Using Account Engagement Automation Rules vs. Salesforce Flows

Automation Rule Capabilities:

Note: Automation rules can only update prospect records. Updates will be synced to corresponding leads/contacts/person accounts.

The following criteria are available in Automation Rules but are not available out-of-the-box in Salesforce Flows

• Form/Form Handlers/Landing Pages completions
• Prospect File
• Prospect Custom Redirects
• Prospect Email Opens
• Prospect List membership
• Prospect Tag
• Visitor Hostname
• Prospect Query
• Prospect Webinar

The following actions can be applied only within Automation Rules, not Salesforce Flow.

• Send Prospect Email
• Apply Tag
• Do Not Sync with CRM
• Allow Deleted Lead or Contact to be recreated in Salesforce

Salesforce Flow Capabilities:

Note: Criteria in Salesforce Flows can be based off of any Salesforce object. It can also create or update records in any Salesforce object.

The following options are available within Salesforce Flow but not Automation Rules:

• Actions can be scheduled
• Actions can be triggered off of field value changes
• Record Triggered Flows can be created to trigger 1) when a record is created, or 2) when a record is updated, or 3) when a record is created or updated, or 4) when a record is deleted.

Other Considerations:

• Salesforce Flows only executes for records that exist in Salesforce. If any prospects do not exist as leads/contacts in Salesforce, consider using automation rules instead.
• Record Triggers flows are not retroactive (Schedule Triggered flows can be). Record Triggers flows evaluate if records match criteria from the flow activation date.
• Automation rules are retroactive and will look for any prospect who has met the criteria before or after automation rule start date.
• Automated emails sent through Salesforce Flows are not tracked in Account Engagement but can be tracked in Salesforce with the help of the Activity History report on the respective object.