--- title: How to use the EMS's automatic categorization feature description: The EMS's automatic categorization feature can sort lists of ≥100 submissions into categories to save you time --- [Skip to content](https://help.indiegraf.com/how-to-use-the-emss-automatic-categorization-feature#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Publisher Portal](https://portal.indiegraf.com/tickets?hsLang=en) [![Indiegraf-PrimaryLogo-FullColor-1](https://help.indiegraf.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Indiegraf-PrimaryLogo-FullColor-1.png?width=262&height=60&name=Indiegraf-PrimaryLogo-FullColor-1.png)](https://help.indiegraf.com/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Publisher Portal](https://portal.indiegraf.com/tickets) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Indiegraf](https://help.indiegraf.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Hearken](https://help.indiegraf.com/hearken?hsLang=en) 3. [Automatic categorization](https://help.indiegraf.com/hearken?hsLang=en#automatic-categorization) March 5, 2026 # How to use the EMS's automatic categorization feature ## The EMS's automatic categorization feature can sort lists of ≥100 submissions into categories to save you time The EMS's automatic categorization feature can automatically categorize existing and incoming audience submissions to save you time and surface trends that your audience cares about. If you have automatic categorization enabled (we'll have talked to you about it), when one of your lists has at least 100 submissions, the EMS will indicate that it can be automatically categorized: ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/375322463/e84546cdf3e08d4463ef5e1c/Untitled-2.jpg?expires=1772740800&signature=52feebb8f27b6bfd5f28c7a05f7e3a3a3de4359a0f9687c0c6721abfd3194dab&req=dyciFct8mYdcFb4f3HP0gET2xG0M2qiIyiI%2Fnek5kUQDty6mMqfE5%2B%2BhJIVg%0ATOhyzRS9DPltEVEN6Q%3D%3D%0A) Click through to the list view and click "Get started" to start the automatic categorization process: ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/375322517/03d1aeda2cc0947d9010b26b/getting+started.png?expires=1772740800&signature=1c03fae7d435774b336f0b70d99995c6c3f82195a0b446b893036c110f53c84f&req=dyciFct8mIBYFb4f3HP0gDkM6HS25Ik%2B%2BxdqDITeIO9B0Hu3ZxBBF04IXttU%0Aa0IKqBsodqbvx0jEXg%3D%3D%0A) The automatic categorization process will start you off with 5 categories. You can add additional categories using "+ New Category." ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/375329186/83a229368dfa18ab6e4fe306/new+category+save+draft.jpg?expires=1772740800&signature=26c4746f3306b9f139580f7831898e90f30dcf045c33445636327739a89d081f&req=dyciFct3nIlZFb4f3HP0gIKjmF%2BIJ1wzk%2FUe1zpP1jDvrnyOCodJvwUqNVFl%0AcRQWlAqszDh12Y6kXg%3D%3D%0A) Each category will display up to 40 submissions for you to use to teach the EMS how you would like submissions to be categorized. You can move submissions between categories by clicking the move button next to each submission. You can merge categories, rename categories, and discard categories using the ellipsis icon on each category card. A merged category retains the names of its parent categories: ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/375329314/63ac183a629b1e81f9c5538c/Automatic+categorization+functions.jpg?expires=1772740800&signature=15e986f1e0de8c57e3813fc85be28b9407c40e5e11409ef27de1456a3deebfe6&req=dyciFct3noBbFb4f3HP0gCjQOv8MzxX8ZBY30P3KHbxuAi3fwrKmgXFTFmCe%0AzDIKUqPE0mTxeU1iZQ%3D%3D%0A) Each category serves as a template for the EMS to use going forward to categorize new submissions. The system will learn from how you have categorized submissions and try to match your approach to categorization. Move submissions between categories and add or discard categories until you are satisfied with how things are categorized, then click the "Continue" button at the top of the page. From there you'll be taken back to the list view, but with added category tabs—it may take a few minutes for these to display while the model is processing. You can rename categories or discard them by selecting their tab and clicking the Rename or Discard buttons. You can also add a new category using the New Category button, or start over from scratch with the Reset button. You can move submissions between categories by selecting one or more submissions with the checkboxes on to the left of each one and clicking the Move to category button (the like box with the arrow): ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/499693263/ff7af7741d146b16cd4fc926/Screen+Shot+2022-04-19+at+3.34.20+PM.png?expires=1772740800&signature=e8cf2e083e73703dff0d83185ce53c4463aba71ec4d2c13e6f8354372f1941e3&req=cCkuEMB9n4dcFb4f3HP0gPHNAMsZ2JKyd%2Bn%2B426E%2F4tLXTJAX4Shdri2Fkva%0AGJlOytBBLs2qDY7Fmg%3D%3D%0A) Every time you move submissions from one category to another, the EMS will learn from your actions and become more accurate at categorizing incoming submissions over time.   ### **Notifications** You can receive email or Slack notifications whenever the EMS places a new submission in one of your categories. To receive email notifications when a new submissions is automatically added to a category, navigate to Settings: ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/499695358/51e48534d4e1c50e87353c7a/Screen+Shot+2022-04-19+at+3.35.28+PM.png?expires=1772740800&signature=8c04f845c15af5e5bc76ba64cef3954dd969c8a39b9df971f0df2bb3d649952b&req=cCkuEMB7noRXFb4f3HP0gH10uEDYCJly9q9%2Bi77Awb07TtEN%2FFIrg3DEh3TV%0A6PR9Qitb9k8p1O%2FRvw%3D%3D%0A)   And then check the boxes for the categories you want email notifications for: ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/499695468/8f5e1ab8c085641dd46c616d/Screen+Shot+2022-04-19+at+3.39.49+PM.png?expires=1772740800&signature=0c9379aa234e053f1bddcee18e8578ecc20cf44038be6e671d613e3ef9856238&req=cCkuEMB7mYdXFb4f3HP0gOKbgnjkL%2FlqIz0qCkYicw3OW8UDvHwrxbCbz%2Fl8%0Avi2CxYf43dxe9gzl9A%3D%3D%0A)   If you have Slack notifications set up ([learn how to do that here](https://help.wearehearken.com/en/articles/3639991-send-new-response-notifications-to-slack?hsLang=en)) you can do the same thing by navigating to Response Settings \> Notification: ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/499696851/338932257652d88052ef1237/Screen+Shot+2022-04-19+at+3.45.21+PM.png?expires=1772740800&signature=f3cff70b89552fc0ecf96d83478f0db8a11fc6d38d2284e12616e1e6c94e7b06&req=cCkuEMB4lYReFb4f3HP0gE0oceWapDkb2%2BJVWqJ8QoKYi9HHF8iWmUtbo%2BIe%0ACkepqsu%2BbvTUG5NLIA%3D%3D%0A)   Then just click the New Notification button, choose the Slack channel where you want to receive the notifications, and select the categories you want notifications for: ![](https://downloads.intercomcdn.com/i/o/499697049/ea58417275643eef2e803aff/Screen+Shot+2022-04-19+at+3.46.03+PM.png?expires=1772740800&signature=619eee313ce9b2884a7076da90d2c5c368b3cf5f4783c397f72377611c1c30d1&req=cCkuEMB5nYVWFb4f3HP0gGhlzyvNtS05T4thVppp5qondU4qIUniek%2BhTlyx%0A1cz2mXhk94sHVaaBsw%3D%3D%0A) ### **More information on automatic categorization** If you want to learn about the complex processes that make automatic categorization possible, check out our other help article: [Understanding natural language processing and machine learning in the EMS's automatic categorization feature](https://help.wearehearken.com/en/articles/5464807-understanding-natural-language-processing-and-machine-learning-in-the-ems-s-automatic-categorization-feature?hsLang=en). - 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