Automated Weekly Project Cost Reports with MySQL and Outlook HTML Emails

This n8n workflow automates the generation and distribution of weekly project cost reports by querying a MySQL database for open external projects lacking budgeted_project_cost data. It triggers every Monday at 8 AM, fetches relevant project details such as project_name and cost_center, and uses a Switch node to route data to specific Outlook email nodes based on cost_center values (e.g., Retail, Service, Projects). Each Outlook node sends a formatted HTML email report to the appropriate team, dynamically injecting values with mustache templates like {{ $json.project_name }}.

Key benefits include significant time savings for finance and operations teams by eliminating manual reporting, ensuring timely identification of missing cost data to prevent budget overruns, and providing customizable, professional HTML emails without needing AI or complex coding. It's ideal for businesses managing projects across multiple cost centers, integrating seamlessly with existing MySQL databases and Microsoft Outlook via OAuth2.

Setup is straightforward: configure MySQL credentials and the SQL query, set up Outlook OAuth2, adjust Switch conditions for your cost centers, and customize HTML templates. This no-frills workflow scales easily for larger organizations, supports SELECT-only permissions for security, and runs reliably on schedule to keep teams proactive on expense management.