n8n is an open source automation tool for building workflows between applications visually. It does what Zapier does, but you can run it on your own server.
01. How It Works
A workflow is made of nodes. A trigger node starts the flow, subsequent nodes transform the data and write it to the target system. It's built in a visual interface, but a real execution engine runs behind it.
02. Why Enterprises Talk About It
Three reasons: data never leaves your servers, you don't pay per execution, and you can write JavaScript or Python inside a node when needed. All three matter in enterprise scenarios.
03. The Connector Ecosystem
There are hundreds of ready connectors: databases, Google and Microsoft services, CRMs, messaging apps. For systems without a ready connector, the HTTP node reaches any REST API.
04. Typical Enterprise Scenarios
Writing an order from the ERP into the CRM, processing an email attachment into a database, notifying purchasing when a stock threshold is crossed, and overnight data transfer jobs.
05. Its Limits
It isn't the right tool for heavy data transformation and high-volume ETL; data pipeline tools do that better. n8n's strength is medium-volume, event-driven flows between different systems.
06. How to Start
Build your first flow on a non-critical process. Before automating a task, write down how it's done manually; automate a vague process and you automate the vagueness too.