n8n Daily Report Automation

Business Case

Daily reports are critical but time-consuming. This n8n workflow automates collection of site data from multiple sources and generates formatted daily reports.

Workflow Overview

[Site Data Sources] → [n8n Webhook] → [Data Processing] → [Report Generation] → [Distribution]

n8n Workflow Configuration

1. Trigger Node: Schedule + Webhook

{ "nodes": [ { "name": "Daily Schedule", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger", "parameters": { "rule": { "interval": [{"field": "cronExpression", "expression": "0 17 * * 1-5"}] } } }, { "name": "Webhook Input", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook", "parameters": { "httpMethod": "POST", "path": "daily-report-data" } } ] }

2. Data Collection Nodes

{ "nodes": [ { "name": "Get Weather Data", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest", "parameters": { "url": "https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather", "qs": { "lat": "={{$json.site_lat}}", "lon": "={{$json.site_lon}}", "appid": "={{$env.WEATHER_API_KEY}}" } } }, { "name": "Get Site Photos", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest", "parameters": { "url": "={{$env.PROCORE_API}}/projects/{{$json.project_id}}/images", "authentication": "oAuth2" } }, { "name": "Get Labor Data", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.spreadsheetFile", "parameters": { "operation": "read", "fileFormat": "xlsx" } } ] }

3. Data Processing

{ "name": "Process Report Data", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code", "parameters": { "jsCode": "const items = $input.all();\n\nconst weather = items[0].json;\nconst photos = items[1].json;\nconst labor = items[2].json;\n\nconst report = {\n date: new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0],\n project: $('Webhook Input').first().json.project_name,\n weather: {\n condition: weather.weather[0].main,\n temp_high: Math.round(weather.main.temp_max - 273.15),\n temp_low: Math.round(weather.main.temp_min - 273.15)\n },\n labor_summary: {\n total_workers: labor.reduce((sum, l) => sum + l.workers, 0),\n total_hours: labor.reduce((sum, l) => sum + l.hours, 0)\n },\n photo_count: photos.length\n};\n\nreturn [{json: report}];" } }

4. Report Generation

{ "name": "Generate PDF Report", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest", "parameters": { "method": "POST", "url": "={{$env.PDF_SERVICE_URL}}/generate", "body": { "template": "daily_report", "data": "={{$json}}" } } }

5. Distribution

{ "nodes": [ { "name": "Send Email", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.emailSend", "parameters": { "toEmail": "={{$json.distribution_list}}", "subject": "Daily Report - {{$json.project}} - {{$json.date}}", "attachments": "={{$node['Generate PDF Report'].json.file}}" } }, { "name": "Upload to SharePoint", "type": "n8n-nodes-base.microsoftSharePoint", "parameters": { "operation": "upload", "siteId": "={{$env.SHAREPOINT_SITE}}", "folderId": "/Daily Reports/{{$json.date}}" } } ] }

Python Helper Functions

import requests from datetime import date

def trigger_daily_report(project_data: dict, webhook_url: str): """Trigger n8n daily report workflow.""" payload = { "project_id": project_data['id'], "project_name": project_data['name'], "site_lat": project_data['latitude'], "site_lon": project_data['longitude'], "distribution_list": project_data['stakeholder_emails'] }

response = requests.post(webhook_url, json=payload)
return response.status_code == 200

def format_labor_data(labor_entries: list) -> list: """Format labor data for n8n processing.""" formatted = [] for entry in labor_entries: formatted.append({ 'trade': entry['trade'], 'company': entry['company'], 'workers': entry['worker_count'], 'hours': entry['total_hours'], 'activities': entry.get('activities', []) }) return formatted

Quick Start

• Import workflow to n8n

• Configure environment variables:

• WEATHER_API_KEY

• PROCORE_API

• PDF_SERVICE_URL

• SHAREPOINT_SITE

• Set schedule trigger for desired time

• Configure email distribution list

Resources

• n8n Documentation: https://docs.n8n.io

• DDC Book: Chapter 4.2 - Workflow Automation