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Zoho Desk

Time-Based Action

A time-based action in Zoho Desk is an automation triggered after a defined duration from a ticket event, handling follow-ups, escalations, and aged ticket

A time-based action in Zoho Desk is an automation that executes after a specified duration from a ticket event, such as 24 hours after creation without a reply, or 3 days after being set to On Hold. It handles follow-ups and aged ticket management automatically.

How Time-Based Actions Work

Time-based actions are configured with a duration and a reference point, such as ‘ticket creation time’ or ‘last customer reply time’. When the duration elapses and the ticket still meets the defined conditions, the action executes automatically.

Common Uses for Time-Based Actions

Typical applications include: sending a follow-up email to customers who have not responded in 48 hours, automatically closing tickets with no activity for 7 days after a resolution reply, escalating tickets to senior agents if unresolved after 24 hours, and sending CSAT surveys 24 hours after ticket closure.

Time-Based Actions and Business Hours

Time-based actions can be configured to count only business hours, so a ’24-hour follow-up’ action fires after 24 actual working hours, not 24 calendar hours. This prevents follow-ups from firing at 2 AM for tickets created late in the evening.

Example: A SaaS company sets a time-based action: if a ticket’s status is ‘Pending Customer Reply’ for 72 business hours, send a follow-up email to the customer, add the ‘Awaiting Response’ tag, and change status to ‘Auto-Followed Up’. After 5 more days with no response, the ticket is automatically closed.
What is a Time-Based Action in Zoho Desk?

A time-based action is an automation that fires after a set duration relative to a ticket event. It handles scenarios like sending follow-up emails after no customer response, escalating aged tickets, or auto-closing resolved tickets with no activity.

Can time-based actions in Zoho Desk count only business hours?

Yes. Time-based actions can be configured to count only business hours, so they fire based on actual working time rather than calendar hours, preventing automations from running at inappropriate times.

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