Process invoices with UploadToURL, AWS Textract, and Google Sheets

Eliminate manual data entry from your accounts payable process. This workflow transforms raw invoice scans into structured financial records by combining UploadToURL for hosting, AWS Textract for OCR data extraction, and Google Sheets for centralized logging.

🎯 What This Workflow Does

Turns any paper or PDF invoice into a verified spreadsheet entry in seconds:

1. 📝 Captures Invoice Scans - Receives invoices via mobile upload (binary) or remote URL via Webhook.
2. ☁️ Instant CDN Hosting - UploadToURL hosts the scan and provides a permanent link for your financial audit trail.
3. 👁️ Intelligent OCR - AWS Textract analyzes the document to extract Vendor Name, Invoice Number, Amount, and Due Date.
4. 🚦 Validation & Duplicate Check - Sanitizes currency formats and searches your Google Sheet to prevent double-paying the same invoice.
5. 📊 Automated Logging - Records the extracted data directly into Google Sheets and pings the finance team in Slack.

✨ Key Features

• UploadToURL Integration: Hosts your financial evidence on a public CDN, making it accessible directly from your spreadsheet cells.
• High-Accuracy Extraction: Uses AWS Textract's specialized invoice processing to handle complex table layouts.
• Audit-Ready Records: Every entry includes the original file URL, upload timestamp, and department metadata.
• Smart Formatting: Automatically normalizes dates and coerces pricing into a standard float format for easy accounting.
• Instant Notifications: Keeps the finance team in the loop with real-time Slack alerts for high-priority bills.

💼 Perfect For

• Finance Teams: Processing 50+ vendor invoices monthly without manual typing.
• Small Business Owners: Managing utility bills and receipts on the go via smartphone uploads.
• Operations Managers: Tracking departmental spending with a standardized, automated log.
• Agencies: Organizing reimbursable expenses across multiple client projects.

🔧 What You'll Need

Required Integrations

• UploadToURL - To host invoice scans and provide audit links.
• n8n Community Node - n8n-nodes-uploadtourl must be installed.
• AWS Account - Credentials for AWS Textract (OCR).
• Google Sheets - OAuth2 credentials to write to your finance spreadsheet.

Optional Integrations

• Slack - To receive real-time notifications for new invoice entries.
• Gmail - To trigger the workflow automatically when an invoice arrives in your inbox.

🚀 Quick Start

1. Import Template - Copy the JSON and import it into your n8n canvas.
2. Install Node - Ensure the UploadToURL community node is installed.
3. Set Credentials - Link your UploadToURL, AWS, Google Sheets, and Slack accounts.
4. Configure Spreadsheet - Create a sheet with columns: Invoice No, Vendor, Amount, Due Date, and File URL.
5. Set Variables - Add your GSHEET_SPREADSHEET_ID and SLACK_FINANCE_CHANNEL to n8n variables.
6. Deploy - Switch the workflow to "Active" to begin your automated bookkeeping.

🎨 Customization Options

• Approval Workflow: Add a "Wait for Approval" node so a manager must click a Slack button before the row is finalized.
• Tax Calculation: Insert a code node to automatically calculate VAT or Sales Tax based on the extracted total.
• ERP Sync: Replace Google Sheets with QuickBooks, Xero, or NetSuite to push data directly into your accounting software.
• Multi-Currency Support: Add a Currency Conversion node to normalize all totals into your base company currency.

📈 Expected Results

• 90% reduction in manual data entry time (from minutes to seconds per bill).
• Improved Accuracy: Elimination of typos and transcription errors in financial totals.
• Better Audit Compliance: Every line item in your sheet is permanently linked to the original scan.
• Faster Payment Cycles: Bills are recorded the moment they are received, preventing late fees.

🏆 Use Cases

Accounts Payable

Automate the entry of monthly recurring bills (utilities, rent, software) directly into your tracking sheet.

Employee Reimbursements

Staff can snap a photo of a business dinner receipt and upload it to the webhook to start the reimbursement process instantly.

Bulk Document Digitization

Upload a folder of historical PDF invoices; the workflow will categorize and log them all in one batch.

💡 Pro Tips

• Clear Scans: Ensure invoices are well-lit and flat; high contrast helps AWS Textract achieve 99% accuracy.
• Folder IDs: Keep your Google Sheet in a shared Drive folder so your entire finance team can access the linked UploadToURL files.
• Webhook Security: Use a unique path or basic auth on your webhook to ensure only authorized devices can submit invoices.

Ready to automate your bookkeeping? Import this template and connect UploadToURL to build a hands-free finance pipeline today.

Questions about AWS Textract mapping? The workflow includes detailed sticky notes explaining how to extract custom fields from your specific vendor layouts.