As a non-dev, Iām trying to understand the benefits of this update, so I asked Gemini: āGive me 5 concrete automation examples (so triggers + actions) whatās possible with GMAIL API and not with IMAPā
Hereās what I got:
Here are 5 concrete automation examples possible with Gmail API and not with specifically within the context of Activepieces (or similar automation platforms):
1. Priority Email Notifications:
Trigger: New email arrives in Gmail with the word āUrgentā in the subject line AND sent from a specific VIP contact.
Action: Send a text message notification to the userās phone through Activepieces, highlighting the sender and subject.
IMAP Limitation: IMAP can only trigger on any new email, not with specific content or sender filters.
2. Automated Task Creation from Emails:
Trigger: New email arrives in a specific Gmail label like āProject Xā AND contains the phrase āAction Required:ā.
Action: Create a new task in a project management tool (e.g., Asana, Trello) via their API integrations available in Activepieces, extracting the task details from the email body.
IMAP Limitation: IMAP cannot understand content within the email to extract specific information for actions.
3. Smart Email Filtering & Labeling:
Trigger: New email arrives from an unknown sender BUT contains keywords related to a specific project.
Action: Automatically apply a Gmail label (e.g., āPotential Leadsā) and move the email to a specific folder using the Gmail API.
IMAP Limitation: IMAP lacks the ability to analyze email content for dynamic filtering and actions.
4. Out-of-Office Reply Based on Content:
Trigger: New email arrives while the user has an out-of-office status set in Gmail.
Action: If the email contains urgent keywords (e.g., ācritical issue,ā āASAPā), use the Gmail API to send a customized out-of-office reply with emergency contact information. If not, send the standard out-of-office message.
IMAP Limitation: IMAP cannot dynamically adjust out-of-office replies based on email content.
5. Automated Email Forwarding with Modifications:
Trigger: Receive an email with attachments in a specific Gmail folder (e.g., āReceiptsā).
Action: Forward the email to an expense management software (e.g., Expensify) using their API integration in Activepieces. Before forwarding, use the Gmail API to add a subject line prefix like āExpense Report:ā for better organization.
IMAP Limitation: IMAP cannot modify email content before forwarding.