Automating Student Attendance with n8n: A Practical Workflow Using Google Sheets and Email OTP

Description and use

Automating student attendance with n8n, Google Sheets, and email OTP reduces manual effort and improves record accuracy.

Problem

Manual student attendance tracking is time‑consuming and error‑prone when many classes and verification steps are involved.

Outcome

The automated system reduces manual effort, ensures identity verification, and records attendance reliably in Google Sheets.

Workflow

• Student initiates attendance request via webhook or form
• n8n validates student ID and retrieves record from Google Sheets
• n8n generates a cryptographically secure OTP and stores it with expiry
• n8n sends OTP to student’s registered email
• Student submits OTP through a verification endpoint
• n8n verifies OTP and checks expiry
• If valid, n8n writes attendance record to Google Sheets and returns success
• If invalid, n8n returns failure and does not record attendance

Evidence

Managing student attendance manually can become time‑consuming when multiple classes, student records, and verification steps are involved.

Source

The goal is to create a workflow in which a student requests attendance verification, receives an OTP by email, and proceeds through a verification process before an attendance record is saved.

Source

Generate a cryptographically secure random code, set a short expiry period, and associate the code with the relevant student and attendance request.

Source