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.