Introduction
Running a small business often means juggling endless tasks: emails, invoices, spreadsheets, and customer follow-ups. These jobs take time and keep you from focusing on growth. Automation means letting a system perform these tasks on its own. Integration means connecting different software so they work together seamlessly. Make.com provides both in one easy-to-use, no-code platform.
According to Wikipedia, automation is “the use of control systems … to reduce human intervention in processes.” According to Wikipedia, system integration links different tools so they function together as one.
I’m Brian, and I help businesses design smarter workflows. Learn more about me here.
What Does Automation and Integration Mean?
- Automation: A set of instructions that makes routine tasks happen automatically. Example: Send a thank-you email every time an order is placed.
- Integration: Connecting different systems so they share information instantly. Example: When someone fills out a contact form, their info appears in your CRM without re-typing.
How Triggers Work in Automation
Every automation starts with a trigger. A trigger is the event that begins the process. After the trigger, one or more actions occur automatically.
Four examples of triggers:
- An email is received in your customer inbox.
- A sale is completed in your online store.
- A form is submitted on your website.
- A new calendar event is created in your scheduling app.
Each trigger can set off multiple actions. For example:
- Trigger: A sale is completed.
- Actions: Send an invoice, update accounting software, email the customer, adjust inventory.
- Trigger: A form is submitted.
- Actions: Add the contact to CRM, alert your team, and send a thank-you message.
This separation is key: the trigger starts the chain, and the actions carry it forward.
Starting Simple
Problem: Small business owners lose hours to routine admin work.
Solution: Make.com offers a drag-and-drop interface. You don’t need technical skills. You pick a trigger and connect it to actions.
Bonus: Workflows run in real time, so you can watch them work and expand with confidence.
Core Plan – Powerful and Affordable
Problem: Many automation platforms are expensive.
Solution: Make.com’s Core plan costs $9/month (billed annually) and includes 10,000 operations per month. That’s plenty for most small business needs.
Bonus: The plan includes unlimited active workflows, one-minute scheduling, and API (Application Programming Interface) access.
What You Can Do (Use Cases)
Problem: You wonder if this fits your business.
Solution: Common workflows include:
- New customer joins → update your CRM, send welcome email, log it in a spreadsheet.
- Invoice created → update QuickBooks, notify bookkeeper, email customer.
- Social media post published → save it automatically in cloud storage.
Why It Matters for Small Businesses
Problem: Limited staff and tight budgets make scaling hard.
Solution: Business process automation frees your time and reduces errors. According to Wikipedia, business process automation uses technology to manage workflows and reduce manual steps.
Bonus: Each setup can be fully customized to your process—no two businesses need to be the same.
Implementation Plan / Roadmap
- Identify one repetitive task.
- Choose the trigger that starts the process.
- Add the actions that should follow.
- Test the workflow in Make.com.
- Turn it on and track the results.
- Scale up with more workflows over time.
Conclusion
Make.com’s Core plan at $9/month gives small businesses access to true Automation and Integration. Triggers launch actions. Workflows save hours. The result is more focus, fewer errors, and smoother operations. Ready to start? Contact me today and let’s build your first automation together.