Making Better Zapier Automations Using Software Engineering Principles

Introduction to DRY Principles

In the world of software development, there's a principle known as DRY, which stands for "Don't Repeat Yourself." This concept emphasizes the importance of reducing repetition within code to make it easier to maintain, reduce errors, and improve readability.

If you manage a large Zapier automation ecosystem spanning multiple apps with intricate dependencies, you may often find yourself needing triggers for specific conditions. This can quickly lead to an overly complicated and messy automation setup, where changing one field might break several other automations, and you might not discover the issues until something fails.

Fortunately, there's a solution that simplifies your automations, makes them easier to maintain, and reduces errors. This solution leverages the DRY principle. Instead of making each Zapier automation handle every aspect of its process independently, you can create reusable automations for tasks that are frequently performed, such as creating calendar events, updating the same spreadsheet, or modifying a CRM object. By calling these reusable Zaps when needed, you can create a more efficient and manageable automation ecosystem.

The Problem of Repeated Automations

• Automation Duplication: Repeating automation logic across multiple Zaps, such as creating calendar events, updating spreadsheets, or modifying CRM objects.
• Negative Consequences:
  • Wastes time with redundant updates.
  • Increases risk of errors.
• Challenges:
  • Difficult to track and fix issues.
  • Changes to one field can break multiple automations, leading to a convoluted and error-prone setup.

Strategies for DRY Automations

• Sub-Zaps: Introduce Sub-Zaps as a powerful tool to avoid repeating automation logic.
• Benefits:
  • Reusability: Create a single Sub-Zap for tasks frequently performed across multiple Zaps.
  • Modularity: Keep your automations organized and easier to manage by breaking them into reusable components.

Putting DRY into Practice

Below is an example of an automation that executes whenever a contact signs up for a meeting in Calendly. This client likes to have meeting prep events scheduled on the calendar, but they were facing issues with duplicate meetings, inconsistency in how these pre-meeting events were created, and occasional failures. To resolve this, we added a Pre-Meeting Prep Sub-Zap that handles pre-meeting prep automations consistently across all Zaps in this client's ecosystem.

Here is the Pre-Meeting Prep Sub-Zap. Instead of creating this event in every Zap that needs a pre-meeting prep event, we centralize it here. This "abstracts" or separates the duty, making our main Zap cleaner and ensuring all instances where pre-meeting preps are needed are handled in the exact same way.

• Improved Readability and Maintainability:
  • Easier Management: DRY automations streamline your Zapier setup, making it more organized and easier to read. By reducing repetition, you can quickly understand the workflow without sifting through redundant tasks.
  • Simplified Updates: With DRY automations, making updates becomes a breeze. Instead of modifying the same action in multiple Zaps, you update the Sub-Zap once, and the change applies everywhere it is used. This approach minimizes the risk of errors and ensures consistency across your automations.

When Not to Be DRY!

While the DRY principle is valuable, there are scenarios where a small amount of automation duplication might be acceptable. For instance, if you have very short, simple automations that are rarely used, the effort to create and maintain a Sub-Zap might outweigh the benefits. In these cases, a bit of duplication can be more practical and efficient, allowing you to focus your efforts on more complex and frequently used automations.

Conclusion

Implementing the DRY principle in your Zapier automations can make a world of difference. By using Sub-Zaps to handle repetitive tasks, you cut down on redundancy, reduce errors, and keep your automations consistent. Sure, there are times when a little duplication is fine, especially for quick, rarely used automations. But for the most part, sticking to a DRY approach will streamline your workflows and make managing your Zaps a breeze. Embrace Sub-Zaps and watch your automation game reach new heights.