Chapter 1: Introduction to Business Process Automation with Zapier
Before you get started with building your first automated workflow, you should understand the basic principles of business process automation (BPA) and how it can make light work of manual and repetitive processes. We'll cover how applications connect with others to transfer data and how Zapier has impacted the no-code revolution to automate tasks without the need for developers. This background information will put you in a better position to grasp the terms and concepts used by Zapier and will help you to understand the features and functionality of Zapier, as well as how the platform works.
If you have only just started using Zapier, you may not know which pricing plan is most suitable for your business and when the right time to upgrade is. We cover the features available for each pricing plan in this chapter and explain the pros and cons of choosing one over another. Then, we describe how to set up a Zapier account, and we provide an overview of how the platform is structured to enable you to find your way around effectively. We conclude this chapter by working through how to customize your settings and preferences.
We will cover the following key topics in this chapter:
- How process automation helps businesses to increase productivity
- The "no-code revolution" and workflow automation with Zapier
- Understanding the key terms used by Zapier
- Choosing the right Zapier plan
- Creating a Zapier account
- Familiarizing yourself with navigation on the Zapier platform
- Changing your settings and preferences
Once you have worked through each of these topics, you will be ready to get stuck in with building your first workflow automation.