Core concepts
Workflow automation
Workflow automation chains tools together so events in one system trigger actions in another — without human glue work. Classic example: Stripe charge → CRM updated → welcome email sent → onboarding folder created. Tools: Zapier, Make, n8n, custom code.
More detail
Workflow automation predates AI automation by ~15 years (Zapier launched 2011). The unlock is removing manual data entry and notification work between SaaS tools. Most SMBs reclaim 10-20 hrs/week with pure workflow automation before adding any AI. See the Workflow Automation Playbook for the 7 core patterns + 5 anti-patterns.