How to Use Integromat in 2021: Full No-Code Guide
Integromat is a relative newcomer to the busy world of no-code automation tools, but we already like it a lot. Join us as we explain how to use Integromat and the benefits of this handy app.
Integromat is a relatively new automation platform that requires little to no coding knowledge or experience, much like Zapier or IFTTT. In some ways it’s a better, more powerful option than these two old warhorses, though it falls a little short in some other ways. Overall, though, if you’re shopping for a good no-code solution, Integromat definitely deserves a whirl.
In this article, we’ll go over the strengths and weaknesses of Integromat by showing you how to use it. We’ll start off with some explanation about what Integromat is and the ideas behind it, before jumping into a step-by-step tutorial where we automate the process of opening a new document and making a calendar entry when a new Trello card is created.
Key Takeaways:
- Integromat is a very easy-to-use automation tool with a strong graphical component to it. If you like to see complicated processes laid out visually, it’s the tool for you.
- If you’re looking to make long, complicated automations, then Integromat is a great option, thanks to its layout and the way it handles conditional formatting.
- Getting used to the terminology Integromat uses can take some time, as it can be a little counterintuitive.
If you’d like to know more about how Integromat pricing works, as well as how its plans break down, click the linked article for more information.
Integromat is an automation tool that can help you set up integrations between programs without knowing any code. It’s easy to use and has a solid free plan.
In some ways Integromat is better, in some ways Zapier is — it really depends on what you’re going to use them for. Integromat is good at setting up complicated chains of actions, while Zapier is a bit more straightforward and simple.
Google Sheets works very well with Integromat, and offers all kinds of modifiers.
What Is Integromat?
Integromat was founded in 2012 in the Czech Republic, so a year after Zapier and two years after IFTTT (read our IFTTT guide for more on its origins). It went in a slightly different direction than these two, though, using a much more visual style in creating its automations — named “scenarios” — as opposed to Zapier’s Zaps and IFTTT’s applets.
This presentation makes it a little easier to make automations with multiple steps. Zapier and IFTTT do a fine job, of course, but following Integromat’s dotted line is easier than just going down a list. Also, we like how Integromat lets you take triggers from any preceding step and use them in a current one, making for actions that only fire in very specific circumstances.
Integromat’s visual approach also makes it easier to add more complicated steps to scenarios. For instance, if you need to “filter” an action — set criteria for an action — one of the easiest ways to do so is by just clicking on the dotted line between “modules” — the steps in a scenario.
Another great addition is the toolbar at the bottom of the screen, which gives you access to all kinds of secondary tools, including the ability to add notes (handy for tricky steps) and even a feature to explain the flow of the scenario.
Overall, we are very impressed by Integromat and recommend it to anybody looking to automate some of their workflow. However, there are some minor annoyances, one of which is the sometimes obscure terminology it uses.
Understanding Scenarios and Modules: Common Integromat Terms
Integromat uses a lot of specific jargon, only some of which it explains. Below is a small overview.
- Scenario: an automation, or automated process, where two or more apps are linked
- Module: a step in a scenario
- Operation: the type of task a module performs — the most often used operations are “triggers” and “actions”
- Trigger: a module that kicks off a scenario
- Action: a task performed once a trigger fires
- Connection: the link between a module and the app it represents
- Filter: an extra substep between two modules
How to Use Integromat Effectively for Workflow Automation
There are two types of scenarios you can use in Integromat: you can make them yourself or use a template. Below we’ll give you an idea of how to make one yourself, but there’s a solid chance you might never need to: Integromat’s templates are really good.
We like how inventive they are, and the wide array of options you have to choose from. Much like with Zapier (read our Zapier guide for more information), the templates are ways for you to set up automations you never knew you needed, or even thought possible. Before you do anything else, look through the templates of your favorite apps to see what’s there.
Another huge advantage of Integromat is its built-in data store, which lets you take specific types of data produced by a linked app — like certain types of social media posts or number of entries in a spreadsheet — and keep them in a store managed by Integromat.
Data stores mean you can bypass third-party apps or CSV files for storing a single type of data; better yet, the data store can be put into a scenario like any other module. If your workflow is very data-heavy, Integromat is a great pick.
Best Apps & Integrations for Integromat
Integromat supports 250 apps, though it’s open to suggestions if you’re missing anything vital. The apps range from the utilitarian, like Google Drive apps and many project management tools, to smart home functions and social media apps like Facebook.
That said, 250 apps pales in comparison to the 600 of IFTTT and the thousands of options Zapier offers, so if you’re using particularly exotic programs, Integromat may not be the app for you (read our Integromat vs Zapier piece to see how the two really compare).
How to Get Started With Integromat
- Sign Up to Integromat
Before we start creating scenarios with Integromat, we first need to sign up to the service. To do so, just go to the website and click on the white button in the top right that says “sign up.”
- Fill out Your Personal Details
Next, fill in your personal details, including your name, email address, password and country.
- Summarize How You’ll Use Integromat
Answer some questions on how you will be using Integromat. Don’t be shocked by either the short list of apps you’re given, or the use of the word “solopreneur.” Things are getting better from here.
- Check out the Dashboard
Once you’re done with this, you’re transported to the dashboard (also called “my lab”), which is where the action happens (in our case, we were taken on a small detour through the pricing page; clicking on the profile button in the top right of the screen took us to the dashboard).
- Go to the “Scenarios” Tab
There’s a lot to do and choose from, but as this tutorial serves mainly as a way to get to know Integromat a bit, we’ll just put together a basic scenario. To do so, go to the “scenarios” tab from the left-hand taskbar. Once there, choose “create a new scenario” from the top right of the screen.
- Select the Apps You Want to Automate
This takes you to a massive screen where you can pick the apps you want to automate. There are hundreds to choose from; to make things a little easier on ourselves, we’ll do something relatively simple, like creating a card in Trello that in turn opens a new Google Doc and a Google Calendar entry. We’ll select all three apps, then hit the “continue” button.
- Select Your Trigger App
The next screen is where the magic happens: it’s a white field where you can place your apps and then select their triggers and actions. It’s a little intimidating at first, but it flows kind of like a mind map — you’ll get used to it quickly. For now, we’ll just click the big question mark in the bubble and pick Trello, as that’s where we’ll put our scenario’s trigger module.
- Select the Trigger
You’ll get a massive list of available triggers (seriously, it’s huge). In this case, we just went with the “create a card” trigger.
- Allow Integromat Access to Trello
Once that’s selected, there are going to be several small steps in quick succession. First, you need to make a connection between Integromat and Trello (use the suggested name). Then, you’ll be redirected to a separate window where you need to allow Trello to access Integromat and vice versa. Just follow the steps as laid out on screen, and you’ll be fine.
- Set Trigger Criteria
Next, you need to set the criteria of your trigger: when it fires and why. Being specific here is good so you don’t fire the scenario unless necessary. Thankfully, Integromat gives you a lot of options. For this use case, we created a board called “Integromat example,” and we want the trigger to be the creation of a new card in our “to-do” list. As such, we left the labels and name blank.
- Create the Next Step
Once complete, a smaller bubble will pop up behind the one for Trello. This one lets you create a new module, so let’s do that.
- Allow Access to the New App
We’ll start by creating a document every time a new Trello card is made. Select Google Docs in the bubble, then select “create a document.” You’ll once again have to create a new connection, this time with your entire Google account (which includes Google Drive or Google Workspace), which will save you lots of time in the long run.
- Set Criteria for the Action
Next up, you need to specify a few things about your new docs. Some of the code-like options here look really complicated, but look again and you’ll see it’s not too bad. For instance, if you want your new doc to take the name of the Trello card, just pick “card ID” under “name” and “content.”
- Add a Third Step (Optional)
As we mentioned earlier, multi-step scenarios are Integromat’s specialty, so let’s add another step. We’re going to use Google Calendar to add an event for each document that’s created, with the due date we set in Trello. Create a new module, pick Google Calendar, then authorize the connection.
- Set Criteria for the Action Again
With that done, you can choose the options for the event you create. For “event name,” we want to use the name of the document (which is the same as the Trello card), and for the start date and end date we’ll use the due date from Trello. Note that the modifiers for each app are a different color, so it’s easy to find them — all you need to do is scroll through the list. Once you’re done, hit “OK” at the bottom of the pop-up.
- Test Your Scenario
Next, you need to test your scenario. In a multi-step automation, you should always test it. You can do so by hitting the “run once” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Check Any Errors
As you can see, we had an error — in our case, it was in the Calendar module. Just click on the little bubble with the exclamation mark for a more detailed explanation.
- Fix Errors and Run Again
Turns out we chose the wrong kind of due date and didn’t fill out the Trello module correctly. We fixed the issue, thanks to the help from Integromat, then ran the scenario again using the “run once” command.
And with that, we have a very nicely running automation. We recommend you mess around with it yourself a bit to get an idea of how it works; it’s pretty easy, and the visual aspect is a great help.
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide has set you on your way to using Integromat and answered any outstanding questions you may have had about this great automation tool. If you’d like to know more about how Integromat handles, we recommend you try it out. There’s a free plan that allows up to two scenarios and all you need to sign up is an email address.
What do you think of Integromat? Have you used it? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, thank you for reading.
