Third-Party Apps

Third-party apps are software applications developed by external providers that extend the functionality of core systems or platforms. In Activepieces, third-party apps such as HubSpot, Salesforce, and Asana can be connected via pieces, allowing users to integrate external tools directly into their workflows.

What Are Third-Party Apps?

Third-party apps are applications created by developers or companies other than the provider of the main platform being used.

For example, while an organization might use Google Workspace as its primary environment, third-party apps like Asana or HubSpot enhance capabilities for project management or customer relationship management.

These apps are essential in modern business ecosystems because no single platform covers all possible needs. Businesses adopt a mix of core tools and third-party apps to manage sales, marketing, finance, operations, and communication.

In Activepieces, third-party apps are represented as pieces. Each piece exposes the triggers and actions of an external app, making it possible to create workflows that span multiple systems without custom coding.

How Do Third-Party Apps Work?

Third-party apps work by integrating with other platforms through APIs. In Activepieces, the process typically looks like this:

• Authentication: The user connects their account to a third-party app, such as Salesforce or HubSpot.
• Trigger setup: The piece provides events that start flows, such as “new contact added” or “deal closed.”
• Action setup: The piece also offers actions like “create task in Asana” or “send message in Slack.”
• Data exchange: Information flows automatically between third-party apps and other tools connected in the workflow.
• Orchestration: Activepieces coordinates these interactions, ensuring all apps stay in sync.

This allows businesses to unify their tech stack, making third-party apps part of a broader, automated ecosystem.

Why Are Third-Party Apps Important?

Third-party apps are important because they give organizations the flexibility to choose best-in-class tools for specific needs while still maintaining an integrated system.

Without the ability to connect third-party apps, businesses would face data silos, inefficiencies, and duplicate work.

The key reasons third-party apps matter include:

• Flexibility: Let organizations choose the best tools for each function.
• Efficiency: Automate data movement between apps to save time.
• Innovation: Enable businesses to adopt new tools without disrupting workflows.
• Scalability: Allow companies to expand capabilities as needs grow.
• Collaboration: Support cross-department workflows by connecting different tools.

For Activepieces, integrating third-party apps is core to its mission. With hundreds of pre-built pieces available, the platform connects directly to leading SaaS providers and productivity apps, allowing businesses to automate processes across their entire stack.

Common Use Cases

Third-party apps can be used across every department in an organization. In Activepieces, common examples include:

• Customer support: Connect Zendesk with Slack to notify teams when new tickets are created.
• Sales enablement: Sync Salesforce with HubSpot to unify lead and customer data.
• Marketing campaigns: Use third-party email marketing apps like Mailchimp to automate campaigns triggered by CRM events.
• Operations: Connect Asana with Google Sheets to automatically create tasks based on new rows in a spreadsheet.
• Finance: Link invoicing apps with accounting platforms for automated reconciliation.
• AI workflows: Combine AI tools with third-party apps to enrich data and power decision-making.

These examples demonstrate how third-party apps extend the functionality of workflows and allow organizations to build tailored automation.

FAQs About Third-Party Apps

What are third-party apps?

Third-party apps are software applications developed by external providers that integrate with other platforms to add functionality. They extend the capabilities of core systems by offering specialized tools.

Why are third-party apps valuable for automation?

They are valuable because they enable businesses to connect their preferred tools into unified workflows. This reduces manual work, eliminates silos, and ensures processes span across different applications seamlessly.

How does Activepieces support third-party apps?

Activepieces supports third-party apps through pre-built pieces. By connecting apps like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Asana, users can create flows that integrate external tools into their automation strategies without writing code.

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