Save Emails and Parsed Documents to Google Drive Automatically

Parseur extracts structured data from your documents and routes it to spreadsheets, CRMs, and accounting tools. But extracted data alone isn't always enough. Many teams also need to keep the original files for audit trails, compliance, accountant access, or simply having a centralised archive that everyone can reach.

This integration handles the archiving side. Every time Parseur processes a document, Zapier uploads the original file to a Google Drive folder automatically. You get both the extracted data in your destination apps and the original document preserved in Drive, without any manual downloading or uploading.

Key Takeaways

• Enabling the OriginalDocument extra field in Parseur adds a URL to each parsed output pointing to the original file. Zapier uses that URL to upload the file to Google Drive.
• The original file is saved to Drive alongside, not instead of, the extracted data. A single Zap can archive the file and push the parsed fields to Google Sheets or QuickBooks in the same workflow.
• Common uses are invoice archiving for accounting, contract storage for legal teams, and compliance archives where original documents need to be retained.
• The same pattern works for OneDrive, Dropbox, and any other cloud storage platform with a Zapier upload action.
• Both Parseur and Zapier have free plans.

When to save originals to Google Drive

Most Parseur workflows focus on routing extracted data to a destination app. Adding a Drive archiving step makes sense when:

• Accounting and invoice workflows: Finance teams need both the extracted invoice data in QuickBooks and the original PDF invoice stored somewhere the accountant can access. See the invoice processing guide.
• Compliance and audit requirements: Some industries require retention of original documents for a set period. Saving each processed file to a dated Drive folder creates an auditable archive automatically.
• Legal document storage: Contracts, agreements, and signed forms need to be kept in a location the whole team can access, separate from the extraction workflow.
• Shared team visibility: The extracted data goes to a system only some team members use, but the original files should be accessible to anyone in the organisation via Drive.
• Backup alongside extraction: If your primary data destination is a niche tool or internal system, keeping originals in Drive provides a fallback if that system is unavailable.

How the OriginalDocument field works

Parseur stores a copy of each document it receives. When you enable the OriginalDocument extra field in your mailbox, it surfaces as a URL field in the parsed output. That URL points to the original file as Parseur received it.

Zapier reads that URL and uploads the file to Google Drive as the action step. The result in Drive is the original document exactly as it arrived in Parseur, not a modified version.

To enable it: in your Parseur mailbox, go to Fields, then Extras, and tick OriginalDocument.

Step-by-step: Save original documents to Google Drive via Zapier

Step 1: Forward a document to Parseur

Set up an auto-forwarding rule in Gmail or Outlook to send matching emails to your Parseur mailbox automatically. Or forward a sample email manually to test the integration.

The email and any attachments appear in your mailbox within seconds.

Step 2: Enable the OriginalDocument extra field

In your mailbox, go to Fields, then Extras, and tick OriginalDocument. This adds a URL field to the parsed output that Zapier will use to upload the file.

Step 3: Connect Parseur to Zapier

In Parseur, go to Export, then Zapier, and search for Google Drive.

Click Create Zap. In Zapier, select Parseur as the trigger app and choose New Document Processed as the trigger event.

Connect your Parseur account and select the mailbox you want to archive from.

Step 4: Connect Google Drive and configure the upload

Choose Google Drive as the action app and Upload File as the action event. Connect your Google Drive account.

Select your destination folder, then map the OriginalDocument.url field as the file source.

Step 5: Test and activate

Run a test to confirm the file appears in your Drive folder.

Once the test passes, turn the Zap on. Every document Parseur processes from that point is archived to Drive automatically.

Combining archiving with data routing in one Zap

A multi-step Zap can handle both actions at once. After the Parseur trigger, add a Google Drive action to archive the original file, then add a second action to push the extracted data to Google Sheets, QuickBooks, or another destination. Both actions run from the same trigger, so each processed document is archived and its data is routed in the same automated pass.

For routing extracted data to a spreadsheet alongside archiving, see the Google Sheets integration guide.

Extracting data from files already in Google Drive

This article covers the outgoing direction: Parseur sends original documents to Drive after extraction. If you need the reverse, watching a Drive folder for new files and sending them to Parseur for extraction, see the Google Drive incoming guide.