Hey everyone! I’m working on a cool project and could use some help from n8n pros. I’m trying to set up an AI assistant that can handle leads coming in through WhatsApp. The idea is to use OpenAI’s API for conversation and data extraction, and if a lead wants to schedule a meeting, the assistant should check Google Calendar for available times and book it. After scheduling, it must send a summary message to the business owner.
Here’s a rough plan:
1. Receive a lead message on WhatsApp
2. Use AI to chat and collect details
3. Check the Google Calendar
4. Book the meeting if a slot is available
5. Notify the owner with the meeting details
Has anyone tried this before or have any suggestions, particularly on linking WhatsApp and managing calendar integrations? Thanks in advance for your help!
I’ve actually implemented a similar workflow for a client recently, and I can share some insights that might help you out. One key thing we learned is to use n8n’s Webhook node as an entry point for WhatsApp messages. This allows you to receive incoming messages and trigger your workflow.
For the AI conversation part, we found that using n8n’s OpenAI node worked well, but you’ll need to carefully design your prompts to get consistent results. We ended up creating a custom node to handle some specific parsing tasks.
The trickiest part was definitely the calendar integration. We used the Google Calendar node, but be prepared for some trial and error with date/time formatting. Also, consider adding a buffer time between appointments to avoid overbooking.
One tip: use n8n’s Error Trigger nodes strategically throughout your workflow. This helps catch and handle issues, especially with external API calls.
Lastly, for notifying the business owner, we set up a simple Slack integration, but email or SMS could work too. Just make sure to format the summary message clearly for quick reading.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you need any more specific advice on implementation.
hey alex, i’ve done something similar before. one tip: use n8n’s whatsapp business node instead of webhooks. it’s way more reliable.
for the AI part, try using a fine-tuned model. it’ll give you better results than just using prompts.
watch out for timezone issues with google calendar. use a custom function to handle date stuff.
good luck with your project! let me know if u need more help
Having worked on a similar project, I can offer some practical advice. First, leverage n8n’s WhatsApp Business node to handle incoming messages efficiently. It’s more reliable than webhooks for this use case.
For the AI component, I recommend fine-tuning a GPT model specifically for lead qualification and data extraction. This approach yields more consistent results than relying solely on prompts.
Regarding calendar integration, the Google Calendar node is solid, but watch out for timezone issues. Implement a custom function to handle date conversions and avoid scheduling conflicts.
One crucial aspect often overlooked is error handling. Implement robust logging and notification systems to catch and address issues promptly, especially for critical steps like meeting bookings.
For owner notifications, consider using a combination of instant messaging (like Telegram) for urgent alerts and email for detailed summaries. This dual approach ensures timely awareness without overwhelming the owner.
Lastly, don’t forget to implement a feedback loop. Regularly analyze conversation logs to improve your AI model and refine the overall workflow.