AI TRAINING
No-Code AI Automations for SMEs
Leave with 3 working automations built on Zapier, Make, and Claude — no code required.
What it covers
A hands-on, one-day workshop where non-technical team leads and ops managers build real automations using Zapier, Make, and Claude. Participants tackle 20 common SME workflows including lead routing, invoice processing, review responses, and meeting follow-ups. Sessions alternate between short demos and live build time, so every participant leaves with working automations they can deploy immediately. No prior coding or AI experience is needed.
What you'll be able to do
- Build and deploy a multi-step Zapier or Make automation that routes incoming leads to the right team member without manual intervention
- Create a Claude-powered flow that drafts responses to customer reviews or support messages based on a predefined tone guide
- Set up an invoice processing automation that extracts key fields and logs them into a spreadsheet or accounting tool
- Configure a post-meeting automation that captures action items and creates tasks in a project management tool
- Identify which of your team's recurring manual tasks are automation-ready and prioritise them using a simple effort/impact matrix
Topics covered
- Zapier and Make workflow logic: triggers, actions, and filters
- Connecting Claude via API in a no-code environment
- Lead routing and CRM update automations
- Invoice processing and payment reminder flows
- Automated review and customer message responses
- Meeting follow-up and task creation workflows
- Error handling and monitoring basics for live automations
- Choosing the right tool for each workflow (Zapier vs Make vs native integrations)
Delivery
Delivered in-person or remote (Zoom/Teams with breakout rooms). Each participant needs a laptop with free-tier Zapier and Make accounts created in advance. Facilitator provides a shared workspace with pre-built automation templates as starting points. Approximately 70% hands-on build time, 30% facilitated demo and debrief. A post-workshop Notion resource pack with all templates, prompt library, and troubleshooting guide is included.
What makes it work
- Start with one high-frequency, low-risk workflow (e.g. meeting follow-ups) to build confidence before tackling invoice processing
- Assign a named 'automation owner' per flow who monitors errors and iterates on prompts over the first two weeks
- Document every automation in a shared register so the team is not dependent on the person who built it
- Schedule a 30-minute team review four weeks after the workshop to assess what is working and what needs adjustment
Common mistakes
- Automating a broken process — teams skip mapping the manual workflow first and then embed its inefficiencies into the automation
- Using too many tools in one flow, creating fragile chains that break when one app updates its API
- Neglecting error notifications, so failed automations go unnoticed for days and data silently disappears
- Over-relying on Claude for decisions that require human judgment, such as approving payments or escalating complaints
When NOT to take this
This workshop is not the right fit for a team that has not yet identified specific repetitive workflows to automate — if participants cannot name at least two manual processes they want to fix, the build sessions will lack focus and the automations will not survive past the workshop day.
Providers to consider
Sources
This training is part of a Data & AI catalog built for leaders serious about execution. Take the free diagnostic to see which trainings your team needs.