Zapier Integration

The Zapier app for Desk-Net allows you to import data from sources such as Google Sheets, Gmail and thousands of other apps and to turn the data into story entries in Desk-Net.

What Does the Integration Do?

The app allows you to send data including event data from thousands of source apps to Desk-Net and to create a new story or event.

Typical use-cases are:

• Whenever a new row is added in an Excel file send that data to Desk-Net and create a story.
• When a user has filled in a form create an event in Desk-Net.

Prerequisites

• Admin access to a Desk-Net account. The app can also be tested even if you are using a Desk-Net test account (create a test account here).
• A Zapier account that allows you to create so-called Zaps: https://zapier.com
  Zapier offers free accounts. Once you start using Zapier to send a lot of data to Desk-Net you will need to pay for the service.
• Access to the source app from which you want to send data to Desk-Net (e.g. Gmail).

Where to Start?

Once all prerequisites are met (see above) the first step is to select the apps that you want to connect: https://zapier.com/apps

As the current version allows you to import data into Desk-Net from another app please select the data source application first, then select Desk-Net.

Zapier will then walk you through the connection process step by step.

Zapier offers support in their support portal: https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/8496309697421 

Where Do the Entries Go in Desk-Net?

Since you cannot enter publication data (i.e. platform, publication date, etc.) via Zapier all entries made via Zapier end up in one or two places on Desk-Net:

• All entries go to the Undated Stories page.
• If you have provided event data the entry will also appear on the Calendar page (e.g. Short-term Calendar) for that event date and time.

It may take a few seconds or even minutes for the entries to be displayed. This depends on how often Zapier checks for new data and then updates Desk-Net. Once the data has been transferred to Desk-Net it will be appear automatically on those pages without the need to refresh the page.

If you do not see the entries, even though the integration with Zapier seems to be working fine, please check the filters on the Desk-Net pages as you may have set a filter that hides the entries.

What Data Can I Import?

As we continue to improve the Zapier app please check the entry form when creating a Zap for the list of all possible entries. 

The initial version of the Desk-Net app for Zapier supports all fields of a story or event excluding the following:

• Custom fields
• Publication fields (e.g. platform with categories, publication date, etc.)

Do tell us at support@desk-net.com if you need other fields to be imported or exported by Desk-Net as we plan to expand the scope of data that is handled by this Zapier integration.

You set up the zaps in varying ways. An important aspect is the following:

Zapier can pull data flexibly from the source application (e.g. an Excel sheet) or always set a specific value for an entry.

In the example below all entries' story status is set to Accepted whereas the Slug is pulled from the Excel sheet.

Expanding the Zapier Integration on Your Own

Contact us at support@desk-net.com if you'd like to take a copy of the Desk-Net - Zapier integration to expand it on your own.

Other Workflow Automation Tools

There are tools that compete with Zapier: MS Power Automate, Make (formerly Integromat), N8N, Automate.io, etc.

While we can and will not create pre-configured integrations for all of these we gladly support you in connecting Desk-Net to these tools. Contact us at support@desk-net.com if you need support.