[guide] How to Process Zap Looping Iterations in Sequential Order

Contribution by Troy Tessalone

Troy is a Certified Zapier Expert who puts Programmable Productivity to work for YOU!

NOTICE

This will no longer work due to changes made by Zapier!

• Minimal delay: From January 13, 2025, the shortest delay you can set for a Zap is 1 minute. 
• Automatical adjustments: If you have any existing Zaps with delays shorter than 1 minute, they will automatically adjusted to 1 minute to prevent any performance impact.

Info: https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/33303435847821-Enhance-delay-functionality-for-seamless-workflows

About

By default, the Looping app runs loop iterations in parallel (aka at the same time).

But, there are cases when you need the loop iterations to run in sequential order. (e.g. loop iteration 1, then loop iteration 2, and so on.)

Here’s how to do that in your Zap steps.

Apps

• Looping
  • Line Items
  • Numbers
  • Text
• Delay
  • For
• Formatter
  • Numbers
    • Perform Math Operation (Divide)

Steps

1. Trigger: UP TO YOU! (required)
2. Action: UP TO YOU! (optional)
3. Action: Looping - Line Items
   1. FREE TASK
4. Action: Formatter - Numbers - Perform Math Operation
   1. FREE TASK
5. Action: Delay - For
   1. FREE TASK
6. Action: UP TO YOU! (required)

Looping

Help: https://zapier.com/apps/looping/help

Formatter

Help: https://zapier.com/apps/formatter/help

Loop Iteration / Loop Total Iterations

e.g. If there are 5 items to iterate:

• Loop 1 = 1/5 or .2
• Loop 2 = 2/5 or .4
• Loop 3 = 3/5 or .6
• Loop 4 = 4/5 or .8
• Loop 5 = 5/5 or 1

Delay

Map the Output variable from the Formatter step to the Time Delay For (value) input.

Help: https://zapier.com/apps/delay/help

Now your Zap Run loop iterations will run in sequential order!