What are action listeners and how do they work?
Action listeners run the moment something happens on a lead - a field change, upload, booking, or similar event. Use them when the reaction must be immediate. For work that should run before or after something has happened (delays, schedules, sequences), use Automations instead.
TL;DR
Go to Campaign settings → Action listeners → New listener. Choose the trigger, add optional conditions, and define the action (set field, route, send email/SMS, notify, webhook, and more). Listeners fire immediately on every matching change - no delays. Need timing before/after an event, reminders, or multi-step sequences? Use Automations.
4 things to know
Instant reactions when something happens
When a customer selects "Commercial" in a dropdown, an action listener can immediately set the assigned team, update a price field, send a confirmation, or populate another field - without waiting for the ~60 second automation cycle.
Supported triggers
Any field type can trigger a listener: text, number, select/dropdown, checkbox, or data field (JSON). Other lead events (depending on setup) can also trigger listeners. Listeners fire every time the trigger matches - even if a value changes back and forth repeatedly.
What they can and cannot do
Can (immediately): set field values, recalculate derived values, route/assign, send email or SMS, notify users, change status, trigger integrations/webhooks, and similar focused actions. Cannot: add delays, run on a schedule, or build multi-step timed chains. Those belong in Automations.
Listeners vs. Automations
Action listeners: run when something happens - immediate reaction.
Automations: run before or after something has happened - delays, schedules (~60s cycle), reminders, and multi-step sequences.
Email/SMS can be sent from both. Choose based on timing, not on whether you need a message.
Read more⌄
Common use cases
- When a customer chooses a product type, auto-fill the base price field
- When a checkbox "Is commercial" is ticked, assign a specific team
- When a quantity field changes, recalculate the total in another field
- When an address changes, update a hidden location/region field
- When a booking is created, send a confirmation SMS immediately
- When status becomes "awaiting booking", send the booking link email immediately
How to create an action listener
- Go to Campaign settings → Action listeners.
- Click "New listener" and give it a name.
- Choose the field or event to watch (trigger).
- Optionally add conditions (e.g. only when value equals X).
- Define the action - set field value, send email/SMS, notify, webhook, and so on.
- Save and test by changing the trigger on a real lead.
Common searches
action listener Hubhus • field change trigger • auto-fill field • instant field update • action listener vs automation • send email immediately
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