Me and my wife are constantly asking Alexa to add things to the shopping list. However, when we go shopping, we prefer to use HA Shopping List.
So, I had to find a way to sync from Alexa to HA one way sync only.
In my first setup I had the following:
- Alexa Shopping List => IFTTT => Home Assistant.
An item was created in Alexa Shopping list, IFTTT would see that as a trigger and send a webhook to HA and add the item to HA Shopping List
IFTTT stopped working with Alexa Shopping list, so I had to find a different way.
My second setup was:
- Alexa Shopping List => Todoist => IFTTT => Home Assistant
An item was created in Alexa Shopping list, it would automatically sync with Todoist, IFTTT would see that as a trigger and send a webhook to HA and add the item to HA Shopping List
However, recently, IFTTT change its policy and Webhooks are available only in the paid version (Pro version).
I had to find another way.
In a quick search for ITFFF alternatives, I found Zapier (zapier.com)
My current setup that is actually working is:
- Alexa Shopping List => Todoist => Zapier => Home Assistant
An item was created in Alexa Shopping list, it would automatically sync with Todoist, Zapier sees that as a trigger and send a webhook to HA and add the item to HA Shopping List
If you want to set that up, follow the instructions below:
In Home Assistant:
1 - Go to Settings, Automations and click on Create Automation
2 - Add a trigger and select Webhook. Once create, click on the copy button on the right. It will copy something similar to:
http://10.0.0.1/api/webhook/-njfnsnfnalsdnaksd
Make sure when you use in Zapier, you use with your external URL:
i.e. https://my_ha_server/api/webhook/-njfnsnfnalsdnaksd
3 - Under Action, select Call Service, switch to YAML Editor and add the following:
service: shopping_list.add_item
data_template:
name: "{{ trigger.json.name }}"
In Alexa App:
1 - Add Todoist Skill to your Alexa
In Zapier:
1 - Go to Zapier, create an account and create an app.
2 - Click on trigger, select Todoist and choose “New Incomplete Task”.
3 - When you click on Continue, it will ask you to Sign In to Todoist. Do it and click on Continue.
4 - Under Project, select Alexa Shopping List and click on Continue
5 - On the left side, click on Action.
6 - Select “Code by Zapier” and under Event, select “Run Javascript” and click Continue
7 - Under Input Data add the following (as the image below)
Webhook => https://your_ha_page/api/webhook/your_webhook (use the webhook address saved in the step #2 under “In Home Assistant:”
Methodo => POST
item_name => click and select “1. Content:” (it will show the last item in your list)
- if you need help to create a webhook in HA, please check this page
8 - Under Code, add this:
let Timestamp = new Date().toISOString(); // creates a Timestamp
let Webhook = inputData.Webhook.trim();
let Method = inputData.Method.trim();
let item_name = inputData.item_name.trim();
// creates the JSON Object to send with the key/value pairs
let JSONObject = { "action": "call_service", "service": "shopping_list.add_item", "name": item_name}
// creates the Method, Headers, and Body of the HTTP POST Request
let Options = {
method: Method,
headers: {
'Accept': 'application/json',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
},
body: JSON.stringify(JSONObject)
}
const Request = await fetch(Webhook, Options); // HTTP POST Request
output = {Timestamp}
9 - Click on Continue and click on Test step
The test above should add the item to your HA Shopping list.
10 - Click on Publish.
This last step should activate the App and everything that you add to the Alexa Shopping List will make into your HA Shopping List.
Because this is a one way sync (Alexa => HA), I have an automation to clear my Alexa Shopping List every day and I manage everything from HA only.