An Integration step runs one action in another app and can save the result for later steps. Apps are also called pieces: each offers actions, and some need a connected account.
Add an app step
Select + and open the step picker. The left side lists apps — those you used recently first, then A to Z. You can also type an app name or action in the search box.
Select an app, then the action you want, for example posting a message or adding a row. The step lands on the canvas.
In the inspector, fill in the action's inputs. Required fields are marked.
Connect an account if the app needs one. See below.
Under Save result to, name a variable if later steps need what the action returns. They read it as
{{name}}.
Connect an account
Under Account, the Connection field lists accounts you have connected. Select New (or Connect new account) to add one.
- Apps that support it let you Sign in. Others let you Paste a token or an API key.
- Credentials are sent once, encrypted on Natiq's servers, and never shown again.
- The name you give a connection is shown when you choose it on other steps, so use something recognisable.
A connection can stop working, for example when access is revoked on the app's side. The step then shows Needs reconnect. Select Reconnect and sign in again; the name stays the same, so every step that uses the account keeps working.
Optional inputs and output
Optional inputs hold fields you can leave alone. Advanced inputs are further down. Dynamic fields, such as a list of channels, load from your account, so connect first.
If it fails decides what happens when the app call fails:
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Stop the flow | The conversation ends. |
| Carry on anyway | The flow continues and the failure is saved to an error variable. |
| Take an error branch | Adds a second outlet for the failure path. |
An error branch that is not connected to a next step is flagged.
Web requests with a saved key
If the action sends a web request, you can choose a saved API key. Natiq adds it as a header only to its own host and only over https. Leave it empty if the API needs none.
Apps in other places
- Give an AI step app Tools. See AI steps.
- Start a flow from an app. See Webhook and schedule triggers.
- When you test, turn on Skip integration steps so nothing reaches the app. See Test your agent.
Real actions are real
A published flow's app steps act on the real account you connected. Use a test account while you build, and review the step before publishing.