# WhatsApp customer support with Claude and Google Docs: n8n workflow

> Started by an incoming WhatsApp message, and works across WhatsApp. It puts OpenAI and OpenRouter behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/whatsapp-customer-support-with-claude-and-google-docs (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

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

# WhatsApp customer support with Claude and Google Docs

Started by an incoming WhatsApp message, and works across WhatsApp. It puts OpenAI and OpenRouter behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 16 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI, OpenRouter Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fwhatsapp-customer-support-with-claude-and-google-docs)

**16 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 5 Logic 4 Service 6

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

- 1 **WhatsApp Trigger** Whats App trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Simple Memory** Memory Buffer Window *Model*
- 3 **Get a document in Google Docs** Google Docs Tool *Service*
- 4 **OpenRouter Chat Model** Lm Chat Open Router *Model*
- 5 **Check Input Type** Switch *Logic*
- 6 **AI Agent** Agent *Model*
- 7 **Get Audio URL** Whats App *Service*
- 8 **Get Image URL** Whats App *Service*
- 9 **Text Only Prompt** Set *Logic*
- 10 **Respond with Text** Whats App *Service*
- 11 **Download Audio** Http Request *Service*
- 12 **Download Image** Http Request *Service*
- 13 **Transcribe Audio** Open Ai *Model*
- 14 **Analyze Image** Open Ai *Model*
- 15 **Audio Prompt** Set *Logic*
- 16 **Image + Text Prompt** Set *Logic*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An incoming WhatsApp message
- **Steps:** 16, with 1 branch
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** WhatsApp
- **Model:** OpenAI, OpenRouter
- **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 WhatsApp account, and a key for OpenAI and OpenRouter. 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 and OpenRouter. 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. 16 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 16 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%2Fwhatsapp-customer-support-with-claude-and-google-docs)
- **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.

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

## Workflows like it

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

- [**Automate WhatsApp customer support with FAQ** 16 steps · calls a model · Google Calendar, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-whatsapp-customer-support-with-faq)
- [**Automate product training & customer support with WhatsApp** 16 steps · calls a model · Google Sheets, WhatsApp](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-product-training-and-customer-support-with-whatsapp)
- [**Answer customer questions on WhatsApp with OpenAI and Gmail** 15 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/answer-customer-questions-on-whatsapp-with-openai-and-gmail)
- [**Route urgent Gmail support emails and WhatsApp digests** 17 steps · calls a model · Gmail, Supabase](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/route-urgent-gmail-support-emails-and-whatsapp-digests)
- [**Answer WhatsApp questions from PDF documents with RAG** 14 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Pinecone](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/answer-whatsapp-questions-from-pdf-documents-with-rag)
- [**Handle WhatsApp customer inquiries with Gemini** 14 steps · calls a model · WhatsApp](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/handle-whatsapp-customer-inquiries-with-gemini)