✅ Use n8n - Custom AI Agent

• 🔒 Self-hostable (run locally or on-prem)
• 🧠 Supports AI integrations (OpenAI, Hugging Face, custom HTTP APIs)
• 🔁 Visual workflow builder (like Zapier, but open-source)
• 🔌 Connects to email, WhatsApp, databases, APIs, and dashboards

🧱 High-Level Architecture

[Email/WhatsApp] → [n8n AI Parser Node] → [Database Node] → [Dashboard Tool or API]

🛠️ Step-by-Step Setup (on Local Machine)

1. Install n8n Locally

Use Docker for isolation and security:

docker run -it --rm \\
  -p 5678:5678 \\
  -v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \\
  -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE=true \\
  -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER=yourUsername \\
  -e N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=yourPassword \\
  n8nio/n8n

2. Connect to Email

• Use the IMAP Email node to fetch emails. n8n IMAP Email Node Documentation; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpsxuUHonVE
• Filter for keywords like “Order” or “Request”.
• Or use Gmail node with OAuth2 (if you're OK with Google access).

3. Connect to WhatsApp

• Use Webhook node to receive incoming messages from:
  • WhatsApp Business API (official, high trust) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iQR9dxdIdk
  • Twilio WhatsApp (easier, paid)