Get Started
Back to Templates

Fast-track expense reimbursements with UploadToURL, Mindee OCR, Expensify, and Slack

Created by

Created by: Jitesh Dugar || jiteshdugar

Jitesh Dugar

Last update

Last update an hour ago

Categories

Share

Stop chasing blurry receipts and manually typing expense data. This workflow creates an intelligent, "snap-and-submit" reimbursement pipeline that hosts photos via UploadToURL, extracts deep data via Mindee OCR, and utilizes a confidence-based gate to auto-approve low-risk expenses while routing high-value items to Slack for manager approval.

🎯 What This Workflow Does

Transforms receipt photos into verified, approved expense entries in seconds:

  1. 📝 Captures Receipt Assets - Employees submit a receipt via a mobile-friendly n8n form or direct Webhook.
  2. ☁️ Instant CDN Hosting - UploadToURL converts the photo into a permanent CDN link used as "digital proof" in Expensify and Google Sheets.
  3. 👁️ Deep OCR Extraction - Mindee OCR parses the image to extract Merchant Name, Total Amount, Tax, Date, and Currency with high precision.
  4. 🚦 Confidence-Based Routing - A "Smart Gate" evaluates the OCR confidence and amount:
    • Auto-Approve: High-confidence extractions below your set threshold (e.g., $50) are approved instantly.
    • Manager Review: Ambiguous or high-value receipts trigger an interactive Slack message for 1-click approval.
  5. 🏦 Platform Sync - Automatically creates the expense record in Expensify and logs a detailed audit trail in Google Sheets.
  6. 📧 Employee Feedback - Sends an automated Gmail confirmation to the employee with a reimbursement ETA.

✨ Key Features

  • UploadToURL Integration: Native community node hosting ensures that receipt proof is always accessible via a stable URL, eliminating broken attachments.
  • Intelligent Auto-Approval: Reduce manager workload by up to 70% by automating approval for small, clearly-read expenses.
  • Interactive Slack Approvals: Managers can approve or reject expenses directly from Slack without leaving their chat interface.
  • Comprehensive Audit Trail: Every submission is logged in Google Sheets with OCR confidence scores and original asset links for finance audits.
  • Mobile-First Design: The n8n form is optimized for "snap-and-go" submissions from smartphones.

💼 Perfect For

  • Finance & Operations Teams: Streamlining accounts payable and employee reimbursements.
  • Fast-Growing Startups: Scaling internal processes without adding administrative headcount.
  • Remote-First Companies: Providing a centralized, digital-only path for global expense tracking.
  • Managers: Who want to clear approval queues instantly via mobile Slack notifications.

🔧 What You'll Need

Required Integrations

  • UploadToURL - To host receipt photos and provide CDN links.
  • n8n Community Node - n8n-nodes-uploadtourl must be installed.
  • Mindee API - To perform high-accuracy receipt OCR.
  • Expensify - To create the final expense reports.
  • Google Sheets - To maintain the master expense audit log.

Optional Integrations

  • Slack - For interactive manager approval buttons.
  • Gmail - For employee status notifications.

🚀 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, Mindee, Expensify, Google Sheets, and Slack accounts.
  4. Configure Thresholds - Set the AUTO_APPROVE_THRESHOLD variable (e.g., 50) in n8n.
  5. Prepare Sheet - Create a sheet named Expense Audit Log with columns for Merchant, Total, Status, and CDN URL.
  6. Go Live - Distribute the Form URL to your team and start fast-tracking reimbursements.

🎨 Customization Options

  • Multi-Level Approval: Add a second IF gate for expenses over $500 that requires both a Manager and a VP approval.
  • Currency Conversion: Insert a node to automatically convert non-USD receipts into your base company currency using real-time rates.
  • Policy Enforcement: Add logic to check if the Merchant is on a "blacklisted" list (e.g., gambling or non-business entertainment).
  • ERP Integration: Replace Expensify with NetSuite, Xero, or QuickBooks for direct accounting sync.

📈 Expected Results

  • 80% reduction in manual data entry for employees.
  • Zero "Lost" Receipts: Every submission is instantly hosted and backed up on the CDN.
  • Faster Reimbursements: Employees get paid in days rather than weeks thanks to auto-approvals.
  • Finance Peace of Mind: A perfect, link-verified audit trail in Google Sheets for every single cent spent.

🏆 Use Cases

Travel & Expenses

Employees on the road can snap a photo of their hotel bill or taxi receipt; the system hosts the image on UploadToURL and files the claim before they even board their flight home.

Office Supply Procurement

Standardize small recurring purchases (like Amazon or Staples orders) so they bypass manual review and land straight in your accounting software.

Client Entertainment

Automatically tag meal expenses with a "Client Gift" category based on the merchant detected, ensuring tax compliance is handled by the AI.

💡 Pro Tips

  • Confidence Scores: The workflow calculates a composite score. If the AI is unsure about the Merchant Name, it will route to a manager even if the amount is small.
  • Mobile Form: Save the n8n form URL as a "Home Screen" shortcut on employee iPhones/Androids for an app-like experience.
  • Expensify Policies: Ensure your EXPENSIFY_POLICY_ID matches the policy where you want the expenses to appear.

Ready to automate your expenses? Import this template and connect UploadToURL to start fast-tracking your reimbursements today.

Questions about the Slack interactivity setup? The workflow includes detailed sticky notes explaining how to handle the button response loop.