# API Supports

API supports can be triggered from external apps and systems through WebToCRM, using a custom object as the bridge between the incoming API call and the flow.

## How it works

The connection follows this path: External App → WebToCRM API → Custom Object → Flow Trigger. When an external system sends data to your WebToCRM endpoint, it creates a record in a designated custom object. That record creation then fires the flow automatically.

## Step-by-step setup
## Step 1: Create a Custom Object

Go to Settings → Custom Objects

Create a new object to act as the API entry point (e.g., "API Flow Trigger")

Add the fields your flow will need, such as: flow_id, trigger_data, source_system

## Step 2: Configure WebToCRM

Go to Settings → WebToCRM

Enable the API for your custom object

Copy the generated webhook URL — this is the endpoint your external app will call

## Step 3: Build your Flow

Go to Settings → Flows → Create Flow

In the Node Palette, click the API Integration Tip → Learn how → for reference

Add a Record Created trigger and select your custom object as the entity type

Build out your actions using data from the trigger via {{trigger.id}} and {{trigger.field_name}}

Click Save

Common use cases

Website Forms — form submission triggers a welcome email sequence

E-commerce — a purchase event triggers a fulfillment workflow

Mobile Apps — a user action triggers a notification flow

The custom object acts as a data container — the external app writes to it, and the flow reads from it

The webhook URL generated by WebToCRM is unique to your custom object — use it in your external app's API call

Access any field from the trigger record in subsequent flow nodes using {{trigger.field_name}}

Original Outline page: https://wiki.alano.ai/s/alano-user-guideline/doc/api-supports-zFpHYd6azQ

## Related guide pages

- [Alano User Guideline](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/)
- [Customization](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/customization-8ddSaxvPIY/)
- [Welcome to Alano](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/welcome-to-alano-1dTWipd7yW/)
- [Features](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/features-TcyTIG1kHe/)
- [Contacts/Customers](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/contactscustomers-LZZkPk05en/)
- [Alatasks](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/alatasks-rfB2f4M6Ho/)
- [Deals](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/deals-glGb1Ojq9n/)
- [Custom Objects](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/custom-objects-vKkregeoYs/)
- [Alanotes](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/alanotes-qFBrxuMSQa/)
- [Resources](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/resources-C4DgheeRju/)
- [Intelligence](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/intelligence-C27rBzbm0P/)
- [Settings](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/settings-WGYKnuS6lc/)
- [Landing Pages Builder](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/landing-pages-builder-HZh7Maos5h/)
- [Inbound APIs](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/inbound-apis-btxSF3yNBs/)
- [Flow](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/flow-ce4c7oq0eF/)
- [Events auto-trigger](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/events-auto-trigger-Q7A0lKXJP4/)
- [Flow Builder](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/flow-builder-q2mxkAJvLF/)
- [Custom Fields](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/custom-fields-PZqIx0lFrT/)
- [Productivity](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/productivity-CzlLb3Lfoc/)
- [Alano AI Chatbot](https://wiki.alano.ai/guide/alano-ai-chatbot-V1d6NJepW1/)

Last generated: 2026-06-30