Problem with chaning Lifecycle stage

[bjochym]

Hi there,

I've set up an automation in Zapier to change the Lifecycle stage on the Contact Card to "Sales Approved" when the Pipeline in the Deal Stage changes for the "Name of Business Unit". The automation is working, but I'm encountering an issue when changing the Lifecycle stage. I've used the "update contact" block and set it to "Sales Approved," but it doesn't seem to update. Do you have any ideas on what could be causing this issue? Should I make changes in the HubSpot settings?

[bjochym]

I created an automation, but it returned an error. @andrewzistler @franksteiner79 

[franksteiner79]

Hi @bjochym 

That error message is telling you what the problem is - the deal does not have an associated contact therefore the workflow can not update the lifecycle stage of the associated contact - it can't copy or set something for an object that is not there.

Without knowing the wider context you have two options:

1. Make sure that "associated contact" is part of the enrolment criteria, that way only deals with associated contacts get enrolled.
2. Keep the current enrolment but your first action is a check if an associated contact exists, if true then continue on your WF and if not notify the deal owner to associated a contact.

Frank

[bjochym]

@franksteiner79 , the contact is  already associated

[franksteiner79]

Hi @bjochym 

Based on the screenshot that you shared earlier there was no assocation.

Like I said the error message quite clearly states that the association is missing. I would check when the association was made and maybe look at how deals get created and how/when contacts are being associated.

One quick fix would be to add a one or two minute delay right after enrolment.

If you test the workflow with the "testowy IT - ignorowac" deal now, what is happening then?

Frank

[bjochym]

It's the same situation with errors, maybe I should change something there? 

[franksteiner79 · Accepted solution]

Hi @bjochym 

As I mentioned earlier:

1. I would check when the association was made and maybe look at how deals get created and how/when contacts are being associated.
2. One quick fix would be to add a one or two minute delay right after enrolment.

Frank

[andrewzistler]

Hi @bjochym !

Check the order of your Lifecycle Stages - they can only move forward, and cannot be set backwards, even via automation. If you want to move your lifecycle stage backwards, you must first clear the lifecycle stage, and then set it. Some of your contacts were likely "ahead".

You can view your Lifecycle Stage settings by going to settings>contacts>lifecycle stages

Lifecycle stages are tricky, in that they are partially automated, and cannot move backwards. This causes a lot of confusion. 

More info on lifecylce stages here. 

You can also save yourself some Zaps and automate this in HubSpot. Simply create a Deal-based workflow, trigger on the Deal stage you want -> set lifecycle stage for associated contacts to "Sales Approved."

But again, you will likely need to reorder your stages or clear them first. I recommend reviewing your Lifecycle stage automation settings as a first step as mentioned above.

Cheers, I hope that helps!

[franksteiner79]

Hi @bjochym 

Are you getting an error message in Zapier or HubSpot, and if so, what does it say?

Also what are your current lifecycle stage automation settings in HubSpot, that should looks something like this: 

And what lifecycle stages do you have and in what order?

The most common issue is that HubSpot does not allow lifecycle stages to move backwards, so if your contact already has a lifecycle stage that is "higher" than "Sales Approved", HubSpot will not set it back unless your clear the value in HubSpot before.

Frank