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Hello there!! 👋
Yesterday you got hands-on with Zapier for the first time and in today’s lesson you’re going to jump straight back into Zapier and use it to automate a boring task.
Time to think of something that makes you do this 😮💨… and turn it into this 😃
Shot of Inspiration ☕
“I think one of the most interesting things about automation isn’t on the practical side. I think it’s about creating magic and wonder and moments of splendor.”
—Genevieve Bell
Context Building 🏔
🧱 Project: Automate a Boring Task
⏲️ Estimated time: 30 mins
🛠️ Tools: Zapier
Yesterday you got to grips with Zapier for the first time. Today, you’ll continue to use Zapier by automating a boring task.
At a high level, there are three major advantages with respect to automation:
- Reduce human error.
- Increase efficiency.
- Reduce costs.
Automations can help to reduce human error because they are configured to complete repetitive tasks in the same way every time. Humans tire, get distracted and all have different skills, experience and preferred methods of completing tasks. This means that humans are comparatively less consistent and efficient than machines (physical or digital) when completing repetitive tasks. Factories exist for this very reason. In the online world, this is why we have automations and why they are so beneficial. While sometimes there is a high upfront investment required for manufacturing a machine (physical) or creating complex automations (virtual), these options are typically very cost-effective in the long-term when compared with employing humans to do the same tasks.
This leads to the broader, existential question, ‘If we’re just automating everything, what will humans do?’
Here’s a brief video from TED-Ed that explores the topic of How will AI change the world?
The simple answer is, we don’t know yet. The idealistic view is that automation can save humans time, allowing us all to focus on the things we enjoy or larger world problems such as climate change.
What will you do with the time you save using automations?
In this lesson, you'll learn:
- The make-up of ‘Zaps’ in Zapier
- How to create a Google Sheets to Email automation
- The major benefits of automation
Let's Prep 🥗
What's Zapier
Zapier is a tool that allows you to automate tasks between different online applications, with no coding required. It does this by making the applications "talk" to each other through API connections.
We created a little interactive walkthrough of Zapier's interface here to help you get familiar!
What can you build in Zapier?
Zapier is like a super-helper robot. It can do a lot of different things to make your life easier. For example, it can move information from one place to another, send emails for you, and even make posts on social media.
You know how sometimes you have to copy something from one place and paste it into another? Or maybe you have to type the same thing over and over again? Well, Zapier can do that for you automatically, which saves you a lot of time and effort.
If you want to see all the cool things Zapier can do, you can look at its "app directory. It's like a big toy store or a library full of ideas. But remember, these are just ideas - you can be creative and think of your own ways to use Zapier too!
Zaps
In Zapier, the automations are referred to as 'Zaps'. A Zap is like a digital helper that connects your apps and makes them work together. It starts a task in one app (action) when something happens in another (trigger). Think of it like a digital conveyor belt in a factory, automatically moving things from one place (app) to the next.
Get set up
To make your life easier when you build, it’s good to get some practical stuff out the way first. Follow these steps so you’re ready to build:
- Open Google Sheets, Zapier and your preferred email client in separate browser tabs. In today's lesson, you will be alternating between these platforms.
Time to Cook 👩🍳
- Watch this video from TED-Ed. Think or note down how you’d like to spend the time you save using automations.
- Complete today’s lesson with this step-by-step guide.
That’s a wrap, we hope you found this lesson helpful!
- If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
- Want to learn NoCode? Join #100DaysOfNoCode for free.
- Want to learn AI skills? Join #100DaysOfAI for free.
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