URL, any inputs, or elements selected.

When adjusting on-page elements, you can adjust the element Chameleon picked, edit/add element selectors, or add a custom CSS path.

You can also create a new Automation directly from the Builder. Select a CTA button, and under Additional Actions, find the "Start Automation" option. Here, you can start recording a new Automation or pick one created on your account from the list.

When you start recording a new Automation, the Builder switches to "Recording mode" and you can start the recording from the Builder Topbar.

πŸ‘‰ After recording your Automation, you can also use "Preview mode" to ensure the flow your users will follow is accurate and valuable.

To add an Automation to your Launcher, find it in the list of Items and pick an existing Automation or create a new one.

How to add an Automation to HelpBar?

Automations are also available in HelpBar, and you can use them to allow users to launch core workflows from your HelpBar.

While configuring HelpBar, under Searchable Content, click to Add new content and next and pick "Actions". Search for Chameleon Automations, and you'll get a dropdown with existing Automations on your account.

Like the other resources in your HelpBar, you can edit the title and description or Pin your Automation. Once you select one or more Automations, simply click "Publish to HelpBar."


How do I review and manage my Automations?

On the Automations page in your Dashboard, you can review, update, or remove existing Automations on your account.

In the table, you can see the list of Automations and their associated engagement metrics:

  • how many users started and completed the Automation

  • when it was last started and completed

  • the number of failures and the last time a failure occurred

β„Ή Automation failures happen when the element can't be found or when it's simply exited by a user.

When selecting an Automation from the table a slideover will open. Here, you can see more details, such as the URL where the Automation starts, and the associated analtiycs, as well as review all the Automation steps.

From the "Actions" dropdown, you can delete, edit (its title and description), or preview the Automation in the Chameleon Builder.

In the Builder, you can also edit the Automation steps to change what element is selected, or if there's an input you can change the text that would be input.

β„Ή You can also edit an existing Automation by opening the Experience it is attached to (e.g., a Tour) in the Builder. Once you select it under your button "Additional Actions," you can review all the recorded clicks and edit individual actions.

You can also access an Automation in the Dashboard from the "Interactions map"

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