Zapier is quietly powerful. It connects your tools — email, CRM, spreadsheets, e-commerce — and makes them work together without a single line of code. Hours of repetitive work disappear. Tasks run in the background. People stop asking, “Did you remember to…?”
But here’s the catch: it won’t implement itself.
That’s why every promo business — yes, even yours — needs someone on staff who can learn how to work this magic. You don’t need a full-time developer. You just need someone curious enough to explore Zapier and start connecting the dots.
Look for Curiosity, Not Credentials
Zapier isn’t hard to learn. The real skill is noticing when a process is manual, repetitive, or error prone — and wondering if there’s a better way. You’re looking for someone who:
- Asks questions like “Why do we do it this way?”
- Likes solving puzzles — even if it’s just fixing a spreadsheet formula
- Knows how to crack a manual to find the answers they seek.
This person might already be cleaning up your CRM data, organizing your file structure, or documenting processes. They’re not trying to build the next billion-dollar app. They just want your business to run smoother.
Give Them Room to Explore
Once you’ve found your candidate, don’t bury them in order entry.
Instead, carve out an hour or two a week so they can:
- Thoughtfully experiment with Zapier – mad scientists need time to cook in the lab. 🧪
- Watch tutorials
- Try a few small wins — like sending an alert when a form is filled out
Start simple. Success builds momentum.
We have videos for you!
A great place to start would be by viewing our presentation, Streamlining Success: Automation Solutions for Distributors. You can view it now and get access to more videos and resources to help jump start your company's automation journey.
Let Them Own It
This isn’t a side hustle. Make it part of their job. Set them up with a Zapier account, let them experiment with test data, and ask them to document what they build (future-you will appreciate it). And when one of their automations saves your team an hour a week, celebrate it.
If they get stuck or run out of ideas? That’s a good thing – it's an opportunity to grow! That’s where someone like PromoPilot can step in to support the next phase.
Bonus Benefit: Retention
Giving someone room to grow isn’t just good for efficiency — it’s good for morale. You’re not just a promo distributor. You’re a business that builds talent. And when that person becomes your go-to for automation? Even better.
Final Thought
You don’t have to be a tech company to work smarter. Start by empowering someone on your team to explore Zapier. Let them fix the little things. Then, when you’re ready for more — when you want full systems that run without constant oversight — we’re here.
PromoPilot has helped promo businesses save thousands of hours. Whether you’re DIY-ing or ready to go pro, we’re glad to help.
