Hi Inistate Community!
Returned equipment may need to wait hours or days for inspection. It should only become available for borrowing again after it passes the check.
By connecting Inistate with n8n, we can store the waiting state in Inistate and process the inspection result when it arrives.
Inistate Setup
Create an Equipment Loan module with these fields:
- Equipment Name
- Borrower Name
- Borrow Date
- Expected Return Date
Set up these activities and state transitions:
| Activity | From → To |
|---|---|
| Borrow | Available → Borrowed |
| Return | Borrowed → Pending Inspection |
| Pass Inspection | Pending Inspection → Available |
| Report Damage | Pending Inspection → Under Repair |
After Return is performed, the equipment stays Pending Inspection until a result is received.
n8n Workflow Setup
Webhook → Switch → Inistate: Perform Activity
1. Receive Inspection Result
The Webhook receives the equipment record’s Document ID and inspection result. For example:
{
"documentId": "<equipment document ID>",
"result": "pass"
}
2. Check Inspection Result
The Switch node routes the request based on its result:
-
pass→ Pass Inspection -
fail→ Report Damage
3. Perform the Activity in Inistate
The Inistate node performs the selected activity on the equipment record:
-
A passed inspection moves it to Available.
-
A failed inspection moves it to Under Repair.
How It Works
Imagine a laptop has been returned today, but inspection will happen tomorrow.
The Return activity moves it to Pending Inspection in Inistate. No n8n execution needs to remain waiting during this period.
When the inspection result arrives, the Webhook starts a new n8n execution. It checks the result and performs the appropriate activity.
Why This Helps
- Long-running process: Inistate stores the waiting stage, while n8n runs only when the inspection result arrives.
- State management: The equipment’s current status stays recorded in Inistate between separate n8n executions.
- State machine: Inspection activities are only allowed from Pending Inspection. A repeated result or an inspection submitted at the wrong stage should be rejected.
Inistate manages the equipment’s progress and transition rules, while n8n connects the incoming inspection result to the next action.