Low-Code Automations with MCP
- Pius Schmid
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
The hybrid automation dream: MCP meets Make and N8N
Now here's where things get really spicy – MCP is becoming the bridge that connects AI intelligence with existing automation platforms. Think of it as the translator at a United Nations meeting, but instead of world leaders, you have AI models trying to communicate with Make.com workflows and N8N automations.
The Old Way: Before MCP, if you wanted your AI to trigger a Make scenario or interact with an N8N workflow, you had to build custom integrations, deal with webhook complications, and just hope that everything would work together. It was like trying to get three different remote controls to operate the same TV – technically possible, but you'd probably throw at least one remote across the room.
The MCP Way: With MCP, you can create servers that act as intermediaries between your AI and automation platforms. Your AI can now:
Trigger Make scenarios based on complex reasoning and context
Monitor and control N8N workflows dynamically
Combine multiple automation tools in a single, AI-orchestrated workflow
Make intelligent decisions about which automation to run based on real-time data
Real-World Hybrid Scenarios That'll Make You Want to Quit Your Day Job
Scenario 1: The Smart Customer Service Pipeline
Your AI receives a customer complaint via email, analyzes the sentiment and complexity, then intelligently routes it through different automation paths:
Simple issues → Triggers a Make scenario that sends an automated response and creates a ticket
Complex issues → Activates an N8N workflow that alerts human agents and prepares context documents
Angry customers → Fires up a priority escalation pipeline that combines both platforms
Scenario 2: The Data Processing Orchestra
Imagine your AI monitoring multiple data sources and orchestrating different automation tools based on what it finds:
New sales data detected → AI triggers Make to update CRM and generate reports
Inventory levels dropping → AI activates N8N workflow to reorder supplies and notify stakeholders
Unusual patterns detected → AI combines both platforms to create alerts, update dashboards, and schedule emergency meetings
Building Your Own Hybrid Automation Empire
The beauty of MCP is that you can create custom servers that speak directly to Make's API or N8N's REST endpoints. It's like having a universal translator that's also a project manager:
Create MCP servers that connect to your automation platforms
Define tools that can trigger, monitor, and control workflows
Let your AI make intelligent decisions about which automations to run
Chain multiple platforms together for complex, multi-step processes
The "Holy Trinity" of Modern Automation:
AI (via MCP): The brain that makes intelligent decisions
Make: The visual workflow builder for complex integrations
N8N: The open-source powerhouse for custom automation needs
Together, they create a system where your AI doesn't just respond to queries – it actively manages and orchestrates your entire digital ecosystem. It's like having a super-intelligent digital assistant that can not only understand what you need but also has the keys to every automation tool in your toolkit.
Why This Matters for Non-Developers: Even if you're not a coding wizard, this hybrid approach means you can build sophisticated automation systems using familiar tools like Make's visual interface, while having AI intelligence making the smart decisions about when and how to use them. It's democratizing advanced automation in a way that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.