How much time do you spend each day completing boring, repetitive tasks?
If you are like most knowledge workers, you are spending an average of 3-4 hours. That’s 15-20 hours per week on busywork or the equivalent of binge-watching two seasons of your favorite show on Netflix.
No-code/low-code apps, like Zapier, can help you streamline and remove a lot of these tasks. So, you can spend more time on more engaging and strategic work.
In this post, we’re explaining how Zapier works along with a half-dozen ways you can use it alongside Reftab to automate administrative tasks.
6 common use cases for Reftab and Zapier
What is Zapier?
Founded in 2011, Zapier is a no-code app that makes it easy to automate tasks by connecting two or more software applications together. It is kind of like digital duct tape.
Today, Zapier supports more than 2,000 apps. These apps include everything from Slack, Gmail, Google Sheets, and Microsoft Teams to WordPress, Airtable, Typeform, and Reftab.
How does Zapier work?
If you are looking to automate a task in your business, you create a “zap” in Zapier. A zap is basically like a recipe.
In this recipe, you have two parts.
- A trigger – this is what starts the zap
- An action – this is the desired result
How to create a zap?
Creating a zap is simple.
Let’s say you want to add all new assets added in Reftab into a Google sheet.
To start, you log into Zapier and click “create zap” in the left-hand sidebar menu.
Then, you will select Reftab as the trigger since you will want this zap to fire anytime a new asset is created.
The action is to create or update a spreadsheet row in your Google Sheets.
6 common use cases for Reftab and Zapier
The ways you can integrate Reftab with other software that your company is using via Zapier are nearly endless. But, here are a few ideas to inspire you.
1. Google Sheets and Reftab
For some of our customers, only the IT department actively logs in and uses Reftab on a daily basis. This works fine 90% of the time.
Occasionally, someone in HR might need to make an update. If they don’t have access (or don’t want access), you can have them make the updates in a Google Sheet. Then, create a zap that automatically adds it into Reftab when a new row in the spreadsheet is created or updated.
2. Google Forms and Reftab
Another simple way for teams to add or update assets into Reftab without having to log in is to set up a quick form in a form builder, like Google Forms, Airtable, JotForm, or Typeform.
Let’s say you work at an advertising agency and one of your creative directors needs to book a bunch of equipment for a commercial shoot. You can set up a simple form that allows employees to schedule the equipment they need. Then, you can create a zap to automatically update the “reservation details” in Reftab.
Furthermore, you can set up an automated Slack message or email that goes to the employee checking out the gear with extra instructions or a reminder of check-in and check-out protocols.
3. Slack and Reftab
This brings up another popular use case which is syncing Reftab and Slack.
For example, you set up a zap to trigger a reminder message in a specific Slack channel or as a DM whenever an employee books equipment, like a camera.
You can set up these triggers based on new assets, loans, and reservations in Reftab.
4. Gmail and Reftab
Since it is easy for Slack messages to get buried, you may want to send an email reminder instead.
For example, you can set up a zap to send an automated email in Gmail to a recipient when they book a piece of equipment.
5. Microsoft Teams and Reftab
If you are in an organization that uses Outlook and Microsoft Teams instead of Google Apps and Slack, you can set up the same reminder chat messages and emails through Reftab and Zapier.
6. SurveyMonkey and Reftab
This could be particularly useful if you set up an informal booking portal for college students to rent equipment. You can create a multi-step zap that sends them a link to complete a feedback survey XX days after they use the equipment.
This can help you further streamline and improve your existing processes.
Take a look at Reftab’s Zapier page for additional pre-made templates: https://zapier.com/apps/reftab/integrations
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When you combine Reftab and Zapier, you can streamline your workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and spend more time on strategic tasks.
Ready to get started? Try Reftab for free.
