> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.slant.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Pipelines and stages

> Create and configure opportunity pipelines with custom stages, colors, and settings.

Pipelines define the workflow that [opportunities](/activity/opportunities/overview) move through. Each pipeline has an ordered set of stages — from first contact to a closed outcome — that represent your process for converting prospects or serving clients.

You can create multiple pipelines for different workflows. For example, a prospect conversion pipeline with stages like **Identified**, **Connected**, and **Meeting scheduled**, and a separate client service pipeline with stages like **Identified**, **In-progress**, and **Reviewing**.

## Audience types

Each pipeline targets one or more **audience types** — set with the **Applies to** field — which control the record types you can link to its opportunities. Select any combination — at least one is required:

* **Clients** — [clients](/records/clients/overview) can be linked
* **Prospects** — [prospects](/records/prospects) can be linked
* **Contacts** — [other contacts](/records/other-contacts) can be linked
* **Businesses** — [businesses](/records/businesses) can be linked

The audience types determine which records appear in the **Related record** picker when creating an opportunity, and which filter chip appears on the [opportunities page](/activity/opportunities/overview) for client and prospect pipelines.

## Default stages

When you create a new pipeline, Slant adds a set of default stages based on its audience types:

**Prospects only:**
Identified, Connected, Meeting scheduled, Qualified, Closed won, Closed lost, Archived

**Clients only:**
Identified, In-progress, Reviewing, Closed won, Closed lost, Archived

**Any other audience** (including contacts, businesses, or a mix):
Identified, Qualified, Reviewing, Closed won, Closed lost, Archived

**Closed lost** and **Archived** are hidden by default — they don't appear as columns on the board but are available as drop zones when dragging opportunities. You can customize all stages after creation.

## Create a pipeline

You can create a pipeline from the opportunities page or from settings.

### From the opportunities page

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click + New">
    On the Opportunities page, click the **+ New** tab next to your existing pipeline tabs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure the pipeline">
    Enter a name, choose one or more [audience types](#audience-types) under **Applies to** (Clients, Prospects, Contacts, Businesses), and configure stages.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Save changes">
    The new pipeline appears as a tab on the opportunities page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### From settings

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open pipeline settings">
    Go to **Settings** → **Data customizations** → **Pipelines**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the scope">
    Select the **Company** tab to create a company-wide pipeline available in all books, or select your book's tab to create one for that book only.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click + New pipeline">
    Configure the pipeline name, audience types, and stages, then save.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Creating or editing company-wide pipelines requires admin permissions. Any user can create and edit book-level pipelines.
</Note>

## Edit a pipeline

Click the <Icon icon="settings" /> icon next to **Sum by** on the opportunities page, or click the <Icon icon="pencil" /> icon next to a pipeline in **Settings** → **Data customizations** → **Pipelines**.

The edit form lets you change:

* **Pipeline name** — rename the pipeline
* **Applies to** — add or remove [audience types](#audience-types) (Clients, Prospects, Contacts, Businesses)
* **Pipeline stages** — add, remove, rename, reorder, and configure stages (see [stage settings](#stage-settings) below)
* **AI auto-update** — toggle automatic stage updates based on meeting activity

Click **Save changes** to apply your edits.

## Stage settings

Each stage in a pipeline has several configurable properties. Edit stages from the [pipeline edit form](#edit-a-pipeline) — click the <Icon icon="settings" /> icon on the opportunities page or the <Icon icon="pencil" /> icon in pipeline settings.

* **Name** — the stage label shown on the board
* **Color** — a color indicator dot displayed next to the stage name
* **Visibility** — visible stages appear as columns on the board. Hidden stages (like Closed lost and Archived) appear only as drop zones when dragging. Toggle visibility with the <Icon icon="eye" /> icon
* **Default probability** — a fallback probability percentage (0–100%) applied to opportunities in this stage when no probability is set on the opportunity itself
* **Track time in stage** — set a target number of days for opportunities to stay in this stage. The board shows how long each opportunity has been in its current stage
* **Exclude from total** — when enabled, opportunities in this stage are not counted in the board's Total and Weighted values

### Add a stage

In the pipeline edit form, click **+ Add new stage** at the bottom of the stage list. The new stage is added to the end — drag it to the position you want.

### Reorder stages

Drag stages using the grip handle on the left side to reorder them. On the board, use the **Move left** and **Move right** options in the stage settings menu.

### Delete a stage

Delete a stage from the pipeline edit form by removing it from the list. If the stage has opportunities, they are moved to the first remaining stage in the pipeline.

<Warning>
  Deleting a stage moves all its opportunities to the first stage in the pipeline. This cannot be undone.
</Warning>

## Hidden stages

Stages with visibility turned off don't appear as columns on the pipeline board. The default hidden stages are **Closed lost** and **Archived**.

When you drag an opportunity on the board, hidden stages appear as labeled drop zones at the bottom. Drop an opportunity onto one of these zones to move it to that stage.

You can hide any stage and unhide any hidden stage from the [pipeline edit form](#edit-a-pipeline).

<Note>
  Dropping an opportunity onto a hidden stage opens a confirmation prompt before the move is applied. Hidden-stage drop zones are not shown when you're dragging from a hidden stage.
</Note>

## AI auto-update

When enabled, Slant automatically updates an opportunity's stage based on meeting activity. For example, after a meeting is logged with a linked prospect, the opportunity could advance to the next stage.

Toggle this setting in the [pipeline edit form](#edit-a-pipeline) under **AI auto-update**.

## Company-wide vs book-level pipelines

Pipelines can belong to a single book or be shared across all books in your company.

* **Book-scoped** — visible only in the book where it was created. Any user in that book can create and edit these.
* **Company-wide** — available in every book. Only admins can create, edit, or delete company-wide pipelines.

Manage scope from **Settings** → **Data customizations** → **Pipelines**. The **Company** tab shows company-wide pipelines, and your book's tab shows book-level pipelines.

### Reorder pipelines

In the pipeline settings page, drag pipelines using the grip handle to change the order they appear as tabs on the opportunities page.

<Note>
  Favorites override sort order on the opportunities page tab strip — favorited pipelines are always pinned first. Sort order still applies to non-favorites and to the filler tabs that appear when you have fewer than two favorites.
</Note>

### Favorite a pipeline

Click the star button in the opportunities page header — it sits between the pipeline filter and **Sum by** — to favorite the pipeline you're viewing. Favorited pipelines pin to the front of the tab strip, show a filled amber star, and become the default landing pipeline. Click the star again to remove it from favorites.

## Delete a pipeline

To delete a pipeline, open the [pipeline edit form](#edit-a-pipeline) and click the <Icon icon="trash-2" /> icon in the bottom-left corner.

If the pipeline is the default for one of its audience types, you must select a replacement default pipeline before deleting it. The replacement must share those audience types.

<Warning>
  Deleting a pipeline permanently removes the pipeline and all of its opportunities. This cannot be undone.
</Warning>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How many pipelines can I create?">
    There is no limit on the number of pipelines. Create as many as you need for different workflows.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I change a pipeline's audience types after creating it?">
    Yes. Open the [pipeline edit form](#edit-a-pipeline) and adjust the **Applies to** field. At least one audience type must stay selected.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens to opportunities when I hide a stage?">
    Opportunities remain in the hidden stage — they don't move. The stage stops appearing as a column on the board. You can still move opportunities to or from hidden stages by dragging.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can different books have different pipelines?">
    Yes. Each book can have its own book-level pipelines in addition to any company-wide pipelines shared across all books.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Managing opportunities" icon="hand-pointer" href="/activity/opportunities/managing-opportunities">
    Create, edit, and track opportunities through your pipelines
  </Card>

  <Card title="Automations" icon="bolt" href="/platform/automations/overview">
    Trigger workflows when opportunities change stages
  </Card>
</CardGroup>