Hey folks! I’m working on a SaaS application that needs to connect with accounting software like QuickBooks and various ERP systems. I’m thinking about using Zapier to handle these integrations instead of building everything from scratch.
My plan is pretty simple. When someone adds new data through my app (let’s say a new supplier record gets saved to my MySQL database), I want to send this info to their accounting system automatically. Zapier seems like it could handle this workflow nicely.
But here’s what’s bugging me. Users would have to set up their own Zapier accounts and configure the connections themselves. That doesn’t sound very user-friendly to me. I want the integrations to feel smooth and professional, not like some workaround solution.
Anyone here have experience with this approach? Did it work out well or did you run into problems? Would love to hear about your experiences before I go down this path.
I went through this exact thing with my CRM integration project last year. We looked at Zapier first but ended up building direct API connections - best decision we made. Here’s why Zapier didn’t work for us: you’re adding another dependency you can’t control. When Zapier goes down or jacks up their prices, your customers feel it directly. Enterprise clients especially hate relying on third-party services for critical data sync. The support nightmare isn’t worth it either - something breaks and now you’re debugging across multiple platforms instead of just your own code. If you want a middle ground, check out embedded integration platforms like Prismatic or Embedded.com. They cost more than Zapier but you get way better control over the user experience without building everything yourself.
zapier feels kinda hacky for a serious saas product. like, users will think smth’s broken when they need to sign up for another service just to get basic integrations working. i’ve seen this backfire - it tells potential customers u couldn’t build proper integrations yourself.
Zapier can be useful for B2B SaaS integrations, but it poses significant challenges. From my experience, while it allowed for rapid deployment of our inventory management platform, it negatively impacted user experience. Requiring users to manage their own Zapier accounts leads to friction during onboarding, which many potential customers find unprofessional. We missed out on enterprise deals because users struggled to understand the necessity of a third-party service for basic functionality. Debugging issues becomes complicated as it involves multiple systems, complicating support tickets. Additionally, users on lower-tier Zapier plans often encounter rate limits, resulting in sync delays that reflect poorly on us. While Zapier may be suitable for quick prototypes or testing market fit, for a serious product, it’s advisable to develop native integrations using APIs. The initial investment is higher, but it significantly enhances user experience and minimizes support complications in the long run.