How businesses can and should take advantage of no code tools like Zapier
Running a small business often means wearing a dozen different hats, juggling tasks, and just trying to find the hours in the day to get s%&t done. The worst part of anyone's day is the manual, repetitive busy work that you know is critical, bit fills you with dread. But what if some of that stuff could be automated — without needing to hire a developer or write a single line of code? That’s where no-code automation tools like Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat) come in.
What are no-code automation tools?
In simple terms, tools like Zapier and Make let you connect the apps and services you already use — like Gmail, Airtable, Slack, Shopify, Xero, Google Sheets — and automate what happens between them. Say you want a notification every time a new order comes in on your website? Easy. Need to copy leads from a form into your CRM? No problem. Want to generate and send out PDF invoices automatically? Done. This isn't some technical feat of integration either — just simple automations that work quietly in the background to save you time and reduce manual human errors.
What kinds of things can you automate?
The possibilities are almost endless, but here are some everyday examples we see clients benefit from:
- New enquiry comes in via your website → Automatically added to your CRM.
- A new lead is tagged "Qualified" in Airtable → A Slack alert is sent to the sales team.
- Payment received in Stripe → Customer added to a mailing list and sent a welcome email.
- Calendar event scheduled → Automatically generates a Zoom link and sends it to the attendees.
- New Shopify order → Add details to a shared Google Sheet + generate a delivery label. Once you get the hang of it, these automations become second nature — and you start spotting opportunities everywhere.
When PH ActiveEd met Zapier
One of our clients, PH ActiveEd, is a great example of how effective no-code tools can be. As part of their new website build, we used Zapier to automate several key functions — from processing new enquiries to syncing data with their CRM. But rather than gatekeep that knowledge, we took the time to introduce them to Zapier, showing how it works and how easy it is to experiment with. They've since gone on to build and run their own automations — and that’s exactly what we love to see. At Minnow, we want our clients to become more effective and self-sufficient — not tied to us or anyone else.
Is Zapier better than Make? What’s the difference?
Both tools are fantastic, but they do things slightly differently:
- Zapier is often the easiest to get started with. It has a super simple interface, huge library of integrations, and is perfect for basic to moderately complex workflows.
- Make (formerly Integromat) gives you more visual control and flexibility. It's brilliant for more advanced logic and multi-step flows but can take a bit longer to get used to. Honestly, both are great — and which you use often comes down to preference and complexity of the task.
How Minnow helps businesses get started with automation
We help small and medium-sized businesses do more with less. That means identifying the right tools and systems to lighten the workload and improve efficiency. We're firm believers in the power of no-code automations — not just because they save time, but because they unlock so much potential for growth without extra cost or complexity. We have a saying, one which I tend to overuse I won't lie... "Let the people do the people stuff and the machines do the machine stuff." This seems obvious, but you'd be surprised how many teams out there are busy as hell doing machine work.
If you're interested in exploring how no-code tools like Zapier or Make could help streamline your business, we’re happy to chat. Click here to get in touch or learn more about automation solutions with Minnow.