AI Operations & Productivity · Automate with AI
AI Workflow Automation for Small Business
Build automated workflows with Zapier, Make, and n8n - including AI agent patterns, decision nodes, and app-builder integrations.
8 lessons · 230 minutes
Before starting: Comfortable writing basic AI prompts · Completed AI Strategy for Small Business Operations
Start courseWhat you walk away with
- Build Zapier zaps with triggers, actions, and AI steps
- Implement branching logic in Make and judge when self-hosted n8n pays off
- Chain LLM decision nodes into multi-step agent-style automations
- Ship an end-to-end lead follow-up automation wired to app-builder outputs
- Pick the right complexity level for each automation instead of defaulting to hard mode
- An automation map for one repeated handoff, with exceptions, an owner, and a review step. Every artifact saves to your workspace, so you keep it after the course ends.
- A knowledge-check quiz and a visual walkthrough inside every one of the 8 lessons, about 4 hours of guided work.
- Most lessons close with a checklist, template, or do-it-this-week task, so progress shows up in your work, not just in the app.
Automation vs. AI Agents: What's the Difference and When It Matters
Understand the practical difference between rule-based automation and AI agents so you choose the right tool for each task in your business.
Zapier Fundamentals: Triggers, Actions, and AI Steps
Learn how Zapier works, what common SMB workflows it handles, and how to add AI-powered steps to your Zaps for smarter automation.
Make (Integromat) for More Complex Logic
When Zapier's linear automation isn't enough, Make handles branching logic, error handling, and data transformation that more complex SMB workflows require.
n8n for Self-Hosted Workflows: When to Choose It
Understand n8n's open-source advantage, when it makes sense over Zapier or Make, and the technical prerequisites that determine whether it's right for your business.
AI Agent Patterns: Multi-Step Tasks with LLM Decision Nodes
Learn what an AI agent actually is, the most common patterns for small business use, and how to build a simple agent using Zapier or Make with an OpenAI step.
Connecting App Builder Outputs to Workflow Tools
How apps built with Lovable, Base44, or similar tools emit webhooks and data that Zapier and Make can pick up - the "build + automate" pattern that multiplies what your custom apps can do.
Choosing Your Automation Complexity: A Decision Module
A decision framework that maps your workflow characteristics to the right automation tool - from simple Zapier to complex Make to self-hosted n8n to AI agent patterns.
Building a Lead Follow-Up Automation End-to-End
The complete build-out of a lead follow-up automation - from form submission through personalized email, CRM entry, and reminder - with specific tool choices and step-by-step instructions.