A: The new Stage Automation system comes in three distinct variants to suit different business needs:

AI Stage Automation represents the most advanced tier, leveraging artificial intelligence to analyze incoming messages and automatically assign leads or contacts to appropriate pipeline stages. This premium feature is exclusively available to Business, VIP, and Enterprise users, offering the most sophisticated automation capabilities.

Smart Stage Automation provides a flexible approach using preset automations and keywords. Users can either utilize SMS-iT's predefined automation rules or create custom keywords to sort and manage their pipeline stages. This feature is accessible to all users, including AppSumo LTD subscribers.

Manual Stage Automation offers a streamlined solution focused on managing a single pipeline stage, providing a simpler but effective automation option. Like Smart Stage Automation, this feature is available to all SMS-iT users.

The system's core functionality includes several powerful capabilities:
- Automatic stage updates based on meeting confirmation detection
- Interest level analysis from response content
- Out-of-office reply recognition
- Automated lead value calculations based on interactions
- Source tracking and assignment
- Simplified owner assignment management

Users can access these new automation features through two main pathways: via the Automation section in the Smart Inbox or through the Incoming Messages option in the Pipeline interface, where they can select their preferred channel.

This release marks a significant step forward in SMS-iT's commitment to providing sophisticated yet user-friendly CRM solutions that help businesses streamline their customer relationship management processes through intelligent automation.