I’m working on a project where I need to keep Google Contacts and another CRM system (Podio) in sync with each other. I’ve created a Zapier workflow that automatically updates Podio whenever someone changes a contact in Google Contacts.
The problem I’m facing is that I also use the Google Contacts API to programmatically update contact information. I’m worried that these API updates might trigger my Zapier automation, which could create an endless loop of updates between the two systems.
Does anyone know if Zapier detects changes made through the Google Contacts API as trigger events? If it does, is there some way to configure the zap so it ignores API-based modifications and only responds to manual changes made in the Google Contacts interface?
I really need to avoid having my automation run when I update contacts programmatically. Any suggestions would be helpful!
Had this exact problem last year with Google Contacts and Salesforce. Here’s what fixed it for me: I added a timestamp field to each contact that tracks the last sync time. Before any API update, I check if enough time’s passed since the last automated sync. If not, I skip it. This stops the endless ping-pong updates that create loops. You might also want to ditch Zapier’s polling and use Google’s push notifications instead - gives you way more control over when updates trigger. Bottom line: you need some way to tell if an update came from your system or from an actual user.
yeah, zapier cant tell the diff between api calls and manual changes. i usually add a small delay and then check if fields that only humans edit changed. it aint perfect but helps reduce false triggers a lot!
Unfortunately, Zapier does not differentiate between manual changes and those made via the Google Contacts API. The automation triggers in both cases, leading to potential loops. One solution I’ve found useful is to incorporate a hidden field in your contacts that acts as a flag for API updates. When using the API, you can mark that flag, and then set up a filter in Zapier to bypass the automation if it detects that flag. Make sure to clear this flag regularly. Alternatively, you might consider using webhooks for a more precise approach, which would eliminate the loop issue but requires a bit more development effort.