Introduction to Zapier

Our ultimate goal at Actionstep is to provide our customers with a fully automated practice management system. By utilising Actionstep's workflows, tasks ,reminders etc we want to take the administration out of your work so you can have the time to focus on your actual client work. 

Zapier provides a go-between for web-based applications that enables you not to just automate Actionstep but also automate other web-based applications like Outlook, Mailchimp, Teams, and even other Actionstep systems.

Zapiers website is found here https://zapier.com 

Zapier allows hundreds of cloud-based systems to communicate with each other. To use Zapier all you need to do is sign up for a Zapier account and then connect any available systems together. You will need a login to each system that you want to connect. So for example if you wanted new Google Calendar events to create file notes in Actionstep you would need to select both applications and authenticate yourself with your login credentials. You can then connect the system using available "Zaps" (more on that below).

Zaps, Triggers, and Actions

Applications communicate with each other using "Zaps". You can create your own Zap, or choose from a list of existing Zaps listed on the Zapier website. You create Zaps by connecting "Triggers" in one application to "Actions" in the other application.

When something changes in one application (for example if a new appointment is created in Google Calendar) a "Trigger" is activated. The "Zap" connects the Trigger to an available "Action" in the other system (for example creating a file note). The Zap passes the related information from the Trigger to the Action (in this example the details of the new appointment in the Google calendar). 

When you log in to Zapier and select an application you will see a list of published Triggers and Actions supported by that application.

Actionstep 

Actionstep supports a number of Triggers and Actions and we will continue to add to the list. Check http://zapier.com for the latest list of supported Triggers and Actions.

Triggers

The following events in Actionstep can be sent to Zapier:

• A new matter is created
• A new contact is created
• A new task is created
• A contact is added to a matter
• A step changes in a matter
• A new file note is created
• A matter is updated

Actions

Upon receiving a "Zap" you can tell Actionstep to do any of the following things using the contents of the Zap:

• Create a file note
• Create a task
• Create a contact
• Create a matter
• Create a disbursement
• Add a contact to a matter
• Create a company contact
• Update company contact
• Create individual contact 
• Update individual 
• Find a contact/participant by name or ID. Optionally, create one if none are found.
• Finds a matter/action by name or ID. Optionally, create one if none are found.

To see the full list go to: https://zapier.com/apps/actionstep/integrations 

Business Case - Video 

Why would you use Zapier? What can it actually do? Watch the video to gain a little insight... 

• Zapier - Business Use Cases

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