Automate Restaurant Sales & Inventory Forecasting with Gemini AI & Google Sheets

Description

This automated n8n workflow performs weekly forecasting of restaurant sales and raw material requirements using historical data from Google Sheets and AI predictions powered by Google Gemini. The forecast is then emailed to stakeholders for efficient planning and waste reduction.

What is Google Gemini AI?
Google Gemini is an advanced AI model that analyzes historical sales data, seasonal patterns, and market trends to generate accurate forecasts for restaurant sales and inventory requirements, helping optimize purchasing decisions and reduce waste.

Good to Know
Google Gemini AI forecasting accuracy improves over time with more historical data
Weekly forecasting provides better strategic planning compared to daily predictions
Google Sheets access must be properly authorized to avoid data sync issues
Email notifications ensure timely review of weekly forecasts by stakeholders
The system analyzes trends and predicts upcoming needs for efficient planning and waste reduction

How It Works
Trigger Weekly Forecast - Automatically starts the workflow every week at a scheduled time
Load Historical Sales Data - Pulls weekly sales and material usage data from Google Sheets
Format Input for AI Agent - Transforms raw data into a structured format suitable for the AI Agent
Generate Forecast with AI - Uses Gemini AI to analyze trends and predict upcoming needs
Interpret AI Forecast Output - Parses the AI's response into readable, usable JSON format
Log Forecast to Google Sheets - Stores the new forecast data back into a Google Sheet
Email Forecast Summary - Sends a summary of the forecast via Gmail for stakeholder review

Data Sources
The workflow utilizes Google Sheets as the primary data source:

Historical Sales Data Sheet - Contains weekly sales and inventory data with columns:
Week/Date (date)
Menu Item (text)
Sales Quantity (number)
Revenue (currency)
Raw Material Used (number)
Inventory Level (number)
Category (text)

Forecast Output Sheet - Contains AI-generated predictions with columns:
Forecast Week (date)
Menu Item (text)
Predicted Sales (number)
Recommended Inventory (number)
Material Requirements (number)
Confidence Level (percentage)
Notes (text)

How to Use
Import the workflow into n8n
Configure Google Sheets API access and authorize the application
Set up Gmail credentials for forecast report delivery
Create the required Google Sheets with the specified column structures
Configure Google Gemini AI API credentials
Test with sample historical sales data to verify predictions and email delivery
Adjust forecasting parameters based on your restaurant's specific needs
Monitor and refine the system based on actual vs. predicted results

Requirements
Google Sheets API access
Gmail API credentials
Google Gemini AI API credentials
Historical sales and inventory data for initial training

Customizing This Workflow
Modify the Generate Forecast with AI node to focus on specific menu categories, seasonal adjustments, or local market conditions. Adjust the email summary format to match your restaurant's reporting preferences and add additional data sources like supplier information, weather data, or special events calendar for more accurate predictions.