This article provides a complete, practical walkthrough of the Functionitem Manual Import Scheduled n8n agent. It connects HTTP Request, Webhook across approximately 1 node(s). Expect a Intermediate setup in 15-45 minutes. One‑time purchase: €29.

What This Agent Does

This agent orchestrates a reliable automation between HTTP Request, Webhook, handling triggers, data enrichment, and delivery with guardrails for errors and rate limits.

It streamlines multi‑step processes that would otherwise require manual exports, spreadsheet cleanup, and repeated API requests. By centralizing logic in n8n, it reduces context switching, lowers error rates, and ensures consistent results across teams.

Typical outcomes include faster lead handoffs, automated notifications, accurate data synchronization, and better visibility via execution logs and optional Slack/Email alerts.

How It Works

The workflow uses standard n8n building blocks like Webhook or Schedule triggers, HTTP Request for API calls, and control nodes (IF, Merge, Set) to validate inputs, branch on conditions, and format outputs. Retries and timeouts improve resilience, while credentials keep secrets safe.

Third‑Party Integrations

• HTTP Request
• Webhook

Import and Use in n8n

1. Open n8n and create a new workflow or collection.
2. Choose Import from File or Paste JSON.
3. Paste the JSON below, then click Import.
4. Show n8n JSON

   Title:
   Automating n8n Workflow Backups to Google Drive with a Daily Scheduler
   
   Meta Description:
   Learn how to automatically back up all your n8n workflows to Google Drive using a custom-built workflow. This tutorial breaks down each node, including scheduling, HTTP requests, and binary handling.
   
   Keywords:
   n8n, workflow automation, Google Drive, backup automation, HTTP Request node, cron job, daily backup, n8n tutorial, move binary data, Google Drive API, automation platform
   
   Third-Party APIs Used:
   
   - n8n REST API (http://localhost:5678/rest/workflows)
   - Google Drive API (via n8n Google Drive node)
   - Basic HTTP Authentication (to access the n8n instance via HTTP Request node)
   
   —
   
   Article:
   
   Automating n8n Workflow Backups to Google Drive with a Daily Scheduler
   
   As your n8n instance grows and you accumulate more valuable workflows, it's increasingly important to ensure that data is backed up regularly and reliably. In this article, we’ll break down an n8n automation that retrieves all workflows from an n8n instance and saves them as JSON files to a specific Google Drive folder on a daily basis.
   
   This use-case is especially useful for developers and workflow designers who manage their automations using n8n and want peace of mind knowing their flows are securely archived. Let's dive into the anatomy of this automation.
   
   ❖ Overview of the Workflow
   This n8n workflow automates the backup of all local workflows once a day at 2:30 AM and saves them to a designated Google Drive folder in JSON format. It also supports manual execution via Trigger node during testing or debugging.
   
   Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of each part of the workflow.
   
   ❖ Scheduling the Backup
   Node: Run Daily at 2:30am (Cron Trigger)
   
   The automation begins with a Cron node that is configured to trigger the workflow every day at 2:30 AM. This ensures that backups occur at a predictable and consistent time with zero manual intervention.
   
   You can also manually start the workflow using the ‘Manual Trigger’ node named:
   Node: On clicking 'execute'
   
   This feature is helpful for testing or triggering the backup on-demand.
   
   ❖ Retrieving All Workflow IDs
   Node: Get Workflow List (HTTP Request)
   
   The first major action the workflow performs is to call the n8n REST API at http://localhost:5678/rest/workflows to fetch a list of all workflows available in the system.
   
   This node uses Basic Authentication, so make sure you set up the correct credentials in n8n’s credential manager prior to running the workflow.
   
   ❖ Preparing the Workflow IDs
   Node: Map (Function)
   
   Once the workflow list is retrieved, the Map node restructures the data to extract each workload item into its own object via a JavaScript map method. The code used here is:
   
   return items[0].json.data.map(item => {
     return {json: item}
   });
   
   This transformation enables the automation to loop through each workflow individually to fetch its detailed data.
   
   ❖ Downloading Each Workflow
   Node: Get Workflow (HTTP Request)
   
   Now that each workflow is processed individually, this node sends out a new HTTP request to:
   http://localhost:5678/rest/workflows/{id}
   
   This retrieves the full metadata and JSON definition of each workflow. It uses the same Basic Auth credentials mentioned earlier.
   
   ❖ Merging Workflow Metadata
   Node: Merge (Merge by Index)
   
   Once the individual workflow and its basic info are available, this Merge node combines them into a single unified dataset. This ensures both the workflow ID and name, as well as the actual workflow JSON data, are bundled together.
   
   ❖ Preparing the JSON for Upload
   Node: FunctionItem
   
   Before uploading, this node prepares the data by unwrapping the JSON structure, isolating the relevant workflow content to prepare it for conversion into binary form.
   
   Node: Move Binary Data
   
   Since the Google Drive node expects binary input when uploading files, the Move Binary Data node converts the JSON into binary format internally while preserving structure.
   
   This node is set in "jsonToBinary" mode, making it possible to convert and upload structured JSON data.
   
   ❖ Uploading to Google Drive
   Node: Google Drive
   
   Finally, the automation uses the Google Drive n8n node to upload each binary-converted JSON file, naming it after the workflow it represents.
   
   The field “parents” should contain the actual folder ID in your Google Drive where you wish to save the backups. You can find the folder ID by visiting the folder in your browser and copying the string after https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/.
   
   This node uses OAuth2 credentials from n8n’s credential system. Make sure your Google API connection has permission to write to the specified folder.
   
   ❖ Security & Maintenance Tips
   
   - Always secure your local n8n instance with proper credentials when exposing it via API.
   - Ensure your Google Drive credentials are scoped correctly, especially if deploying in production environments.
   - Consider using workflow versioning or timestamp filenames to avoid file overwrites.
   
   ❖ Final Thoughts
   This powerful yet elegant n8n workflow showcases the flexibility and practical application of automation to streamline IT operational tasks. By leveraging HTTP requests, scheduled Cron triggers, and third-party integrations, you can future-proof your n8n workspace and avoid accidental data loss.
   
   Whether you're a hobbyist developer or a production engineer, this backup strategy is a smart step toward more resilient automation systems.
   
   Looking to expand on this idea? Consider creating a Slack Alert or Email Notification node to inform you immediately when backups succeed or fail — the possibilities are endless with n8n!
   
   —
   
   Let automation take care of your backups — so you can focus on building the workflows that matter.

5. Set credentials for each API node (keys, OAuth) in Credentials.
6. Run a test via Execute Workflow. Inspect Run Data, then adjust parameters.
7. Enable the workflow to run on schedule, webhook, or triggers as configured.

Tips: keep secrets in credentials, add retries and timeouts on HTTP nodes, implement error notifications, and paginate large API fetches.

Validation: use IF/Code nodes to sanitize inputs and guard against empty payloads.

Why Automate This with AI Agents

AI‑assisted automations offload repetitive, error‑prone tasks to a predictable workflow. Instead of manual copy‑paste and ad‑hoc scripts, your team gets a governed pipeline with versioned state, auditability, and observable runs.

n8n’s node graph makes data flow transparent while AI‑powered enrichment (classification, extraction, summarization) boosts throughput and consistency. Teams reclaim time, reduce operational costs, and standardize best practices without sacrificing flexibility.

Compared to one‑off integrations, an AI agent is easier to extend: swap APIs, add filters, or bolt on notifications without rewriting everything. You get reliability, control, and a faster path from idea to production.

Best Practices

• Credentials: restrict scopes and rotate tokens regularly.
• Resilience: configure retries, timeouts, and backoff for API nodes.
• Data Quality: validate inputs; normalize fields early to reduce downstream branching.
• Performance: batch records and paginate for large datasets.
• Observability: add failure alerts (Email/Slack) and persistent logs for auditing.
• Security: avoid sensitive data in logs; use environment variables and n8n credentials.

FAQs

Can I swap integrations later? Yes. Replace or add nodes and re‑map fields without rebuilding the whole flow.

How do I monitor failures? Use Execution logs and add notifications on the Error Trigger path.

Does it scale? Use queues, batching, and sub‑workflows to split responsibilities and control load.

Is my data safe? Keep secrets in Credentials, restrict token scopes, and review access logs.