Automation with AI and n8n – Practical seminar for efficient business processes – Module 4

In this training, you'll learn n8n from the ground up – from the interface and fundamental concepts to creating your own practical automations. You'll learn how to run n8n in cloud and self-hosted environments, what this means for data protection, compliance, scalability, and costs, and how to effectively use APIs, JSON, and variables.

A special focus is placed on the use of AI agents as well as working with templates, error handling and debugging.

Together, concrete practical examples are worked on, such as a telephone agent creating a ticket, where what has been learned is directly implemented in usable workflows.

Agenda 

Introduction to n8n

• Overview: What is n8n and why automation?
• Who is n8n suitable for?
• Practical application: Typical use cases

Self-hosted vs. Cloud

• Differences between n8n Cloud and Self-Hosted
• Data protection & compliance: Which option is suitable for whom?
• Hosting options
• Scaling, Performance & Costs
• Practical example: Setting up your own n8n instance

User interface & basic concepts

• Structure of the n8n surface
• Workflows, triggers, nodes, credentials
• Practical example: Examples of simple automations

Basics: JSON, variables & APIs

• What is JSON? – Understanding structured data formats
• Variables & Data Flow – How Data is Moved in Automations
• Introduction to Interfaces & APIs
• Practical example: „Consuming“ a REST API with Postman

Working with Data & Logic

• Data transformation: Set, Function, Merge, Split
• Expressions & Variable Access
• IF node: conditions, branches, typical patterns
• Switch node: Branching based on values and rules
• Data Tables: Using structured tabular data within workflows
• Connection to API services & external systems
• Practical example: „Consuming“ a REST API with the HTTP node

Use of AI agents

• Overview of AI nodes (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure OpenAI, OpenRouter)
• Prompt design for automation
• Enrich, classify, and summarize data
• Image generation with AI
• Video generation with AI
• Practical application: AI agents for email categorization and reply suggestions

Templates

• Finding and using templates
• Import and export of templates
• Security: Trusted sources, risks, code and node auditing
• Securely store credentials
• Practical exercise: Download and customize the template for n8n backups

Error handling & debugging

• Handling errors in workflows
• Error Trigger 
• Practical example: Building your own error workflow

Practical examples that will be addressed

1. Telephone Agent → Ticket Creation

• Building a Voice Agent
• Take the call, generate a transcript
• Analyze and structure the content (e.g., problem, name, callback number)
• Create a ticket in a helpdesk system (e.g., docBee)
• Send notification to team (e.g., Teams, Telegram)

1. Social media automation

• Plan, generate, and vary content
• Automatically publish posts to multiple platforms (e.g., Meta, LinkedIn, X)
• Automatic image/text generation with AI
• Practical example: Workflow for automated posting including scheduling

Dates:
April 14, 2026
April 16, 2026
April 21, 2026
23.04.2026
each day from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM 

Target group:
Anyone who wants to efficiently automate processes and make daily routines smarter. 

Documents:
Workflow Templates and Presentation

Platform:
Google Meet

certificate 
After the seminar, all participants will receive their certificate of participation digitally.

Lecturer:
Stefan Schwarz is the managing director of PC-Mentor GmbH.