Ticket Lifecycle: Overview
What Is Ticket Lifecycle?
Ticket Lifecycle connects helpdesk statuses to automated actions — when a ticket hits the status you configure, the system runs triage, routing, or both.
Where to find it: Admin Panel → Ticket Lifecycle
Key Concepts
- Lifecycle Rule: A single status-to-action mapping. You choose a helpdesk status, an optional filter, and what should happen when a ticket enters it.
- Triage: Automatically categorizes the ticket using a Triage Policy you select.
- Routing: Automatically assigns the ticket using a Ticket Assignment Policy you select.
- Filter: An optional condition that narrows which tickets the rule applies to. Leave it blank and the rule applies to all tickets entering that status.
- Workflow toggle: Controls whether the rule fires automatically. When off, the rule is saved but will not trigger until enabled.
How It Works
Each Lifecycle Rule reads like a sentence: when a ticket is [created/updated], and the status is [X], and optionally the ticket matches [filter], then [action].
You can configure three types of actions:
- Triage only — categorizes the ticket using the selected Triage Policy
- Route only — assigns the ticket using the selected Assignment Policy (filter required)
- Triage & Route — runs triage first, then routing (filter required)
Disabling the Workflow toggle pauses automation only. Triage and routing remain available manually from the ticket screen at any time.
Common Use Cases
- Automatically triage every new ticket when it enters "New" status, so no ticket sits uncategorized.
- Route tickets to the right team when they move to "In Progress," using an assignment policy that matches your team structure.
- Run triage and routing together on a specific status so tickets are categorized and assigned in one step.
- Narrow a rule to a subset of tickets by adding a filter — for example, only tickets with a specific priority or ticket type.
Related Articles
Adding Horizon Autotask Widgets
Overview This article walks you through registering and configuring the Horizon widgets in Autotask, including the Ticket Insight panel and the full-screen Dashboard Widget. Prerequisites An active Autotask helpdesk integration configured in Horizon ...
Adding Horizon ConnectWise Widgets
Overview This article walks you through setting up the Horizon widgets in ConnectWise Manage: the Menu Link Dashboard (full Horizon panel in the sidebar) and the Ticket POD (inline ticket insights on Service Ticket pages). Prerequisites An active ...
Registering Helpdesk Callbacks in Horizon
Overview This article explains how to enable real-time ticket update notifications between your helpdesk and Horizon. Where to find it: Settings > Helpdesk > Callback Status Prerequisites Your helpdesk integration is connected and active in Horizon ...
Connecting Zoho Desk to Horizon
Overview This article walks you through creating a Zoho Desk OAuth application and entering its credentials in the Horizon onboarding wizard. Prerequisites Administrator access to your Zoho Desk account The Horizon onboarding wizard open and on the ...
How to Configure a Triage Policy
Overview This article walks you through configuring a Triage Policy in Horizon, including setting up classification steps, text generation steps, title formulas, and triage hints that give you deterministic control over how tickets are classified and ...