I’m having trouble with my Zapier workflow that keeps timing out. My automation pulls information from a trigger, builds an XML payload, and sends it via HTTP to a SOAP-based CRM system.
Most of the time everything works fine, but sometimes I get this timeout error:
Error log:
2018-03-20T13:23:24.876Z d851674c-2c41-11e8-a905-954c98b7d8f5
Execution exceeded 10.01 second limit
What causes this timeout issue and how can I prevent it from happening? I have a premium Zapier account so I thought this wouldn’t be a problem.
Zapier hardcodes that 10-second timeout across all subscription tiers. I hit the same wall integrating with an old SOAP system that had all over the place response times. Usually it’s network lag or your CRM choking on big datasets during the request. I fixed it by splitting XML payloads into smaller chunks when I could and using Zapier’s retry filters. Check if your CRM has performance monitoring - that’ll show you what’s actually slowing things down. Half the time it’s database locks or traffic spikes on their end, not the data transfer itself.
I experienced a similar issue while working with an outdated ERP system using Zapier. The persistent 10-second timeout is a limitation set by Zapier, and upgrading your account won’t resolve it. Typically, this timeout arises from your external service’s slow response time rather than any lag on Zapier’s end. In my case, the third-party API struggled during peak usage or with complex data requests. I managed to resolve this by implementing a webhook queue system, allowing me to send data to an intermediary service that could accommodate longer processing times before making the actual SOAP call to the CRM. Additionally, consider streamlining your XML payload or removing non-essential fields that may be causing delays in your CRM.
been there with SOAP integrations - they’re a pain! that 10-second limit is Zapier’s hard wall, doesn’t matter what plan you’re on. try throwing a delay step before your HTTP request - sometimes CRMs need a breather between calls. also, check your XML structure for any nested elements you don’t actually need since they slow down parsing. if nothing else works, you might have to move the actual SOAP call to webhooks.com or something similar.