A Glossary of Key Make.com Terminology for HR Professionals

In today’s fast-paced HR landscape, leveraging automation is no longer a luxury but a strategic imperative. Make.com (formerly Integromat) stands out as a powerful low-code platform that enables HR and recruiting professionals to connect disparate systems, automate repetitive tasks, and streamline complex workflows. To effectively harness its potential, understanding its core terminology is essential. This glossary aims to demystify key Make.com terms, providing HR leaders, recruiters, and operations managers with the foundational knowledge needed to build more efficient, data-driven, and candidate-centric processes. Dive in to empower your HR strategy with intelligent automation.

Make.com (formerly Integromat)

Make.com is a leading visual platform designed to connect apps and automate workflows using a no-code/low-code interface. For HR professionals, it serves as a central hub to integrate various systems like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS), CRM, communication tools, and more. This enables the automation of tasks such as resume parsing, candidate communication, onboarding sequences, and data synchronization across platforms, significantly reducing manual effort and potential for error. It’s about creating seamless operational flows that free up your team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than administrative burdens.

Scenario

In Make.com, a “Scenario” is your complete automation workflow, representing a series of interconnected steps that perform a specific task. Think of it as a blueprint for an HR process, such as onboarding a new hire. A scenario could start with a trigger (e.g., a new hire added to an HRIS), then execute a sequence of actions (e.g., creating accounts in various systems, sending welcome emails, assigning training modules), and finally update other records. Designing effective scenarios is crucial for transforming manual, multi-step HR procedures into efficient, automated sequences, ensuring consistency and compliance.

Module

A “Module” is a single, atomic operation within a Make.com scenario, representing a specific action or interaction with an application or service. Each module performs one function, such as “Watch New Entries” in an ATS, “Create a User” in a project management tool, or “Send an Email” via Gmail. For HR, modules are the building blocks that allow you to dictate precisely how data moves and transforms across your tech stack. By chaining various modules together, you can create intricate HR workflows, from automating interview scheduling to synchronizing candidate feedback from multiple sources.

Webhook

A “Webhook” is a method for one application to provide real-time information to another. In Make.com, a Webhook module acts as an instant trigger for a scenario. When an event occurs in an external system (e.g., a candidate submits an application on your career page, a new form is filled out, or a payment is made), that system can send data to a unique URL provided by Make.com’s Webhook module, initiating an automation instantly. This is invaluable for HR, enabling immediate responses to critical events like new job applications, interview confirmations, or employee feedback submissions, ensuring timely engagement and process initiation.

Connection

A “Connection” in Make.com refers to the authorized link between the Make.com platform and an external application or service. Before you can use modules from a specific app (like your ATS, HRIS, or CRM), you need to establish a connection by authenticating your Make.com account with that service, often via API keys or OAuth. These secure connections allow Make.com to interact with your various HR tools, reading and writing data on your behalf. Proper management of connections ensures data security and smooth, uninterrupted data flow across your automated HR ecosystem.

Filter

A “Filter” is a powerful tool within a Make.com scenario that allows you to specify conditions under which data should (or should not) proceed to the next module. For HR automation, filters are essential for directing workflow paths based on specific criteria. For example, you might use a filter to only process job applications for a particular department, forward interview feedback only if a candidate is recommended, or trigger onboarding only for full-time employees. Filters ensure that your automation is precise and efficient, preventing unnecessary actions and ensuring data integrity.

Router

A “Router” module in Make.com enables you to split a single workflow path into multiple distinct routes, allowing different actions to be taken based on varying conditions. After a router, you can add filters to each route, directing data down the appropriate path. For HR, this is incredibly useful for managing diverse scenarios from a single trigger point. For instance, a new hire record could trigger a router to send different sets of onboarding tasks to salaried versus hourly employees, or route a candidate through different interview stages based on their role type, streamlining complex, conditional HR processes.

Data Store

A “Data Store” in Make.com allows you to store and retrieve data directly within the Make.com platform, acting like a simple, internal database. This is particularly useful for HR professionals who need to temporarily store information that isn’t readily available in their connected apps, or to maintain a dynamic list of items. For example, you could use a data store to keep a running tally of open positions, track interview panel availability, or store custom candidate tags for later use in other scenarios. Data stores provide flexibility for managing workflow-specific data without needing an external database.

Iterator

An “Iterator” module is designed to process collections of items, also known as arrays, one by one. Many applications send data in bundles or lists (e.g., a list of job applications, a batch of timesheet entries, or multiple candidate references). When Make.com receives such a collection, an Iterator breaks it down into individual items, allowing subsequent modules to process each item separately. For HR, this is invaluable for tasks like processing multiple new hire forms received in a single batch, sending personalized emails to a list of candidates, or updating individual records from a bulk data export.

Aggregator

An “Aggregator” module in Make.com performs the opposite function of an Iterator: it combines multiple individual pieces of data into a single, cohesive bundle or collection. This is incredibly useful when you need to gather information from several sources or process multiple items individually, and then present them as a single output. For instance, you could use an aggregator to compile all interview feedback forms for a single candidate into one comprehensive summary document, or collect monthly attendance records for an entire department into a single report. Aggregators streamline reporting and consolidated data management in HR workflows.

Functions

“Functions” in Make.com are built-in tools that allow you to transform, manipulate, and calculate data within your scenarios. These can range from text functions (e.g., converting text to uppercase, extracting specific parts of a string) to numeric functions (e.g., summing values, calculating averages) and date/time functions (e.g., formatting dates, adding days). For HR, functions are vital for data standardization and presentation: formatting candidate names, calculating employee tenure, converting salary figures, or parsing information from resume fields. They ensure data is in the correct format for downstream systems and accurate reporting.

Operations

An “Operation” in Make.com refers to a single execution of a module within a scenario. When a scenario runs, each time a module successfully processes data, it counts as an operation. Make.com pricing plans are often based on the number of operations used. For HR professionals, understanding operations is key to optimizing scenario design and managing costs. Efficiently designed scenarios minimize unnecessary operations by using filters, routers, and careful data mapping, ensuring that automations are not only effective but also cost-efficient, especially when dealing with high volumes of data like job applications or employee records.

Scheduling

“Scheduling” refers to how frequently and when a Make.com scenario is designed to run. Scenarios can be triggered in several ways: immediately upon an event (via Webhooks), at regular intervals (e.g., every 15 minutes, daily, weekly), or at a specific time. For HR, choosing the right scheduling is critical for different types of automation. Real-time triggers are ideal for instant candidate communication or immediate onboarding tasks, while scheduled runs are better for daily data synchronization between an ATS and HRIS, generating weekly reports, or sending out monthly performance review reminders. Proper scheduling ensures timely and relevant automation.

API (Application Programming Interface)

An “API” is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. In the context of Make.com, APIs are the underlying mechanism that enables modules to connect to and exchange data with various HR systems (like an ATS, HRIS, or payroll system). While Make.com abstracts much of the complexity, understanding that APIs facilitate these connections helps HR professionals appreciate the power of integration. It means Make.com can ‘talk’ to virtually any modern software that exposes an API, unlocking endless possibilities for custom HR automation beyond pre-built connectors.

Workflow Automation

“Workflow Automation” is the overarching concept of designing and implementing systems that automatically execute a series of tasks or processes based on predefined rules. In HR, this translates to using platforms like Make.com to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks such as candidate screening, interview scheduling, offer letter generation, onboarding checklists, and data synchronization. The goal is to reduce manual intervention, eliminate human error, increase efficiency, and free up HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives, employee engagement, and talent development. It’s about building smarter, more resilient HR operations.

If you would like to read more, we recommend this article: Beyond Efficiency: Strategic HR Automation with Make.com & AI