---
schema_version: "1"
id: f6753983a9f65fb75dfa8fc70785c845e7960a1d1e669741f300b44e44277379
title: Automation Rules for Enterprise Customers
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/mktg/264-0-0/pardot_enterprise_automation.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=mktg.pardot_enterprise_automation.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: d2795b45b9e20bc5c39a976f5b4d98e3a0258bf7f18eab216fc48e1da898bda2
description: With automation rules in Account Engagement, you can create repeatable, criteria-based rules that find matching prospects and apply actions to them. If you have millions of prospects in your database, use these tips to ensure the best performance.
products:
  - Marketing
  - Marketing Cloud Account Engagement
release: "264"
---
# Automation Rules for Enterprise Customers

With automation rules in Account Engagement, you can create repeatable, criteria-based rules that find matching prospects and apply actions to them. If you have millions of prospects in your database, use these tips to ensure the best performance.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: <span>All Account Engagement Editions</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

When you create an automation rule and click **Resume Automation Rule**, Account Engagement checks each of your prospects to see if the rule applies to them. When a prospect matches the rule criteria, the rule’s action is applied. This initial process can take several hours if you have millions of prospects in your database.

Automation rules continually check for updated prospects. When a prospect's information changes, an automation rule checks if the rule applies to them. When prospect information changes frequently, it can take several hours for a rule to run on an updated prospect.

![Example](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-mktg-pardot-264-0-0-production-enus/5fef4d4f-9a34-45c6-8cd3-e3200b9eeba8/images/icon_example.png)

Example You have an automation rule that assigns all prospects with the title CFO to a queue. If a prospect's title changes to CFO, then the updated prospect is assigned to the queue within a few hours.

## System Resources

An automation rule consumes system resources the first time it runs. The amount of system resources initially consumed is related to the number of prospects in your system. Automation rules also consume system resources when your prospect information changes, because rules check to see if the changes require action. The amount of system resources consumed is related to how frequently your prospect's information changes, and how many automation rules that you have. For example, these activities can cause prospect information to change:

- An email is sent to a prospect
- A prospect submits a form
- Information is synced from Salesforce

## Best Practices for Automation Rules

Using automation rules wisely can help deliver great performance, even when your database has millions of prospects.

Give Previews Time to Run

Previewing an automation rule takes the same amount of time and resources as running an automation rule.

Verify Automation Rule Logic

It's a good idea to check your automation rule's logic before you preview it, because previews consume system resources. Accidentally using **Match Any** when you mean to use **Match All** can create an automation rule that unintentionally matches millions of prospects.

Use Default Fields on Default Salesforce Objects

Where possible, use default fields on default Salesforce objects in your automation rules. Account Engagement can evaluate default fields and default objects more quickly than custom fields and custom objects. For example, a prospect’s title or name are evaluated quickly, because these fields are default fields. Checking a field on a custom object, such as a custom purchase order object, takes longer.

Avoid Changing an Existing Rule

Creating an automation rule is faster than changing an existing rule. If you make a mistake or change your mind, it’s faster to start fresh with a new rule.

Remove Unnecessary Automation Rules

Periodically check your automation rules and remove the rules that you no longer need. If you created an automation rule for a campaign, remove the rule when the campaign is over.