Zapier Integration with SmythOS
Want to connect your agent to thousands of other apps? Integrate Zapier with SmythOS and empower your agents to trigger any custom workflow you can build, from sending emails to updating CRM records.
What is the Zapier Integration?
Unlike other integrations that have specific components for specific tasks (e.g., "Create User"), the Zapier integration provides a single, universal component. You first define a custom "Action" inside your Zapier account. This action can do anything Zapier can do, like "Create a Google Doc," "Send a Slack Message," or "Add a row to a Google Sheet."
Your SmythOS agent can then run that specific action, passing in data to it dynamically.
Component | Action | What it Does | Inputs | Key Outputs | Use Case |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Run Zapier Action | Universal | Triggers any custom "Action" you have defined in your Zapier account. | Varies based on the action you define. | Varies based on the action's result. | A universal connector to any of Zapier's 6,000+ apps. |
Prerequisites
Before you begin, please ensure you have the following:
- An active SmythOS account. (Sign up here).
- A Zapier account.
- A Zapier API Key for "Zapier Actions".
Getting Started With Zapier Actions
The connection is configured using a secure API Key from Zapier. The setup process involves creating the action in Zapier first.
Step 1: Create a Custom Action in Zapier
- Log in to Zapier and navigate to Zapier Actions.
- Click + Create Action.
- Configure the Action:
- Choose the app you want to connect to (e.g., Google Docs).
- Choose the event (e.g., Create Document).
- Connect and authorize your account for that app.
- Set up the action inputs: Define the fields you want your SmythOS agent to provide. For example, for a "Create Google Doc" action, you would add input fields for
document_title
anddocument_content
. - Give your action a clear, descriptive name.
- Activate your action by turning it on.
Step 2: Get Your Zapier API Key
- In Zapier, navigate to the API Keys page for Zapier Actions.
- Zapier provides you with a default API key. You can copy this key or generate a new one.
Step 3: Store Your API Key in SmythOS Vault
Your API Key is a sensitive credential. Use the SmythOS Vault
to store it securely.
- In your SmythOS dashboard, navigate to the Vault.
- Create a new secret and paste your Zapier API Key as the value. Give it a memorable name, like
zapier_actions_api_key
. - For more details, see the Vault Documentation.
Step 4: Configure the Zapier Component in SmythOS
- In your SmythOS agent graph, drag and drop the Zapier component.
- Click the component to open its Settings panel.
- In the
API Key
field, select the secret you saved in the Vault. - From the action dropdown, select the custom action you created in Step 1.
- The component's inputs will dynamically update to match the fields you defined for your Zapier action.
Which Zapier Action Should I Use?
The power of this integration is that you decide what actions are available. You are not limited to a predefined list.
If you need your agent to… | Example Zapier Action to Create | Required Inputs You'd Define |
---|---|---|
Send a Slack message | "Post to Slack Channel" | channel_name , message_text |
Create a new Google Calendar event | "Schedule Google Calendar Event" | event_title , start_time , end_time , attendee_emails |
Add a row to a Google Sheet | "Add Row to Project Tracker" | project_name , task_description , status |
Create an invoice in QuickBooks | "Create QuickBooks Invoice" | customer_email , item_name , amount |
Component Details
This section provides detailed information for the universal Zapier component.
Run Zapier Action
Triggers any custom "Action" you have defined in your Zapier account, passing dynamic data to it.
Component-Specific Settings
- Action Selection: A dropdown list where you select which of your pre-configured Zapier Actions to run.
Inputs
Field | Type | Required | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Instructions | string | Optional | A natural language prompt describing what you want to do. The component's AI will attempt to extract the values for the other inputs from this text. |
[Dynamic Inputs] | any | Varies | The component will display input fields that match the ones you defined when creating the action in Zapier (e.g., document_title , message_text ). |
Outputs
Field | Type | Description |
---|---|---|
output | object | The results returned by the Zapier action. The structure of this object depends on what the action was designed to return. |
Response | object | The full, raw JSON response from the Zapier API. |
Headers | object | The HTTP headers from the API response. |
Best Practices & Advanced Tips
- Secure Your API Key: Always store your Zapier API key in the SmythOS
Vault
. - Name Actions Clearly: Give your Zapier Actions descriptive names (e.g., "Create-Google-Doc-From-Template" instead of "My Action"). This makes them much easier to find and use in the SmythOS component.
- Define Clear Inputs: When creating an action in Zapier, give your input fields clear, descriptive names. This makes it easier for both you and the component's AI to understand what data is needed.
- Return Useful Data: In your Zapier Action setup, you can configure what data the action should return upon completion. For example, a "Create Google Doc" action should return the
document_url
. This result will then be available in theoutput
of the SmythOS component.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
-
Error:
401 Unauthorized
or403 Forbidden
- Cause: The API Key is incorrect or has been revoked.
- Solution: Verify that the API Key in your SmythOS Vault is correct and matches the one on your Zapier credentials page.
-
Action Not Found in Dropdown
- Cause: The action may not be activated in Zapier, or SmythOS needs to refresh its connection.
- Solution: Go to your Zapier Actions page and ensure the action you want to use is turned on. In the SmythOS component, try re-selecting the Zapier integration or refreshing the page to fetch the latest list of actions.
-
Action Fails with an Error
- Cause: The data passed from SmythOS to the Zapier action is incorrect, or there is a problem with the Zap itself (e.g., the connected Google account was disconnected).
- Solution: Check the Task History for your Zap in your Zapier account. It will provide detailed logs about why the action failed. This is the best place to debug issues with the execution of the Zap itself.
What's Next?
You can now connect your agents to over 6,000 applications with the SmythOS Zapier Integration!
Consider these ideas:
-
Build an Agent That...
- Manages your calendar. The agent connects to Google Calendar via a Zapier Action to find open slots and book meetings.
- Acts as a CRM assistant. You can tell your agent, "Create a new lead for John Doe at Acme Inc.," and it will trigger a Zapier Action to create a new contact and deal in Pipedrive, Salesforce, or any other CRM connected to Zapier.
- Controls your smart home. Create Zapier actions that connect to IFTTT or smart home device APIs, allowing your agent to turn on lights or adjust the thermostat based on other triggers.
-
Explore the Possibilities:
- Browse the Zapier App Directory to see all the services you can now connect to. If an app has a Zapier integration, you can control it with a SmythOS agent.
- The combination of SmythOS's reasoning and Zapier's vast connectivity allows you to build automations that were previously impossible without extensive custom code.