Zapier Tips
Zapier Tips
The Zapier-Align integration allows you to automate the updates of metrics connected to
Critical Numbers, KPI Cards, Priorities and Targets by connecting to hundreds of apps.
New to Zapier? Start here.
Please Note: Check to see if your app exposes the exact metric/number to Zapier or Google Sheets / Excel Online.
Our Align-Zapier integration is only helpful if your app can get the data in a form that Zapier can access.
General Zapier Overview
This integration allows for you to take a number from your system through to Zapier then directly into Align.
We’ve put together a few of the most commonly requested integrations (see links below)…but there are hundreds more!
Remember, you must also have a Zapier Account to get started. Click here to create a free Zapier account!
What are you trying to do? Evaluate Zapier as a way to connect a system you currently use to a number in Align.
Confirm the following:
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I have access and can see the number I wish to measure in my current system.
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My system has the capabilities to “expose” or share the metric with an outside software.
To check this, look at your app documentation or help section. Do they say they can connect with other applications? If so, they probably are able to connect with either Google/Excel sheets or with Zapier directly. You may want to ask for help from your more technically savvy team members.
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I can access the exposed metric directly through Zapier or via a google/excel integration or in the body of an email.
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Check if you can directly connect to Zapier, search to see if your app is already part of the Zapier marketplace. (if no, skip to 3)
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Confirm the trigger in Zapier allows me to access the metric. Many apps do not expose a number or summary metric directly to Zapier, but they do expose a task or other action. This is the gotcha! But don’t worry, we have another option…
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Can you get the information from your system into a Google/Excel sheet or in the body of the email (see below for details)?
Confirm the following:
-
I have access and can see the number I wish to measure in my current system.
-
My system has the capabilities to “expose” or share the metric with an outside software.
To check this, look at your app documentation or help section. Do they say they can connect with other applications? If so, they probably are able to connect with either Google/Excel sheets or with Zapier directly. You may want to ask for help from your more technically savvy team members.
-
I can access the exposed metric directly through Zapier or via a google/excel integration or in the body of an email.
-
Check if you can directly connect to Zapier, search to see if your app is already part of the Zapier marketplace. (if no, skip to 3)
-
Confirm the trigger in Zapier allows me to access the metric. Many apps do not expose a number or summary metric directly to Zapier, but they do expose a task or other action. This is the gotcha! But don’t worry, we have another option…
-
Can you get the information from your system into a Google/Excel sheet or in the body of the email (see below for details)?
Note: if these do not work for your situation, check out the Open API documentation. or ask your Advisor if they know of any other options.
Google Sheet/Excel Online: If the data you are looking for is not exposed to Zapier directly, you may be able to connect to Google Sheets or Excel Online. Once connected, manipulate that data as needed in the sheet, connect to Zapier, then connect to Align to update your Metric.
Note: Before connecting to Google Sheets, watch this short video on how to set up your spreadsheet to ensure Zapier can read it.
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Google Sheets Integration Tips
Use Zapier’s Email Parser to pull the data from the body of an automated email through to Zapier, then to your Metrics in the software. Make sure to check the data point is not in an attachment or in a PDF in the email. Learn more about Email Parser
We’ve put a few “fan favorites” to show what we’ve seen work in the past. Let us know if you have any questions!
For Project Management softwares task creation or update information is often exposed to Zapier, however, summary metrics (which you likely are using in Align) are often not. We have found the best way to get a summary metric is to get the data into a google sheet or Excel online, manipulate that data to a summary metric, then add that summary metric to Align via another Zap.
Jira– Summary metrics through Google Sheet Ad On
For Accounting Softwares and ERP systems, a “flash report” or email with information in the body of the email is often the best way to parse out the summary metrics you will likely want to track in Align. Check out the Email Parser section above to see how this works.