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Make.com Automation Tutorial for Beginners

Science & Technology

Introduction

Automation has become an essential part of modern work life, allowing individuals to save time and eliminate repetitive tasks. In this guide, we'll explore how to use Make.com (formerly Integromat) to automate processes effectively. Using a practical example from the Kevin Cookie Company, we will demonstrate how to streamline cookie order processing through Google Forms, Google Sheets, and Microsoft Teams, helping you gain insight into automating your own repetitive tasks.

The Problem with Manual Processes

At the Kevin Cookie Company, customer cookie orders are submitted via a Google Forms order form. The workflow consists of manual processes that can consume a significant amount of time:

  1. A staff member manually enters order details into a tracking spreadsheet.
  2. An email is sent to inform customers about their order status.
  3. The fulfillment team is notified through a message in Microsoft Teams.

This process is tedious and prone to human error. Fortunately, with Make.com, we can automate the workflow.

Getting Started with Make.com

To begin automating, you first need to create a free account on Make.com, where you are allowed up to 1,000 operations monthly to connect different applications and services. After signing up, you will land on the dashboard.

Exploring Templates

Make.com offers a variety of templates that can give you a head start in building your automations. You can browse through popular templates to see what others have created or to find the perfect automation scenario for your needs.

Creating a Scenario

  1. Trigger Setup – We'll create a new scenario by selecting a trigger that initiates the automation. For this example, we will connect to Google Forms. The trigger we want is “Watch Responses,” which activates when a new response is submitted.

  2. Connecting Google Forms – You will need to establish a connection with your Google account. Once connected, specify the Google Form ID (found in your form’s URL), which identifies your specific form for processing orders.

  3. Testing the Trigger – After setting up the trigger, submit a test order through Google Forms and use the "Run Once" feature in Make.com to ensure the trigger is working correctly.

Sending Data to Google Sheets

Next, we will add a module that takes the data from Google Forms and inputs it into Google Sheets:

  1. Add a Google Sheets Module – In the scenario designer, you can add this module to insert a new row into your tracking spreadsheet using the data collected from Google Forms.

  2. Mapping Fields – In the configuration settings, map the form fields (customer’s name, email, shipping address, cookie type, quantity, etc.) to the corresponding columns in your Google Sheets.

Setting Up Conditional Logic

To prevent orders from non-US addresses from being processed, set up a filter to limit entries to only those shipping within the United States.

Sending Emails and Notifications

  1. Thank You Emails – Next, we can add another module to send a confirmation email to the customer. This module can be configured to include specific information from the order form.

  2. Notify the Fulfillment Team – Finally, use the Microsoft Teams module to notify the fulfillment team about the new order by sending a message in their designated channel.

Scheduling the Automation

Once your scenario is set up and tested, enable scheduling to automate the process regularly without manual intervention.

Conclusion

Now that you've set up automation using Make.com, you can spend less time on repetitive tasks and increase productivity. This example highlights just one of the many possibilities available when connecting various applications with Make.com.

Keyword

  • Automation
  • Make.com
  • Google Forms
  • Google Sheets
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Workflow
  • Repetitive tasks
  • Notifications

FAQ

Q1: What is Make.com?
A1: Make.com, formerly known as Integromat, is an integration platform that allows users to connect different applications and automate workflows between them.

Q2: What types of applications can I connect using Make.com?
A2: You can connect thousands of applications, including Google Forms, Google Sheets, Microsoft Teams, and many more, to automate various tasks.

Q3: How can I create my first automation?
A3: Sign up for a free Make.com account, navigate to the scenario builder, choose a trigger (e.g., Google Forms), and configure the steps to connect your apps accordingly.

Q4: Is there a limit to how many operations I can run?
A4: With a free account, you are allowed up to 1,000 operations per month, which is sufficient for testing and basic automations.

Q5: Can I schedule my automations?
A5: Yes, Make.com allows you to schedule your automations to run at regular intervals without any manual input needed.