Getting Started with n8n

In today’s fast pace digital world, it is getting more and more important to deliver results fast. Yet the productivity of individuals and businesses are often bogged-downed by repetitive manual tasks. These tasks are superfluous and they drain time, resources, and productivity. That’s where workflow automation software can help solve this challenge.

Workflow automation tools are software platforms that allow users to create automated sequences of actions across various services and applications with a set of predefined rules. By using workflow automation, the teams can focus on the most important things they need to get done, and not on repetitive administrative tasks. With the right tool and setup, you can reduce errors, speed up processes, and increase productivity.

There are lots of workflow automation tools out there. In this article, I am going to describe one of the most popular and the most promising platform, n8n .

About n8n

n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that was launched in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser. Similar to other automation platforms, it offers a drag-and-drop interface, third-party applications or services (including AI) integration, and custom code extension.

Advantages over other platforms

n8n has some advantages and unique features compared to other platforms.

• Visual workflow builder. It offers an drag-and-drop interface to design workflows.

• Self-Hosting. It is also possible to self-host n8n on your own server for free. With self-hosting, it is possible to install custom community nodes.

• Cost Efficiency. Compared to other platforms, n8n cloud costs around $20 per month for 2500 executions with unlimited steps.

• Extensibility. n8n supports custom code that can be written in either JavaScript or Python. It is also possible to connect to any API. Hence, n8n can support virtually unlimited integration.

• AI Integration. Easy to build a AI-powered automation workflow.

• Strong community support with 600+ pre-built workflow templates.

Learn More

If you are thinking about automating your workflow, it might be worthwhile to try n8n. I myself have built a workflow using n8n to automate my blogging workflow using Hashnode and Notion. You can read more in this article . If cost is your main concern, don’t worry because it is possible to self-host n8n. If you want to a quick start, you can try n8n using n8n directly and you will get a 14-day trial period.

Summary

Modern workflow automation tools have evolved from simple script-based automation to sophisticated platforms with visual interfaces and advanced features. Whether you're a small business owner, developer, or enterprise solution architect, workflow automation tools can significantly improve your operational efficiency and help you focus on more strategic tasks rather than routine operations.

These tools now incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, making them more intelligent and adaptive to business needs.