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

# Build Custom Internal Tools with the AI Coding Agent

> Use Echelon's AI Coding Agent to build custom internal tools in plain language — no code required — and activate them directly in your workspace.

The AI Coding Agent lets you extend Echelon by building custom internal tools through conversation. You describe what you want in plain language, and the agent writes and deploys it for you. Custom tools connect your external systems, automate data tasks, or add capabilities that are specific to how your business operates. This guide explains how to request a tool, what kinds of tools you can build, and how to activate and use them once they are ready.

Your plan determines how many custom tools you can have active: 3 on Starter, 7 on Growth, and 15 on Scale. Scale plans also include dedicated **Custom Tool-Building Sessions** — scheduled time with Echelon's team to scope and build more complex tools with you.

## How to describe what you want

The AI Coding Agent works best when your request is specific and focused on a single outcome. You do not need to write code or know technical details — just describe what you want the tool to do.

<Tip>
  Start with a simple, specific request. Instead of "build me a CRM integration," try "when a deal is marked as won in Echelon, create a new customer record in Stripe." Focused requests produce better tools faster, and you can always expand from there.
</Tip>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the AI Coding Agent">
    From your Echelon dashboard, navigate to **AI Coding Agent** and click **New Tool**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe the tool in plain language">
    Type a description of what you want the tool to do. Be specific about:

    * What triggers the tool (for example, "when an invoice is marked overdue")
    * What it should do (for example, "create a task in my project management tool")
    * What data it should use or pass between systems (for example, "include the contact's name and invoice amount")

    The more context you give, the more accurately the agent can build what you need.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the agent's proposal">
    The AI Coding Agent will summarize what it plans to build and ask you to confirm before proceeding. Read the summary and confirm, or clarify if something does not match your intent.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for the build to complete">
    The agent will build and test the tool. This typically takes a few minutes. You'll be notified when it's ready.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Examples of tools you can build

Here are examples of the kinds of tools customers build with the AI Coding Agent:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="CRM to Stripe sync" icon="credit-card">
    "When a deal is marked as won in Echelon, create a new customer in Stripe and generate a draft invoice."
  </Card>

  <Card title="Lead scoring" icon="chart-bar">
    "Score new leads based on company size, industry, and engagement history, and tag high-priority leads automatically."
  </Card>

  <Card title="Slack notifications" icon="bell">
    "Send a Slack message to the sales channel whenever a contact replies to an outreach sequence."
  </Card>

  <Card title="Data export" icon="arrow-down-to-line">
    "Export all contacts who did not respond to a sequence into a CSV and email it to me every Friday."
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

These are starting points. If you can describe the outcome you want, the agent can build toward it.

## Activate and use a custom tool

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your tools list">
    Navigate to **AI Coding Agent** and select the **My Tools** tab. You'll see all the tools that have been built for your workspace.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the tool details">
    Select a tool to see what it does, what triggers it, and what permissions it requires. Confirm the details match your expectations before activating.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Activate the tool">
    Click **Activate** to enable the tool. Once active, it will run automatically whenever its trigger conditions are met.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test with a real event">
    Trigger the tool manually or wait for a real event to fire it. Check the **Activity** log on the tool to confirm it ran correctly and produced the expected output.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  You can deactivate any custom tool at any time without deleting it. Deactivated tools remain in your tools list and can be reactivated whenever you need them. They do not count against your active tool limit while deactivated.
</Note>

## Plan limits for custom tools

| Plan              | Active custom tools | Custom Tool-Building Sessions |
| ----------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Starter (\$29/mo) | 3                   | —                             |
| Growth (\$79/mo)  | 7                   | —                             |
| Scale (\$149/mo)  | 15                  | Included                      |

If you're on the Scale plan, Custom Tool-Building Sessions give you dedicated support to scope and build more complex or deeply integrated tools. To schedule a session, navigate to **AI Coding Agent → Book a Session**.

## What's next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Connect channels" icon="plug" href="/guides/connect-channels">
    Make sure your channels are connected before building tools that send messages.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create an AI Employee" icon="user-plus" href="/guides/create-ai-employee">
    Pair your custom tools with AI Employees that can act on the data they surface.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>