Just as a doorbell lets you know someone is at your door, a webhook lets one website tell another website that something has happened. This allows the second website to take a specific action in response. It's a way for websites to talk to each other automatically in real-time.
Example 1: Webhook 15 Minutes Before a Meeting
Situation:
Let's say you have a consulting business and use Zencal as your scheduling platform. To ensure you're always prepared for your consultations, you want a quick reminder with details about the meeting 15 minutes before it starts.
Webhook Setup:
1. In Zencal, navigate to notifications tab of meeting topic.
2. Set up a new notification and choose webhook as a type. Trigger for "15 minutes before a meeting starts."
3. Provide the URL of your service (maybe a custom notification service or an app you use) where you want the details sent.
4. When the time comes, Zencal will automatically "ring" your service's "doorbell" with details about the participant, meeting place, Google Meet link, and date.
Result:
Fifteen minutes before the meeting, your service receives the information and maybe sends a push notification to your phone with all the details. You can then click the Google Meet link directly from your notification, ensuring you're never late!
Example 2: Webhook 7 Days Before a Meeting with Payment Link
Situation:
For some premium consultations, you charge participants. To ensure payments are made on time and smoothly, you want participants to receive a payment link 7 days before the scheduled meeting.
Webhook Setup:
1. In Zencal, navigate to notifications tab of meeting topic.
2. Set up a new notification and choose webhook as a type. Trigger for "7 days before a meeting starts."
3. Provide the URL of your service, which might be integrated with your payment gateway.
4. When the 7-day mark hits, Zencal will "ring" your service's "doorbell" with details about the participant, meeting place, Google Meet link, and date.
Result:
Your service, upon receiving this information, sends out an email to the participant. The email contains all the meeting details plus an additional link to make an online payment for the meeting. The participant can then click the link, complete the payment, and be all set for the consultation next week!
These examples illustrate the power of webhooks in automating workflows and ensuring that tasks are triggered at the right times without manual intervention.
