Question 1

What manual work can I automate by connecting Lob to my other business tools?

Accepted Answer

You can automate the entire process of generating and mailing physical documents triggered by events in your business. When a record is created or updated in your database or CRM, an automation can capture that data, format it into a letter or postcard template in Lob, and send it to print without any manual intervention. This eliminates repetitive formatting, envelope addressing, and manual mail submission tasks that previously took staff 15-25 minutes per document.

Question 2

How does data flow between Lob and my other systems when I set up an automation?

Accepted Answer

Data flows out of your source system (like a contact database or form submission tool) and into Lob through the automation platform, which maps fields such as recipient address, name, and personalized content to Lob's API. Lob then returns tracking or confirmation data back through the automation, which can be logged in your original system to record that a document was sent. This two-way flow ensures your records stay synchronized across systems.

Question 3

What commonly breaks or causes problems when automating with Lob?

Accepted Answer

Address formatting inconsistencies are the most common issue, since Lob requires properly formatted recipient addresses to process mail. If your source data contains incomplete or incorrectly structured addresses, the automation may fail silently or send to a wrong address. Test your address mappings carefully before going live, and consider whether your source system needs address validation or standardization before data reaches Lob.

Question 4

How should I organize my Lob templates and contact data to make automations reliable?

Accepted Answer

Create separate, reusable templates in Lob for each type of document you send regularly, and map your contact fields consistently across all automations. Store complete and standardized recipient information in your source system before triggering sends, and use field mapping to ensure the same data always goes to the same template variables. This prevents template mix-ups and ensures every automated mailing uses the correct design and recipient details.

Automate the manual work in Lob

Lob by the numbers

Top 5 Lob friction points when done manually

Tracking Lob mail delivery status

Reconciling Lob costs with invoices

Updating recipient lists for Lob campaigns

Handling Lob bounces and undeliverables

Coordinating Lob timing with campaigns

What you can automate in Lob

Send letters on Lob for new actions on Podio

Send Lob postcards for new actions on Podio

Send Lob postcards for new Gravity Forms submissions

Send Lob postcards with new rows in Google Sheets

Send postcard when ConvertFlow form is submitted

Verify US Addresses in Lob for new Typeform entries and add them to Google Sheets

The most popular processes that use Lob

Donor Stewardship & Thank-You

Tools commonly connected to Lob

Lob Automation questions

Ready to automate your work in Lob?