Upwork Messages Notifications (Gmail to Slack) - Fully Automated Alerts
This n8n workflow streamlines how you receive Upwork client messages, sending instant notifications to Slack. It demonstrates two approaches: a code-based extraction and an AI-powered one with Google Gemini.
Use Cases
- Instant Communication: Get real-time alerts for new Upwork client messages in your team's Slack channel.
- Improved Responsiveness: Quickly respond to client inquiries and maintain strong communication.
- Centralized Notifications: Keep all your essential work-related notifications in one place.
Good to Know
- The workflow is set to poll your Gmail every 3 minutes for unread Upwork messages, which can be reduced or increased.
- The AI Information Extractor with Google Gemini provides a more refined and robust method for data parsing compared to custom code.
- Usage of Google Gemini may incur costs. Refer to Gemini Pricing for updated information.
- Google Gemini models can be geo-restricted. If you encounter a "model not found" error, it might not be available in your region.
How it Works
Method 1: Code-Based Extraction
- Gmail Trigger: The workflow starts by monitoring your Gmail for new, unread emails from "via Upwork".
- Code Node: A custom JavaScript code block is used to extract the client's name and the message content directly from the email's text.
- Slack Notification: The extracted client name and message are then formatted and sent as a new message to a designated Slack channel.
Method 2: AI-Powered Extraction with Google Gemini (Recommended)
- Gmail Trigger X: Similar to Method 1, this part also triggers on new unread Upwork emails.
- Information Extractor (AI): This powerful node, powered by Google Gemini, takes the entire email text and intelligently extracts structured information like the "client" name and the "message" content based on a defined schema. This method is more robust and requires less manual parsing logic.
- Google Gemini Chat Model: (Implicitly used by the Information Extractor) This node provides the underlying AI capabilities for intelligent information extraction.
- Send to Slack X: The refined output from the AI Information Extractor (client name and message) is then sent to a Slack channel.
How to Use
- Gmail Credentials: Ensure you have configured your Gmail OAuth2 credentials in n8n for both "Gmail Trigger" nodes.
- Slack Credentials: Set up your Slack OAuth2 credentials in n8n for both "Send to Slack" nodes and select the desired Slack channel.
- Google Gemini Credentials: For the AI-powered workflow, you'll need to set up your Google Gemini API key as a credential in n8n.
- Activate Workflows: Enable both workflows in n8n to start receiving notifications. You can compare the output quality of each method.
Requirements
- n8n instance (self-hosted or cloud)
- Gmail Account connected to Upwork notifications.
- Slack Workspace and a designated channel for notifications.
- Google Gemini API key for the AI-powered extraction workflow.