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User Permissions 👥: Admin
Zapier is an amazing platform that connects countless apps and services together in just a few clicks. Here at Timely, we’ve been amazed to see all the different Zapier workflows (affectionately called “Zaps”) created by our users - building connections between Timely and endless possibilities.
If you are newer to Zapier, you can always check out our introductory article for a nuanced overview, as well as a few general sample Zaps for inspiration.
In this article we'll be deep diving into the process of connecting Timely to Salesforce using Zapier.
Exploring what's possible with Zapier
Connecting two separate and distinct platforms can be a tricky business, so it's important to understand what specific properties or entities are being synced between those platforms and how they will appear.
Here's how the following items line up between Salesforce and Timely:
Salesforce | Timely |
Account | Client |
Opportunity | Project |
User | User |
We know that Salesforce is a complex machine with many different structures and setups, so if there is a specific entity or concept that you'd like to see available in Zaps moving forward, drop us a quick note!
Using Zapier to create new Projects in Timely from Opportunities in Salesforce
Once configured, each time a new opportunity for an account is created in Salesforce a corresponding project is then created in Timely. It's important to note that if the user that owns the opportunity or the client does not yet exist in Timely - that will generate a new user in Timely as well.
Setting this up is a snap 🫰 - just recreate the steps shown below in your own Zap:
Select Salesforce as the trigger app and chose the trigger "New Record". After connecting your Salesforce account, select the Salesforce Object "Opportunity". Move forward and run the test to make sure that it works.
To proceed, the Account name for this "Opportunity" has to be found in Salesforce. Select the action "Find Record" and set the values as shown in the screenshot below. We use the "Account Id" from step 1 as an input to get the full "Account" record as an output.
In the next step, select the Timely Time Tracking app in Zapier and select the action "Find Client". If the "Client" does not exist it will be created. Either way the Timely client ID will be the output of this step.
Then the email/name of the opportunity owner has to be found in Salesforce. Select the action "Find Record" and set the values as shown in the screenshot below. We use the "Owner Id" from step 1 as an input to get the full "User" record as an output.
Next, select the "Timely Time Tracking" app in Zapier and select the action "Find User". If the the user email does not exist in Timely, a new employee user will be created. (In the screenshot below, only the required fields for the user creation are shown.) Either way the Timely user ID will be the output of this step.
The last and final step is to create the project in Timely. The project name is same as the Opportunity name in Salesforce. The client is defined by the Timely client ID from step 3. The user is defined by the Timely user ID from step 5. We recommend setting the ID of the Salesforce opportunity as the external ID. The additional fields that define the project are optional can be filled in as you need them.
Phew 😮💨 - now we're all set! Opportunities newly created in Salesforce will be created in Timely moving forward. You can manage your Opportunities in Salesforce and easily report on the time spent on them in Timely.
Visual learner? No problem - watch our handy walk through video here below
Still have questions?
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or send an email to support@timelyapp.com