# Handle API retries with Slack: n8n workflow template

> Started by an event in a connected app, and works across Email and Slack. 14 steps, 2 branches, 2 loops or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/handle-api-retries-with-slack (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Alerts and monitoring](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Alerts+and+monitoring#library)

# Handle API retries with Slack

Started by an event in a connected app, and works across Email and Slack. 14 steps, 2 branches, 2 loops or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fhandle-api-retries-with-slack)

**14 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**2** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Logic 10 Service 3

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

- 1 **Execute Workflow Trigger** Execute Workflow trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Normalize Input + Defaults** Code *Logic*
- 3 **Do Operation - Replace With Your Node** Http Request *Service*
- 4 **Classify Result + Calculate Backoff** Code *Logic*
- 5 **Success?** If *Logic*
- 6 **Return Success Payload** Code *Logic*
- 7 **Retryable and Attempts Left?** If *Logic*
- 8 **Wait - Exponential Backoff Delay** Wait *Logic*
- 9 **Build Final Failure Summary** Code *Logic*
- 10 **Prepare Next Attempt** Code *Logic*
- 11 **Send Slack Alert** Slack *Service*
- 12 **Send Email Alert** Email Send *Service*
- 13 **Suspend - Wait for Manual Review** Wait *Logic*
- 14 **Stop and Error After Manual Review** Stop And Error *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An event in a connected app
- **Steps:** 14, with 2 branches, 2 loops or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Email, Slack
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Email and Slack accounts. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an event in a connected app.

Does it use AI?

No. Every step is fixed logic or a call to a service, so it does the same thing every time.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 14 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 14 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%2Fhandle-api-retries-with-slack)
- **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.

[Email](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Email#library)[Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Slack#library)

## Workflows like it

Also alerts and monitoring, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Aggregate tech trend signals from RSS feeds into Google Sheets** 14 steps · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/aggregate-tech-trend-signals-from-rss-feeds-into-google-shee)
- [**Automated email follow-up system with CentralStationCRM** 14 steps · Gmail, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-email-follow-up-system-with-centralstationcrm)
- [**Automated hotel price drop alerts** 14 steps · Email](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-hotel-price-drop-alerts)
- [**Catch soft 404 and error pages from sitemaps** 14 steps · Google Sheets, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/catch-soft-404-and-error-pages-from-sitemaps)
- [**Check in participants with Google Sheets and Slack** 14 steps · Google Sheets, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/check-in-participants-with-google-sheets-and-slack)
- [**Competitive price monitoring & alerts with Bright Data** 14 steps · Email, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/competitive-price-monitoring-and-alerts-with-bright-data)