Aug 01, 2019 04:21 PM
Hello!
Has anyone had much success automating approval logic using Zapier, Integromat, etc? For example, it would be great if you could use Airtable to initiate a new approval request and have a client view and approve an attachment directly in Airtable.
We’ve been frustrated with the current solutions so far, so we’re thinking of using the Airtable API to create a solution that solves this problem.
If you have this kind of use case and are willing to share your challenges, we’d love to hear from you to see if we can build a more general solution.
Thanks,
Andrew
Aug 02, 2019 11:01 AM
Hi @Andrew_Poon - you could definitely implement a workflow with Airtable, Zapier and Typeform.
Let’s say your table is something like this:
The fields to have in this record are:
The process would work like this:
The Record ID in the Typeform URL is a Typeform “hidden field” (note that this needs a paid Typeform plan rather than the free plan, I think). This hidden field value would be used in the return Zap to find a record in AT, then update it with the client’s responses.
As far as I know, you can’t use an AT form to collect the client responses - although you can prefill fields on an AT form, you can’t prefill a record ID or an autonumber. You could have another field type as the record “key” e.g. email, and prefill this, but then you get into the problem of having the same email address on multiple records. Something totally unique like record ID is what you want here.
(Note that there might be a few wrinkles in the process to work through - I haven’t built this exactly, but have built something similar in the past.)
Hope this helps!
JB
Aug 02, 2019 11:53 AM
Jonathan, Super-helpful, thank you!
Typeform + Zapier + Airtable definitely works for this workflow I’m trying set up. In fact, I’ve got a base set up this way that I want to share in Universe so others can benefit.
I was wondering if anyone else thinks that this feels somehow overly complicated to set up? Just gathering feedback to see if this is a common challenge for others.
Thank you!
Andrew
Aug 02, 2019 01:16 PM
I have built several stand alone workflow apps and following base mock-up is the simplest for approval workflow logic.
Neal
Aug 02, 2019 02:07 PM
We have done similar setups, except with Jotform. The advantage is using our On2Air: Forms product, you are able to bring in data from your airtable inside of your jotform as a dropdown so you can select live data from airtable.
Mar 09, 2020 09:50 AM
Andrew, did you share your Automating Approval Logic base in Universe? I’m doing something similar but using JotForm. I cannot figure out the formula for the Typeform URL in Jonathan’s table. Any idea?
Mar 13, 2020 11:04 AM
You can allow your client to approve an attachment directly in Airtable by using this extension. It generates special links that -when clicked- would update certain records. So for example you can share a view with a client to approve attachments by clicking on a link next to each one. (which would add a checkmark under “approved”)