Automation with AI and n8n – Practical seminar for efficient business processes – Module 3

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

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)

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:
August 28, 2026 | Module 1
August 27, 2026 | Module 2
September 1, 2026 | Module 3
03.09.2026 | Module 4
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:
Recording of modules, 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, an IT systems house based in Weiterstadt near Frankfurt am Main, and founder of AI-Guys, a consultancy for artificial intelligence and process automation. With his team of ten employees, he has been supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for 20 years with all their IT needs – from infrastructure to digitalization. As one of the first in the industry, he not only uses AI technologies strategically, but also develops his own products and automation solutions for SMEs. In addition, he works as an external data protection officer and is therefore also familiar with the regulatory aspects of digitalization.