Inbox Zero Transformation
A "Custom Scripting (Google Apps Script)" Case Study
Portfolio Dev Note:
This demo simulates a real Google Apps Script I built for a client. The page below outlines the full case study: the problem, my solution, and the real-world impact.
Click "Run Script" in the simulator to watch the 'live' terminal output and see the "Before" stats transform into the "After" results.
The Challenge
- An inbox containing over 15,000 historical emails with no effective folder or label structure.
- The founder was losing an estimated 5-7 hours per week manually searching for client information and attachments.
- High-value opportunities and client queries were being missed or delayed, impacting revenue.
- The constant notifications and digital clutter were a significant source of daily stress and anxiety.
The Solution
- Conducted a strategic discovery session to analyse the client's workflow and identify core business categories.
- Designed and engineered a bespoke Google Apps Script tailored specifically to the new, defined workflows.
- Architected over 40 sophisticated filtering rules, deployed via the script, to retroactively process the entire 15,000+ email archive.
- Provided a one-on-one handover session on a sustainable "Zero Inbox" methodology for long-term success.
See the Script in Action
Script Configuration
INBOX: CHAOS
Total Emails
15,284
Unread
8,921
Missed Opportunities
40+
Daily Management Time
2+ Hrs
The Impact & Results
90%
Reduction in daily email management time (from 60+ mins to <10).
100%
Of the 15,000+ email backlog was categorised and archived on day one.
0
Missed opportunities reported by the client in the first month post-implementation.
The client reported a dramatic decrease in work-related stress and a renewed sense of control over their business.
Other Use Cases for this Logic
This custom script logic is not just for inbox cleaning. The core technology (reading, parsing, and acting on email data) can be adapted to solve other critical business problems:
1. Automated Lead Capture
A script can "watch" for enquiry emails, extract the sender's details (name, email, phone from signature), and automatically create a new client record in a Google Sheet or CRM.
2. Financial Auto-Sorting
Automatically identify and label all incoming invoices and receipts, saving them to a specific "For Bookkeeper" folder and even logging the amounts in a spreadsheet.
3. Auto-Reply & Triage
Scan incoming emails for common keywords (e.g., "how much," "help") and send an instant, helpful auto-reply with a link to a FAQ or booking calendar, triaging the request before it's even read.