> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://clerkchat.co/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create an agent automation

> Trigger buttons, forms, notifications, escalation, and external actions from a conversation.

Automations let your agent take a structured action when a conversation matches your instructions. Each automation defines when it runs, which channels can use it, and what it does.

## Choose an action

Available actions include:

* **Suggested messages**: show predefined reply choices and optionally hide the chat input
* **Custom button**: send customers to a secure HTTPS URL
* **Collect leads**: display a form and optionally notify Slack
* **Slack notification**: post a message to the default or selected channel
* **Escalation**: confirm a handoff and optionally stop AI replies
* **Custom action**: send a GET or POST request to an external HTTPS endpoint

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a draft">
    Select your agent, open **Automations**, and click **Add** on the capability you need.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Define when it runs">
    In **General**, name the automation and write clear examples of requests that should invoke it.
    Select the supported customer channels.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the action">
    Complete the fields for the selected capability. Slack actions can use the integration's default
    channel or a channel override.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save and test the draft">
    Save the automation, then test matching and non-matching requests in the **Playground**. Confirm
    external actions use test-safe data.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable the automation">
    Enable the automation after its trigger and result behave as expected.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Custom actions send requests to an external service. Use HTTPS, limit credentials to the required
  access, and verify how the destination stores customer data.
</Warning>

## Understand automation limits

Your plan sets the number of automations available to an agent. The **Automations** page shows your current usage and opens the upgrade flow when you reach the limit.


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