What this workflow does
This workflow automatically updates Slack status and Philips Hue lights based on your Google Calendar events.
It solves the problem of forgetting to change availability status manually when meetings start.
The outcome is that your Slack status shows meeting info and your lights change color without any manual steps.
Who should use this workflow
Anyone with busy calendars who wants clear availability signals without extra work.
This is useful for professionals who use Slack, Google Calendar, and Philips Hue lights.
Tools and services used
- Google Calendar: Source of meeting events and color categories.
- Slack API: Updates user profile status with event details and emojis.
- Philips Hue: Smart lights controlled via webhook HTTP POST requests to show availability.
- n8n automation platform: Runs the workflow, connects services, and handles logic.
Inputs, processing steps, and outputs
Inputs
- Google Calendar event start trigger firing every 5 minutes.
- Event ID and details including event summary and color ID.
Processing steps
- Retrieve full event details using event ID.
- Map calendar color IDs to custom status tags with a JavaScript Function node.
- Update Slack status text with event summary and status emoji based on mapped tags.
- Use a Switch node to decide Philips Hue light state from status tags.
- Send HTTP POST requests to Philips Hue webhooks for specific lighting scenes.
Outputs
- Your Slack profile status shows your current event and status emoji.
- Your Philips Hue lights change color to indicate Busy, Personal, or Available.
Beginner step-by-step: How to use this workflow in n8n
1. Import the workflow
- Click the Download button on this page to get the workflow file.
- Open n8n editor and choose Import from File.
- Select the downloaded file to import the workflow.
2. Configure credentials and details
- Add Google Calendar OAuth2 credentials in n8n.
- Add Slack API token with profile update permission.
- Add Philips Hue webhook URLs in the HTTP Request nodes.
- Update calendar ID, event and user email IDs if needed.
3. Test the workflow
- Manually run or simulate a calendar event start in Google Calendar.
- Check Slack status updates with event info and emoji.
- Check Philips Hue lights change accordingly.
4. Activate for production
- Enable the Google Calendar Trigger node.
- Save and activate the workflow.
- Keep n8n running (use self-host n8n if not using cloud).
Customization ideas
- Change Slack status emojis by editing the emoji expression in the Slack node.
- Add new lighting states by extending the Switch node and adding HTTP Request nodes for other Philips Hue scenes.
- Update the Function node mapping to match any new or custom Google Calendar color IDs.
- Add event duration info into Slack status text to show meeting length.
- Add logging nodes to track event data and Philips Hue responses for troubleshooting.