How To Create Automated Workflows In Apps

I just solved a workflow problem that was eating hours of my time every week - and I want to share how I did it. Like many content creators, I was manually converting my Beehive newsletter drafts into markdown for my website. Copy, paste, reformat, fix images, adjust embeds... you know the drill. It was tedious and error-prone. So I built a custom MCP (Model Context Protocol) server in Java that: • Connects directly to Beehive's API • Pulls draft content automatically • Converts HTML to my specific markdown format • Handles images, YouTube embeds, and Twitter posts • Creates files in the right directory structure The best part? I can just tell Claude: "Grab the latest draft and create the markdown file for my website" - and it handles everything. This isn't just another toy tutorial. It's a real solution to a real problem that saves me hours every week. The MCP server gives Claude the exact tools it needs to automate complex workflows that would be painful to script manually. I've even set up GitHub Actions to build native images for Mac, Windows, and Linux - so you don't need Java installed to use it. The source code is available on GitHub if you want to see how it works or build something similar for your own workflow. What manual tasks in your workflow could benefit from this kind of automation? Sometimes the best solutions come from scratching your own itch. Watch the full demo: https://lnkd.in/e-M2fMZy ##MCP #Java

I turned the most annoying 20 minute task of my job into 20 seconds. Here's the step-by-step breakdown: For years, I've been drowning in business card requests. Emails at all hours, random texts, people stopping by my office - all asking for the same thing but never giving me complete information. I'd spend 15-20 minutes per request just coordinating between employees, our designer, and placing orders. It was literally the least important but most time-consuming part of my week. Working with Claude (Anthropic's AI), I built my first AI agent that completely automates this workflow. Now when someone needs business cards, they fill out a simple form in Teams. The moment they hit submit: ✅ Data automatically saves to SharePoint ✅ A ClickUp task gets created for our designer with all the details ✅ Task gets assigned with a 3-day deadline ✅ I get notified when it's ready for ordering What used to take me 15-20 minutes of back-and-forth now happens in seconds. Zero manual work on my end. The crazy part? This entire system was built in a few hours using tools we already had - Power Apps, SharePoint, Teams, and Power Automate. No coding required. Here's my biggest takeaway: AI agents aren't just for tech companies. They're for anyone tired of repetitive tasks eating away at time that should be spent on strategic work. I'm a marketing leader at an oil and gas services company, not a programmer. If I can build this, anyone can. What repetitive task is driving you crazy? Maybe it's time to automate it. Next up: I'm eyeing our expense reporting process 👀

7 Steps To Set Up A No-Code AI Agent In n8n (Have you ever wished you could automate tasks without writing a single line of code?) With n8n and AI tools like OpenAI, you can create an AI agent that automates processes, handles repetitive tasks, and even analyzes data. Here’s how you do it: ↳ Step 1: Install n8n Download and install n8n ↳ Step 2: Create A New Workflow Log into n8n, and click on “New Workflow.” This is where you’ll design your no-code AI agent. ↳ Step 3: Add Your Trigger (Node) Decide how your AI agent will start. For example, use a “Webhook” to trigger the agent when data is sent to a specific URL ↳ Step 4: Connect the OpenAI ChatGPT Step (Node) Add an OpenAI ChatGPT (prebuilt in n8n) step in your workflow to enable AI capabilities. Configure it with your OpenAI API key, which you can get from the OpenAI dashboard. ↳ Step 5: Design The Workflow Connect your trigger to the OpenAI step. Define the task the AI agent will perform, like summarizing data, drafting emails, or generating responses based on prompts. ↳ Step 6: Add Output Steps (Nodes) Decide where the results of your AI agent will go. For example: Use an “Email” step (node) to send outputs via email. Use a “Google Sheets” (node) to save data. Use a “HTTP Request” (node) to send outputs to another app. ↳ Step 7: Test & Run Run the workflow and test it. Once it works as intended, activate it so it runs automatically based on your trigger. (Within minutes, you’ll have an AI-powered agent working behind the scenes for your business.) It's as easy as 1,2,3 ... well almost ... more like 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 ;) Have you thought about how much time this could save your team? ____________________ AI Consultant, Course Creator & Keynote Speaker Follow Ashley Gross for more AI Agent advice