# AI Auto-Reply for Missed Customer Emails with Gmail and OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by an arriving email, and works across Gmail and Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-auto-reply-for-missed-customer-emails-with-gmail-and-open (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Data collection](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Data+collection#library)

# AI Auto-Reply for Missed Customer Emails with Gmail and OpenAI

Started by an arriving email, and works across Gmail and Google Sheets. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 17 steps, 1 branch, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fai-auto-reply-for-missed-customer-emails-with-gmail-and-open)

**17 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 5 Logic 6 Service 5

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Watch Gmail for New Incoming Emails** Gmail trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **OpenAI Chat Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 3 **OpenAI Chat Model1** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 4 **Structured Output Parser** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 5 **Google Sheets FAQ Tool** Google Sheets Tool *Service*
- 6 **Inquiry Filter** Text Classifier *Model*
- 7 **Reply Generator AI Agent** Agent *Model*
- 8 **Extract Email Metadata** Code *Logic*
- 9 **No Action Needed** No Op *Logic*
- 10 **Format HTML Email** Code *Logic*
- 11 **Wait 30 Minutes** Wait *Logic*
- 12 **Send Auto-Reply** Gmail *Service*
- 13 **Get Thread Messages** Gmail *Service*
- 14 **Log to CRM Sheet** Google Sheets *Service*
- 15 **Check for Team Reply** Code *Logic*
- 16 **Has Human Replied?** If *Logic*
- 17 **Log Human Handled** Google Sheets *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An arriving email
- **Steps:** 17, with 1 branch, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Gmail, Google Sheets
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Gmail and Google Sheets accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an arriving email.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 17 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 17 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fai-auto-reply-for-missed-customer-emails-with-gmail-and-open)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Gmail#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)

## Workflows like it

Also data collection, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Approve detention charge disputes with OpenAI and Gmail** 17 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/approve-detention-charge-disputes-with-openai-and-gmail)
- [**Automate LinkedIn job search and applications with Claude** 17 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-linkedin-job-search-and-applications-with-claude)
- [**Automated Facebook message response with OpenAI and Airtable** 17 steps · calls a model · Airtable, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-facebook-message-response-with-openai-and-airtable)
- [**Build an AI-powered employee recognition system with OpenAI** 17 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-an-ai-powered-employee-recognition-system-with-openai)
- [**Classify QA/QC compliance issues with Gemini and GitHub** 17 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/classify-qa-qc-compliance-issues-with-gemini-and-github)
- [**Llama AI model for Google Sheets tracking with OpenRouter** 17 steps · calls a model · Discord, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/llama-ai-model-for-google-sheets-tracking-with-openrouter)