# Triage and route inbound emails with OpenAI and Slack: n8n workflow

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

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/triage-and-route-inbound-emails-with-openai-and-slack (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

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

# Triage and route inbound emails with OpenAI and Slack

Started by an arriving email, and works across Email, Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 9 steps, 2 branches: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Ftriage-and-route-inbound-emails-with-openai-and-slack)

**9 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**2** Branches: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**4** Services it connects to

## The flow

Model 1 Logic 2 Service 6

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

- 1 **Email Trigger (IMAP)** Email Read Imap *Service*
- 2 **AI Classify** Open Ai *Model*
- 3 **Confidence Gate** If *Logic*
- 4 **Human Review Queue** Slack *Service*
- 5 **Route by Category** Switch *Logic*
- 6 **Audit Log** Google Sheets *Service*
- 7 **Alert Team Chat** Slack *Service*
- 8 **Append to Ledger** Google Sheets *Service*
- 9 **Label + Archive** Gmail *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An arriving email
- **Steps:** 9, with 2 branches
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Email, Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Email, Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack 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. 9 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 9 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%2Ftriage-and-route-inbound-emails-with-openai-and-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)[Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Gmail#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)[Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Slack#library)

## Workflows like it

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

- [**AI compliance checker agent (live legal validator) with Gemini** 9 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/ai-compliance-checker-agent-live-legal-validator-with-gemini)
- [**Automated multi-cloud resource cost optimizer with OpenAI** 9 steps · calls a model · Email, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-multi-cloud-resource-cost-optimizer-with-openai)
- [**Classify and route inbound messages with OpenAI and Slack** 9 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/classify-and-route-inbound-messages-with-openai-and-slack)
- [**Email responses with OpenAI and Telegram** 9 steps · calls a model · Email, Telegram](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/email-responses-with-openai-and-telegram)
- [**Gate AI Slack DevOps bot actions with OpenAI** 9 steps · calls a model · Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/gate-ai-slack-devops-bot-actions-with-openai)
- [**Generate and approve Google review replies with Groq AI** 9 steps · calls a model · Google Business Profile, Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-and-approve-google-review-replies-with-groq-ai)