If you’ve Googled an integration to Salesforce, chances are Zapier was one of the top results. So, what is Zapier? And what are the considerations when choosing an integration platform? As a Salesforce Consulting Partner, we wanted to take a closer look.

What is Zapier?

Zapier connects directly to each platform you wish to integrate. It then takes data from one and accurately maps it to the other. You can connect two or more apps to automate functionality without using developers to build custom API or code. It’s easy enough that anyone can build custom workflows with preparation and a few clicks. This makes it ideal in situations where budgets are prohibitive.

Benefits

The time saved being able to quickly build and test these integrations yourself is tremendous. If you know what you want out of the data mappings, you’ll be away in no time. This is especially pertinent if like many, you export data from one system, manipulate it, and import to another. That drain on resources can be a real set-back, in cost and potential human error. If the goal is to achieve total harmony between the data in your platforms, Zapier will fulfil that need.

Limitations

There are always going to be limitations to a system, and in the case you require a complex logic that involves checking existing data before executing, or an intricate set of tasks to carry out, then a more complex solution or a custom-built connection using API’s is what you will need.

Pricing

Zapier’s pricing is below and the more detailed breakdown can be found here, it is well worth investigating before you commit to a package, as the price will match the functionality.

Zapier & Salesforce

Now we know we’ve answered what is Zapier, we need to understand what we would use it for in our Salesforce Org. An example would be that when an Opportunity is won in Salesforce, Zapier will help send a channel message to Slack. This is great for when your team may be using a communication platform outside of Chatter.

Another example would be if you’re using Google Sheets, you can create new custom Salesforce Objects from new rows in Sheets, that get automatically made when the sheet is saved.

A final example, let’s say you don’t have a marketing automation tool and you’ve built out your website using WordPress and Gravity Forms for your lead capture. You can use these form submissions to create leads, cases, or even custom objects. Great for making sure your sales team follow up on enquiries as quickly as possible without having to resort to waiting for an email notification or worse, a data import to follow up.

So, what is Zapier and do you need it? Unfortunately, like most things in business, it depends. Know what your roadmap entails, familiarise yourself with the triggers and actions, and make an informed decision based on cash flow, the level of automation needed, and how futureproof you want your business to be. However, if your business logic is especially complex, weigh out the cost of Zapier vs the cost of building something more robust and complex.