You hit 429 Too Many Requests on the Gemini API. Your pipeline drops the payload. Data is gone.
This happens because most teams process LLM requests synchronously. You send a batch, Gemini throttles you, and your entire workflow collapses. I build production systems that never drop payloads, and here is the exact architecture I use. This is a common issue that CRM API workflow overhaul addresses for many businesses.
The Webhook Queue Architecture
Heavy LLM requests belong in a queue, not a synchronous call chain. Here is the three-part architecture that makes rate limits irrelevant.
1. The Ingestion Webhook
Your webhook accepts data and returns 200 OK immediately. It dumps the payload into a Make.com Data Store or a lightweight SQLite database. The connection frees up instantly. No waiting.
2. The Processing Cron
A second Make.com scenario runs every 5 minutes. It queries the Data Store for records with Status: Pending and processes them in controlled batches.
3. The Rate Limit Handler
Make.com's Sleep module injects a 2-second pause between each HTTP request to Gemini. If you still hit a 429, the Error Handler with a Break directive pauses execution, waits 60 seconds, and retries the exact same API call automatically. If you're experiencing these issues, our AI Workflow Repair Intake can help diagnose the problem.
The result: Zero dropped payloads. Your pipeline processes thousands of text blocks per minute while respecting Gemini's rate limits. You can see real examples of this approach in our production case studies.
Want this architecture in your workflow? AI Workflow Repair Intake. For a detailed comparison of automation platforms, see Zapier vs Make vs N8n for CRM automation.