Embed BI and analytics into any workflow.
Metabase is an open-source business intelligence tool that lets you create dashboards and visualizations from your data. With the Flows360 Metabase integration, you can connect your Metabase instance to the rest of your SaaS stack, automating key administrative and data-related tasks.
Instead of relying on manual updates or brittle scripts, use Flows360 to programmatically manage your Metabase environment. Create, update, and sync database connections directly from a workflow. Trigger table scans and card refreshes in response to events in other applications, ensuring your analytics always reflect the latest data.
This integration allows you to treat your BI platform as a dynamic part of your operational infrastructure. Connect CRMs, ERPs, and other data sources to Metabase for a fully automated, end-to-end data pipeline. Build workflows that not only move data but also manage the analytics environment itself.
Common use cases
- Automated BI reporting
- Real-time dashboard updates
- Programmatic database management
- Cross-system data analysis and visualization
- Triggering analytics refreshes from ETL/ELT workflows
Sync scenarios
- Create new database connections in Metabase
- Trigger database schema syncs
- Initiate value rescans for tables
- Run a specific card or question
- Update database connection details
Objects supported
- Database
- Table
- Question / Card
- Dashboard
- Collection
- User
- Segment
- Metric
- Pulse / Alert
- Revision History
- Serialization Dump
Actions
- list_databases
- create_database
- update_database
- sync_database_schema
- rescan_database_values
- run_card
- list_cards
- create_collection
- add_question_to_dashboard
- copy_dashboard
- create_pulse_alert
- export_result_to_csv
- invoke_action_menu_item
- update_collection_permissions
Frequently asked questions
What can I do with the Flows360 Metabase integration?
You can programmatically manage your Metabase databases, tables, and collections. Trigger data syncs and rescans to keep your dashboards updated from any connected application in your stack.
How do I connect my Metabase instance?
You connect your Metabase account to Flows360 using your instance URL and an API key. This allows Flows360 to securely interact with your Metabase environment on your behalf.
Can I run queries or refresh cards with this integration?
Yes, a common use case is to trigger a card or question to run after a data sync has completed. This ensures your Metabase visualizations reflect the latest data from your other business systems.
- Auth method: Metabase Session Token (API Key)
- Required scopes: 1
- Supported objects: 6
- Supported actions: 14
Overview
Metabase is an open-source business intelligence tool for creating dashboards and visualizations. The Flows360 Metabase connector allows you to automate administrative and data-related tasks within your Metabase instance.
Use workflows to programmatically manage your Metabase environment, including creating, updating, and syncing database connections. You can trigger table scans and card refreshes based on events in other applications, ensuring your analytics reflect the latest data.
This integration enables you to treat your BI platform as a dynamic component of your operational infrastructure. Connect CRMs, ERPs, and other data sources to Metabase to build fully automated, end-to-end data pipelines. Workflows can manage both the data flow and the analytics environment itself.
Setup steps
To connect to Metabase, you need to authenticate using a session token.
1. Log in to Metabase: Sign in to your Metabase instance with a user account that has administrator privileges or sufficient permissions for the objects you intend to manage.
2. Generate a Session Token: Metabase does not use static API keys. You must programmatically request a session token by making a `POST` request to your Metabase instance's API endpoint `/api/session`.
Example cURL Request:
“`bash
curl -X POST
-H "Content-Type: application/json"
-d '{"username": "your-email@example.com", "password": "your-password"}'
https://your-metabase-instance.com/api/session
“`
3. Extract the Token: The API will respond with a JSON object containing an `id` field. This `id` is your session token.
Example Response:
“`json
{
"id": "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-1234-567890abcdef"
}
“`
4. Configure the Connector: Copy the `id` value from the response. In Flows360, create a new connection for Metabase. Paste the copied token into the API Key field and provide your Metabase instance URL (e.g., `https://your-metabase-instance.com`).
Required scopes
]
Supported objects
- Database
- Table
- Question / Card
- Dashboard
- Collection
- Pulse / Alert
Supported actions
- list_databases — Retrieves a list of all database connections configured in the Metabase instance.
- create_database — Creates a new database connection.
- update_database — Updates the configuration of an existing database connection.
- sync_database_schema — Forces Metabase to sync the schema for a specific database.
- rescan_database_values — Forces Metabase to rescan the field values for a specific database.
- run_card — Executes a saved question (card) and retrieves the results.
- list_cards — Retrieves a list of all saved questions (cards).
- create_collection — Creates a new collection to organize dashboards and questions.
- add_question_to_dashboard — Adds an existing saved question (card) to a specific dashboard.
- copy_dashboard — Creates a copy of an existing dashboard.
- create_pulse_alert — Creates a new Pulse, which can be a scheduled report or an alert.
- export_result_to_csv — Exports the results of a query or card to a CSV formatted string.
- invoke_action_menu_item — Programmatically triggers an action from a Metabase Action Menu.
- update_collection_permissions — Sets or updates the permissions for a specific collection.
Use cases
- Customer 360
- Product Analytics
- Revenue Operations
- Data Warehousing
Limitations
- The Metabase API uses a session token for authentication which expires. This token must be periodically regenerated and updated in the connection settings. The default session length is 14 days.
- API access and permissions are determined by the Metabase user account used to generate the session token. Ensure the user has the necessary administrative and data permissions for the intended operations.
- This connector is designed for administrative and operational tasks (e.g., managing connections, triggering syncs), not for executing arbitrary or complex data queries directly within a workflow. For data querying, use Metabase's native interface.