Prioritizing your paths

By default, users can be in an unlimited number of paths at the same time. This ensures that they always receive content that is tailored specifically for their journey. However, if you have many paths with overlapping audiences, then you may want to place a limit on the number of concurrent paths.

Set the priority of your content so that users who qualify for multiple paths on the same day only enter the most important path.

In this article, you’ll learn how to limit how many paths a user can be in at the same time, as well as define the priority for your paths.

Before you start

Here are some things to know before you begin.

Paths send independently of Cortex rules.

• Paths do not affect a user’s interval, and will not change the cadence of sends from automated Cortex stages.

Paths are the highest priority stage.

• Path sends will override any other send that a user is scheduled to receive in a given day. For example, if a user is scheduled to receive an email in the Cart Abandon stage, and is also scheduled to receive an email in a path, then they will receive only the email in the path.

Once someone enters a path, then they will always receive eligible messages in that path.

• If a user is in multiple paths and is scheduled to receive an email from each of these paths on the same day, then they will receive every path email.
• If a user is scheduled to receive both a path email and a Promo Blast email on the same day, then they will receive both emails.

Set a limit for concurrent paths

By default, a user will enter a path if they meet the entry rules for that path. You can set a limit for the maximum number of paths that a user can be in at the same time.

To set a limit for concurrent paths, follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to Cortex > Settings.
2. Check Limit concurrent paths. This allows you to configure this setting.
3. Enter a value for the maximum number of concurrent paths that a user can be in.
4. Click Save.
   
   
   
   

If this setting is enabled, then a user won't enter a new path if they have already reached their limit of concurrent paths. A user who qualifies to enter multiple paths will enter additional paths based on the priority of the paths.

Set the priority of a path

If you set a limit on the maximum number of concurrent paths, then you can prioritize your paths. This priority determines which paths a user will enter if they qualify for multiple paths.

Newly created paths have the highest priority. To change the priority of your paths, follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to Cortex > Settings.
2. Scroll to the Limit concurrent paths setting, and click "Configure path priority."
   
   
   
   
3. Paths display in the table from highest (top) to lowest (bottom) priority. Click and drag the rows in the table to reorder a path to a new position in the table. The order shown in the table reflects how paths are prioritized when a user qualifies for multiple paths.