Do all ESPs send automations instantly?
Myth: All automation sends immediately upon trigger.
Reality: Processing time varies significantly by platform and circumstances.
Factors affecting speed: Platform architecture: Some ESPs batch-process triggers. Plan tier: Premium plans may have faster processing. Queue load: High volume can create delays. Integration latency: External triggers have additional delay.
Typical ranges: Best case: Seconds to under a minute. Common: 1-5 minutes. Some platforms: 15-30 minutes. Batch processing: Hours.
When speed matters: Transactional emails (password resets). Security alerts. Real-time abandonment triggers. Time-sensitive notifications.
What to do: Understand your ESP's processing time. Test actual delivery speed, not just documentation. Consider dedicated transactional service for time-critical sends.
Real-time has different meanings. Verify your platform's actual performance.
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