Incident Reporting & Management Workflow (Form + Google Sheets + Email)
This workflow automates incident reporting and management for operations teams by connecting a public reporting form with real-time logging in Google Sheets and instant alert emails to your support team. Whenever an incident is reported via the n8n form/webhook, all details are saved securely and immediately and the right people are notified the moment issues occur. It's a fast, scalable solution for reliable incident handling.
Who’s It For
- Renewable energy operators (solar/wind/green energy).
- Facility and plant managers.
- Environmental, EHS and safety teams.
- Technical support and incident response crews.
- Maintenance & field operations teams.
- Anyone aiming for compliance-ready, audit-friendly digital issue reporting.
How It Works
-
Form Submission: An n8n-powered form (or webhook endpoint) receives incident reports, capturing all key details: reporter info, contact, location, date/time, type, severity, actions taken, photos and more.
-
Log to Google Sheets: Each report is instantly appended as a new row in a secure Google Sheet, creating a searchable, timestamped audit trail.
-
Email Alert (Gmail): An automatic email with incident summary and critical details lands in the support team’s inbox seconds after submission—ensuring your response is always prompt.
-
Workflow Automation: These nodes are linked in n8n, enabling no-code/low-code back-end automation for complete visibility and control.
How to Set Up
-
Import Workflow: In n8n, use "Import from File" to upload the workflow JSON provided.
-
Edit Configuration:
- Update form fields as needed (label, validations, options for severity/category).
- Enter your Google Sheet ID and sharing settings.
- Configure Gmail/SMTP credentials and recipient address (example:
supportteam@mailinator.com
or your own team).
-
Deploy Webhook: Copy your n8n webhook URL and connect it to your reporting interface (form, app, device, etc.).
-
Activate: Enable the workflow in n8n. Submissions are now handled in real time.
-
Test: Submit a sample incident to make sure data logs in Google Sheets and the alert email arrives as expected.
Requirements
Tool |
Purpose |
n8n Instance |
Orchestrates the workflow |
Google Account |
To access/use Google Sheets |
Gmail/SMTP |
For sending incident alerts |
Incident Source |
n8n Form, webhook, app or device |
How to Customize
-
Form Fields: Add/remove fields or validations in the n8n form for organization-specific needs (e.g., add photos, custom categories).
-
Alert Routing: Use IF nodes to send critical alerts via Slack, SMS or escalate to on-call teams based on severity/type.
-
Backend: Replace Google Sheets with Notion, Airtable, PostgreSQL or other databases.
-
Reporting: Add PDF nodes to auto-generate and send report summaries.
-
Integrations: Push incidents to ticketing, asset tracking or calendar scheduling workflows.
Add‑Ons (Optional Extensions)
Feature |
Description |
Slack Alerts |
Instantly notify Slack channels on critical issues |
Database Logging |
Store reports in SQL/NoSQL systems |
PDF Generation |
Email ready-to-use incident reports as PDFs |
Calendar Events |
Schedule follow-ups or deadline reminders |
AI Categorization |
Auto-classify incidents by severity/type |
Task Creation |
Open tickets in Jira, Trello, ClickUp or Asana |
Use Case Examples
- Field engineers report solar inverter faults with mobile forms.
- Security personnel log site intrusions, with photos and severity.
- IoT sensors auto-post equipment failures as incidents.
- Compliance or EHS teams capture safety observations in real time.
- Technicians submit maintenance or post-repair issues instantly.
Common Troubleshooting
Issue |
Possible Cause |
Solution |
Form not triggering |
Webhook URL incorrect |
Double-check webhook endpoint and method (POST) |
Email not delivered |
Wrong SMTP/Gmail credentials |
Re-enter credentials or verify SMTP access |
Google Sheets not updated |
Sheets ID wrong/missing permissions |
Use correct ID, share sheet with service account or make accessible |
Missing report fields in log |
Form field names or types mismatched |
Align JSON/form data keys with workflow node mappings |
Attachments not saved |
Field not set for file type |
Review form field definitions and adjust as needed |
Need Help?
Want a tailored setup, advanced automations or powerful add-ons (AI, SLAs, PDF logs, ticketing integration)? Our n8n workflow experts at WeblineIndia are ready to help you engineer seamless incident management for any industry.
👉 Contact WeblineIndia — Your Automation partner for smart preventive maintenance and calendar-driven ops!