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

> ## Agent Instructions
> Automate.ax automations are TypeScript programs.
> Use Bun for installation and command examples.
> Use Automate.ax for the product name and automate.ax for the package, CLI, and domain.
> Treat documented public APIs as current; do not invent transitional or deprecated names.

# Invoke automation

> Invoke an active Automate.ax automation.

`automate.invokeAutomation` schedules an immediate or delayed programmatic invocation for an active automation with a matching `onInvocation` entrypoint.

```ts automations/invoke-automation.automation.ts theme={null}
import { automation } from "automate.ax"
import { automate } from "automate.ax/automate"
import billing from "./billing.automation"

export default automation("Invoke billing", () => {
  automate.invokeAutomation({
    automation: billing,
    payload: { customerId: "cus_123" },
    runIn: "5m",
  })
})
```

`automation` accepts an imported automation descriptor, exact ID, or unique deployed description. Set either `runAt` or `runIn`, not both. `entrypoint` defaults to `"default"`. The action returns the durable invocation `id` and normalized `runAt` and requires `project:update`.

Retries reuse the active action invocation as the management idempotency identity. This account-backed action does not change the typed same-project `invokeAutomation` primitive from `automate.ax`.