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Automate conference travel approvals with Deepseek AI, Gmail and Google Sheets

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Automate conference travel approvals with Deepseek AI, Gmail and Google Sheets preview
Open on n8n.io

Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

Introduction Automates overseas conference approval requests to CEO. Generates emails with conference details, flight quotes, accommodation, expense breakdown, and admin procedures. Ensures consist...

Best for

  • Document Extraction automation workflows
  • Multimodal AI automation workflows
  • advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.manualtrigger, n8n-nodes-base.set, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.code, n8n-nodes-base.if, n8n-nodes-base.merge, n8n-nodes-base.aggregate, n8n-nodes-base.gmail

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Cheng Siong Chin.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Automate conference travel approvals with Deepseek AI, Gmail and Google Sheets
Workflow name
Automate conference travel approvals with Deepseek AI, Gmail and Google Sheets

Introduction

Automates overseas conference approval requests to CEO. Generates emails with conference details, flight quotes, accommodation, expense breakdown, and admin procedures. Ensures consistency and saves time.

How It Works

Manual trigger initiates: fetches exchange rates/conference details, parses flight quotes, uses AI to calculate expenses and generate draft, checks budget, formats messages, merges versions, creates PDF, sends to CEO, logs to tracker.

Workflow Template

Manual Trigger → Configuration → [Exchange Rates + Conference Details + Flight Quotes] → AI Agent → [GPT-4 + Calculate + Extract + Generate Tools] → Total Expenses → Budget Check → [Format Approved + Warning] → Merge → PDF → Send CEO → Log Tracker

Workflow Steps

  1. Initialization: Manual trigger with conference parameters, sets variables (name, dates, location, funding)
  2. Data Collection: Fetches/parses exchange rates, conference details via HTTP, aggregates 3 flight quotations
  3. AI Processing: AI Agent orchestrates GPT-4 with Calculate, Extract, Generate tools for expense analysis and email drafting
  4. Validation: Calculates total expenses, validates against budget threshold
  5. Formatting: Customizes approval/warning messages by status, merges content versions
  6. Delivery: Generates PDF breakdown, dispatches via Gmail to CEO, logs to Google Sheets tracker

Setup Instructions

  1. APIs: Configure currency/conference endpoints with credentials
  2. OpenAI: Add GPT-4 API key in AI Agent
  3. AI Tools: Set Calculate, Extract, Generate parameters
  4. Gmail: Connect account, set CEO recipient
  5. Sheets: Link tracker with write permissions
  6. Budget: Set threshold (default: $5000)

Prerequisites

n8n instance, Currency API, Conference API, OpenAI GPT-4 key, Gmail with OAuth, Google Sheets, PDF generator, Travel agent API

Use Cases

Academic: Staff requests conference with grant, registration, 3 quotes, hotel, visa. AI generates email with PO/card procedures. Sales: Manager seeks client meeting approval with comparisons, per diem. Training: Employee requests certification with fees, accommodation, transport.

Customization

Modify thresholds by department. Add categories (insurance, baggage). Customize AI prompts for tone/branding. Integrate flight sources. Extend approval chain. Add travel restrictions.

Benefits

Time Efficient: Reduces prep from 60+ to 5 minutes. AI-Powered: Intelligent analysis and generation. Consistent: Ensures completeness. Accurate: Eliminates errors.

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Manual Trigger

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.manualTrigger - manualTrigger
Config choices
Version 1

Block 2 - Workflow Configuration

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 3 - Fetch Exchange Rates

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.3

Block 4 - Get Conference Details

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices
Version 4.3

Block 5 - Calculate Total Expenses

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices
Version 2

Block 6 - Parse Flight Quotes

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices
Version 2

Block 7 - Check Budget Approval

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.if - if
Config choices
Version 2.2

Block 8 - Format Approved Email

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 9 - Format Budget Warning

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 10 - Merge Email Versions

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.merge - merge
Config choices
Version 3.2

Block 11 - Aggregate Flight Options

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.aggregate - aggregate
Config choices
Version 1

Block 12 - Send Email to CEO

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.gmail - gmail
Config choices
Version 2.1

Block 13 - Log to Expense Tracker

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices
Version 4.7

Block 14 - Generate PDF Attachment

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices
Version 2

Block 15 - Extract Currency Data

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 16 - Sticky Note

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 17 - AI Email Composer Agent

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.agent - agent
Config choices
Version 3

Block 18 - Calculator Tool

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.toolCalculator - toolCalculator
Config choices
Version 1

Block 19 - Expense Analysis Tool

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.toolCode - toolCode
Config choices
Version 1.3

Block 20 - Flight Comparison Tool

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.toolCode - toolCode
Config choices
Version 1.3

Block 21 - OpenRouter Chat Model

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenRouter - lmChatOpenRouter
Config choices
Version 1

Block 22 - Sticky Note1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 23 - Sticky Note2

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 24 - Sticky Note3

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

3. Summary Table

Workflow Automate conference travel approvals with Deepseek AI, Gmail and Google Sheets
Complexity advanced
Nodes 24
Categories Document Extraction, Multimodal AI
Author Cheng Siong Chin
Published 05 Nov 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/10522/10522.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

    Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.

  4. 4. Test with sample data

    Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.

  5. 5. Activate and monitor

    Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Frequently asked questions

What does Automate conference travel approvals with Deepseek AI, Gmail and Google Sheets do?

Introduction Automates overseas conference approval requests to CEO. Generates emails with conference details, flight quotes, accommodation, expense breakdown, and admin procedures. Ensures consist...

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Document Extraction, Multimodal AI use case.