When automations don’t trigger as expected, it's usually due to timing, data, or audience setup. This guide walks you through the most common reasons an automation might not run—and how to fix it quickly.
1. Is the automation active?
Before an automation can run, it needs to be activated. This gives you control to finish setup without triggering early.
To check:
Go to Admin > Automations and review the Status column.
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Green = Active
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Red = Inactive
To activate or deactivate an automation, select the pencil icon and choose the corresponding action.
2. Understand timing triggers
Some triggers run immediately based on user actions, but others run on scheduled intervals. If your automation is based on hiring date or assignment completion, timing matters.
User was hired today
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Triggers daily at 7:00 AM PT / 10:00 AM ET
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Users must have their hire date entered in Continu before the trigger time
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If a user was added after the cut-off, the automation will not run for them
Tip:
Use “User was hired exactly 1 day ago” as a fallback to catch any missed users the next day.
User was hired exactly X/60/90 days ago
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Triggers daily at 3:30 PM PT / 6:30 PM ET
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The hire date must be correctly entered for the automation to run
User has completed an assignment
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If the automation uses a 0-day delay, it will run the morning after the assignment is completed, not instantly
3. Confirm user records updated properly
If you’re using SFTP to add or update users, check for any upload errors on the day the user was added or modified.
Even if the correct hire date appears now, if the file failed or contained an error when the user was first uploaded, they may have missed the scheduled automation trigger.
See the SFTP Troubleshooting Guide for help diagnosing file issues.
4. Review audience and criteria
Make sure your audience filters and criteria aren’t too narrow. Overly specific settings can unintentionally exclude everyone.
To verify:
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Go to Admin > Users and check the Sent To column for the automation
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If no users are listed, revisit your filters to ensure they’re capturing the intended audience
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You can also reference the Automation Audience Trigger Guide to make sure the trigger conditions align with your setup
5. Is the learning track published?
If your automation includes a learning track, it must be published for the content to be delivered. Unpublished tracks will prevent the automation from assigning properly.
6. Has the automation already triggered for this user?
Automations will not re-trigger for users who have already received the assignment.
To check:
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Go to Admin > Users
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Use the Sent To column to see which users have already triggered the automation
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Use the search bar to find specific users and confirm their status
Still stuck?
If you’ve walked through all six steps and the automation still isn’t firing, feel free to reach out to support with the automation name, trigger, and affected user(s). We’re happy to take a closer look.