This article provides a complete, practical walkthrough of the Http Schedule Automation 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 Document Scanning to Nextcloud with n8n and ScanServJS
   
   Meta Description: Learn how to create a seamless automation for moving scanned PDF documents from a network-connected USB scanner to your Nextcloud storage using an n8n workflow powered by ScanServJS and HTTP requests.
   
   Keywords: n8n automation, Nextcloud upload, ScanServJS API, scan to cloud, automatic document workflow, PDF scanner automation, HTTP request workflow, DIY document system
   
   Third-Party APIs Used:
   
   - ScanServJS API (http://192.168.1.100:8080/api/v1/files)
   - Nextcloud API
   
   Article:
   
   Automating PDF Document Scanning to Nextcloud with n8n and ScanServJS
   
   Managing paper documents can quickly become cumbersome and inefficient. Whether you're running a home office or managing a small business, automating the flow of scanned files to cloud storage like Nextcloud can improve organization and productivity. In this article, we’ll explore how to build such an automated workflow using n8n – the open-source workflow automation tool – by connecting a USB‑attached scanner using ScanServJS and uploading scanned PDFs directly to a Nextcloud instance.
   
   Overview of the Automation
   
   The workflow is built in n8n and accomplishes the following tasks:
   
   1. Triggering on a regular schedule (e.g., hourly).
   2. Polling the local ScanServJS instance to list newly scanned PDF files.
   3. Downloading each scan file individually.
   4. Uploading the documents to a specified folder in Nextcloud for easy access and organization.
   
   This setup enables completely hands-off processing of physical documents into a digital system—ideal for homes, teams, or even digitization efforts in small businesses.
   
   Required Tools & Infrastructure
   
   To replicate this workflow, you’ll need:
   
   - A USB-compatible scanner connected to a local machine.
   - ScanServJS installed and properly configured to manage scanning and expose an HTTP API.
   - An n8n instance (self-hosted or cloud) set up for automation.
   - Valid credentials for accessing your Nextcloud instance.
   - A working network connection between n8n, the scanner server, and your Nextcloud environment.
   
   How the Workflow Works
   
   Let’s dig into the specific parts of the n8n workflow and how they interact.
   
   1. Scheduled Trigger
   
   The workflow begins with a Schedule Trigger node. It’s currently configured to run on an hourly basis, but you can adjust this based on how frequently you expect to scan documents.
   
   2. Poll for Scan Files (HTTP Request)
   
   The first HTTP Request node makes a GET request to the ScanServJS API at http://192.168.1.100:8080/api/v1/files. The API responds with metadata about the scanned files stored on the server.
   
   n8n’s HTTP Request node includes headers to define the expected response content type (application/json), and fetches the scan file list in JSON format.
   
   3. Download Individual Files (HTTP Request1)
   
   For each item returned from the first HTTP request (e.g., each scanned file), a secondary HTTP Request node is triggered. This node uses dynamic URL generation (using the {{ $json.name }} expression) to build an endpoint like http://192.168.1.100:8080/api/v1/files/scan1.pdf and downloads the actual PDF file. The “accept” header is set to */* to accept any file type.
   
   4. Upload to Nextcloud
   
   The file fetched in the previous step is then passed on to a dedicated Nextcloud node within n8n. This node is configured to upload each binary file into a "Scans" directory within the user’s Nextcloud environment, using path interpolation ({{ $json.name }}) to preserve the original file name.
   
   The integration uses predefined API credentials for authentication with the Nextcloud instance. The binary data upload option ensures the raw PDF content is transferred correctly.
   
   5. Notes and Documentation
   
   The workflow includes a Sticky Note node for illustrative purposes, reminding users that this setup relies on a USB scanner and the ScanServJS backend. This makes the automation easy to understand and maintain for collaborators or future updates.
   
   Benefits of This Workflow
   
   - Hands-Free Scanning: Automate PDF file transfer without user interaction.
   - Cloud Integration: Easily combine local scanning hardware with cloud-first file organization.
   - Backup-Ready: Once uploaded to Nextcloud, files can be automatically synced/backed up via Nextcloud’s native mechanisms.
   - Flexible Scheduling: Modify the interval to match your scanning frequency.
   
   Security Considerations
   
   When working with local APIs like ScanServJS or private cloud services:
   
   - Always run services in a secure, isolated local network or with VPN access.
   - Use firewalls to restrict access to your ScanServJS port (in this case, 8080).
   - Secure your Nextcloud credentials within the n8n credentials store.
   
   Conclusion
   
   This n8n workflow demonstrates the ease and power of workflow automation with open-source tools. By combining n8n, ScanServJS, and Nextcloud, you're enabling a simple yet effective paper-to-cloud document system. Whether you're archiving old tax records or digitizing your home school records, this solution helps bridge the physical and digital world efficiently.
   
   By adapting and extending this workflow (for example, adding file renaming logic or OCR processing), you can customize your document pipeline even further, underscoring the versatility of n8n in a modern, paperless workflow.

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.