What are they, and how are they low-code?
What are APIs?
API request actions
What are they?
How to use them
- Add an action in your Zap.
- Choose the app that you want to use, and select the event ‘API Request (Beta)’.
- Set up the action by adding the HTTP Method, endpoint URL, Query String Parameters and Additional Request Headers.
Example: a low-code method for automatically moving Calendar events
App extensions
What are they?
How to use them
- An input field (the information that people will have to add in the Zap editor).
- The API method and endpoint URL.
- Query parameters that need to be added to the URL.
- Any headers required (in addition to authentication).
- The body of the API call.
Example: renaming zoom meetings with an App extension
I used the API method and URL given in the Zoom API reference. In the image below, you can see that I added the meeting ID field in double curly brackets at the end of the URL. Whatever is added in the meeting ID field in the Zap editor will be put there when the action runs.
For the additional headers, I knew that I needed to add a content type (again this information was in the Zoom API reference documentation). Finally, I added some JSON code to tell the Zoom API that I wanted the Zoom topic to be changed to whatever was put in the ‘Topic’ input field.
To use that app extension in a Zap, after selecting the app choose the ‘App Extensions’ event. You’ll then be able to select which App Extension you want to use. This is what the example above looks like in the editor:
With this action, anyone in my Zapier team can easily add an action to change the topic of a Zoom meeting without needing to know the intricacies of the Zoom API.
Building an App Extension using AI
If the thought of building your own action from scratch is overwhelming, you can use Zapier’s AI generator to build an App Extension.
Summary
Solvaa: Strategy, Solutions, Support, Education
UK-based Solvaa® is a systems, process and automation consultancy specialising in improving business workflows. Solvaa® works with SMEs worldwide to implement digital tools, better processes, use business process automation and generative AI to boost productivity, enhance lead management, and remove unnecessary time, costs and hassles from stretched business owners’ days.
We help you simplify and streamline existing processes, integrate your business tools to make data transfer more efficient, and automate manual tasks. Our business process automation specialists have extensive experience using multiple cloud-based business tools, including Zapier, Pipedrive CRM, SmartSuite, Xero, Google Suite, ClickUp, Asana, Airtable, Hubspot, Active Campaign, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Quickbooks and many more. We are Zapier Certified Experts, SmartSuite Certified Partners, Pipedrive Certified Partners and Xero Certified Advisors. We also educate teams about using AI in their daily roles, mindset, governance and strategy in our Solvaa AI Academy.
Solvaa® was founded in 2016 by Kelly Goss, a no-code solutions architect, business process automation specialist and author of Automate It with Zapier (first edition) and Automate It with Zapier and Generative AI (second edition).
A thought leader on business process automation and digital adoption, Kelly attended an invite-only Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence (AI) with the UK government at No.10 Downing Street, providing insights and recommendations on how SMEs can benefit from productivity gains by using digital technologies, automation and AI. She has also been invited to speak at the House of Lords and at many other events.
Contact us today to find out how Solvaa can help your business make big savings on operational costs and time, and significantly increase productivity.
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