Automation that alternates assigned contacts each time a row is created

LJWay

I'm trying to figure out how to create an automation or formula where it will automatically assign from two or more contacts when a new row is created. It would also need to alternate or go to the next contact in a list.

For example, I have an "Assigned to" column and in that column would be 2 names (A and B) and when a new row is added then it will start with assigning to name A then B on the next then A again and so on.

Kerry St. Thomas

This might seem a bit convoluted. But Automations don't look at "the last row" which in a sense you'd need to do. As a workaround… use an autonumber column (or add one). Then you can basically assign based on odd/even - for Automations, you can't just gauge "…ends with" so you'll need another column - a checkbox formula to determine if your autonum ends with 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 or not. I didn't test this, so you'll want to drill a bit deeper into the logic, but here's what I'm envisioning:

Trigger: When new rows are added
Condition: When "Assigned to" is <blank> (this to prevent it from REASSIGNING something)
Condition 2, branch 1: When your test column is checked
Action: Change "Assigned to" to Person A.
Condition 2, branch 2: When your test column is unchecked
Action: Change "Assigned to" to Person B.

If you have a Person C, you'd need to add to the condition branches.

The alternate is to create your List Of Assignees, and then assign them a numerical value. Then you'd be able to use either Data Mesh or cross-sheet Index/Match to translate your helper column into the persons to be looked up. It could get a little convoluted to write a formula to evenly assign to 3 or more people - you'll no longer want to just look at the last digit of your autonum… but it's doable!

Good luck!