Downloads

Download the n8n workflow (JSON)
ai-inbox-agent-n8n.json · n8n workflow · 7 steps · starts with New Email · uses Gmail, Anthropic, Google Calendar, Google Sheets, Slack · 8 KB
Import into n8n: Create Workflow, then the menu, then Import from File.

How to import it into n8n

In n8n, create a new workflow.
Open the ⋯ menu at the top right and choose Import from File, then pick the downloaded .json. (Or open the file, copy everything and paste it on the canvas.)
Open each node with a warning and connect your own account: the file carries no passwords or keys.
Run it once with Test workflow, check the result, then switch it to Active.

What this agent does

Every new email in your Gmail inbox wakes the agent up. Claude reads it, decides what the person wants (booking, quote, support or spam), checks your Google Calendar when it is a booking, writes a friendly reply in the sender's language, sends it, and saves the lead to Google Sheets. If it is unsure, it pings you on Slack instead of guessing.

No code. One n8n workflow, Claude as the brain, and four tools.

What you need

An n8n account (n8n Cloud or self-hosted, both work)
An Anthropic API key for Claude
Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Sheets
Slack (optional, for "I'm not sure" alerts)

Step 1: Import the workflow

Download the JSON file below.
In n8n, click Create Workflow, open the ⋯ menu and choose Import from File (or just paste the JSON on the empty canvas).
You will see: New Email trigger → AI Agent, with Claude plugged in as the model and four tools under it.

Step 2: Connect the trigger

Open New Email and connect your Gmail account. It checks for unread inbox emails every minute. Every new enquiry is one run.

Step 3: Connect Claude

Open the Claude node, create an Anthropic credential and paste your API key. The model is already set; you can switch it in the dropdown.

Step 4: Read (and tune) the instructions

Open AI Agent → Options → System Message. This is the plain-English job description:

You are the inbox assistant for a small business.
For every new email:
1. Classify it: booking, quote, support or spam.
2. Booking? Check Google Calendar and offer 2 free slots.
3. Write a short, friendly reply in the sender's language.
4. Log name, email and intent in Google Sheets.
Never promise prices. If unsure, alert the owner on Slack.

Change the business details, tone and the "never" rules to fit you. The guardrails matter more than the model you pick.

Step 5: Give it its tools

Connect your accounts on each tool node:

Check availability: Google Calendar, pick your calendar.
Send reply: Gmail (same account as the trigger).
Log the lead: Google Sheets. Create a sheet with a tab called Leads and the columns Date, Name, Email, Intent, Summary, then paste its URL.
Alert owner: Slack, pick a channel. Don't use Slack? Delete this node and remove the last line of the instructions.

The agent decides which tool to use for each email.

Step 6: Test it, then activate

Click Execute workflow, then send yourself a test email like "Hi, can I book a call next Tuesday?"
Check that every node turns green, the reply arrives and a row appears in your sheet.
Flip the switch to Active. It now runs on its own.

Troubleshooting

No run starts: the email must be unread and in the Inbox.
Credential errors after import: imported workflows never include credentials. Open each red node and select your own account.
Replies are too long or too formal: add one line to the system message, for example "Max 4 sentences, casual tone."

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AI Inbox Agent with n8n + Claude (free template)