A year ago, I built my own AppSheet-based solution to solve the problem of processing Gmail contents using data from an AppSheet app. I called it Gmail Responder, and it was a pretty slick setup. It involved a coordinated system of AppSheet automations and Google Apps Script to monitor Gmail labels and generate draft responses.
But getting it all to work? That was a process. I had to generate scripts to create and monitor Gmail labels, sync them with my AppSheet app, and build out all the logic to make it function smoothly.
And now, with one feature update, AppSheet made all of that work null and void. 😂
But honestly? I’m not even mad. This new native Gmail integration is exactly what I was trying to achieve—except now it’s built right into AppSheet, making it way easier for everyone to tap into their inbox data without jumping through a bunch of technical hoops.
What This Means for You
If you’ve ever wanted a simple way to bring Gmail data into your AppSheet apps, this is the update you’ve been waiting for. With this integration, you can:
Trigger AppSheet automations when emails arrive in specific Gmail labels.
Filter incoming emails by applying labels automatically using Gmail’s built-in rules.
Extract key email details (like sender, subject, and body) and pass them directly into your apps.
Why This Is a Game-Changer
Here’s the part that really gets me excited: the combination of Gmail filters + AppSheet automation opens up huge possibilities.
Just think about it—you can create a Gmail filter that automatically applies a label when certain emails come in. That label then acts as a trigger for your AppSheet app.
For example:
A customer submits a request → Gmail applies a label → AppSheet logs it as a new support ticket.
An invoice arrives in your inbox → Gmail flags it → AppSheet pulls it into your accounting system.
A lead inquiry email comes in → Gmail tags it → AppSheet adds it to your CRM.
This means you can completely automate the process of pulling structured email data into your apps—without writing a single line of code.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
No attachment support (yet)
Hopefully, this comes in future updates.
It’s in public preview
Meaning Google is still testing and refining it.
How to Get Started
This feature is live now in AppSheet’s public preview. If you want to try it out:
1 - Go to AppSheet automation settings and look for the Gmail integration option
2 - Connect your Gmail account, creating a new data source for your app
3 - Select the Account and Gmail labels to monitor
4 - Build automations based on the email contents
It’s that simple.
Final Thoughts
This update completely changes how we can use email with AppSheet—and I love it. Even though it technically makes my Gmail Responder app obsolete 😭, I’m excited because now anyone can achieve the same results with just a few clicks.
If you’re an AppSheet user, you need to check this out. And if you want to stay on top of the latest AppSheet features, subscribe to my blog for more updates!
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