Before you can include external actions in your action flows, you must connect the action builder to the external system.

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Summary: ◀▼

You can connect your action builder to Google Calendar to automate event management within your workflows. This lets you create, look up, update, and delete calendar events using specific inputs like time, attendees, and event details. Using a dedicated service account for the connection is recommended to keep actions attributed properly and maintain security. This integration helps streamline scheduling tasks directly from your support environment.

By connecting the action builder to external systems, such as Google Calendar, admins can integrate Zendesk with external systems in automated workflows, improving collaboration and maintaining a seamless experience across multiple platforms.
Note: The steps associated with external systems in action flows are referred to collectively as external actions.
This article contains the following topics:
  • Connecting Google Calendar to action builder
  • Using Google Calendar actions in action flows

Connecting Google Calendar to action builder

Before you can include external actions in your action flows, you must connect the action builder to the external system.

When connecting to external systems for use in action flows, the following best practices are recommended:
  • All external actions performed by an action flow are attributed to the user who connected the external system. Therefore, it's a best practice to use a dedicated service account rather than personal credentials when connecting to each external system.
  • All integrations request access to necessary scopes. However, it's important that you review and validate the scopes before authorizing the connection to the external system.
  • When managing credentials for API key-based tools, such as OpenAI, it's best to store keys in a secure vault or credential manager.
To connect action builder to Google Calendar
  1. In Admin Center, click Apps and integrations in the sidebar, then select Actions > Action flows.
  2. Create or edit an action flow.
  3. Open the step sidebar.
  4. Under External actions, click Google Calendar.
  5. Click Connect.
  6. Follow Google Calendar's prompts to authenticate and complete the connection.

    The https://www.googleapis.com/auth/calendar scope must be authorized during the connection process.

    Note: All external actions performed by an action flow are attributed to the user who connected the external system. Therefore, it is a best practice to use a dedicated service account rather than personal credentials when connecting to each external system.

After you've connected to the system, you'll see an indicator that it's connected and details about the instance you're connected to, as well as the actions available for Google Calendar.

Using Google Calendar actions in action flows

Google Calendar action steps can be used to create and search files and folders.

The following Google Calendar actions are available:
  • Create event
  • Lookup event
  • Update event
  • Delete event

Creating events

Use the Create event action to create events.

This action has the following inputs and outputs:

  Variables
Inputs Required: Time, Start time, End time

Use the format YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm for Start time and End time

Optional: Attendees, Calendar Id, Description, Reminder minutes
Output Event metadata

Looking up events

Use the Lookup event action to look up events.

This action has the following inputs and outputs:

  Variables
Inputs Required: At least Event Id or Title is required.

Optional: Calendar Id
Output Event metadata

Updating events

Use the Update event action to update events.

This action has the following inputs and outputs:

  Variables
Inputs Required: Event Id, Title, Start time, End time

Event Id can be sourced from Lookup event or Create event actions.

Optional: Attendees, Description
Output Event metadata

Deleting events

Use the Delete event action to delete events.

This action has the following inputs and outputs:

  Variables
Inputs Required: Event Id
Output Event metadata
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