# Triage VIP Outlook emails with Excel and OpenAI: n8n workflow

> Started by an event in a connected app, and works across Excel and Outlook. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/triage-vip-outlook-emails-with-excel-and-openai (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)

# Triage VIP Outlook emails with Excel and OpenAI

Started by an event in a connected app, and works across Excel and Outlook. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 11 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI

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

**11 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**2** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 2 Model 1 Logic 5 Service 3

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

- 1 **Outlook Trigger** Microsoft Outlook trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Error Trigger** Error trigger *Starts it*
- 3 **Deduplicate Threads** Code *Logic*
- 4 **Send Error Email** Microsoft Outlook *Service*
- 5 **Excel: Read VIP Sheet** Microsoft Excel *Service*
- 6 **Code: Tag & Filter VIPs** Code *Logic*
- 7 **Strip HTML Bloat** Html *Logic*
- 8 **AI: Analyze Urgency** Open Ai *Model*
- 9 **Parse AI Output** Code *Logic*
- 10 **Is Urgent?** If *Logic*
- 11 **Create VIP To Do Task** Microsoft To Do *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An event in a connected app
- **Steps:** 11, with 1 branch
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Excel, Outlook
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Excel and Outlook accounts, and a key for OpenAI. 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?

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. 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%2Ftriage-vip-outlook-emails-with-excel-and-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.

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

## Workflows like it

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

- [**Automated web scraping: email a CSV, save** 10 steps · Excel, Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-web-scraping-email-a-csv-save-2)
- [**Automated web scraping: email a CSV, save** 10 steps · Excel, Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-web-scraping-email-a-csv-save)
- [**Automated web scraping: email a CSV, save** 10 steps · Excel, Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automated-web-scraping-email-a-csv-save-3)
- [**Fetch live ETF metrics from JustETF to Excel** 10 steps · Excel](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/fetch-live-etf-metrics-from-justetf-to-excel)
- [**Update stock portfolio from OneDrive to Excel** 12 steps · Excel](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/update-stock-portfolio-from-onedrive-to-excel)
- [**Automate school notice distribution with WhatsApp and Excel** 9 steps · Email, Excel](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-school-notice-distribution-with-whatsapp-and-excel)