The big advantage of Tess AI is working like an AI HUB: you can use native models, connect AI engines from other providers, and create your own agents that handle stuff like transcribing audio, drafting replies, summarizing docs, and a lot more.
Besides the plug-and-play integrations, the platform has a solid API, available from the Business plan on, so any external system or automation app like Zapier, Make, or N8N can reach your agents, send commands, and get answers in scheduled flows.
The Tess AI API is documented and offers endpoints to run agents, check answers, or feed new agents with info, always using custom token authentication to make sure integrations are safe and trackable.
Zapier is the go-to tool for low-code/no-code automation, and it's super simple even if you've never coded before. Its main advantage is the number of ready integrations (over 7,000 apps) and also its official partnership with Tess AI, which gives you native blocks to run top AI functions without having to mess with HTTP requests or set up endpoints manually.
In practice, a “Zap” starts with a trigger, runs a series of actions, and can send results to other apps. For example: every time you get a new email in Gmail (trigger), you can launch a Tess AI agent to generate a reply (action), then create a draft ready to review and send—all automatically.
Create the Agent in Tess AI Before you set up your Zapier flow, it's key to build the AI agent that will handle and generate the automatic replies. The agent is customized according to:
Desired tone of voice;
Response structure (e.g.: always start with a greeting, end with "hugs" or "best regards", etc.);
Variables to use (sender's name, subject, complete content of the received email).
In the agent setup, the "user inputs" (inputs) are created so they can receive these variables coming from Gmail via Zapier.
Generate the API Token Zapier needs to authenticate every request made to Tess AI. To do this, go to "API Tokens" in your Tess profile and generate a unique token that you'll use just for that automation (makes it easier to revoke later, track, and stay organized).
Set up Zapier In Zapier, create a new Zap and follow these steps:
Set the trigger as "New Email Received" from Gmail;
Connect your Google account and run a test to pull in a real example email;
Add a "Tess AI by Pareto" action block, picking the right event (usually "Run Agent" for direct agents);
In the fields that show up, enter the API token, the Agent ID (grabbed from the agent's edit URL in Tess AI), and map the agent's inputs to the data pulled from the email (sender's name, subject, and email body).
Build the Output The next Zap block can be "Create draft in Gmail", or "Send email" to send it out automatically. Drop in the content returned from Tess AI as the email reply, set recipient and subject however you want, and publish the Zap.
That way, every new email you get gets automatically processed by your AI agent, who’ll write a personalized and efficient reply, saving time and keeping your responses consistent.
Simplicity: Zapier with native integration lets you set things up with clicks, no code, and in a super friendly way.
Token Organization: Go for individual tokens per team, automation, or teammate — it makes managing and auditing integrations way easier.
Customization: The real magic is building agents that match your company's vibe, stand out with your support, and adapt to all kinds of situations.
Scalability: If you need to automate more complex flows or handle bigger volumes, consider adding platforms like Make (more robust free plan) or N8N (super flexible and low cost for loads of runs).
Validation and Security: Use drafts and human checks for the most critical replies, getting the best out of AI while keeping control.
Step-by-step Evolution: Start with small automations and level up your workflow as your needs and ideas grow. Integration lets you do everything from simple replies to branched flows with tons of agents and channels.
Automating email replies using Tess AI and Zapier gives a huge boost in efficiency, productivity, and quality of service. Tess AI brings both power and flexibility to orchestrating AI models, while Zapier removes any tech barriers for rolling out sophisticated automations. With these tools, any company or professional is ready to transform day-to-day processes and ramp up innovation in their daily routine.
