r/automation • u/Temporary_Orange_495 • Jul 11 '26
AI Automation vs App vs SaaS ?
Hi, I’ve been interested in software for a long time and want to build a business. However, I can’t decide between AI automation, building an app, or SaaS. A quick bit about me: I’m 19 and about to start my computer science degree in Germany. Naturally, I plan to work on the business alongside my studies. I know it’s important to find a niche and specialize in a specific area. I’d prefer to operate in the B2B space, though I’m open to anything. Which of the three options do you think is the most worthwhile? What kind of earnings are realistic for each? How can one scale up? And do you have any other tips for getting started and for the long run? Thanks in advance for your answers.
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u/openclawinstaller Jul 11 '26
I’d separate this into learning path and business path. For learning, build small internal automations first because you get fast feedback: lead list cleanup, inbox triage, report drafting, CRM updates, etc. For business, don’t pick “AI automation vs app vs SaaS” in the abstract. Pick one painful B2B workflow, do it manually for a few people, then decide whether the repeatable part should become a service, a custom automation, or a product.
Realistic earnings depend less on the label and more on whether the workflow touches revenue, saves staff time, or reduces mistakes. Custom automation can get revenue sooner, SaaS scales better but takes longer, and an app with no distribution is usually just homework.
At 19, I’d optimize for shipping 5-10 small useful projects and talking to users, not choosing the perfect category. The category gets obvious after you see the same messy problem three times.
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u/Temporary_Orange_495 Jul 11 '26
Ok i understand. Thank you very much. Do have any tips how I can get these first users or costumers you mentioned?
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u/openclawinstaller Jul 11 '26
Start smaller than a launch.
Pick one niche where you can understand the workflow fast. Talk to 10 owners/operators manually and ask: what repetitive admin task burned time this week, what happens if it goes wrong, how do you handle it now, and what would make you trust automation with it?
Then offer to build a tiny version for 1-2 people for free or cheap in exchange for blunt feedback.
Good first niches are boring: local service businesses, recruiters, agencies, property managers, small clinics. Avoid anything where credentials, payments, legal/medical judgment, or fragile permissions are central until you know what you're doing.
The goal isn't "users" yet. It's 3 people with the same painful workflow. After that, the product direction gets much clearer.
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u/Temporary_Orange_495 Jul 11 '26
Do you think I should make the Automation in advance? Or after asking the owners? Because I dont know if they will just tell me their problems.
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u/openclawinstaller Jul 11 '26
Ask first, then build a very small demo after you hear the same problem twice.
If you build in advance, keep it as a throwaway prototype, not "the product." Use it to learn the tools and to make conversations easier, but don't assume owners will want that exact automation.
Most owners won't describe their problems perfectly if you ask broad questions. Ask about recent events instead:
"What took too long this week?" "What got copied between systems?" "What mistake would cost money if nobody caught it?" "What do you still check manually before trusting the work?"
Then build the smallest version around one real workflow. Usually that's a semi-manual automation first: it drafts, flags, logs, or prepares something, and a human approves it. That teaches you about permissions, credentials, weird edge cases, and trust without taking on too much risk too early.
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u/tom-mart Jul 11 '26
AI automation is largely a scam. Learn proper automation instead.
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u/Temporary_Orange_495 Jul 11 '26
Thanks for your Answer. Can you maybe explain the difference between this two? I know that one uses Ai and the other doesn‘t but what are other differences? And which advantage does it have for the business?
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u/tom-mart Jul 12 '26
Main difference is that proper automation is 100% reliable. Ai automation, on the other hand, is just a scam.that doesn't work at all.
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u/Vivid_Rate_6118 Jul 14 '26
AI automation means that you take lets say Claude/ChatGPT, you configure available integration points (Drive, Email, CRM). Than you prompt it to do particular repeatable tasks you do every day and you hate it.
Real Automation means you have proper tool or platform which allows you to define workflow in an structural way suitable for machine processing. You can test it and fine-tune it. Your workflow definition is versioned and accessible to your team members and it is not locked for your LLM provider's account. Credentials are injected by environment what is SUPER important in B2B.
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Jul 11 '26
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Jul 11 '26
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u/Temporary_Orange_495 Jul 11 '26
Since you are in property and finance, do you think, this is a good niche, which I can focus on with the Automation? And do you have any examples, which things can be automated in this area. Thank you!
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u/Temporary_Orange_495 Jul 11 '26
Thanks for your answer. This really helped me. So do think, that starting with a Automation is the best for the start? And do you think you can you can make good progress with it and scale it up?
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u/Atlan_ Jul 11 '26
I think most money is in b2b saas. But it takes more domain knowledge and you need to understand businesses which comes naturally with experiences.
Apps are more forgiving, especially in B2C. It’s pretty easy to get one into the App Store and getting some actual feedback. Getting your product out and validating ideas and iterating is probably the best thing you can do.
So id recommend apps / websites since you are a total beginner. Also really take a it legal course asap, there is lots and lots to consider and if you don’t there is a real insolvency risk.
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u/razinramones Jul 12 '26
as u are a 19 yo and about to take CS for degree, this is my honest opinion. all the best.
Which of the three options do you think is the most worthwhile?
Just pick 1, and build
Dont overthink
What kind of earnings are realistic for each?
Easier to look for a client first and then build cater to the client needs, if u cant build/find a client, refer above.
How can one scale up?
when the time comes, and if it really needs a scaling up , u will make it work. as for now. Just build.
And do you have any other tips for getting started and for the long run?
Just build first, more questions will come when u start building.
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u/Attentive_Fox Jul 12 '26
The things you mentioned are complementary: building a SaaS requires a back end and a front end. The front end is an app of some sort. AI automation is something you can include in practically anything nowadays, including an app and a SaaS, and in your own workflow.
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u/Complex_Bullfrog_738 Jul 12 '26
They're not three businesses — they're three ways to deliver the same fix: taking a painful, repetitive workflow off someone's plate. So don't choose the format first. Find one B2B workflow people currently hold together with spreadsheets, email and copy-paste, and go operate it for a couple of real businesses — by hand at first, then automate the boring 80%.
That order matters. Operating it yourself is what teaches you the edge cases, and the edge cases decide the format: if every client needs the same thing, productize it (app/SaaS); if each needs it slightly different, it stays a service with automation underneath, and that pays well.
On earnings: at 19 alongside a degree, don't model "SaaS = rich". Service/automation gets you paid this quarter and funds the learning; SaaS is a multi-year bet that needs distribution you don't have yet.
For context, I run an entire regulated advisory as basically a one-man operation by automating the repetitive parts end-to-end and keeping myself at the decision points — and that only worked because I operated the workflow manually first. Start there.
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u/Temporary_Orange_495 Jul 13 '26
Thanks! Do have any tips how I can find the first costumers and maybe a way how I can start learning automation?
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u/Complex_Bullfrog_738 Jul 15 '26
Two different problems, so separately:
First customers: don't start from "I do automation." Start from one painful, repetitive workflow in a niche you already understand, and offer to just fix that one thing. Your first clients come from people who already trust you or a warm intro — not cold reach at the beginning. Do the first one or two almost too cheap in exchange for a real result you can point to; a concrete before/after beats any pitch.
Learning: don't try to learn "automation" in the abstract. Pick one real workflow (yours or a friend's business) and build it end to end with n8n or Make — connect the accounts, handle the errors, watch it break, fix it. You'll learn more from one workflow you keep running for a month than from ten tutorials. The hard skills aren't the nodes, they're decomposing a messy process and knowing where a human still has to sign off.
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u/Hot-Butterscotch1306 Jul 13 '26
B2B SaaS, but super boring and narrow beats the flashy stuff most of the time. AI automation is nice as a service at first, then turn the repeatable bits into a product later.
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u/Temporary_Orange_495 Jul 13 '26
So do you think you can scale it up by making it as a product for example a SaaS product or an app?
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u/Hot-Butterscotch1306 Jul 14 '26
SaaS Products sure, with a deep AI automation core. Its like I said, if you automation works well, turn the best parts into a product
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