# RAG OCR pipeline for PDF document processing with OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Google Drive and in-memory vectors.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/rag-ocr-pipeline-for-pdf-document-processing-with-openai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

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

# RAG OCR pipeline for PDF document processing with OpenAI

Started by someone opening a chat with it, and works across Google Drive and in-memory vectors. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 11 steps: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Frag-ocr-pipeline-for-pdf-document-processing-with-openai)

**11 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**0** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 2 Model 7 Logic 1 Service 1

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

- 1 **Embeddings OpenAI1** Embeddings Open Ai *Model*
- 2 **Default Data Loader1** Document Default Data Loader *Model*
- 3 **OpenAI Chat Model1** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 4 **When chat message received** Chat trigger *Starts it*
- 5 **Google Drive Trigger** Google Drive trigger *Starts it*
- 6 **Simple Vector Store1** Vector Store In Memory *Model*
- 7 **Query Data Tool1** Vector Store In Memory *Model*
- 8 **AI Agent1** Agent *Model*
- 9 **Google Drive - Download1** Google Drive *Service*
- 10 **Extract text1** Mistral Ai *Model*
- 11 **Code - Chunk1** Code *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Someone opening a chat with it
- **Steps:** 11
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Google Drive, in-memory vectors
- **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 Google Drive and in-memory vectors accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on someone opening a chat with it.

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. 11 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 11 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%2Frag-ocr-pipeline-for-pdf-document-processing-with-openai)
- **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.

[Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Drive#library)[in-memory vectors](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=in-memory+vectors#library)

## Workflows like it

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

- [**Automated RAG Pipeline: Google Drive to Supabase Vector Store** 10 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Supabase](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-rag-pipeline-google-drive-to-supabase-vector-store)
- [**Generate AI sales battle cards with Olostep and Gemini** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-ai-sales-battle-cards-with-olostep-and-gemini)
- [**Score sales call recordings with Google Drive and Gemini** 9 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/score-sales-call-recordings-with-google-drive-and-gemini)
- [**Automate Zoom attendance follow-ups with Google Sheets** 13 steps · Email, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-zoom-attendance-follow-ups-with-google-sheets)
- [**Manage enterprise contract approvals and audit PDFs** 9 steps · Google Drive, HubSpot](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/manage-enterprise-contract-approvals-and-audit-pdfs)
- [**Collaborative sales planning with Google Docs and Slack** 14 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/collaborative-sales-planning-with-google-docs-and-slack)