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Looping large dataset with Delay step

  • November 26, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 14 views

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I’m trying to pull a large amount of data - it’s an API call to get roughly 9000 employees. I then run through a number of steps that include filtering out by specific details and then manipulating data before passing each employee through another API endpoint. My zap triggers on a schedule and then I am using Loop from Numbers to cycle through the API pagination to get all workers (25 at time to avoid throttling). I tried to add a Delay After Queue for 1 Minute after all the filter steps and right before the API call at the end, but I found that the delay release time was taking into account all the records, not just the filtered ones. 

 

Any suggestions on how to handle the pagination through all these records and not throttle the API call at the end? 

2 replies

Troy Tessalone
Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
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  • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • November 26, 2025

Hi ​@melissa.hunchuck 

Depends on the app API limits and app API endpoints you are trying to use.

For us to have more context, post screenshots showing how your Zap steps are outlined and configured.

 

You can use a Code step to make API requests and handle the data.

Looping Zap app has a limit of 500 iterations.

You can Delay for less than 1 minute: 

 

Help links for using Looping and Delay: 

https://zapier.com/apps/looping/integrations#help

https://zapier.com/apps/delay/integrations#help

 

If you are looking to hire help, there is a directory of Zapier Partners: https://zapier.com/experts


Sparsh from Automation Jinn
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Hey ​@melissa.hunchuck,

I thinks it’s happening because Looping Step run in parallel rather than sequentially.

A big Code Step might also result in a timeout error as the limit for processing is only 30 seconds for professional and team plan. On enterprise plans the limit is 2 minutes.

You will probably have to use Looping with it as well if you decide to use that but it will only work if the iterations are less than 500. You can make the time shorter for delays in seconds by using the Code by Zapier. 

Another logic could be to run the code by Zapier to do one batch api call and save the next pagination details in Zapier tables/ Google Sheets to be triggered next. Hope it helps!

PS: If you need more active help, I’m happy to connect through my Zapier Solution Partner page if you’d like to reach out here- https://zapier.com/partnerdirectory/automation-jinn