A free hour on your calendar to focus sounds impossible. There's a never-ending list of business-critical tasks demanding attention, and the constant context-switching takes you away from the big-picture priorities you care about.
Yes, you should probably send that email (sorry), but Zapier can help you automate those ad-hoc tasks without disrupting your focus.
We're a no-code automation tool that lets you connect apps through automated workflows we call Zaps. And with Zapier's free Chrome extension, you can automate critical tasks with the push of a button—no tab-switching needed. Below are a few ways to use the Chrome extension to prevent distractions while taking care of business.
Zapier is the leader in workflow automation—integrating with thousands of apps from partners like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Use interfaces, data tables, and logic to build secure, automated systems for your business-critical workflows across your organization's technology stack. Learn more.
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To get started with a Zap template—what we call our pre-made workflows—just click on the button. It only takes a few minutes to set up. You can read more about setting up Zaps here.
Communicate without distractions
Timely communication is critical for business, which is why knowledge workers devote so much time to it. But with the Zapier Chrome extension, you can send important messages without opening your inbox, email app, or team chat.
If you're a heavy email user, you can compose messages from the Chrome extension. Or, send templated messages and save your communication chops for when you really need them.
The Zaps below will get you started:
Send Gmail emails with Zapier's Google Chrome extension
Send Microsoft Outlook emails from the Zapier Chrome extension
If you get sidetracked too often by your team chat app, you can message your teammates without distractions. Start with these Zaps:
Send messages to Slack from new triggers of Zapier's Chrome Extension
Send Microsoft Teams messages from the Zapier Chrome extension
Prefer texting? You can also send a text from the Chrome extension.
Create your own web clipper
Whether you need to track URLs or log data in a spreadsheet, copying and pasting between tabs can take time away from higher priorities.
You can use Zapier to create your own web clipper tool, so you can track whatever you need in your favorite apps. Give these Zaps a try:
Log new Airtable records using a Google Chrome extension
Add Microsoft Excel rows from the Zapier Chrome extension
Manage calendars and schedules
Automation can manage many aspects of your calendar, but there will always be a last-minute meeting or a situation where you need to protect a block on your schedule for focused work.
With the push of a button, the Zapier Chrome extension can create calendar events quickly and even update your Slack status for ad-hoc schedule changes. Get started with the Zaps below:
Create Microsoft Outlook events from the Zapier Chrome extension
Quick add new Google Calendar events with the Zapier Chrome extension
Change Slack statuses with new push commands in Zapier's Chrome extension
If your job requires you to manage calendar events in bulk, the Zapier Chrome extension can take care of that, too. Zapier's onboarding manager explains how the Chrome extension helps her automate complex processes.
Create to-dos as you go
There's no shortage of ways to automate your task and project management apps, but you can't always predict when inspiration will strike. These Zaps make it easy to capture critical tasks and ideas you want to act on before they slip your mind.
Create custom Trello cards with the Zapier Google Chrome extension
Create Asana tasks from new Zapier Chrome extension push triggers
Read more: Top ways to automate to-do list apps
Manage Zaps anywhere
Once you start automating processes at work, you won't want to stop. But sometimes you need certain Zaps to take a break, like when you're going on vacation.
You can quickly toggle Zaps on and off with the Chrome extension without needing to log into your Zapier account.
Turn a Zap on or off at the push of a button from Google Chrome
Learn more about using Zapier Manager to add automation to your Zapier account and check out our help documentation for more assistance.
Create a custom solution
If your business uses a tool that doesn't have a Zapier integration—or what you need to accomplish isn't available in an existing integration—you have other automation options available.
As long as your app has a public API or webhook capabilities, you can connect your tools to the Zapier Chrome extension with our built-in Webhooks tool.
These Zaps will get you started:
You don't need to be a developer to automate your work, but some situations may call for a little code. Code by Zapier lets you add JavaScript or Python to your Zap, so you don't need to code an automated workflow from scratch.
If you're comfortable with either programming language, you can jump right in with these Zaps:
Although Zapier is a no-code platform, you can customize your Zaps with your own code. Learn how to use Code by Zapier to add customizable triggers and actions to your Zaps.
Automate with the push of a button
Zapier's Chrome extension lets you take care of business-critical tasks without context-switching, so you can focus on your top priorities. Looking for more ways to automate on the fly? You can also run Zaps from your Mac keyboard or your Apple device.
Zapier is the leader in workflow automation—integrating with thousands of apps from partners like Google, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Use interfaces, data tables, and logic to build secure, automated systems for your business-critical workflows across your organization's technology stack. Learn more.
