HubSpot Workflow Scheduling: Are Time Zone-Based Delays Still a Thing?

Ever found yourself wondering if your perfectly timed marketing emails are actually reaching your contacts at the right moment, no matter where they are? The HubSpot Community recently tackled this very question, specifically regarding time zone-based scheduling within workflows. Let's dive into what was discussed and clarify how you can leverage this feature.

The Question: Time Zone Scheduling in HubSpot Workflows

The original poster inquired about the availability of contact time zone-based scheduling in HubSpot workflows. They specifically mentioned using this feature for:

• "Delay until specific time" actions
• "Delay until a date property" actions
• Scheduling options within the "Send email" action

Their concern was whether this functionality, which automatically detects a contact's time zone via their IP address, had been deprecated or changed.

The Answer: It's Still Here, But…

Good news! According to the discussion, the contact time zone-based scheduling feature is still supported in HubSpot workflows. One respondent confirmed that this functionality remains a standard part of the platform's automation tools for both delays and email actions. However, the location of the settings within the HubSpot UI may have shifted slightly, causing some confusion.

How to Use Time Zone-Based Scheduling

Here's a breakdown of how to leverage time zone-based scheduling for different workflow actions:

1. Delay until a calendar date: When setting up a delay, you can choose to base the selected time on the "Use contact time zone" option. HubSpot will use the contact's "IP time zone" value if available; otherwise, it will default to your account’s time zone.

2. Delay until a date property: Similar to calendar dates, when setting a custom time for this delay to execute, you can select to use the contact’s time zone.

3. Send at a specific time (Email Action): Marketing emails can still be scheduled based on the recipient's time zone. This is available in the "Send or schedule" tab of the email editor. Sends are batched based on the "IP time zone" property.

4. Delay until a day of the week or time of day: This newer delay type also supports the "Use contact time zone" toggle.

Troubleshooting Time Zone Issues

If you're having trouble finding these settings, double-check the following:

• Ensure that your contacts have an "IP time zone" value. This is usually automatically populated by HubSpot based on their IP address.
• Verify that you're looking in the correct section of the workflow editor, specifically within the delay action settings or the email send/schedule options.

ESHOPMAN Team Comment

It's great to see HubSpot continues to support time zone-based scheduling, especially for e-commerce businesses with international customers. Sending that abandoned cart email at 3 AM local time isn't going to convert anyone! Ensuring your messaging aligns with your customer's time of day significantly boosts engagement and sales. We recommend auditing your key workflows to confirm time zone settings are correctly configured for optimal results.

So, rest assured, the ability to schedule your HubSpot workflows based on contact time zones is alive and well. Just remember to double-check those settings and ensure your contacts have the necessary "IP time zone" data. Happy automating!