What are connections
A connection is the secure link between the iPaaS and the external system you want to integrate, for example, Slack, Salesforce, or Google Sheets.
Each connector requires a specific authentication method (token, API key, OAuth, etc.).
In the case of the Pipefy connector, authentication is performed through a Service Account (SA), which ensures controlled and auditable access.
Once a connection is created and configured, you can reuse it across multiple flows without needing to authenticate again.
⚠️ Important: the HTTP Request connector (used for generic API calls) does not reuse credentials between different flows within the same pipe.
🧩 When to use the Pipefy connector
Use the Pipefy connector whenever your flow depends on internal Pipefy actions or events, such as:
Triggers:
Card created
Card moved
Card done
Field updated
Comment added
To make the connector work correctly, you must create a connection authenticated via a Service Account, which will have access only to the pipes where it is explicitly authorized.
📘 Learn more: see this article on how to create a Service Account in Pipefy.
Setting up your Service Account (SA)
A Service Account is a technical account used to allow integrations to access Pipefy data in a controlled and auditable way, without relying on personal credentials.
It provides security, traceability, and scoped access.
Steps to create a connection with your Service Account
Access Pipefy’s iPaaS and select the Pipefy connector.
In the right-hand panel, find the Connection option and click + Create Connection.
Enter your Service Account credentials:
Client ID
Client Secret
Click Save.
After successful authentication, a new connection will be created and appear in your available connections list.
💡 Tip: You only need to do this once per Service Account. The next time you use the Pipefy connector in another flow, just select the existing connection from the list.
Authentication in other connectors
Each connector may require a different type of authentication. Whenever you select an external connector, open the right-hand panel, locate the Connection section, and follow the steps to create the connection.
📘 Example:
When using Google Sheets, you’ll be redirected to your Google account login. After granting access, Pipefy’s iPaaS will be authorized to access your Drive spreadsheets using your credentials and saved connection.
Creating a new flow
You can create new flows in Pipefy’s iPaaS in two ways:
From a template — choose a pre-built model that already includes trigger and action structures, and customize it according to your process.
Ideal for getting started quickly, using examples of validated automations.
From scratch — build your flow manually by adding connectors, input definitions, conditions, and actions according to your own logic.
Recommended when you need a more customized or complex integration.
💡 Tip: Before saving and activating, always test each part of the flow (trigger + steps).
Testing your flow trigger
To properly test a flow whose trigger is based on card events, you need to perform the actual action inside the pipe.
For example:
If the trigger is “Card created”, create a new card in the pipe.
If it’s “Card moved”, manually move a card between phases.
If it’s “Field updated”, change the value of any field configured as the trigger.
After performing the action in the pipe, the event will be captured by the iPaaS, allowing you to test the subsequent steps of the flow.
⚠️ Important: the trigger must receive a real event from Pipefy to load the card data. Without that, the flow will not proceed to the next steps of the test.
🔄 When to create new connections
Create a new connection when:
You are configuring flows in different pipes, and each pipe uses its own Service Account.
The previous Service Account was revoked or replaced.
You want to segment connections by department or purpose (for example, Finance, HR, or Operations).
🔒 Attention: each pipe must be explicitly authorized to the Service Account used.
Otherwise, the triggers and actions in that pipe will not work.
🚀 Next steps
After creating your connection:
Access the Connectors Library.
Choose the Pipefy connector and select the connection you created.
Add a trigger (e.g., Card moved) and configure your subsequent actions.
Test the flow and check the execution logs inside the iPaaS.
Done!
You can now create and manage secure integrations, reuse connections, and maintain full control over access, permissions, and pipes.