Exchange rates under control: automation via Soffi.io
Guide: how to set up auto currency updates in Google Sheets in one evening
How to Put Currency Monitoring on Autopilot: A Step-by-Step Guide Using Soffi.io
Why You Need This
Every importer lives at the mercy of exchange rates: today the dollar is up—your margin shrinks, tomorrow it’s down—you get a chance to cut prices and outpace competitors. The faster your team sees fresh numbers, the more precise the decisions. Manually copying data from a bank website to a Google Sheet leads straight to typos and the endless “updated or not?” race. Let me show you how to replace manual work with automatic exports via Soffi.io in just one evening.
Step 1. Get a Reliable Data Source
- 1.
Open the central bank’s API (or another provider).
- 2.
Make sure the endpoint returns JSON or CSV—this way, Soffi.io will process the file without any extra hassle.
- 3.
Save the link—you’ll need it for the setup.
Tip: If the API requires a key, add it directly to the URL parameters and check the response in your browser.
Step 2. Prepare the Report Template
- 1.
Create a new Google Sheet named “Exchange Rates”.
- 2.
In the first row, specify the fields you need: Date, USD, EUR, CNY, etc.
- 3.
Add a “Dynamics” sheet with a chart: go to “Insert → Chart”, choose the “Line” type.
- 4.
Save the file—and keep the link handy.
Why a chart? It’s much easier to glance at a trend during the morning call than to stare at a column of numbers.
Step 3. Create a Task in Soffi.io
- 1.
Source. Select “Pull from URL”, paste the copied endpoint, and set the update interval (for example, every weekday at 08:00).
- 2.
Processor. Specify which columns from the JSON/CSV to transfer (date, currency code, rate).
- 3.
Recipient. Connect the Google Sheet and specify the range where new rows should be added.
- 4.
Email Template. The built-in editor lets you create a concise summary:
Good morning! USD: {{usd}} EUR: {{eur}} 7-day change: {{usd_week_change}} / {{eur_week_change}} - 5.
Save the task and run a test—Soffi.io will immediately record the first update.
Step 4. Check the Result
- •
Open the sheet: there’s a new row at the bottom with today’s date—perfect.
- •
Switch to the “Dynamics” sheet: the chart has redrawn itself.
- •
Check your email—the message is already in your inbox.
If everything looks correct, go back to Soffi.io and move the task from “Draft” to “Active”.
Step 5. Add Quality Control
- •
Change History. Enable “Store the last 30 file versions” in the settings—if the API suddenly returns zeroes, you can easily roll back.
- •
Backup. Create a backup copy of the sheet on Google Drive with “View only” rights for colleagues—less risk that someone accidentally erases a formula.
- •
Access Restrictions. Give Soffi.io a separate technical account—so you don’t become a bottleneck if you go on vacation.
What You Get in the End
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| Manual rate copying every morning | Fully automated scheduled import |
| Typos and outdated data | Accurate API data + dynamics chart |
| One hour of lost work every day | 5 minutes to check the email |
You save about 20 work hours per month—almost three full working days for a specialist. Most importantly, price decisions are now based on current data, not yesterday’s guesses.
FAQ
Do developers need to write code for the integration?
No. Everything is built through a visual constructor. Just copy the URL and specify which fields you need.
Can I add my own calculations?
Yes: add an extra column to the template and specify the formula in Soffi.io (for example, “Rate × margin coefficient”).
What if the API is unavailable?
Soffi.io will send an error notification, and the data in the sheet will remain unchanged—your numbers won’t get messed up.
Bottom Line
Automating your currency report via Soffi.io is not “just another IT toy”, but a concrete tool that frees you from routine and reduces pricing risks. Setup takes one or two evenings, but after that the system runs itself: it pulls the data, builds the chart, sends the email—while you’re enjoying your morning coffee. Try it, and manual rate-checking will be a thing of the past.