Connect n8n to ElevenLabs Conversational AI Voice Agents

• Real-Time Workflow Execution
  • Voice agents trigger n8n workflows via secure webhooks instantly
  • Sub-second response times for time-sensitive operations
  • Parallel processing capabilities for complex multi-step automations
• Extensive App Connectivity
  • Access to 1,000+ pre-built integrations including CRMs, databases, APIs, and internal tools
  • Custom HTTP/webhook nodes for any system with an API
  • No-code visual workflow builder for developers to create and modify automations
• Enterprise Security & Compliance
  • Encrypted API calls over HTTPS with secure credential storage
  • GDPR and HIPAA compliance options available
  • Self-hosting capabilities for complete data control
• Intelligent Context Management
  • Maintain conversation context across multiple system interactions
  • Rich data retrieval from multiple sources for personalized responses
  • Automatic logging and audit trails for all agent actions
• Seamless Human Handoff
  • Built-in escalation workflows when agents encounter complex scenarios
  • Complete conversation context passed to human agents
  • Multi-channel notification systems for urgent issues

Step 1: n8n Workflow Setup

1. Access your n8n instance and create a new workflow
2. Add Webhook node as the trigger and copy the production URL
3. Select POST method and set authentication to None or Header Auth
4. Add your workflow logic nodes for the desired automation
5. Configure the final node to return data in the required format

Step 2: ElevenLabs Agent Configuration

1. Navigate to your ElevenLabs agent dashboard
2. Go to Tools > Create New Tool > Webhook
3. Enter your n8n webhook URL from Step 1
4. Configure any required authentication headers
5. Define input parameters that your workflow expects

Step 3: Workflow Node Configuration

Common n8n Integration Patterns

Database Operations

• Connect to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or other databases
• Perform CRUD operations based on conversation context
• Return query results to the agent for natural language responses

API Orchestration

• Chain multiple API calls across different services
• Transform data between different API formats
• Handle complex authentication flows that agents can't manage directly

File Processing

• Generate PDFs, spreadsheets, or documents from conversation data
• Process uploaded files through multiple transformation steps
• Store results in cloud storage and return access links

Multi-step Workflows

• Create approval chains that involve multiple systems
• Orchestrate complex business processes across tools
• Manage state between conversation turns

Step 4: Tool Mapping in ElevenLabs

Create n8n Trigger Tool

• Name: trigger_n8n_workflow
• Method: POST
• URL: Your n8n webhook URL
• Configure authentication if required
• Map conversation variables to webhook payload fields

Configure Dynamic Parameters

• Set up input fields that agents can populate from conversation
• Define data types for each parameter
• Add validation rules to ensure data quality
• Configure default values where appropriate

Step 5: Agent Prompt Configuration

Add workflow triggers to your agent's system prompt:

You have access to n8n workflows for complex automations:

• Use trigger_n8n_workflow when users request multi-step processes
• Pass relevant conversation data as workflow parameters
• Wait for workflow completion before continuing conversation
• Present workflow results in natural language

Define when to trigger workflows:

• Complex calculations requiring multiple data sources
• Document generation with templates and formatting
• Cross-system data synchronization tasks
• Approval processes requiring human intervention