How to Automate Return to Work Forms Using Pabbly Connect with Google Forms and Google Docs

Learn how to automate return to work forms using Pabbly Connect, Google Forms, and Google Docs. Step-by-step guide to streamline your workflow. Master proven automation processes with practical implementation examples and strategic recommendations you can apply immediately in your workflow.

Watch Step By Step Video Tutorial Below

1. Accessing Pabbly Connect for Automation

To automate return to work forms, first, access Pabbly Connect. You can sign up for free and get started with 100 free tasks every month. Once you are signed in, you will see the dashboard with options for creating automations.

In the dashboard, you can set up triggers and actions. The trigger will be when a new form submission occurs in Google Forms. The action will be to create a document in Google Docs based on the submitted data. This process relies entirely on Pabbly Connect.

2. Setting Up Google Forms with Pabbly Connect

The first step involves creating your return to work form in Google Forms. Once your form is ready, go to the Pabbly Connect dashboard and select Google Forms as your trigger application. Choose the trigger event as ‘New Response Received’.

• Select Google Forms as the trigger application.
• Choose ‘New Response Received’ as the trigger event.
• Copy the webhook URL provided by Pabbly Connect.

After copying the URL, open your Google Form. Under the responses tab, link it to a new Google Sheet. This sheet will capture all responses, enabling Pabbly Connect to process the data automatically.

3. Connecting Google Sheets to Pabbly Connect

Next, you need to connect Google Sheets to Pabbly Connect. Go to the extensions menu in your Google Sheet, click on Add-ons, and search for ‘Pabbly Connect Webhooks’. Install it if you haven’t already.

• Click on Extensions, then Add-ons, and choose Get Add-ons.
• Search for Pabbly Connect Webhooks and install it.
• Select Pabbly Connect Webhooks from the Extensions menu and click on Initial Setup.

During the setup, paste the webhook URL you copied earlier and specify the trigger column. This setup allows Pabbly Connect to receive data whenever a new entry is made in Google Sheets.

4. Creating Google Docs from Form Responses

Now, set up your action step in Pabbly Connect. Select Google Docs as the action application and choose ‘Create Document from Template’ as the action event. This allows you to generate a document based on a predefined template in Google Docs.

Connect your Google Docs account by clicking on ‘Add New Connection’. Authorize Pabbly Connect to access your Google Docs account. Once connected, select the template document you created earlier for the return to work form.

Choose the template document for the return to work. Map the employee’s name and other details from the form responses to the document. Specify the location in Google Drive where the document will be saved.

This setup ensures that every new submission generates a customized document that is saved in the specified location, demonstrating the power of Pabbly Connect in automating workflows.

5. Testing the Integration Workflow

To test the integration, submit a dummy response using your Google Form. This will trigger the automation you set up with Pabbly Connect. Once submitted, check your Google Sheets to confirm the response is recorded.

Next, verify that a new document is created in your Google Drive folder. The document should include all the details you specified in the template, such as employee name, ID, department, and absence reasons. This confirms that the integration between Google Forms, Google Sheets, and Google Docs via Pabbly Connect is working correctly.

After testing, you can submit additional responses to see how Pabbly Connect automates the document creation process seamlessly every time a new form is submitted.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we explored how to automate return to work forms using Pabbly Connect, Google Forms, and Google Docs. By setting up triggers and actions, you can streamline your workflow and reduce manual tasks effectively. Automating this process ensures timely documentation and enhances productivity in managing employee returns.