# How to Build Your First Automation Flow

> Describe what you want to happen. AVA builds the flow, tests it, and activates it. This guide walks you through your first one.
> Help → Automations → How to Build Your First Automation Flow

URL: https://thatapp.io/help/automations/automations-first-flow
Category: Automations (iPaaS)

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Building your first automation takes under five minutes. Here is a walk-through with a concrete example.

**The example: Notify Slack when a Podio record is marked Complete**

**Step 1: Tell AVA what you want**

> "When a record in our Client Projects app in Podio is marked Complete, send a message to our #project-updates Slack channel."

**Step 2: AVA builds the flow**

AVA will show you what she is building:

> "I'll create a flow with:
> Trigger: Podio item updated — status changes to 'Complete'
> Platform: Client Projects app
> Action: Post to Slack channel #project-updates
> Message: '[Record name] has been marked Complete in Podio.'
>
> Does this look right?"

**Step 3: Refine if needed**

> "Add the record owner's name to the Slack message."

AVA will update the action to include the field.

**Step 4: Test it**

> "Test this flow."

AVA runs the flow with a sample record. She shows you the Slack message that would be sent. Review it. Tell her if anything needs to change.

**Step 5: Activate**

> "Activate this flow."

The automation is live. The next time a Podio record is marked Complete, the Slack message fires automatically.

**Related:** How Automations Work · How to Test an Automation Before Activating It