How to delay Airtable automation runs

Learn how to set a time delay for an automation to use before running. This delay will occur between updating your base and running the automation.

• It's worth noting that there are multiple ways to accomplish a similar result.

• You might also consider utilizing conditional automation action groups for more complex workflows.

• Also, note that Airtable offers the "At a scheduled time" trigger for handling situations where you'd like an automation to fire on a specific time/date.

Introduction

Understanding automation run delays

In this article, we'll apply this workflow to an example scenario where a marketing team is using Airtable to track record assets (images, copy, and more). When the required assets are ready they want to change the status to Review and notify the team with an automated message in Slack. They need the option to delay sending the Slack message if preferred.

Here's a summary of the workflow we'll create for this hypothetical marketing team:

1. Create a date field (with time toggled on) to use for delaying the automation

2. Create a formula field to track the current date/time against the date/time entered in the date field

3. Configure a filtered view to only show records that have all assets and the "Review" status

4. Setup the automation action to fire only when the current date/time matches the date field date/time

Note

The process in this article is a workaround involving the use of the NOW()formula function which has some limitations. Generally, NOW()updates approximately every five to ten minutes when a base is open (although this timing may vary slightly). If the base is closed, it will update approximately every hour when the base has time-dependent automation triggers or actions. If native automation delays would be a helpful feature for you we'd love to hear more about your interest!

Setting up an automation to run after a delay

IF(
    OR(
        AND(
            {Status} = "Review",
            {Delay Slack Notification},
            NOW()>={Delay Slack Notification}
        ),
        AND(
            {Status} = "Review",
            {Delay Slack Notification} = BLANK()
        )
    ),
"Send Notification",
"Delay Notification"
)

Understanding expected automation output behavior

Now that everything has been configured, the automation action will run in these scenarios when a record enters the Assets Ready view:

• If a record has a "Ready" status and has a delayed date and time entered, the Slack message will wait to send until that date and time is reached.

• If a record has a "Ready" status and no delayed date and time is entered, the Slack message will send immediately.