Does an Out-of-Office Auto-Reply Pause a Contact in a Sequence?

Article author
Sarah Malone
Updated

Overview

If you send a message to a contact that has set up an out-of-office auto-reply, Apollo pauses the contact in the sequence. Apollo can auto-resume messaging a contact in a sequence if a contact specifies the return date in the out-of-office response. If Apollo cannot detect a return date, you can manually resume messaging a paused contact.

 
Multilingual Algorithms!

Please note, Apollo's detection algorithms currently detect auto-response messages in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Swedish, and Dutch. Refer to the "Out-of-Office Detection Logic" section below for more details.

Refer to the sections below for more information about how to view the different types of paused contacts in a sequence and how to know which contacts you need to manually resume.

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View Paused Contacts

To identify whether Apollo has paused a contact in a sequence, launch Apollo, click Engage, and then click Sequences.

Sequences

Click the Sequence that you want to review.

Open Sequence

Click Contacts and then click the Filters icon on the left to display the available filters.

Contacts Tab

To filter for all your paused contacts in sequences, expand the Sequence Status Accordion and then click Paused. Click the Auto resume date scheduled or Auto resume date not scheduled checkboxes to filter further.

Paused Contacts Filters

Hover your mouse over the "Paused" sequence status next to a contact for more details such as when a message will auto-resume.

Paused Status

 
Contacts Got Stage Fright?

For more information about the different contact stages, please refer to this section of the "Sequence Statistics Overview" article.

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View Auto-Resume Contacts in a Sequence

If Apollo detects that a contact has stated their return to office date in their auto-response, Apollo automatically resumes the contact in the sequence when they are scheduled to return to work.

To identify an auto-resume date, launch Apollo, click Engage, and then click Sequences.

Sequences

Click the Sequence that you want to review.

Open Sequence

Click Contacts and then click the Filters icon on the left to display the available filters.

Contacts Tab

Expand the Sequence Status Accordion and click the Auto resume date scheduled checkbox.

Auto-Resume Date Scheduled

Apollo loads the contacts on the right. Hover your mouse over the "Paused" sequence status to view the auto-resume date for a given contact.

Check Contact Resume Date

You have now identified which contacts Apollo will automatically resume in the sequence and when.

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View Contacts to Manually Resume in a Sequence

If a contact does not specify their return date in their out-of-office auto-response or if Apollo cannot detect when to resume the contact in the sequence, you need to manually resume the contact.

To identify which contacts do not have an auto-resume date, launch Apollo, click Engage, and then click Sequences.

Sequences

Click the Sequence that you want to review.

Open Sequence

Click Contacts and then click the Filters icon on the left to display the available filters.

Contacts Tab

Expand the Sequence Status Accordion and then click the Auto resume date not scheduled checkbox.

Auto-Resume Date Not Scheduled

Apollo loads the contacts on the right. Hover your mouse over the "Paused" sequence status to view the reason Apollo has paused a contact.

Check Contact Resume Date

You have now identified which contacts you need to manually resume in the sequence.

 
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize!

For more information about how to manually resume contacts in a sequence, please refer to the "Resume Paused Contacts in a Sequence" article.

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Out-of-Office Detection Logic

Apollo detection algorithms are multi-lingual, statistic-oriented, and always evolving. When the Apollo detection algorithms identify an Out-Of-Office message, Apollo pauses the contact and does not count this message as "Replied." However, if you notice an Out-of-Office auto-response that falls through the cracks, reach out to Apollo support to share the message.

 
The Language

Apollo detection algorithms may be multi-lingual, but they still have lots to learn! Please make sure that any messages you share are in one of the following languages:

  • English
  • Spanish
  • French
  • German
  • Portuguese
  • Swedish
  • Dutch

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