Advanced Matching Program - Getting started

CoffeePals' Advanced Matching program gives you precise control over who gets paired with whom. Combine audiences, layer rules based on user attributes, and shape every match cycle around how your team is actually structured — whether that's mentor-to-mentee, cross-department, same-timezone, or any custom combination you can think of.

Get Started With Advanced Matching

To get started, make sure you've created an audience and set up any user attributes you want to match on.

1. Log into the Dashboard.
2. Click the Programs page in the dashboard.
3. Click the "Create a new program" button.
4. Using the "Type Filter", choose Advanced Matching.
5. Select the "Advanced Matching ⚙️" template.
6. Go through the program setup process: name your program, choose your audience(s), configure your matching rules, set preferences and scheduling, customize messaging, and review.

Building Your Matching Rules

During setup, you'll reach the Matching rules step. This is where Advanced Matching shines — you can stack as many rules as you need to describe the perfect match.

There are two types of rules:

• Rules (hard requirements) — every match must satisfy these. If a match can't satisfy a rule, it won't be made.
• Preferences (soft goals) — the matcher tries to satisfy these to improve match quality, but won't block a match if it can't. Drag preferences to reorder them — higher-priority preferences (#1) are satisfied first.

Available Rules (Hard Requirements)

Click "Add constraint" to add a hard requirement. You can add rules by attribute or by audience:

By attribute:

• Mix different values — everyone in a match must have different values for the selected attribute (e.g., mix different departments).
• Group same values — everyone in a match must share the same value (e.g., everyone in the same timezone).
• Include only… — only match people whose attribute meets a condition (e.g., only include people whose "Role" is "Manager").
• Exclude… — skip people whose attribute meets a condition.
• Match must include members with attribute — every match must include at least one person whose attribute has a specific value (e.g., every match must include a mentor).

By audience:

• Require from audience — every match must include people from specific audiences (great for mentor/mentee or cross-team programs).

Available Preferences (Soft Goals)

Click "Add preference" to add a soft goal:

• Prefer different — try to group people with different values for an attribute when possible.
• Prefer same — try to group people with similar values when possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What attributes can I match on?

You can match on any user attribute available in your organization, including custom attributes you've set up (boolean, single-choice, multi-choice, number, date, and text). Make sure the attribute is enabled and that your users have filled it in.

Can I change the match group size?

Yes! You can match up to 8 people per group. Keep in mind that as group size grows, it becomes harder for the matcher to satisfy every rule at once, so plan your rules accordingly.

What happens if a user is missing a value for an attribute used in a rule?

If a user hasn't filled in the attribute that a rule depends on, they won't be eligible for matches that involve that rule. CoffeePals will surface a warning during setup if users in your audience are missing values, so you can prompt them to update their profile.

What's the difference between a Rule and a Preference?

A Rule is a hard requirement — the matcher will skip a match that can't satisfy it. A Preference is a soft goal — the matcher will try to satisfy it but won't block a match. Use rules for must-haves (e.g., "must include a mentor") and preferences for nice-to-haves (e.g., "prefer different timezones").

Can I prioritize one preference over another?

Yes. Preferences are ordered by priority. Drag them in the editor to reorder — preference #1 is satisfied first, followed by #2, and so on.

What happens to people who can't be matched under my rules?

When you set up the program, you can choose how to handle leftover users:

• Leave unmatched until next cycle — they'll try again next time.
• Add them to an existing match — append them to a group that's already formed.
• Form new groups from leftovers — bundle the remaining users together.

Can I combine Advanced Matching with multiple audiences?

Yes. Add multiple audiences to your program and use the Require from audience rule to make sure every match includes people from each one. This is the foundation for mentor/mentee, cross-team, and buddy-system programs.

Can I edit the rules after the program is running?

Yes. Go to the Programs page, open your Advanced Matching program, and edit your rules at any time. Changes will apply to the next match cycle.

If you have any questions that we did not cover or feedback, hit the purple chat button at the bottom right of the screen! You can also contact us at support@coffeepals.com.

Updated on: 20/05/2026