AI Free course · Certificate included
AI Automation with n8n, Make and Zapier
Design, build and run reliable AI-powered automations for marketing, sales and operations on all three leading platforms
- Intermediate
- 7 h 45 min
- 17 lessons in 8 modules
- 2 h 23 min of video lectures
- Updated Sep 2026
About this course
Automation is where AI starts saving real hours. This intermediate, hands-on course teaches you to design and build reliable AI-powered automations on n8n, Make and Zapier. You will learn automation thinking, triggers, JSON data mapping and normalization; n8n cloud and self-hosting with the AI Agent node, LangChain-based nodes and MCP; Make scenarios, AI modules and Make AI Agents; and Zapier Zaps, AI by Zapier, Agents, Copilot and MCP. You will connect webhooks and APIs, call LLM APIs with structured outputs, and expose workflows as MCP tools. Then you will add error handling, retries, idempotency, human-in-the-loop approvals, credential security, privacy and cost control, and build marketing and sales automations for lead enrichment, CRM hygiene, content repurposing and reporting. The capstone builds one lead-to-follow-up automation three ways and compares them on evidence.
Tools you’ll use
- n8n
- Make
- Zapier
- OpenAI API
- Anthropic Claude
- Model Context Protocol
- HubSpot
- Slack
- WhatsApp Business Platform
- Docker
Skills
- Workflow automation
- n8n
- Make
- Zapier
- AI agents
- API integration
- Model Context Protocol
- Marketing operations
What you’ll be able to do
- Score and map processes before automating, applying 'deterministic, then AI, then humans' design
- Build workflows in n8n, Make and Zapier with correct triggers, mapping, branching and loops
- Use n8n AI nodes, Make AI Agents and AI by Zapier with schema-bound structured outputs
- Connect webhooks, APIs and LLM APIs securely, and expose or consume tools via MCP
- Implement retries, idempotency, dead-letter queues, alerts and human-in-the-loop approvals
- Protect credentials and personal data and model cost per outcome
- Build lead enrichment, scoring, routing, CRM hygiene, repurposing and reporting automations
- Document, hand over and compare automations built on all three platforms
Recommended first
Curriculum
Syllabus
- Modules
- 8
- Lessons
- 17
- Reading time
- 4.5 h
- Assessment questions
- 25
Think like an automation designer: choose what to automate, map processes, and master triggers, actions and data mapping that every platform shares.
- Automation thinking: what to automate and whyVideo lecture, 8′14 min
- Triggers, actions and data mappingVideo lecture, 8′15 min
Run n8n in the cloud or self-hosted, master its workflow model, and build AI agents with the AI Agent node, LangChain-based sub-nodes, tools and MCP.
- n8n fundamentals: cloud vs self-hostedVideo lecture, 8′16 min
- n8n AI: the AI Agent node, LangChain nodes and MCPVideo lecture, 8′18 min
Build Make scenarios with routers, iterators, aggregators, data stores and error handlers, then add AI modules and Make AI Agents with MCP.
- Make scenarios: modules, routers, iterators and data storesVideo lecture, 9′16 min
- AI in Make: AI modules, Make AI Agents and MCPVideo lecture, 8′16 min
Build multi-step Zaps with filters, paths, formatter and code steps, then use AI by Zapier, Zapier Agents, Copilot and Zapier MCP.
- Zapier fundamentals: Zaps, paths, formatter and codeVideo lecture, 8′15 min
- Zapier AI: AI by Zapier, Agents, Copilot and MCPVideo lecture, 9′16 min
Connect anything with webhooks and HTTP APIs, call LLM APIs with structured outputs, and use the Model Context Protocol across n8n, Make and Zapier.
- Webhooks and APIs: connecting anythingVideo lecture, 9′16 min
- Connecting LLM APIs: structured outputs, cost and MCPVideo lecture, 9′17 min
Make automations robust with error handling, retries and idempotency, add human-in-the-loop approvals, and protect data, credentials and budgets.
- Error handling, retries and idempotencyVideo lecture, 8′17 min
- Human-in-the-loop approvalsVideo lecture, 8′15 min
- Security, privacy, credentials and cost controlVideo lecture, 9′16 min
Build high-value automations for lead enrichment, scoring and routing, CRM hygiene, content repurposing and automated reporting.
- Lead enrichment, scoring, routing and CRM hygieneVideo lecture, 9′17 min
- Content repurposing and automated reportingVideo lecture, 8′16 min
Document and hand over automations so they survive staff changes, then build an end-to-end lead-to-follow-up automation three ways and compare the trade-offs.
- Documentation and handoverVideo lecture, 8′14 min
- Capstone: lead-to-follow-up built three waysVideo lecture, 9′28 min
- Final assessment
Your certificate
Finish with a credential anyone can check
Earn the Certified AI Automation Builder badge: The holder can design and build reliable AI-powered automations in n8n, Make and Zapier: mapping data, integrating APIs and webhooks, using LLMs with structured outputs and MCP, implementing error handling, idempotency and human approvals, securing credentials and data, controlling cost, and documenting and comparing builds across platforms.
Completed all lessons and scored at least 80% on the final assessment.
- A public verification page
- A PDF certificate to download
- An Open Badge you can share
- One click to your LinkedIn profile
Final assessment
- 25questions drawn from a larger pool
- 40 mintime limit
- 80%pass mark
- 3attempts per 24 hours
Start learning today. It’s free.
Every lesson is free to read. A free account saves your progress, unlocks the final assessment and issues your certificate.