Getting Started With Make.com Automation

If you are new to make.com, this step-by-step how-to guide will help you learn the basics of building automation scenarios, connecting apps, and managing your first workflows from end to end.

What Is Make.com and How It Works

Make.com is an online visual automation platform that lets you connect apps and services without coding. You build workflows, called scenarios, to move data, trigger actions, and automate repetitive tasks.

Instead of writing scripts, you drag and drop modules on a canvas, configure them, and let Make.com execute your logic on a schedule, via webhooks, or in real time based on events in connected apps.

Key Concepts You Must Know in Make.com

Before creating your first automation, you need to understand the core building blocks used throughout Make.com scenarios.

Scenarios in Make.com

A scenario is the complete workflow you design on the Make.com canvas. It defines:

Which apps and services you connect
How data moves from one step to another
What conditions control the flow
When and how the scenario runs

Each scenario is made of modules that pass bundles of data along the flow until execution is finished.

Modules in Make.com

Modules are the individual steps within a scenario. On Make.com, each module performs a specific operation, such as:

Watching for new data in an app (triggers)
Retrieving or searching records
Creating or updating records
Transforming or aggregating data

You drag modules to the scenario canvas, choose the app, select the desired action, then configure its settings.

Data Bundles

Each time a module runs, it processes input and returns one or more bundles. A bundle is a set of fields with values, like a row of data. Downstream modules in Make.com use these bundles as input, mapping individual fields to their own parameters.

Execution Cycles

When you run a scenario, Make.com starts an execution. An execution is a complete run from the first module to the last, following your logic. You can review each execution in the history to understand what happened, which modules ran, and whether any errors occurred.

How to Create Your First Scenario in Make.com

The fastest way to learn Make.com is to build a simple scenario. Follow these steps to get from a blank canvas to a working automation.

Step 1: Sign In and Open the Scenario Editor

Sign in to your account on the Make.com platform.
From the dashboard, click to create a new scenario.
The scenario editor will open, showing an empty canvas with a plus icon where you can add the first module.

Step 2: Add the First Module on Make.com

Click the plus icon on the empty canvas.
Select the app you want to use as the trigger or starting point, such as an email or spreadsheet service.
Pick a specific operation. For example, choose a module that watches for new items or retrieves data.
Authorize the connection if prompted, so Make.com can access the app’s data.

Once the first module is configured, it defines how and when the scenario starts.

Step 3: Add Additional Modules

Click the small plus icon next to the first module to add another step.
Choose the next app or service you want to connect.
Select the action, such as creating a record, sending a message, or updating an existing item.
Configure each module’s settings, including filters or search parameters if available.

Repeat this process until your Make.com scenario reflects the full workflow you want to automate.

Step 4: Map Data Between Modules

To pass information from one module to another:

Open the configuration of a downstream module.
Click into a field that should receive data from a previous step.
Use the data picker on the right to select fields from earlier modules.
Drop the chosen fields into the target inputs.

This mapping tells Make.com which specific values from bundles should be used in later actions.

Step 5: Set the Scheduling or Trigger

At the top of your scenario, you can set how it should run:

Instantly via a webhook or instant trigger from supported apps
On a schedule (for example, every 5 minutes, hourly, or daily)
Manually when you click the Run once button for testing

Choose the option that best matches your use case and save the settings.

Step 6: Run and Test Your Scenario

Click Run once to test the scenario.
Trigger the event in your source app or wait for the schedule to fire.
Watch the scenario in real time on the Make.com canvas. Each module will show whether it received bundles and processed them successfully.
If a module fails, open the bubble to see the error message and review the input and output data.

Adjust your configuration or mapping as needed until the entire scenario runs correctly from start to finish.

Monitoring Executions in Make.com

After your scenario is live, monitoring is essential. Make.com offers detailed logs so you can understand behavior and debug issues.

Execution History Overview

For each scenario, you can open the execution history to see:

The start and end time of each run
The status (success, warning, or error)
The number of operations and data bundles processed
Any errors that occurred, including messages and codes

This helps you confirm that your automation is running as expected and staying within your plan limits.

Inspecting Individual Executions

When you open a single execution, the scenario canvas shows the exact path taken during that run. For each module, you can:

Check how many bundles were received and returned
Open the details to inspect input, output, and headers
Identify which module caused a failure, if any

Using this detailed view, you can refine your Make.com scenario configuration and data mappings to increase reliability.

Best Practices for Stable Make.com Scenarios

To keep your automations stable and easier to maintain, follow these best practices inside Make.com:

Start small: Build and test a simple version of your scenario before adding complexity.
Use clear naming: Rename modules with descriptive labels to understand the flow at a glance.
Handle errors: Add filters or error handlers where appropriate, especially around external APIs.
Limit operations: Use searches and filters to avoid processing unnecessary data.
Document logic: Keep notes for complex branches so future edits are easier.

Following these guidelines will make long‑term management of your Make.com projects more efficient.

Learn More About Make.com

This article is based on the official introduction material, which you can read on the Make.com learn the basics page for deeper visual guidance and examples.

If you need consulting or implementation support for complex scenarios, you can also visit Consultevo for professional automation services and guidance.

Once you understand these fundamentals, you can confidently explore advanced features such as routers, iterators, aggregators, and more sophisticated data transformations within Make.com.

Need Help With Make.com?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your Make scenarios, work with ConsultEvo — certified workflow and automation specialists.

Get Help