Zapier - Lago

Here is a typical use case of Lago and Zapier for alerting automation.

Invoice alerting example (with Zapier)

Zapier dashboard showing the Lago alerting Zap switched on — Invoice alerting flow

In this example, you build an alert that fires whenever a new invoice is emitted. This workflow uses:

Lago’s webhook when a new invoice is emitted;
Zapier as an automation tool, to catch, transform and send the data; and
Slack as the “receiver” to alert your team anytime a new invoice is created.

Zap with three steps: catch raw hook, run JavaScript in Code by Zapier, and send a channel message in Slack — Zapier alerting flow

1. Catch a webhook when a new invoice is emitted

Lago automatically creates an invoice when a billable period is over. The invoice’s payload gives you a detailed view of what has been invoiced. The first action is to catch this invoice with a webhook:

In Zapier, create a new Zap;
Use the Webhooks by Zapier as the trigger of this Zap;
Select the Catch Raw Hook event trigger;
Copy the Zapier Webhook URL and paste it in Lago (Developers > Webhooks > Add a webhook); and
Catch your first webhook when an invoice is emitted (whenever you assign an add-on or a subscription).

2. Run a script to transform the webhook

In Zapier, create a second action by clicking the + icon. This event action formats the webhook into a breakdown of fields you can use in a message.

Select Code by Zapier as a new Event Action;
Click on Javascript as the event code language to run;
Create a field called payload. Its value is the full Raw body of the invoice object you received;
Run the script (code snippet below) in the Code section;
Test the action. If valid, it returns a breakdown of fields.

var obj = JSON.parse(inputData.payload);

if(obj.object_type == "invoice"){
  return obj
}

Code by Zapier action with the payload input field and the JavaScript that parses the invoice webhook — Script to transform the invoice payload

Zapier test output listing the invoice fields returned by the script — Breakdown of the invoice payload

3. Send a message to a Slack channel

Once you have the breakdown of fields returned by the invoice payload, use them to build a Slack message. In Zapier, create a third action by clicking the + icon. This event action sends a message to Slack with the fields of the invoice payload.

Select Slack as a new app action;
Select the Send Channel Message action;
Choose the targeted Slack Account;
Choose the targeted Slack Channel; and
Create a message by using the fields returned by the payload.

Once you test and validate the entire Zap, a Slack message is sent whenever Lago emits a new invoice. You can use the same message example as detailed below:

Zapier Slack action with the target channel and the message template built from the invoice fields — Slack message template in Zapier

Slack message listing the customer, the invoice number and the amount to pay — Slack message received in the channel

​Invoice alerting example (with Zapier)

​1. Catch a webhook when a new invoice is emitted

​2. Run a script to transform the webhook

​3. Send a message to a Slack channel

Invoice alerting example (with Zapier)

1. Catch a webhook when a new invoice is emitted

2. Run a script to transform the webhook

3. Send a message to a Slack channel