Zapier has unveiled Canvas, a novel tool designed to assist users in planning and diagramming their critical business processes. Infused with AI capabilities, Canvas aims to enable users to transform these processes into Zapier-based automations. This tool is currently in its early access phase. Additionally, Zapier has announced that Tables, their automation-centric database service, is now accessible to all users.
During the virtual ZapConnect user conference, the 11-year-old company revealed its evolution from providing rudimentary web service connections to facilitating complex integrations and workflow automations, embodying the spirit of low-code/no-code development before the term became widespread. According to Wade Foster, Zapier’s co-founder and CEO, people are now building entire projects and even businesses on top of Zapier. However, this has posed challenges that Zapier aims to address through innovations like Canvas and Tables.
Foster explained, “As you adopt these tools you built with Zapier, you’re quite happy in the early days… But then, there’s this pit of success that comes next.” As projects expand and collaborators join, complexities arise. Canvas and Tables are designed to tackle these issues.
Canvas, a visual diagramming tool, allows users to map out complete workflows, whether they are connected to Zapier or not. It offers two key functions: documenting processes with flowchart diagrams and serving as an interface for editing connected components. Moreover, Canvas incorporates AI capabilities, enabling users to describe the problem they want to solve and having the tool generate a process, whether it’s planning an elaborate birthday party or addressing a complex business challenge.
Zapier is actively exploring the integration of AI, particularly generative AI, into its services. Foster sees AI as a means to tackle complex business problems effectively.
In addition to Canvas and Tables, Zapier is rolling out several smaller feature updates, including an interactive editor capable of handling up to 10 paths, enhanced admin controls, and an expanded list of integrations, now exceeding 6,000.
