Automations | Field Update | Set Calculations

Automations | Field Update | Set Calculations

Overview

The Field Update Node now supports Field Calculations — a new capability that lets you perform real-time mathematical operations within automations.
Until now, you could:
  1. Set Value → enter a fixed input (e.g., Region = East)
  2. Set Field Token → copy data from another field (e.g., Lead.City → Opportunity.City)
Now, you can also:
  1. Set Calculations → create formula-based updates that compute dynamic results using field tokens, operators, and numeric or decimal values.
This feature makes your automations not just reactive — but analytical.

Why Does This Matter?

Think about all those times you wanted to:
  1. Automatically calculate Lead Engagement
  2. Adjust Opportunity Values after discounts
  3. Compute Engagement Index across multiple activities
Earlier, this logic had to live outside the CRM — in sheets, reports, or manual calculations.
Now, you can bring it inside Meritto Automations itself.

Field Calculations ensures:
  1. Real-time numeric or date-based computations
  2. Reduction in manual entry errors
  3. Accurate and consistent reporting
  4. Faster, data-driven decision-making

How Will This Work?

Step 1 | Choose a Trigger

The available Field Update Types depend on your automation’s trigger.

Trigger
Available Field Update Types
Lead → Lead
Lead → Opportunity
Opportunity → Lead
Opportunity → Opportunity
Dynamic Activity → Lead
Dynamic Activity → Opportunity
Lead > 
(Creation / Field Update /
Specific Date / Regular Intervals)
✔
✔
✘
✘
✘
✘
Opportunity > 
(Creation / Field Update)
✘
✘
✔
✔
✘
✘
Lead > Telephony Activities (Inbound / Outbound / Campaign)
✔
✔
✘
✘
✘
✘
Lead > Dynamic Activities (Creation / Field Update)
✔
✔
✔

✔
✔
✘
Opportunity > Telephony Activities
(Inbound / Outbound / Campaign)
✘
✘
✔
✔
✘
✘
Opportunity > Dynamic Activities
(Creation / Field Update)
✘
✘
✔
✔
✔
✔

Step 2 | Select “Field Update Type”

This defines the direction of your data update — which record updates which.
  1. Lead → Opportunity: Lead data updates Opportunity fields
  2. Opportunity → Lead: Opportunity data updates Lead fields
  3. Dynamic Activity → Lead: Event data updates Lead fields
  4. Dynamic Activity → Opportunity: Event data updates Opportunity fields
💡 When “Opportunity” exists in your Field Update Type, you’ll also need to select an Opportunity List to specify which opportunity gets updated.

Step 3 | Choose the Update Type

Under your selected Field Update Type, pick Set Calculations as the update method.

Step 4 | Build the Formula (BODMAS Supported)

The Formula Builder is an intelligent input area for building expressions using:
  1. Field Tokens (@)
  2. Operators (\)
  3. Numeric or Decimal inputs
Meritto uses the BODMAS principle to evaluate all formulas — ensuring calculations always follow correct mathematical order:

Brackets → Orders → Division → Multiplication → Addition → Subtraction
So, no matter how complex the expression, the result is precise and predictable.

Example:
(@Lead.Visits + @Lead.Submissions) * 2 is always calculated as “bracket first, then multiply.”

Step 5 | Simplified User Interaction

To make formula building both powerful and foolproof, we’ve designed a chip-based editor.
Here’s how it works:

User Action
Shortcu
t
Behavi
or
Insert Field Token
Type @
Opens dropdown of source fields
Insert Operator
Type \
Opens list of operators (+, -, *, /, (, ))
Insert Number
Type numeric or decimal → press Enter
Adds value to formula
Delete
Press Backspace
Removes the rightmost chip one at a time

Each element you add — whether a token, operator, or number — becomes an individual chip. This ensures formula integrity and prevents partial or invalid edits.
Allowing free-text formulas would have broken validation or made error detection nearly impossible.
By structuring every element as a chip, we ensure:
  1. Every formula follows strict type and syntax rules
  2. Validation stays instant and consistent
  3. Users can only edit in a controlled, right-to-left manner (maintaining “sanctity” of the formula)





Step 6 | Validation & Info Support

To help users build confidently:
  1.  Info Icon: Appears next to “Set Calculations” — click it anytime to view syntax help, supported operators, and examples.
  2.  View Evaluated Formula Icon: Lets you see the entire formula in plain text for quick review or debugging.
Each formula is validated when you click save:
  1. Parentheses, syntax, and field type are checked 
  2. Invalid entries are highlighted with inline red error messages
  3. “Save” remains disabled until the formula is clean and verified


Example Scenarios

  1. Lead → Opportunity: Lead Score Sync
    1. Formula: (@Lead.Visits * 5) + (@Lead.Form_Submissions * 10)
    2. Implication: Opportunity’s “Engagement Score” auto-updates from Lead data.
  2. Opportunity → Lead: Reverse Data Flow
    1. Formula: (@Opportunity.Total_Value * 0.8)
    2. Implication: Lead reflects 80% of Opportunity Value for weighted reporting.
  3. Dynamic Activity → Lead: Attendance Tracking
    1. Formula: @DynamicActivity.Duration + 5
    2. Implication: Adds bonus points for webinar engagement to Lead Score.
  4. Date Calculation Example
    1. Formula: @Lead.Last_Contact_Date + 7
    2. Implication: Sets Follow-up Date 7 days after last contact.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Forgetting to select correct Field Update Type — defines source and target fields
  2. Not choosing Opportunity List when Opportunity is involved
  3. Using unsupported operators or symbols (%, ^, of)
  4. Mixing numeric and date fields
  5. Forgetting to press Enter after typing a decimal or numeric value

Impact

  1. Introduces intelligence and precision into automation updates
  2. Reduces manual computation and reporting errors
  3. Enforces formula validation for data consistency
  4. Makes automations faster, safer, and smarter
With Field Calculations, your automation engine now follows both logic and discipline.

Questions?

If you’re unsure about setup, validation behavior, or chip logic, reach out to your Customer Success Manager — they can share sample use cases for your automation type.

    • Related Articles

    • Automation Node: Field Update

      Overview The Field Update Node in Automations now supports cross-record updates. You can update fields from one record type to another across: Lead → Opportunity Lead → Lead Opportunity → Opportunity Dynamic Activity → Lead Dynamic Activity → ...

    • How to remove dependency to delete custom field in Leads?

      Overview This article guides you through the process of identifying and removing mandatory dependencies linked to a Custom Lead Field that is scheduled for deletion. You must remove all mandatory links to other system features before the Custom Lead ...

    • How to Update Data in Bulk?

      Overview Bulk Data Update feature empowers you to update multiple records at once—streamlining operations and improving overall efficiency. Whether you need to update lead statuses, assign counselors, or change lead stages, this feature simplifies ...

    • Capturing Hidden Field Values on Landing Pages

      What is this feature? This feature allows the admins to pre-configure specific lead fields within a landing page (built using HTML uploader or drag-and-drop). When an applicant submits a widget on that landing page, those predefined values (e.g. ...

    • Auto-reminders: How to Set Auto-reminders?

      Introduction Auto reminders let you add new reminders that will auto-notify the applicants on the specified day. With auto reminders, you can send Email, SMS and WhatsApp notifications without any manual intervention. Pre-requisites As a precursor, ...