> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trig.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configuring Stages

> Step-by-step guide to setting up your customer journey

This guide walks you through configuring stages for your business—from planning your customer journey to launching live stages with objectives.

## Before you start

### Prerequisites

Ensure you have:

* **Data integrations connected** — CRM and product data flowing into Trig
* **Organisations in Trig** — Customer accounts visible in the Audience view
* **Internal alignment** — Agreement on what your customer journey looks like

### Planning questions

Before creating stages, answer these for each stage of your journey:

| Question                           | Example Answer                                       |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| What period does this stage cover? | Days 1 to 30 after signup                            |
| What happens in this stage?        | Initial setup, first value                           |
| How do customers enter?            | First seen date within 30 days                       |
| How do customers exit?             | After 30 days OR all objectives complete             |
| What 4 to 7 milestones matter?     | Created project, invited team, connected integration |

## Step 1: Map your customer journey

### Identify your stages

Most B2B SaaS companies use four stages:

```
Onboarding → Adoption → Expansion → Renewal
```

For each stage, define:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Scope">
    What period of the journey? How long does it typically last?
  </Step>

  <Step title="Entry">
    What triggers entry? Time-based, event-based, or completion of previous stage?
  </Step>

  <Step title="Objectives">
    What 4 to 7 milestones define healthy progression?
  </Step>

  <Step title="Exit">
    When does this stage end? Completion-based, time-based, or hybrid?
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Example: Onboarding stage

| Attribute          | Value                                                                                     |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**           | Onboarding                                                                                |
| **Duration**       | Days 0 to 30                                                                              |
| **Entry criteria** | `first_seen_date` within last 30 days                                                     |
| **Exit criteria**  | Time-based: Auto-exit after 30 days                                                       |
| **Objectives**     | Created first project, Invited team member, Connected integration, Generated first report |

## Step 2: Create your first stage

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Stages">
    Go to **Dashboard > Stages** in the main navigation
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create new stage">
    Click **Create Stage** and enter:

    * **Name:** Onboarding
    * **Description:** Initial setup and first value milestones
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure entry criteria">
    Define when organisations enter:

    ```
    first_seen_date is within last 30 days
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure exit criteria">
    For your first stage, use time-based exit:

    ```
    Auto-exit after 30 days
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the stage">
    Review and save. Don't launch yet—add objectives first.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  **Start with time-based exit.** You can refine to completion-based exit once you understand typical customer patterns.
</Tip>

## Step 3: Add objectives

### Identify 4 to 7 key milestones

For each stage, identify the actions that indicate healthy progression:

**Onboarding stage example:**

* Created first project
* Invited a team member
* Connected an integration
* Generated first report
* Completed a full week of usage

### Create each objective

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your stage">
    Click into the stage you just created
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add objective">
    Click **Add Objective** and configure:

    * **Name:** Created First Project
    * **Completion criteria:** `projects_created >= 1`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Repeat">
    Add 3 to 5 additional objectives with clear completion criteria
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Completion criteria examples

| Objective              | Criteria                      |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Created First Project  | `projects_created >= 1`       |
| Invited Team Member    | `team_members >= 2`           |
| Connected Integration  | `integrations_connected >= 1` |
| Generated First Report | `reports_generated >= 1`      |
| Completed Full Week    | `days_with_activity >= 7`     |

### Objective best practices

<Warning>
  **Keep objectives simple.** Each objective should track one clear milestone. Complex objectives with multiple AND conditions are harder to interpret.
</Warning>

**Good objective:**

```
Name: Created First Project
Criteria: projects_created >= 1
```

**Too complex:**

```
Name: Fully Onboarded
Criteria: projects_created >= 1 AND team_members >= 2 AND integrations >= 1
```

Better as three separate objectives.

## Step 4: Configure additional stages

### Create Adoption stage

| Attribute      | Value                                           |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**       | Adoption                                        |
| **Entry**      | `last_completed_onboarding_stage` has any value |
| **Exit**       | Auto-exit after 90 days                         |
| **Objectives** | Feature depth, Team growth, Regular usage       |

### Create Expansion stage

| Attribute      | Value                                                          |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**       | Expansion                                                      |
| **Entry**      | `last_completed_adoption_stage` has any value                  |
| **Exit**       | Ongoing (no auto-exit)                                         |
| **Objectives** | Premium feature exploration, Seat utilisation, Upgrade signals |

### Create Renewal stage

| Attribute      | Value                                                         |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Name**       | Renewal                                                       |
| **Entry**      | `renewal_date` within 90 days                                 |
| **Exit**       | Renewal complete or churned                                   |
| **Objectives** | Engagement maintained, Health score stable, Renewal confirmed |

## Step 5: Validate before launch

### Check data availability

For each objective, confirm:

* The event or attribute exists in your data
* It's flowing into Trig correctly
* It updates when customers take the action

### Review audience size

In the stage configuration:

* Check how many organisations would enter
* Verify this matches your expectations
* Spot-check individual organisations

### Test with sample organisations

Look at 3 to 5 specific organisations:

* Would they enter this stage correctly?
* Would objectives mark complete when expected?
* Are there edge cases you haven't considered?

## Step 6: Launch your stages

<Steps>
  <Step title="Review configuration">
    Double-check entry criteria, exit criteria, and all objectives
  </Step>

  <Step title="Launch the stage">
    Click **Go Live** to activate the stage
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor initial data">
    Watch the first few days to ensure:

    * Organisations are entering correctly
    * Objectives are completing as expected
    * No unexpected edge cases
  </Step>
</Steps>

## After launch

### Monitor key metrics

In the first few weeks, watch:

| Metric                   | What to Look For                            |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Entry rate**           | Are organisations entering as expected?     |
| **Objective completion** | Are objectives completing when they should? |
| **Average times**        | Are averages building as data accumulates?  |
| **Edge cases**           | Any organisations stuck unexpectedly?       |

### Refine based on data

After 2 to 4 weeks, review:

* **Objectives with 0% completion:** Maybe too hard or wrong criteria
* **Objectives with 100% instant completion:** Maybe too easy or automatic
* **Objectives that predict success:** Prioritise in interventions
* **Objectives that predict churn:** Add early warning jobs

### Iterate

Stages improve over time:

* Add new objectives as you learn what matters
* Adjust thresholds that are too easy or hard
* Remove objectives that provide no signal
* Refine exit criteria based on observed patterns

## Common configuration patterns

### PLG / self-serve

```
Stage: Onboarding
Entry: first_seen_date within 14 days
Exit: Auto-exit after 14 days
Duration: Short, focused

Objectives:
- Completed signup flow
- Explored core feature
- Returned second day
- Invited first team member
```

### Sales-led / enterprise

```
Stage: Onboarding
Entry: contract_signed = true
Exit: All objectives complete OR 60 days
Duration: Longer, more objectives

Objectives:
- Kickoff call completed
- Admin users configured
- SSO connected
- First use case deployed
- Training completed
- Business owner engaged
```

### Hybrid

```
Stage: Onboarding
Entry: first_seen_date within 30 days
Exit: Auto-exit after 30 days

Objectives vary by segment:
- Self-serve: 4 objectives, simpler criteria
- Sales-led: 6 objectives, include manual steps
```

## Troubleshooting

### "No organisations entering stage"

* Check entry criteria—are they correct?
* Verify data is flowing for the criteria attributes
* Confirm organisations exist that should match

### "Objectives not completing"

* Verify the attribute/event name is correct
* Check that data is updating when customers act
* Test with a known customer who should have completed

### "Too many organisations stuck"

* Review exit criteria—is there a path forward?
* Consider time-based exit as safety net
* Check if objectives are too difficult

## Summary

Configuring stages:

1. **Plan first** — Map your journey, identify stages and objectives
2. **Start simple** — One stage with 4 to 5 objectives, time-based exit
3. **Verify data** — Ensure attributes exist and flow correctly
4. **Launch and monitor** — Watch initial data, catch issues early
5. **Iterate** — Refine based on observed patterns

Once configured, stages become the foundation for pattern discovery, Signals, and job interventions.