Tech Stack

n8n, JavaScript, ConnectWise Manage REST API, Twilio

Overview

Field engineers at DCSG were frequently forgetting to submit time and expenses on Sundays, leading to delays and extra administrative work. The manual process of sending reminder texts was inefficient — managers had to look up each phone number in ConnectWise Manage and text employees individually.

The company needed a fully automated solution that could send weekly reminders, track responses, and ensure no messages were missed.

Solution

I built a custom n8n workflow integrating ConnectWise Manage and Twilio, eliminating all manual effort involved in time and expense reminders.

• Custom API Integration:

  • Connected directly to the ConnectWise Manage REST API using authenticated HTTP requests — not prebuilt nodes.

  • Filtered results to only target employees based on security role and default location.

  • Cleaned and normalized phone numbers to E.164 standard (+1XXXXXXXXXX), including deduplication and validation to prevent failed sends.

• Automated Weekly SMS Reminders:

  • A weekly schedule trigger runs every Sunday to send personalized reminders to each filtered employee.

  • Removes the need for managers to manually track submissions or send texts individually.

• Inbound Message Handling:

  • A second workflow monitors incoming messages.

  • When an employee replies:

    • The workflow matches the number to a ConnectWise record.

    • Sends an automated email to management containing the employee’s name, number, and the full text of their reply.

    • Provides instant visibility into opt-outs or special cases without digging through Twilio logs.

• Safeguards & Reliability:

  • Built-in checks to prevent duplicate sends during testing and production.

  • Timezone-controlled scheduling for reliable execution every week.

Results

• Fully automated SMS reminders — zero manual steps required by management.

• Real-time alerts when employees respond or opt-out, improving visibility.

• Ensured timely weekly submissions without chasing employees.

• Freed up significant administrative time by removing repetitive manual tasks.

Key Takeaways

This project showcases my ability to integrate multiple systems through custom APIs, automate workflows, and design reliable solutions that directly impact company operations.
By solving a persistent communication issue, this workflow streamlined reporting, improved compliance, and eliminated manual intervention entirely.