Upfirst is an AI receptionist that connects to Close in two ways: through Custom Actions (live REST API calls during a call) and through Zapier (writes to Close after the call ends). Inbound calls match against Leads and Contacts in real time, then log as Call Activities the moment the conversation wraps.

Does Upfirst integrate with Close?

Yes. Two options:

• Custom Actions hit Close's REST API directly. Phone-number searches, Lead lookups, advanced filtering, and Activity creation all happen inside the call.
• Zapier covers the post-call work for anything that doesn't need to fire while the caller is still on the line.

Close's API auth is HTTP Basic with an API key, so setup is short: generate the key in Close, paste it into Upfirst, configure the request.

What Close is

Close is the sales CRM built around high-volume calling. Leads, Contacts, and Opportunities are the core objects, with built-in calling, SMS, and email. Smart Views drive how reps work through the day. Custom fields and Activity types extend the model.

Inbound and outbound sales teams use Close because the phone is a first-class object. The integration with Upfirst keeps the inbound side as fast and structured as the outbound side already is.

What Upfirst can do with Close

Resolve the caller to a Lead and Contact before the conversation

When a call comes in, Upfirst runs a phone-number search across Close. The Phone Numbers endpoint or the Advanced Filtering API both work. The match returns the Lead and Contact. The receptionist opens by name and can reference Status, owner, recent Activity, or any custom field.

Run Smart View-style searches mid-call

Mid-call, the receptionist can take a caller-supplied search term (email, company name, an Opportunity title) and run an advanced filter against Close. The Advanced Filtering API supports nearly every filter you can build in a Smart View, so questions like "what's my account status?" or "is my demo still on the calendar?" get answered without a message taken.

Log every inbound call as a Close Call Activity

When the call ends, Upfirst posts a Call Activity to Close attached to the matching Lead and Contact. Duration, direction (inbound), the call summary, and the recording link all save in. The transcript can ride along as a Note. Reps see the call in the Activity feed the same as any Close-placed call.

Update Lead Status and custom fields from the call signal

Upfirst can pull anything from the conversation: intent signal, objection, next step, timing. Use those to update Lead Status (Qualified, Bad Fit, Hot), set custom fields, or create a Task for the rep. The CRM stays current without anyone updating it by hand.

Close API calls Upfirst can make

• GET /api/v1/phone_number/?phone= for direct phone lookup
• POST /api/v1/data/search/ using the Advanced Filtering API for richer queries
• GET /api/v1/lead/{id}/ and GET /api/v1/contact/{id}/
• POST /api/v1/lead/ for net-new leads
• PUT /api/v1/lead/{id}/ to update Status, owner, or custom fields
• POST /api/v1/activity/call/ to log the inbound call
• POST /api/v1/activity/note/ to attach the transcript
• POST /api/v1/task/ to create a follow-up Task

Setting up the Close integration

Custom Actions

1. In Close, go to Settings > Developer > API Keys and generate a new key. Copy it.
2. In Upfirst, go to Agent > Custom actions and add a new action.
3. Pick when it runs: When call starts for the phone-number lookup, During call for caller-driven Advanced Filtering searches, or After call for Call Activity and Note creation.
4. Set the request. Close uses HTTP Basic auth, so the Authorization header is Basic followed by the base64-encoded YOUR_API_KEY:. Example endpoint: https://api.close.com/api/v1/phone_number/?phone=#{{caller_id}}.
5. Pick which fields the receptionist gets back (Lead name, Status, owner, recent Activity). Test it. Save.

Zapier

1. Create a Zap. Trigger: Upfirst > Call Completed.
2. Pick a Close action: Create Lead, Update Lead, Create Call, Create Note.
3. Map the call fields to Close fields. Status and Lead owner are the ones that matter for routing.
4. Add filters so only the right calls fire updates.
5. Test with a real call. Turn the Zap on.

A typical Close setup: phone-number lookup on call start, Status update mid-call when the caller signals intent, Call Activity log on call end. Zapier handles cross-tool fanout (Slack alerts, Google Sheets logging) so the Close write itself stays fast.