Easily Add Human-in-the-Loop Steps to Zapier with Workflow86
Zapier is a powerhouse for automating tasks between web applications. It's simple "trigger-action" model lets you connect apps and create automated workflows (Zaps) without writing code. But what happens when your automation needs a human touch? Pure automation isn't always enough. Sometimes you need human judgment, approval, or data enrichment – a "human in the loop."
While Zapier excels at connecting apps, adding sophisticated human-in-the-loop (HITL) steps directly within a Zap can be challenging or limited. This is where Workflow86 steps in, offering a seamless way to integrate crucial human decision points right into your Zapier automations using our powerful Assign Task component.
Why Do You Need Human-in-the-Loop in Your Zapier Workflows?
Automation is fantastic for repetitive, rule-based tasks. However, many real-world business processes require:
Approvals: Managers approving expense reports, editors approving content drafts, team leads approving access requests.
Data Enrichment: Adding specific notes to a CRM record, categorizing customer feedback, researching missing information.
Quality Control: Reviewing AI-generated content, verifying data accuracy before it's sent to another system.
Complex Decision Making: Handling edge cases or situations that fall outside standard automated rules.
Personalized Actions: Crafting a custom response to a high-priority customer inquiry.
Trying to force these scenarios into a purely automated Zap can lead to clunky workarounds (like delays and email filters) or simply isn't feasible. You need a dedicated way to pause the automation, assign a task to a specific person or team, collect their input, and then resume the process.
The Challenge: Native Zapier Human Steps
Zapier offers some basic ways to involve humans, such as:
Delay by Zapier: Pausing a Zap for a set time.
Digest by Zapier: Collecting items over time and releasing them in a batch.
Email/Slack Notifications: Sending a message asking someone to take manual action outside of Zapier.
These methods often lack a dedicated interface for the human task, make tracking difficult, and don't elegantly integrate the human input back into the automated flow. They create friction and require users to juggle multiple tools or manual checklists.
The Solution: Workflow86's "Assign Task" Integrated with Zapier
Workflow86 is a robust business process automation and workflow management platform designed to handle complex scenarios, including those requiring human intervention. Our Zapier integration allows you to trigger a Workflow86 process directly from your Zap.
Inside Workflow86, the Assign Task component is specifically designed for human-in-the-loop steps. Here's how it bridges the gap:
Trigger from Zapier: Start your automation in Zapier as usual (e.g., "New Form Submission," "New Email," "New Deal in CRM").
Send to Workflow86: Add a Zapier action step to "Start Workflow" in Workflow86, passing along any necessary data from your trigger app.
Assign Task in Workflow86: Within your Workflow86 workflow, use the Assign Task component. You can:
Dynamically assign the task to specific users or teams based on data from Zapier.
Create custom forms for reviewers to fill out.
Provide clear instructions and context.
Set deadlines and reminders.
Human Completes Task: The assigned person receives a notification and completes the task within the clean Workflow86 interface.
Resume Automation: Once the task is completed in Workflow86, the workflow automatically proceeds. This can include:
Updating records in other applications.
Sending notifications.
Triggering another Zap to continue the process in the Zapier ecosystem based on the human's input.
How to Add a Human Approval Step to Zapier (Example)
Let's say you want a manager to approve new leads worth over $1000 captured via a web form before they're added to your high-value CRM pipeline.
Zap Trigger: "New Form Submission" (e.g., Typeform, Gravity Forms).
Zap Filter (Optional): Only continue if "Lead Value > $1000".
Zap Action: Workflow86 - Start Workflow:
Select your pre-built "Lead Approval" workflow in Workflow86.
Map data fields: Pass the Lead Name, Email, Value, and Form Details to Workflow86.
Workflow86 Workflow ("Lead Approval"):
Receive Data: Input node receives lead details from Zapier.
Assign Task:
Assign To:
[Manager's Email](or dynamically look it up).Task Form: Include fields for "Approve/Reject," "Reasoning." Display lead details received from Zapier.
Instructions: "Please review this high-value lead and approve or reject."
Decision Node: Based on the "Approve/Reject" outcome from the Assign Task step:
If Approved: Proceed to an action like "Trigger a Zap" (e.g., a Zap that adds the lead to the high-value CRM pipeline) or use a native Workflow86 integration.
If Rejected: Proceed to an action like "Send Notification" (e.g., inform the marketing team via Slack).
(Optional) Zap Triggered by Workflow86: A separate Zap can be triggered by Workflow86 (using a Webhook or a dedicated Workflow86 trigger if available) once the approval task is completed, allowing you to perform actions in apps connected to Zapier.
Stop Juggling Manual Tasks – Integrate Them!
Don't let the need for human oversight break your automations. By combining the app connectivity of Zapier with the robust process management and human task capabilities of Workflow86, you can build truly end-to-end workflows that handle real-world complexity.
Ready to add powerful human-in-the-loop steps to your Zaps? Get started by creating a free Workflow86 account today.