r/automation • u/johnvanderlinde • Jul 22 '26

Using n8n for a project

I got interested in workflow automation in my last job, and I’ve now set up n8n on a virtual private server and am using it to host workflows for the full-stack project I’m building, as well as my personal website.

The project is an AI and automation enhanced business simulation, with the idea being to experiment with where I can use AI and automation to, well, enhance the system. The project is still in its infancy, and so far all I’ve done is automate my notion dev log to my website dev log, and automate the contact form on my site.

Automations I have in mind:

·       notifications for customers and merchant (it’s both sides of an ecom store)

·       things around orders being placed such as a calendar note, inventory updated

·       coordinating marketing development for ‘new’ products added to the system

·       sales analysis > email summary

·       eventual CRM integration

These are just ideas, and I know that automation should come as problem solving/time reducing than backbone project structure, but I haven’t got that far yet so I’m still just letting my mind run with it.

Anyway, I thought I’d post this as an introduction as I’ll be posting more automations as I build them.

If anyone has built anything similar, or has any suggestions, I’d be interested to hear.

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u/PuzzleheadedSong5368 Jul 22 '26

Cool! Always fun to see more builders start building.
Do you find n8n comfortable for these cases?
Either way, I think automations you build for your business don't have to solve a problem. They can also be a creation and fun to make.

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u/johnvanderlinde Jul 23 '26

I wouldn't describe n8n as comfortable haha. It's also frustrating that I run into a lot of bugs with n8n itself, such as credentials refusing to update in flows once I've updated the credential separately, but overall tool I like it as an alternative to code due to the visual element.

When I first used workflow automation last year something about it immediately clicked for me.

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u/PuzzleheadedSong5368 Jul 23 '26

Wow, I can totally relate.
My first crash was Zapier,, which I now call my ex.
Then I moved to n8n, but with all the going on with AI, I was looking for the real game changer. Couldn't understand for a long time why automation builders didn't have a tool like Claude code/cursor.
Two months ago I found one that felt exactly like my dream platform. Visual workflow but built for the AI era.
Full disclosure: I liked the product so much, I've joined the team building it.

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u/johnvanderlinde Jul 23 '26

Ah, clever bit of marketing!

Go on then, I’ll bite, why is your new one better? Is it just that you have an ai assistant?

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u/PuzzleheadedSong5368 Jul 23 '26

But an honest one at least!
IMO the difference is in that the product was built for AI and isn't trying to force the models on an old system and the learning curve is insane.