I’m working on setting up an automated workflow in my Airtable base and need to fetch external data through API calls. Specifically, I want to pull current exchange rates for calculating currency conversions in my records.
The automation needs to call an external REST API to get the latest USD exchange rates, then use that data to update calculated fields in my table. I’ve been looking through the automation options but can’t figure out the right way to make HTTP requests.
What’s the proper method to integrate API calls into Airtable automation scripts? Are there built-in functions or do I need to use a specific approach?
for sure! just keep an eye on the response from the api. if it’s not returning the right data or you get errors, that can mess up your whole workflow. testing is key!
Use the scripting action in Airtable automations to make HTTP requests. The built-in fetch() function works great for this. I’ve done something similar pulling inventory data from our supplier’s API. Structure your script to handle the API response properly, then update your records. Add error handling since external APIs can be flaky. Store your API keys securely - I put them in environment variables instead of hardcoding them. The scripting action gives you full JavaScript capabilities, so you can parse the JSON response and map it to your Airtable fields however you want.