Mastering ServiceTrade API: Automating Job Notifications and Decoding Status Fields

Status ID vs. Status Text

Because a POST with status_id=7 might return status="Complete" on GET, scripts should:

• Always fetch current job state via GET
• Translate numeric codes into clear phases
• Cross-check timestamps and events to avoid missed triggers

Node.js Snippet for Completed Inspections

const axios = require('axios');
const API_KEY = process.env.ST_API_KEY;

async function fetchAllCompletedInspections() {
  let allJobs = [];
  let page = 1;
  const per_page = 100;
  let hasMore = true;

  while (hasMore) {
    const response = await axios.get('/v1/jobs', {
      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${API_KEY}` },
      params: {
        filter: 'status_id:7;service_name:fire sprinkler inspection',
        page, per_page
      }
    });
    allJobs = allJobs.concat(response.data.jobs);
    hasMore = response.data.jobs.length === per_page;
    page += 1;
  }
  return allJobs;
}

// ...notifyClient and runNotifications with exponential backoff...

Paging

Loop through all pages to avoid missing jobs when counts spike.

Rate Limits

Read X-RateLimit headers and retry on 429 to prevent support fires.

Low-Code and Hybrid Approaches

Zapier connectors let teams wire a “job.completed” trigger into HubSpot workflows without custom code. For edge cases—PDF exports stalling, timezone-specific rules—a hybrid of low-code Zaps and core scripts keeps notifications flowing and IT focused on higher-value tasks.

Key Recommendations

1. Timezone Consistency: Normalize all updated_at fields to UTC, then convert only when displaying.
2. Idempotent Webhooks: Use unique notification IDs (e.g., job_id + timestamp) to avoid duplicates.
3. Proactive Monitoring: Send logs to Datadog or Splunk. Escalate if over 5% of calls fail.
4. TRACE Standards: Audit customer messages regularly for compliance with fire code and sales requirements.

{
  "job_id": 456123,
  "status_id": 7,
  "status_text": "Complete",
  "updated_at_utc": "2024-06-12T17:30:00Z",
  "updated_at_epoch": 1718213400000,
  "customer": {
    "name": "NextLevel Grocers",
    "email": "facilities@nextlevelgroc.com"
  },
  "event": "fire_sprinkler_inspection",
  "notification_id": "456123-1718213400000"
}