Automate Invoice Creation in Stripe with SmartSuite Part 2 | No Code Tools

In this digital age, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their payment processes and save time. If you're one of those businesses looking to automate your payment processing, this video tutorial on creating invoices in Stripe using SmartSuite is just what you need. In this blog post, we'll provide a detailed step-by-step guide on how to automate invoice creation in Stripe, allowing you to centralize your data in SmartSuite while handling the invoicing process seamlessly in the background.

Introduction and Background Information

• Introduce the video and its purpose, which is to demonstrate how to create invoices automatically in Stripe using SmartSuite.
• Mention the benefits of automation and how it can help businesses save time and effort.
  Briefly introduce Gareth, the owner of GAP Consulting, and emphasize his expertise in helping businesses get organized and automated with no-code tools.
• Mention that the video showcases some favorite no-code tools, including SmartSuite and Make.

Getting Started - Essential Tools and Setup

• Explain how viewers can access the free automation training provided by Gareth at GAP Consulting.
• Highlight the importance of setting up the required accounts for SmartSuite, Make, and Stripe.
  Emphasize using affiliate links to benefit from free pro trials when setting up these accounts.
• Encourage viewers to follow along with the tutorial in their own SmartSuite, Make, and Stripe accounts.

Step-by-Step Guide to Automating Invoice Creation:

1. Describe the initial setup by creating two tables, contacts, and organizations, as demonstrated in part one of the video tutorial.
2. Explain the linked relationship needed between the contacts table and the invoices table, as invoices are sent to a specific contact.
3. Introduce the use of lookup fields to access the customer object from the contacts table and bring back specific information required for creating the invoice.
4. Note the inclusion of service and price fields, assuming a single service and price per invoice. Mention that multiple services can be included with additional looping mechanisms.
5. Highlight the use of an invoice ID field as an important identifier for future actions, such as updating invoice status or applying automation.
6. Explain the need for a due date or a specified number of days until due, and mention the option to add payment information if already on file.
7. Clarify the role of the pending invoice items behavior, which automatically includes any pending invoice items for the client in the creation of the invoice.
8. Note the requirement of finalizing the draft invoice to enable automation-based invoicing and highlight the option to approve invoices manually for verification.

Bringing the Data Back to SmartSuite

• Explain the importance of bringing invoice information back into SmartSuite for more advanced automation options.
• Emphasize updating the invoice ID field with the relevant information obtained from the invoice creation step.
• Mention the potential to use the invoice ID for further actions, such as updating payment status or enabling invoice voiding.

Conclusion:

Automating invoice creation in Stripe is a practical and time-saving solution for businesses. With the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can now take control of your payment processing and leverage the capabilities of SmartSuite and Make to streamline your invoicing workflow. By following Gareth's expertise, you can successfully create and manage invoices seamlessly while keeping all your data organized in one central location.

Remember to watch the full video tutorial for a visual demonstration and detailed instructions. If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out and receive support from Gareth and his team at GAP Consulting. Happy automating!