# Dispatch strategies: drip feed and auto-dispatch

*Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant Study Guide · Managing Scheduling and Optimization · Last updated October 29, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/agentforce-field-service-consultant/managing-scheduling-and-optimization/dispatch-strategies-drip-feed-and-auto-dispatch*

Choose between dispatching from the console, an Auto Dispatch scheduled job and drip feed; configure job territories, horizon and mentions, set drip feed rates per territory, and predict which memberships, statuses and events each mechanism uses.

- Certification: Salesforce Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant
- Exam section: Managing Scheduling and Optimization
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/agentforce-field-service-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Given a scenario, determine the appropriate dispatch strategy for an organization.

## What the exam expects

- Recommend manual dispatch, an Auto Dispatch scheduled job or drip feed from how often the schedule changes and who should trigger dispatching.
- Configure a dispatch scheduled job: territories, run schedule, filter criteria, horizon, notified user and the Chatter mention option.
- Set the drip feed default and override it for one service territory.
- Predict what triggers the next drip-fed appointment and which appointments are eligible.
- Explain which territory memberships a dispatch job uses and which status it sets when it dispatches.

Key terms:
- **Dispatch:** sending a scheduled appointment to its resource, which moves it to the status mapped for "Service appointment is sent to its resource" (Dispatched by default).
- **Auto Dispatch scheduled job:** the provided job, editable under Field Service Settings, Dispatch, Scheduled Jobs, that dispatches appointments on a schedule.
- **Drip feed:** dispatching that keeps a set number of appointments in each worker's queue and sends the next one only when one finishes.
- **Job horizon:** the number of days in advance the job dispatches.
- **Primary and relocation memberships:** the service territory membership types a dispatch job considers.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Settings location | Field Service Settings, Dispatch: Drip Feed and Scheduled Jobs | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Job inputs | Territories, schedule, filter criteria, horizon, notified user | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Resource selection | By territory membership, primary and relocation only | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Status set | Scheduled to Dispatched, or the mapped custom statuses | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Chatter mention | Optional; not supported for an automated process user | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Drip feed override | A territory field overrides the default value | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Drip feed trigger | Queue appointment becomes Canceled, Completed or Cannot Complete | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Drip feed and jobs | Every scheduled job respects the drip feed value | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Permissions | FSL Admin, FSL Dispatcher or Auto-Dispatch Service Resources permission set | [Auto Dispatch](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |
| Console naming | Scheduling Console replaces the Classic Dispatch Console as of Summer '26 | [Dispatch Appointments](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatch_console_parent.htm&language=en_US&type=5) |

## Check yourself

- Why does drip feed reduce confusion when schedules change often?
- When does disabling drip feed require more work?
- Which user receives the job-run notification?
- What can start an async sharing job after every appointment status change?

## Sources

- [Automatically Dispatch Field Service Appointments](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatching_appointments.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Dispatch Field Service Appointments](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=service.pfs_dispatch_console_parent.htm&language=en_US&type=5)
- [Customize the Service Appointment Workflow](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=sf.pfs_lifecycle.htm&language=en_US&type=5)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 6 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Agentforce Field Service and Operations Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams