Tools like n8n are just the Engine and not the Car. And you need a fully functional car to deploy AI solutions in the real world.
When I first started learning n8n, I assumed that once I learned it, I would be able to set up complete AI automation workflows for companies.
It took me a couple of months to realise that all I was really doing was learning to build the engine.
And that’s what you mostly see on social media.
AI influencers share n8n workflows, giving the impression that’s all there is to AI automation.
But n8n is just the engine. It doesn’t provide the client-facing interface.
Your clients don’t interact directly with your n8n workflows. In reality, they engage through a website form, a phone call, or a mobile app.
The data they provide is sent to a CRM or database, then extracted and passed into your n8n workflow for further processing.
Once processed, it’s sent back to the original system.
Think of it this way:
Your website, app, form, phone call and the rest of the infrastructure is the car, and n8n is the engine that makes it run.
Since most AI influencers are in the business of teaching, not selling AI solutions to companies, they won’t tell you that what you’re really learning is how to build the engine.
And an engine without a car to put it in is useless.
In real life, you need far more than n8n to deliver AI solutions to businesses.
Components needed to build a Car (aka Real Life AI solutions):
Engine (n8n) - Powers the automation workflows and process logic.
Chassis and Frame (Core Infrastructure) - Provides the foundation, including cloud servers, security layers, databases, and CRMs that hold data and maintain structure.
Body and Interior (User Interfaces) - Websites, apps, forms, phone systems are the “body panels and interiors” where clients interact, submit data, and receive results; these are built outside n8n.
Transmission and Wheels (Connectivity) - APIs, webhooks, plugins, and middleware function as transmission and wheels, connecting the engine to the rest of the vehicle and allowing smooth data movement.
Electrical System (LLMs) - NLP, LLMs, and specialised AI services are electrical systems and computers, providing intelligence, adaptability, and advanced features.
Controls (Monitoring & Maintenance) - Dashboards, error monitoring, QA checks, compliance tools. Like brakes, steering, and diagnostics, keep the AI solution safe, reliable, and updatable.