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

# Automate and understand

> Turn meter readings into action, find operational knowledge, and review trustworthy reports.

Canary combines deterministic automation, conversational analysis, and reporting. Use each surface for the job it handles best.

## Choose the right tool

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Automations" icon="workflow" href="/help/automations/overview">
    Evaluate meter readings and run defined actions with conditions and cooldowns.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ask Canary" icon="sparkles" href="/help/ask-canary/overview">
    Search records and documents, analyze history, and prepare approved changes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Reports" icon="chart-no-axes-combined" href="/help/reports/overview">
    Review live work-order operations and clearly labeled modeled analysis.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Schedule" icon="calendar-days" href="/help/reports/schedule">
    Coordinate planned work, assignment, and capacity on the calendar.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Data flow

1. People, mobile clients, the public API, or integrations record operational facts.
2. A new meter reading can trigger an automation evaluation.
3. Work orders, asset status changes, and notifications created by automation enter normal product history.
4. Ask Canary can search supported records and prepare visualizations or approved changes.
5. Reports summarize their defined data sources.

## Keep the evidence clear

* Review automation execution details when an action is skipped, partial, or failed.
* Open Ask Canary citations and verify the underlying manual or record.
* Use the Operations report for live work-order facts.
* Treat Reliability, Downtime, and OEE report tabs as modeled analysis in their current form.

## Related pages

* [Create an automation](/help/automations/create-automation)
* [Best prompts for Ask Canary](/help/ask-canary/best-prompts)
* [Reports](/help/reports/overview)