Workflow Retriever consultants

Q: What does the Workflow Retriever node do in n8n?

It calls a separate n8n workflow to retrieve documents or data for use in AI chains and agents. Instead of querying a vector store directly, it delegates retrieval to another workflow that can contain any logic — database queries, API calls, filtering, or data transformation — before returning results.

Q: How is the Workflow Retriever different from a Vector Store Retriever?

A Vector Store Retriever performs similarity search against embedded documents in a vector database. The Workflow Retriever calls a custom workflow that can use any retrieval method — SQL queries, API calls, file reads, or even multiple sources combined. It gives you complete control over how data is fetched and formatted.

Q: What should my retriever workflow look like?

Your retriever workflow should start with an Execute Workflow trigger, accept a query input, perform whatever data retrieval and transformation logic you need, and return the results in a format compatible with the AI chain. The output should include document content and optionally metadata fields.

Q: Can I use multiple Workflow Retrievers in one AI agent?

Yes, you can combine multiple Workflow Retrievers using a retriever node that merges results, or use them as separate tools within an AI agent. Each retriever can call a different workflow that accesses a different data source, giving your agent broad knowledge access across multiple systems.

Q: Does the Workflow Retriever work with the Contextual Compression Retriever?

Yes, you can wrap a Workflow Retriever with a Contextual Compression Retriever. The workflow retrieves the initial results, and the compression layer filters and compresses them to include only relevant content. This combination gives you custom retrieval logic with intelligent context compression.

Q: What are the performance considerations for Workflow Retrievers?

The response time depends on your retriever workflow complexity. Simple database queries return in milliseconds, while workflows that call external APIs may take longer. Keep retriever workflows lean and optimise slow steps. Use caching within the retriever workflow where appropriate to avoid redundant API calls.

We can help you automate your business with Workflow Retriever and hundreds of other systems to improve efficiency and productivity. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss implementing Workflow Retriever.

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About Workflow Retriever

The Workflow Retriever node lets your AI agents and chains pull information from other n8n workflows as if they were knowledge sources. Instead of connecting to a vector database or external API for retrieval, this node calls a separate n8n workflow that returns the relevant documents or data. It turns any workflow into a retrievable knowledge source for your RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) pipelines.

This opens up retrieval patterns that are not possible with standard vector store approaches. Your retriever workflow can query a database, call an API, read from a spreadsheet, filter results based on business logic, or combine data from multiple sources — all before returning the results to your AI chain. The flexibility is significant: you are not limited to similarity search against embeddings. You can build any retrieval logic you want.

For businesses running complex system integrations, this is a practical way to give AI agents access to live business data. An AI customer support agent could retrieve the latest order status from your ERP, current stock levels from your warehouse system, and relevant policy documents from your knowledge base — all through separate retriever workflows that each handle their own data source and transformation logic.

The pattern also keeps your workflows modular and maintainable. Each retriever workflow is self-contained with its own error handling, credentials, and logic. When a data source changes its API or schema, you update one retriever workflow without touching your main AI agent workflow. Teams at Osher use this pattern extensively in n8n consulting projects where AI agents need access to multiple business systems simultaneously.

Workflow Retriever FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about how Workflow Retriever consultants can help with integration and implementation

What does the Workflow Retriever node do in n8n?

How is the Workflow Retriever different from a Vector Store Retriever?

What should my retriever workflow look like?

Can I use multiple Workflow Retrievers in one AI agent?

Does the Workflow Retriever work with the Contextual Compression Retriever?

What are the performance considerations for Workflow Retrievers?

How it works

We work hand-in-hand with you to implement Workflow Retriever

As Workflow Retriever consultants we work with you hand in hand build more efficient and effective operations. Here’s how we will work with you to automate your business and integrate Workflow Retriever with integrate and automate 800+ tools.

Step 1

Create a new retriever workflow

Build a dedicated n8n workflow that will serve as your knowledge retrieval source. Start it with an Execute Workflow trigger node, which receives the search query from the calling workflow. This workflow will contain all your retrieval logic.

Step 2

Build your retrieval logic

Add the nodes that fetch your data — database queries, API calls, file reads, or any combination. Process and filter the results to return only relevant information. Format the output as document objects with content fields that your AI chain can consume.

Step 3

Test the retriever workflow independently

Run your retriever workflow with sample queries to verify it returns relevant, well-formatted results. Check response times and data quality. Fix any errors or edge cases before connecting it to your main AI workflow.

Step 4

Add the Workflow Retriever node to your AI workflow

In your main AI agent or chain workflow, place the Workflow Retriever node and connect it as the retriever sub-node. Select the retriever workflow you built from the dropdown. The node will call that workflow whenever the AI chain needs to retrieve information.

Step 5

Configure query passing and response mapping

Ensure the query from your AI chain is correctly passed to the retriever workflow. Map the retriever workflow output fields to the document format expected by your chain. Verify that metadata and content fields align between the two workflows.

Step 6

Test the complete AI pipeline end to end

Send test queries through your full AI workflow and verify that the Workflow Retriever correctly fetches relevant data, the AI chain uses it in its responses, and the answers are accurate and grounded in the retrieved information. Monitor execution times to ensure the retrieval step does not create bottlenecks.

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