--- title: "build a pipeline" description: "Learn all about building pipelines and access our step-by-step instructions, FAQs, and everything you need to know!" url: https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13560125-build-a-pipeline collection: "pipelines" updated: 2026-11-03 language: en --- # build a pipeline Learn all about building pipelines and access our step-by-step instructions, FAQs, and everything you need to know! ## before you dive in This article is one step from our [Master Help Guide: All About Pipelines](https://cqcighsbi.gleap.help/en/articles/10454930-all-about-pipelines-a-master-help-guide). We recommend starting with the Master Help Guide before diving into the technical setup below. Each Master Help Guide acts as your project plan – teaching you the feature, laying out the steps in the right order, and linking to every resource you’ll need along the way. This guide is perfect if you want to: - Build a pipeline from scratch - Track progress of a service, or a client's onboarding/off-boarding process​ * * * ## how to build a pipeline from scratch click here for the written steps 1. From the main ivorey menu, go to **CRM** > **Opportunities** > **Pipeline** > and click **\[Create Pipeline\]** 2. Give your pipeline a relevant **Name** \> and set how your pipeline stage colours should display: 1. **Default** \- no colour 2. **Colored dot** 3. **Background tint** 3. (optional) Toggle ON **opportunity-level probability** if you want to override the stage probability on individual opportunities **Note:** When this is enabled, you can set a custom probability percentage on each individual opportunity, which will override the stage-based probability for that opportunity. This only affects Pipeline Forecasting calculations. Refer to our [Pipeline Forecasting](#) guide to learn more. 4. Edit the default **Stage Names** to what will be relevant for your process > and click the **\[+ Add stage\]** button to add more stages, as needed: 1. Use the **\[⋮⋮\]** drag dots, to re-order your stages 2. Click the 🗑 trash can icon to delete a stage 3. (optional) Set the **Probability (%)** for each stage - this reflects how likely an opportunity is to close while sitting in that stage. Early stages should have a lower percentage (e.g. 10-20%) and later stages a higher one (e.g. 60-80%), with a won/complete stage set to 100% **Note:** Stage probability percentages are used by the Forecast feature to calculate your weighted Expected Revenue. If you don't plan to use Pipeline Forecasting, you can leave these at their defaults. Refer to our [Pipeline Forecasting](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13631365-pipeline-forecasting.md) guide to learn more. 4. (optional) Under **Show in Reports**, select how each stage should appear in your Dashboard, from the drop-down 5. Once you’ve finalised your stages, click the **\[Create\]** button, at the bottom 5. Your new pipeline will appear in the table, showing the **Pipeline name**, the **No. of Stages**, when it was last **Updated**, and the **Actions** you can take > under the **Actions** column, click the **\[⋮\]** three dots on your new pipeline: 1. **Edit** \- adjust the name, stages, colours, and Smart Tags (more on this to follow) 2. **Duplicate** \- create a copy, to edit and adjust as needed 3. **Manage permissions** \- select who can view your pipeline: 1. **Share with all users** \- select either **View Only**, **Edit**, or **No Access** 2. **Share with selected users** \- select either **View Only**, **Edit**, or **No Access** \> and select which users to share with 3. **Exclude specific users** \- select either **View Only**, **Edit**, or **No Access** \> and select which users to exclude **Note:** account admins will always have full access. 4. **Copy link** \- grab the link to this pipeline 5. **Delete** 6. Click **\[**✏ **Edit\]** \> and click on the **\[Smart Tags\]** tab to set up rule-based colour labels that automatically appear on your opportunity cards based on the conditions you define. Select a **Pre-Built Tag** from the drop-down menu, or click **\[+ Add Smart Tag\]:** 1. Give your tag a relevant **Label Name** (e.g. VIP, Referral Lead, etc.) > provide a quick **Description** to explain what this tag means > select a tag **Color** \> choose whether this tag should apply to all of your pipelines > and click **\[Next: Add Rule\]** 2. Select a filter from the first drop-down menu (e.g. owner, opportunity value, opportunity source) > from the second drop-down, select a condition (e.g. is, is not, greater than) > from the third drop-down, select or enter the value (e.g. a specific team member, date, opportunity value, etc.) 3. Click the **\[+ Add Nested Filter\]** button, to filter it down further (using AND or OR logic), or click the **\[+ Add Filter\]** to add a secondary filter option (using OR logic) 4. Click the **\[Preview Tag\]** button, at the bottom, to check if any changes are needed > and click the **\[Save\]** button, when you’re ready 5. Repeat to create as many tags as you need > you can then 👁 **Preview**, ✏ **Edit**, or 🗑 **Delete** any of your tags > and use the **\[⋮⋮\]** drag dots, to re-order your tags 7. To add opportunities to your pipelines manually, go to **CRM** > **Opportunities** > **Opportunity List** > and click **\[+ Add Opportunity\]** 1. ​Select a **Primary** **Contact** 2. Edit the **Opportunity Name** if needed (by default this will auto-fill with the contact’s name) 3. Select which **Pipeline** and **Stage** they should be in 4. Select the **Status** (Open, Lost, Won, or Abandon) 5. Set the **Opportunity Value** (optional, but recommended if your smart tags are based on opportunity value, and if you want to see revenue data in your Dashboard) 6. Select the opportunity **Owner** and add **Followers** (optional) 7. Enter the **Business Name** and **Opportunity Source**, as needed 8. Set the **Expected Close Date** and **Forecast Probability** (if enabled) - these are optional but important if you plan to use [Pipeline Forecasting](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13631365-pipeline-forecasting.md) 9. Add **Tags** and enter an **Opportunity ID** (optional) 8. To add opportunities to your pipelines automatically, in any workflow use the **Create Opportunity** action > and use **Fields** to set the pipeline stage, status, value, source, etc. as needed * * * ## bonus gift: we've built a sales pipeline for you 🎉 [Refer to this guide](https://cqcighsbi.gleap.help/en/articles/11507664-customise-our-bonus-sales-pipeline) to learn how to access, customise, and then install our pre-built sales pipeline into your business. * * * ## next steps > **Success:** If you’ve completed the steps above, head back to the [Master Help Guide on Pipelines](https://cqcighsbi.gleap.help/en/articles/10454930-all-about-pipelines-a-master-help-guide) to move onto the next phase. > > Each Master Help Guide acts as your project plan - teaching you the feature, laying out the steps in the right order, and linking to every resource you’ll need along the way. * * * ## need help? Hit the support chat widget inside ivorey - we can: - Walk you through any of the steps - Troubleshoot anything that’s not working We’re here and ready to help via the chat widget in the bottom right of your ivorey account. Or if you are looking for done-for-you support, you can browse our current services [here](https://ivorey.io/services) 🤍 ## Related - [all about pipelines: a master help guide](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/10454930-all-about-pipelines-a-master-help-guide.md) - [pipeline journeys](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13560047-pipeline-journeys.md) - [customise our bonus sales pipeline](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/11507664-customise-our-bonus-sales-pipeline.md) - [pipeline workflows](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13631349-pipeline-workflows.md) - [pipeline forecasting](https://help.ivorey.io/en/articles/13631365-pipeline-forecasting.md)