Automated Receipt Processing and Expense Reporting Workflow

This n8n workflow automates the process of extracting and summarizing receipts received via Telegram messages, making expense tracking more efficient. When a user sends a message or photo, the workflow triggers and processes the input to generate a detailed expense report.

The workflow starts with a Telegram Trigger that listens for new messages or photos. If a photo is detected, it fetches and downloads the receipt image using the Telegram API. The image is then processed through Tesseract OCR to extract textual data.

The extracted text or plain text messages are analyzed by language models, including AI categorization to classify expenses or income, and structured data parsers to organize information such as store name, transaction date and time, items, total amount, and expense category.

The workflow includes validation steps to check for invalid inputs or zero totals, ensuring data accuracy. If valid, it formats a summary message displaying the details of the receipt or expense. In case of errors, it sends an alert back to the user.

Finally, the summarized expense report or error message is sent back via Telegram, providing the user with instant feedback and a structured record of their expenses.

This automation is particularly useful for users who frequently upload receipts for expense tracking, enabling seamless integration between Telegram and financial management via WordPress or other platforms.