# Preview your first automation

Use the **Send an SMS notification** template to see how an event becomes a personalized message. This walkthrough ends with a simulated result. It does not send an SMS.

> Automations is in Early access. Your workspace permissions determine which actions you can perform.

## Open the template

The template supplies sample data, so you can explore it before setting up a sender or application connection.

1. Open [**Automation templates**](https://bird.com/dashboard/w/automations/templates) and search for **Send an SMS notification**.
2. Open the template. Review the workflow and prerequisites.
3. Under **Example scenarios**, expand **Message accepted**.

The workflow has two steps: **Notification requested** receives the event, and **Send SMS notification** prepares a message from its fields.

![Workflow canvas with connected notification and SMS steps and success and sending-failure paths](/images/docs/dashboard-automations-template.png)

## Inspect the sample message

1. Expand **Sample data** within **Message accepted**.
2. Inspect **Trigger data**, **Example setup**, and **Hypothetical step results**.
3. Compare the sample message with the scenario's customer name and notification text.

The sample message reads `Hi Ada, your order has shipped.` The scenario supplies a sample sender, recipient, and accepted send result.

## See where simulation stops

1. Expand the **Inspect the prepared message** scenario.
2. Review its expected path and the **Needs a sample** marker on the send step.

This scenario illustrates what happens without a sample send result: preview can prepare the message, then stops at the action. **Path needs another sample** means the action has no simulated result. It does not mean an SMS failed.

## Make a draft

You can save your own copy and finish setting it up in the editor. If **Use template** is missing, [check your editing access](/docs/guides/automations/troubleshooting#editing-controls-are-missing).

1. Select **Use template**.
2. Enter a name. Choose a sender in **SMS sender**, or leave the field unchanged to configure it later.
3. Select **Create draft**. The editor opens your independent copy.
4. Complete the sender field before previewing the send step.
5. Select **Preview workflow** in the editor header, then select **Preview workflow** inside the panel to run the draft sample.
6. Expand **Previewed path** to inspect the simulated steps.

Creating the draft does not activate the workflow. Follow the publishing guide when you are ready to review real recipients and actions.

## Next steps

- [Understand flows and connections](/docs/guides/automations/flows).
- [Preview and check a workflow](/docs/guides/automations/preview).
- [Publish and manage automations](/docs/guides/automations/publishing).
- [Browse the Automations guides](/docs/guides/automations).