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SEC Data Automation with Zapier

Zapier connects thousands of apps with no-code automations called Zaps. In this tutorial you will build a Zap that receives OMNI Datastream webhook events for new insider trades (Form 4 filings), logs each trade to a Google Sheets spreadsheet, and sends a Slack notification.

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Prerequisites

  • An Omni Datastream API key (set as OMNI_DATASTREAM_API_KEY)
  • A Zapier account (free tier supports single-step Zaps; multi-step requires a paid plan)
  • A Google account with Google Sheets access
  • A Slack workspace where you can post messages
  • (Optional) Familiarity with the Analyze Insider Trading tutorial

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Architecture overview

OMNI Datastream insider trade monitor
        |
        v
Webhook POST --> Zapier Catch Hook trigger
        |
        v
Zapier Formatter (clean data)
        |
        +--> Google Sheets (append row)
        |
        +--> Slack (send notification)

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Step 1 --- Create the Zapier webhook trigger

  1. Log in to Zapier and click Create Zap.
  2. For the trigger app, search for Webhooks by Zapier.
  3. Select Catch Hook as the trigger event.
  4. Click Continue. Zapier generates a unique webhook URL:
https://hooks.zapier.com/hooks/catch/123456/abcdef/
  1. Copy this URL --- you will register it with OMNI Datastream next.
  2. Click Test trigger and leave the page open. Zapier is now listening for a test event.

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Step 2 --- Register the webhook with OMNI Datastream

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Create a webhook endpoint

curl -X POST \
  -H "x-api-key: $OMNI_DATASTREAM_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://hooks.zapier.com/hooks/catch/123456/abcdef/",
    "description": "Zapier insider trade tracker",
    "events": ["filing.new"]
  }' \
  "https://api.secapi.ai/v1/webhook_endpoints"

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Create an insider trade monitor

curl -X POST \
  -H "x-api-key: $OMNI_DATASTREAM_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "Insider Trade Tracker",
    "form_types": ["4", "4/A"],
    "tickers": ["AAPL", "MSFT", "NVDA", "GOOGL", "META", "AMZN", "TSLA", "JPM", "GS", "BRK-B"],
    "webhook_endpoint_id": "we_abc123"
  }' \
  "https://api.secapi.ai/v1/monitors"
Replace we_abc123 with the endpoint ID from the previous response.

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Send a test event to Zapier

While Zapier is listening, send a sample payload so it can detect the data structure: 
curl -X POST \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "event": "filing.new",
    "timestamp": "2024-12-15T14:30:00Z",
    "data": {
      "accession_number": "0001234567-24-000100",
      "form": "4",
      "ticker": "AAPL",
      "company_name": "Apple Inc",
      "filed_at": "2024-12-15",
      "insider_name": "Tim Cook",
      "insider_title": "Chief Executive Officer",
      "transaction_type": "sale",
      "shares": 200000,
      "price": 248.50,
      "value": 49700000
    }
  }' \
  "https://hooks.zapier.com/hooks/catch/123456/abcdef/"
Go back to Zapier and click Test trigger again. You should see the sample data.

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Step 3 --- Prepare the Google Sheet

Create a Google Sheet named Insider Trade Tracker with the following column headers in Row 1:
ABCDEFGHI
DateTickerCompanyInsiderTitleTypeSharesPriceValue

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Step 4 --- Add a Google Sheets action

  1. Click + to add an action step.
  2. Search for Google Sheets and select it.
  3. Choose Create Spreadsheet Row as the action event.
  4. Connect your Google account and select the Insider Trade Tracker spreadsheet.
  5. Map the fields:
Sheet ColumnZapier Field
Datedata__filed_at
Tickerdata__ticker
Companydata__company_name
Insiderdata__insider_name
Titledata__insider_title
Typedata__transaction_type
Sharesdata__shares
Pricedata__price
Valuedata__value
  1. Click Test action to verify a row is created in your sheet.

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Step 5 --- Add a Slack notification

  1. Click + to add another action step.
  2. Search for Slack and select it.
  3. Choose Send Channel Message as the action event.
  4. Connect your Slack workspace and select the target channel (e.g., #insider-trades).
  5. Set the Message Text to:
:chart_with_upwards_trend: *Insider Trade Alert*
*{{data__insider_name}}* ({{data__insider_title}}) at *{{data__company_name}}* ({{data__ticker}})
:arrow_right: {{data__transaction_type}} of {{data__shares}} shares @ ${{data__price}}
:moneybag: Total value: ${{data__value}}
Filed: {{data__filed_at}}
  1. Click Test action to verify the Slack message is sent.

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Step 6 --- Turn on the Zap

  1. Name your Zap (e.g., “OMNI Insider Trade Tracker”).
  2. Click Publish to activate it.

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Zapier step summary

Step 1: Webhooks by Zapier - Catch Hook
        Receives POST from OMNI Datastream

Step 2: Google Sheets - Create Spreadsheet Row
        Logs trade to "Insider Trade Tracker" sheet

Step 3: Slack - Send Channel Message
        Posts formatted alert to #insider-trades

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Expected result

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Google Sheets row

DateTickerCompanyInsiderTitleTypeSharesPriceValue
2024-12-15AAPLApple IncTim CookChief Executive Officersale200000248.5049700000

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Slack message

:chart_with_upwards_trend: Insider Trade Alert
Tim Cook (Chief Executive Officer) at Apple Inc (AAPL)
:arrow_right: sale of 200000 shares @ $248.50
:moneybag: Total value: $49700000
Filed: 2024-12-15

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Troubleshooting

ProblemSolution
Zapier does not detect test dataMake sure you clicked Test trigger before sending the curl request. Zapier must be in listening mode.
Google Sheets columns are misalignedVerify the column headers match exactly. Zapier maps by header name.
Slack message has missing fieldsCheck that the field names in the message template match the Zapier field names (e.g., data__ticker, not ticker).
Zap triggers but no row is createdCheck the Google Sheets action error log in Zapier. Common issue: the spreadsheet was moved or renamed.
Too many alertsAdd a Filter by Zapier step to only continue for specific transaction types (e.g., data__transaction_type equals purchase).

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Next steps

  • Add a Filter step: Only track purchases (insider buys are often more meaningful than sales).
  • Add a Formatter step: Convert value to a human-readable currency format (e.g., $49,700,000).
  • Multi-sheet routing: Use a Paths by Zapier step to log buys and sells to different sheets.
  • Enrich with OMNI data: Add a Webhooks by Zapier > GET step to call /v1/insiders?ticker={ticker} and pull additional context before logging.
See the Analyze Insider Trading tutorial for more on working with insider trade data.