Automation library · Customer support

Answer customer questions on WhatsApp with OpenAI and Gmail

Started by an incoming WhatsApp message, and works across Gmail, Google Sheets and WhatsApp. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 15 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: OpenAIRetrieval

15 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
2Branches: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
3Services it connects to

The flow

Starts it 1Model 5Logic 4Service 5

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

  1. 1Receive WhatsApp messageWhats App triggerStarts it
  2. 2OpenAI Chat ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
  3. 3Conversation MemoryMemory Buffer WindowModel
  4. 4list_linksHttp Request ToolService
  5. 5get_pageHttp Request ToolService
  6. 6Output Fixer ModelLm Chat Open AiModel
  7. 7ConfigurationSetLogic
  8. 8Website Support AgentAgentModel
  9. 9Answer ParserOutput Parser StructuredModel
  10. 10Is a text question?IfLogic
  11. 11Needs a human?IfLogic
  12. 12Ignore non-text updatesNo OpLogic
  13. 13Alert the support team by emailGmailService
  14. 14Send the answer on WhatsAppWhats AppService
  15. 15Log the conversation in Google SheetsGoogle SheetsService

How it's built

Starts on
An incoming WhatsApp message
Steps
15, with 2 branches
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Gmail, Google Sheets, WhatsApp
Model
OpenAI
Retrieval
Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

Questions

What does it need to run?

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

What starts it?

It starts on an incoming WhatsApp message.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Its answers draw on documents you give it, not on the model alone. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 15 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 15 steps before you point it at anything that matters.