Built-in Automation
AB Projects doesn't have a custom rule builder ("if this, then that"). Instead, the routine work is automated for you out of the box — progress tracking, roster sync, channel updates, reminders, and AI assistance all happen automatically without anything to configure. This article explains what runs on its own.
Status-driven progress
- Each task status carries a progress percentage, so moving a task to a status automatically sets its progress — you don't track a separate percent by hand.
- One status per project is designated as the completion status; moving a task there marks it complete automatically.
- These mappings are configured once per project under task statuses (see Managing Project Settings); after that, progress follows status on its own.
Subtask roll-up
- A parent task's progress rolls up automatically from its subtasks, recursively through the hierarchy, so a parent reflects the real state of its children without manual updates (see Subtasks and Task Hierarchy).
Automatic Teams updates
- Every comment and every task change is posted to the linked Teams channel as an Adaptive Card automatically, and replies in that thread sync back to the task — no rule needed (see Adaptive Cards and Task Previews).
- Members you select in a comment's mention picker are @mentioned in that post automatically.
Automatic membership sync
- Project membership follows the connected Teams channel: when anyone opens the tab, the channel roster is synced and everyone in the channel is added as a member — automatically and on a throttle (see Becoming a Project Member in AB Projects).
Scheduled digest and AI assistance
- Your personal task digest is sent automatically on the days and times you set, by email and/or Teams (see Notifications and Reminders).
- AI features — the task summary, suggested subtasks, and MCP AI assistants — help offload routine effort, with AI-generated activity clearly disclosed (see Daily Digest and AI Assistance).
What isn't available
There is currently no user-defined automation/rules engine — you can't create custom "when X happens, do Y" rules such as auto-assign by task type, auto-reopen on a new comment, or custom conditional notifications. Notifications also can't be tuned per project today (every change posts to the channel). If your team needs these, let us know — it helps us prioritize.
Tips
- Set each status's progress percentage and the completion status thoughtfully — that configuration is what makes progress "automatic."
- Use subtasks for larger work so parent progress stays accurate by itself.
- Lean on the Teams channel posts and the scheduled digest instead of expecting custom rule-based alerts.
AB Projects keeps the routine parts moving on their own — so the team can focus on the work, not the bookkeeping.