The Update Contact Field workflow action changes information on a contact record automatically. Use it when GHL Customer Care should update a field as part of a workflow.

Updating only one contact?

You do not need a workflow. Go to Contacts, open the contact, and edit the name, email address, phone

number, or other details directly.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. What is Update Contact Field Action?
2. Key Benefits of Using This Action
3. Configuring Update Contact Field Action: Step-by-Step Process
4. Use Cases
5. FAQs

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What is Update Contact Field Action?

The Update Contact Field action changes information stored on a contact record.

You can use it to:

• Update a standard field
• Update a custom field
• Use a fixed value
• Use a Dynamic Value
• Update several fields at once
• Clear custom field data

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Key Benefits of Using This Action

1. Accurate Contact Data: Ensure your contact database is always up to date, reducing the risk of outdated or incorrect information.
2. Enhanced Personalization: Use updated contact details to deliver more personalized and targeted communication.
3. Improved Workflow Efficiency: Automatically update contact records without manual intervention, saving time and effort.
4. Streamlined Customer Experience: Provide relevant, timely communication by maintaining accurate contact information.

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 Action Behavior: Add Field, Update, and Clear

Understanding how each option affects existing contact data helps prevent accidental overwrites or removals. Add Field expands the number of fields handled by the action, while Update field data and Clear field data determine what happens to the values stored in those fields.

• Add Field: Adds another field-and-value row to the same workflow action. It does not append data to an existing field value or change the action behavior. Fields that are not selected in the action remain unchanged.

• Update field data: Writes the configured value to the selected field. If the field already contains information, the existing value is replaced with the new value when the contact reaches this workflow step. Update field data can be used with standard and custom contact fields.

• Clear field data: Removes the existing value from the selected field, leaving it empty. Clearing field data is supported for custom contact fields.

Supported field types: The Update Contact Field action can work with fields such as Text, Number, Date, Dropdown/Select, Checkbox, Radio, Email, and Phone when the supplied value matches the field’s expected format. Dynamic Values are also supported for Numeric, Select/Dropdown, and Monetary fields. Date fields support date-specific values such as Custom Date, Current Date, and Specific Date.

Before and After Example

Suppose a contact currently has the following information:

• City: Austin

• Customer Status: Prospect

• Phone: (512) 555-0100

The workflow uses Update field data and selects City, entering Dallas as the new value. The user then selects Add Field and adds Customer Status, entering Customer.

After the action runs:

• City: Dallas

• Customer Status: Customer

• Phone: (512) 555-0100

The existing City and Customer Status values are replaced because those fields were included in the update. The Phone value remains unchanged because it was not included in the action.

Configuring Update Contact Field Action: Step-by-Step Process

Go to the "Automation" section of your CRM. Click "Workflows" menu located at the top.

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Open the workflow editor and select the workflow where you want to add the “Update Contact Field” action. Else, you can simply start building your own workflow from scratch. Just click "+ Create Workflow" button and select "+ Start from scratch" option from the dropdown menu.

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Click “+” icon and choose "Update Contact Field" from the list of available actions.

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Give your action a clear, descriptive name (e.g., “Update Contact Address”). This makes it easier to identify in the workflow.

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Action types give you the ability to 1. Clear the existing information and 2. Update the information. In real world, you can set the workflow to first clear the existing information from the contact record and then replace it with the new information.

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Click "Add field" button to add additional filters.

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Choose the fields you want to update, such as City, Country, Phone, or Custom Fields.

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Once you are done adding the filters, Save the action and test it using a sample contact to ensure it updates the fields as expected.

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In order to activate the workflow you will need to turn this toggle to "Publish."

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FAQs

1. Can I update multiple fields at once with a single action?

Yes, you can select and update multiple fields simultaneously within the same action, saving time and reducing complexity.

2. What happens if I try to update a field that doesn’t exist for a contact?

If the field doesn’t exist, the update may fail or be ignored. To avoid this, ensure the field is properly created in the contact’s record or CRM system.

3. How do I know if the “Update Contact Field” action worked?

Test the workflow using a sample contact and check if the changes are reflected in the contact’s record. Some platforms also provide activity logs for tracking updates.

4. Can I undo an update if it was done incorrectly?

No, once a field is updated, it cannot be automatically reverted. To correct it, you must update the field again with the correct information.