TL;DR: Workflow automation is hot right now. Tools like Zapier and Make are everywhere, but you don’t have to pay to learn. In my last post I showed how to run open-source AI models on a R599 VPS — and now I’m using that same server to run n8n, an open-source workflow automation tool, to learn by building real projects.
What is Workflow Automation (and Why n8n Rocks)?
If you’ve ever wished you could connect apps together without writing a ton of code, that’s exactly what workflow automation does.
- Zapier / Make → popular commercial tools
- n8n → free, open-source, and you can self-host it on a cheap VPS
With n8n, you can visually create workflows that move data between Gmail, Google Sheets, Telegram, APIs, and even AI models.
My First Workflow Automation Project with n8n
Here’s the workflow automation I set up in just a few hours:
Step 1: Pull Google Alerts from Gmail
n8n connects to Gmail and fetches new alert emails automatically.
Step 2: Parse and Clean the Data
Using a little Node.js inside n8n, I extract headlines and links from the email JSON.
Step 3: Save Results to Google Sheets
Every new alert gets logged into a Google Sheet for easy tracking.
Step 4: Summarize with a Cron Job
At the end of the day, a cron task compiles everything into a neat summary.
Step 5: Send to Telegram
Finally, n8n pushes the daily digest straight to my Telegram chat.
Taking Workflow Automation Further with AI
That’s already useful, but you can make it smarter. Add an AI Agent (like OpenAI or local models) to rewrite the alerts into one clean, unique story. Suddenly, your workflow isn’t just automating — it’s creating.
Why n8n Workflow Automation is Worth Learning
Workflow automation isn’t a “nice to have” anymore — it’s how individuals and teams save hours every week. With n8n you get:
- Free self-hosting on a cheap VPS
- Drag-and-drop visual editor
- Hundreds of integrations out of the box
- The flexibility to drop in custom code or AI models
Final Thoughts: Start Automating Today
If you’re curious about workflow automation, don’t wait. Spin up a VPS (I’m using one for less than R600), install n8n, and start building your own automations. You’ll learn faster by doing, and you’ll see why so many are moving to open-source workflow automation.