Understanding action listeners

Modified on Tue, 5 May at 6:27 PM

Understanding action listeners

Action listeners let Hubhus react instantly to changes on a lead — a field update, a file upload, a form submission, a booking. Unlike automations, they fire in real time with no scheduling delay.

TL;DR

Action listeners trigger the moment something changes. They can send emails/SMS, update fields, notify users, and trigger integrations. No delays possible — use automations for timing. They fire every time the event occurs (no "max fires" cap). Use conditions to prevent over-firing.

4 things to know

1

What triggers an action listener

Any change to a lead can be a trigger: a field value changes, a select option is picked, a file is uploaded, a form is submitted, a booking is created, a checklist is completed, a relation is added. You specify exactly which field or event type to watch.

2

What actions can be performed

Send email, send SMS, notify internal user, set a field value, change status, trigger integration/webhook, create related data. Keep the action list short — listeners are for quick, focused reactions.

3

Listeners vs. automations

Listeners: instant, event-driven, fire every time — ideal for confirmations, notifications, integrations.
Automations: run on schedule (~60s cycle), support delays and chained steps — ideal for reminders, multi-step flows.
Classic pattern: listener fires immediately → automation handles timed follow-up.

4

Key limitations

No delays — if timing is needed, use an automation. No "max fires" cap — if the field changes 10 times, the listener fires 10 times. Use conditions to prevent duplicate or unwanted triggers. Keep logic simple; complex workflows belong in automations.

Read more

Common use cases

  • Customer uploads images → notify reviewer instantly
  • Lead address changes → recalculate and assign region
  • New booking created → send confirmation SMS immediately
  • Zipcode changes → auto-assign to correct regional team
  • Checklist submitted → move lead to next status
  • Status becomes "awaiting booking" → send booking link email

Creating an action listener

Go to Campaign Settings → Action listeners → New listener. Configure:

  • Trigger: which field/event type to watch
  • Conditions: optional filters (only fire if field X == Y)
  • Actions: email, SMS, set field, webhook, etc.

Best practices

  • Keep each listener focused on one action — don't pile on logic
  • Add conditions to prevent firing on unrelated changes
  • Check lead history to verify when listeners fired
  • Use CTRL+K / CMD+K in actions to find the right placeholder

Common searches

action listener • instant trigger • field change trigger • listener vs automation • real-time notification

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