What's the difference between pipeline, tag and stage in Novalya?
What's the difference between pipeline, tag and stage in Novalya?
Reading time: 3 min
Quick summary: Currently in Novalya, a pipeline and a tag are the same thing. When you add a contact to a pipeline, you apply a tag to them. Stages are columns inside a pipeline. In the near future, pipelines and tags will be separated.
The new Workspace and your current space
This section applies when the new Workspace is available in your account. It does not mean that your subscription or data has already been migrated. If you still see the legacy space, use its functions and your current terms; do not delete accounts to force a transition.
In the new Workspace, pipelines, stages and tags are separate objects. A pipeline organizes a journey; a stage locates a contact within that pipeline; a tag describes the contact and can be shared at Workspace level. Creating a tag does not mean creating a pipeline.
Tags are shared across the Workspace's accounts and platforms. Pipelines and stages belong to the selected social account. The same contact may belong to several pipelines and have a stage in each.
The new grid provides 5 / 10 / 15 pipelines per account for Starter / Pro / Business, with unlimited tags. These capacities apply to the corresponding new offer and do not automatically replace a legacy subscription's rights.
Your subscription, price and previously granted historical rights remain preserved. The new Starter / Pro / Business grid caps purchased slots at 5 / 10 / 15; those caps do not automatically remove historical rights.
The retained instructions below concern the legacy Novalya space. They do not describe the new Workspace's multi-account capabilities or tag organization.
Pipeline = Tag (currently)
In Novalya's current system:
A pipeline is a tag, and a tag is a pipeline.
Element | What it is |
|---|---|
Pipeline | Kanban-style visual organization with stages |
Tag | Label applied to contact on Messenger/Instagram |
Today | Both are identical |
Concrete example
You create a pipeline called "Hot prospects" with red color.
What happens:
- In Novalya CRM → You see a "Hot prospects" pipeline (red)
- On Messenger/Instagram → Contact has "Hot prospects" tag (red)
- It's the same element, just displayed differently
When you add a contact to this pipeline:
- ✅ They appear in "Hot prospects" pipeline in CRM
- ✅ They automatically have "Hot prospects" tag on Messenger/Instagram
When you apply "Hot prospects" tag to a contact:
- ✅ They're automatically added to "Hot prospects" pipeline in CRM
Stages: columns in a pipeline
A stage is a column inside a pipeline.
Example pipeline with 4 stages:
Pipeline "Hot prospects" (red)
│
├─ Stage 1: Contacted
├─ Stage 2: Conversation
├─ Stage 3: Follow-up needed
└─ Stage 4: Converted
What are stages for?
Stages allow tracking a contact's progress through your process.
A contact can:
- Be in one or multiple pipelines (tags)
- But in only one stage per pipeline
Example:
- Contact "Marie" can be in:
- Pipeline "Hot prospects" → Stage "Conversation"
- Pipeline "Q1 Campaign" → Stage "Contacted"
- Pipeline "VIP" → Stage "Regular follow-up"
Visual differences
In Novalya CRM
Element | What you see |
|---|---|
Pipeline | Title + color at top (e.g., "Hot prospects" red) |
Stages | Vertical columns (Contacted, Conversation, etc.) |
Contacts | Movable cards in stages |
On Messenger/Instagram
Element | What you see |
|---|---|
Tag | Colored badge next to contact name |
Tag name | "Hot prospects" (same name as pipeline) |
Stages | Not visible on Messenger/Instagram |
Summary: Pipeline vs Tag vs Stage
Element | Definition | Where it's visible | How many per contact |
|---|---|---|---|
Pipeline | CRM organization + Automatic tag | Novalya CRM | Multiple possible |
Tag | Contact label (= Pipeline) | Messenger/Instagram | Multiple possible |
Stage | Column in a pipeline | Novalya CRM only | 1 per pipeline |
What will change soon
In the near future, Novalya will separate pipelines and tags.
What this will mean:
- A pipeline = CRM organization only
- A tag = independent label
- You can apply tags without creating a pipeline
- You can create pipelines without creating a tag
Why this change?
- More flexibility
- Better organization
- Clear separation between CRM tracking and labeling
Usage examples
Example 1: Sales organization
Pipeline created: "Sales pipeline" (blue)
What happens automatically:
- Tag "Sales pipeline" (blue) created
- Contacts added to pipeline = tag applied on Messenger
Configured stages:
- Contacted
- Quote sent
- Negotiation
- Won
Result:
- In CRM → Clear visual tracking of progress
- On Messenger → Blue tag for quick identification
Example 2: MLM segmentation
Pipelines created:
- "Prospects" (yellow)
- "Distributors" (green)
- "Leaders" (red)
What happens:
- 3 tags automatically created with same names/colors
- On Instagram DM → Colored badges for quick identification
- In CRM → 3 separate pipelines for organization
A contact can be in multiple:
- Contact "Paul" = Prospect (yellow) + Summer campaign (orange)
- → 2 pipelines/tags applied
FAQ
If I rename a pipeline, is the tag also renamed?
Yes. Since pipeline = tag, renaming one automatically renames the other.
If I delete a pipeline, is the tag deleted?
Yes. Deleting a pipeline automatically deletes the associated tag and removes all contacts from this pipeline/tag.
Can I create a tag without a pipeline?
No, not currently. To create a tag, you must create a pipeline. This is what will change in the future update.
How many pipelines/tags can I create?
It depends on your plan: 3, 10 or 25 pipelines/tags.
Can a contact have multiple tags/pipelines?
Yes. A contact can be in multiple pipelines (= have multiple tags). But they can only be in one stage per pipeline.
Need help?
If you have questions about pipelines, tags and stages, our support team is available:
- Email: support@novalya.com
- Ticket Center: Available from your Novalya space
Our team aims to reply within 24 hours on business days.
Updated on: 13/10/2026
Thank you!