Automate it with Zapier : boost your business productivity using effective workflow automation techniques / Kelly Goss.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Goss, Kelly, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Workflow management systems.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (618 pages)

Place of Publication:

Birmingham, England ; Mumbai : Packt, [2021]

Summary:

Build easy and accessible solutions for automating mundane processes in marketing, sales, operations, and finance to enable teams to focus on core tasksKey FeaturesLearn Zapier and find solutions to specific problems with this comprehensive yet concise guideExplore various scenarios describing specific business problems and how they can be solved with ZapierDiscover expert tips and practical examples to harness the full potential of ZapierBook DescriptionZapier is an emerging no-code workflow automation technology that enables organizations to connect their cloud-based and web applications and automate data transfer between them. Zapier's built-in features and flexibility allow users to integrate thousands of business applications and create simple to complex automation to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, thereby increasing productivity. This book is a must-have for business owners, their employees, and independent freelancers and contractors looking to use Zapier for business process automation. The book takes a hands-on approach to implementation and associated problem-solving methodologies that will have you up-and-running and productive in no time while leveling up your automation skills. You'll discover how to plan your automation building for optimal results, what are the native features available in Zapier, and the applications that connect with it, as well as how to optimally configure your workflows to automate your processes in as few steps as possible. Finally, you'll find out how to create advanced workflow automation from scratch and learn how to troubleshoot issues. By the end of this Zapier book, you'll be able to build your own advanced workflow automation using Zapier, addressing the key pain points encountered in businesses with manual and repetitive tasks.What you will learnThink creatively to plan your business workflows to overcome specific business problemsGet to grips with the native features and built-in applications available in ZapierExplore different types of third-party business applications that integrate with ZapierConfigure your workflows optimally to automate business processes and minimize task usageUse Zapier's library of pre-built workflows and create advanced workflows from scratchDiscover the extensive functionality and practical uses of Zapier s built-in appsWho this book is forThis book is for solutions architects, process consultants, business analysts, virtual assistants, digital marketers, CRM consultants, online business managers, technical consultants, bookkeepers, and accountants who want to deploy effective automation techniques in Zapier. This book will help micro, small, or medium-sized businesses to increase their productivity using workflow automation with Zapier, as well as freelancers and contractors providing digital process improvement, systemizing, and automation services. No prior experience with business process automation or Zapier is required.

Contents:

Cover

Title page

Copyright and Credits

Dedication

Foreword

Contributors

Table of Contents

Preface

Section 1: Getting Started with Zapier

Chapter 1: Introduction to Business Process Automation with Zapier

Technical requirements

How process automation helps businesses to increase productivity

Introducing business process automation

How your business applications communicate with each other

The options available for businesses to connect their tools

The "no-code revolution" and workflow automation with Zapier

Understanding the key terms used by Zapier

What is an app?

What is a Zap?

What is a trigger?

What is an action?

What is a task?

What is the Zap editor?

What is the update time/syncing interval?

What is a filter?

What is a formatter?

What are paths?

What is a multi-step Zap?

What is Zap history?

What is Autoreplay?

Choosing the right Zapier plan

Which is the right Zapier plan to use for your business?

Creating a Zapier account

Familiarizing yourself with navigation on the Zapier platform

Icons in the left sidebar

Icons on the top right

Footer menu

Changing your settings and preferences

My Profile

Important settings to customize in My Profile

Email Notifications

Advanced

Data Management

Account

Billing and Usage

Members

Summary

Chapter 2: Preparing to Automate Your Processes

Simplifying your processes and assessing what can be automated

Assessing your top-level management goals

Involving your team

Brainstorming your processes and prioritizing them

Analyzing and simplifying your processes

Identifying what can be automated

Documenting your processes

Establishing how your business apps integrate with Zapier

Searching for your app.

Reviewing information on the app profile page

Assessing how to use your app with Zapier

Getting the most out of the Zapier app ecosystem directory

Navigating the app ecosystem directory

A brief guide to choosing new apps for your business

Chapter 3: Building Your First Automated Workflow (Zap)

Strategizing your first workflow

Reviewing your process and app information

Creating a step-by-step workflow plan

Connecting your apps to Zapier

Connecting your apps in My Apps

How to create your first Zap in the Zap editor

Navigating in the Zap editor

Setting up your trigger step

Setting up your action step

Naming your Zap and turning it "On

Using Zapier's guided workflows (Zap templates)

Understanding field data types

Date/time

Number (integer)

Boolean (true/false)

File

Decimal

Ensuring your processes and automations stay current

Chapter 4: Managing Your Zaps

Keeping your Zaps organized

Labeling your Zaps adequately

Using folders in the Zap management area

Managing your Zaps

Managing your Zaps using the top navigation bar

Managing your Zaps from within their specific Zap boxes

Utilizing the Zap Settings tab in the Zap editor

Understanding Zap statuses

Managing your connected apps

Sharing your connected apps

Sharing your Zaps and folders

Sharing a copy of your Zap

Sharing Zaps and folders in your Team or Company account

Chapter 5: Troubleshooting and Handling Zap Errors

Managing Zap error alerts

Adjusting your email notification settings

Setting up an error alert workflow with the Zapier Manager built-in app

Managing app status alerts

Monitoring the Zapier Status page.

Setting up an app status alert workflow with the App Status by Zapier built-in app

Utilizing Zap history information for troubleshooting

Understanding the Zap history page

Understanding task statuses

Viewing detailed Zap run information

Managing Zap history data

Finding help: help center, customer support, community, and experts

Finding app-specific help in app profiles

Utilizing the Zapier help center

Engaging with the Zapier community

Reaching out to Zapier customer support

Hiring a Zapier Certified Expert

Section 2: Building a Photo Sharing App

Chapter 6: Creating Multi-Step Zaps and Using Built-In Apps

Creating Zaps with multiple action and search steps

Adding a search step using the + icon

Adding a Search step in a Choose value... field

Exercise - Creating a multi-step Zap with a search action

Introducing apps by Zapier

Setting run conditions and using logic with apps by Zapier

Using apps by Zapier for communication

Extracting and compiling data with apps by Zapier

Other useful apps by Zapier

Advanced apps by Zapier

Managing your Zapier account with apps by Zapier

The powerful Formatter by Zapier app

Chapter 7: Getting Started with Built-In Apps

Filter by Zapier - applying conditional logic to your Zaps

Setting up the Filter by Zapier app

Understanding filter conditions

Paths by Zapier - adding branching logic to your Zaps

Setting up the Paths by Zapier app

Delay by Zapier - adding delays to your Zaps

The Delay For action event

The Delay Until action event

The Delay After Queue action event

Schedule by Zapier - scheduling your Zaps to run at intervals

The Every Hour trigger event

The Every Day trigger event

The Every Week trigger event.

The Every Month trigger event

Exercise - creating a multi-step Zap with a scheduled trigger, search action, filter, path, and delay

Chapter 8: Built-In Communication Apps

SMS by Zapier - sending text messages

Setting up SMS by Zapier

Email by Zapier - sending and receiving emails

The New Inbound Email trigger event

The Send Outbound Email action event

The New Read Receipt trigger event

SMTP by Zapier - sending emails through mail servers

Setting up the SMTP by Zapier app

IMAP by Zapier - retrieving emails from mail servers

Setting up the IMAP by Zapier app

Customizing and using the New Email trigger event

Customizing the New Mailbox trigger event

Chapter 9: Exploring Built-In Apps for Extracting and Compiling Data

Email Parser by Zapier - extracting data from emails

The New Email trigger event

The New Mailbox trigger event

RSS by Zapier - using RSS feed readers

The New Item in Feed trigger event

The New Items in Multiple Feeds trigger event

The Create Item in Feed action event

Digest by Zapier - compiling data in digests

The Append Entry and Schedule Digest action event

The Release Existing Digest action event

The Find Digest search action event

Exercise - creating a multi-step Zap with an RSS feed digest

Chapter 10: Other Useful Built-In Apps by Zapier

Zapier Chrome extension - triggering one-off automations from any web page

Setting up the Google Chrome extension on your browser

The New Push trigger event

URL Shortener by Zapier - shortening URLs in your Zaps

Setting up the Shorten URL action event

Translate by Zapier - translating text

The Translate Text action event

The Detect Language action event.

Lead Score by Zapier - scoring and retrieving lead information

The Find Person and Company Information search action event

Weather by Zapier - using weather conditions in your Zaps

The Will It Rain Today? trigger event

The Today's Forecast trigger event

The Get Current Weather search action event

The Tomorrow's Forecast search action event

Retrograde by Zapier - using astrological predictions in your Zaps

Setting up a Retrograde by Zapier trigger event

Chapter 11: Advanced Built-In Apps by Zapier

Webhooks by Zapier - Using webhooks in your Zaps

Code by Zapier - Using JavaScript or Python code in your Zaps

Storage by Zapier - Saving and storing data

Chapter 12: Managing Your Zapier Account with Built-In Apps

App Status by Zapier - Getting notifications of integration incidents

Zapier Manager - Managing errors and account changes

Events for managing Zap errors and alerts

Events for managing app, Zaps, and folders

Events for Zapier account administration

Events for Team and Company account user management

Use cases

Section 3: Using the Features of the Formatter by Zapier Built-In App

Chapter 13: Formatting Date and Time

An introduction to the Formatter by Zapier built-in app

The basics of adjusting date and time values using Zapier

Using the date and time your Zap runs in fields

Manipulating dates and times with Formatter by Zapier

Using custom date formats

Adding or subtracting time

Formatting dates and times

Chapter 14: Formatting Numbers

Using Zapier to transform numerical values

Formatting numbers with Formatter by Zapier

Setting up the Numbers action event with the Format Number transform option.

Formatting currencies with Formatter by Zapier.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes index.

ISBN:

9781800200470

1800200471