---
key: start-an-automation-with-guided-setup
title: Start an automation with guided setup
audience: staff
section: automation
routes: ["/lifecycle-automation", "/lifecycle-automation/automations/:automationUid"]
permissions: ["lifecycle_automation.definitions.manage"]
features: ["lifecycle_automation.core"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Pick a ready-made automation starter such as work order reminders or post-service reviews, name it, preview what it will do, and create a draft you can finish in the builder.
keywords: [new automation, starter, template, reminder sequence, review request, auto follow-up, wizard]
related: [use-the-automation-center, turn-an-automation-on-or-off, find-the-messages-an-automation-sends]
---

In the sidebar, open **Automation**, then **Overview**. The page address is `/lifecycle-automation`. Guided setup lives in the **Guided setup** button at the top right of the **Automation Center** and on every card under **Recommended automation starters**.

## Before you start

- Your role needs permission to manage automation definitions. Without it the **Guided setup** buttons are missing from the page.
- Guided setup only creates a draft. Nothing is sent to a customer until you publish and turn the automation on.

## Steps

1. Press **Guided setup**. The **Lifecycle guided setup** drawer opens on the **Choose starter** step.
2. Pick a starter card, for example **Work order reminders**, **Post-service reviews**, **Payment reminders**, **Quote follow-up** or **Unknown missed-call auto-replies**. The chosen card turns dark. Each card lists its trigger, its flow and its policy in plain words.
3. Press **Next**. On the **Configure draft** step, change **Automation name** and **Description** if the defaults do not suit you.
4. Under **Operator mode after setup**, choose **Guided setup** to keep the builder simple, or **Full builder** if you want every control visible when the draft opens.
5. Check the **Starter summary** on the right, then press **Next**.
6. On the **Preview behavior** step, read **Preview of automation behavior** and **Expected journey flow**. The flow shows each step in order, for example a wait, then a message, then completion.
7. Press **Create draft**. Nova creates the draft and opens it in the builder.

## What you see

- The step chips at the top of the drawer (**Choose starter**, **Configure draft**, **Preview behavior**) are clickable, so you can jump back to a step without pressing **Back** several times.
- The footer counts the steps for you, for example step 2 of 3.
- **What happens next** on the preview step tells you where the draft goes and what still needs doing: review the trigger filters, timing and messages, then publish when you are ready.
- After creation, the new automation appears in the **Automations** list with the status **Draft**. It does not run until it is published and turned on.

## If something looks different

- **Guided setup** is missing: your role cannot manage automation definitions. Ask your admin for that permission.
- You closed the drawer by mistake after changing something: Nova asks **Discard changes?**, so press **Keep editing** in that prompt to go back.
- You would rather switch on one of the standard automations than build a new one: see [[turn-an-automation-on-or-off]].

[[route:/lifecycle-automation|Open the Automation Center]]