Migrating Your Airtable + Zapier / Make / n8n System to Custom Code
Is your Airtable + Zapier system becoming an unmanageable monster?
First Things First: Do You Really Need to Migrate to Custom Code?
Here are the warning signs that show your Airtable + Zapier/Make setup is no longer suitable. If you don't recognize yourself in any of these points, you can continue with your current system!
- Unacceptable delays - Your workflows take 5-15 minutes instead of being instant
- Cascading failures - One broken Zap blocks your entire business for hours
- Exploding costs - Zapier Premium + Airtable Pro exceed €500/month
- Nightmarish debugging - Impossible to understand why it's no longer working
- Task limits reached - You're constraining your processes to avoid extra costs
- Impossible business logic - Complex calculations, advanced conditions not supported
- Scattered data - GDPR complications, no overview
- Paralyzed team - No one dares touch the system for fear of breaking everything
Comparison Table: Airtable + Zapier vs Custom Development
| Criteria | Airtable + Zapier | Custom Code |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | ✅ Low | ❌ Higher |
| Quick launch | ✅ A few days | ❌ 1-3 months |
| No-code autonomy | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Easy iteration | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Processing time | ❌ 5-15 minutes | ✅ Instant |
| Reliability | ❌ Frequent failures | ✅ 99.9%+ |
| Costs at scale | ❌ €500-2000/month | ✅ €50-200/month |
| Complex logic | ❌ Very limited | ✅ Any |
| Error handling | ❌ Basic | ✅ Robust |
| Performance | ❌ Slow | ✅ Fast |
| Maintenance | ❌ Fragile | ✅ Stable |
| Centralized data | ❌ Scattered | ✅ Structured |
| GDPR/Security | ❌ Complicated | ✅ Controlled |
Simply put, Airtable + Zapier / Make / n8n is perfect for getting started and validating your business processes. Ideal as long as you have fewer than a few thousand records processed per month.
Once your processes are validated and your business is growing, if you encounter the problems listed above, it's time to migrate to custom code.
You Don't Necessarily Need to Migrate Everything at Once
If a specific process is causing problems, we can develop only that part. Keeping internal automation flows on Zapier / Make / n8n is often a good idea. It's simpler for iteration. However, if your flows are very complex and serve as a real backend for your clients, then custom code is the solution.
How to Migrate from Airtable + Zapier to Custom Code?
If you know how to code and have the time, go for it!
If you don't know how to code or are too busy with your business, I can help you migrate your processes to a real application.
Do You Have to Change Everything at Once?
Not at all. The progressive approach is often the smartest:
- Analysis - Mapping your current processes
- Prioritization - We start with the most critical process
- Parallel development - Your system continues running
- Progressive migration - Process by process
- Optimization - Once everything is migrated, we optimize the whole system
The Support Is Tailored for You, Adapted to Your Situation
My goal is to be your tech right-hand to analyze your current processes and develop the most suitable solution. I handle the complete development so you can stay focused on your business.
Throughout the project, I guide you through decisions and regularly present progress updates. You're never dispossessed of your processes. Upon completion, I remain available for maintenance until you hire internally.