AI and Automation

Program

AI and Automation

Automate real workflows with AI, not just chatbots

Learn to design AI-powered automations that connect tools, trigger actions, and remove repetitive work from real business processes.

8

Weeks

40

Chapters

4

Practice formats

1

Portfolio artifact

8 weeks — one module per week (8 modules, 40 chapters), each week ending with a live class every Saturday, plus a module exam before the next module opens.

Curriculum

40 chapters across 8 modules — each with guided notes, a live example, a quiz, an exercise, a challenge, and class practice.

Module 1 · AUTOMATION FOUNDATIONS

  1. 1Introduction to AI AutomationWhat automation is, rule-based vs AI-powered steps, the trigger-decision-action pattern, where automation pays off, and the tools of the trade.Learn →
  2. 2Mapping & Redesigning ProcessesDocumenting a process as it is, finding waste and exceptions, designing the to-be flow, and writing clear automation requirements.Learn →
  3. 3APIs, Webhooks & AuthenticationHow apps talk: HTTP requests, JSON, API keys and OAuth, webhooks vs polling, verifying webhook signatures, and rate limits.Learn →
  4. 4Data Formats & TransformationJSON and CSV, mapping fields between apps, cleaning and normalizing data, dates and time zones, and lookups.Learn →
  5. 5Finding & Prioritising Automation OpportunitiesSpotting good automation candidates, measuring volume and time, rules-based vs. judgement-based work, estimating hours and savings, and building a prioritised backlog.Learn →

Module 2 · NO-CODE AUTOMATION

  1. 6No-Code Platforms: Zapier, Make, Power Automate & n8nBuilding workflows with triggers, actions, and connectors; comparing the major platforms; testing, versioning, and pricing.Learn →
  2. 7Logic, Branching & LoopsFilters, conditions and routers, lookups, loops over lists, aggregations, delays and schedules, and keeping workflows maintainable.Learn →
  3. 8Error Handling & ReliabilityWhy automations fail, retries with backoff, idempotency, error routes and dead-letter queues, alerting, monitoring, and runbooks.Learn →
  4. 9Triggers, Schedules & PollingEvent triggers vs. polling vs. schedules, webhooks, cron expressions and time zones, batching, avoiding duplicate runs, and choosing the right trigger.Learn →
  5. 10Automating Spreadsheets & FormsCleaning form submissions, normalising emails and phone numbers, deduplication, validation, routing rows to the right team, and writing results back.Learn →

Module 3 · ADDING AI TO AUTOMATIONS

  1. 11Adding LLMs to AutomationsWhere AI steps fit, calling models from no-code tools and APIs, prompt templates with variables, structured JSON output, and model choice and cost.Learn →
  2. 12AI Classification & Document ExtractionClassifying text, extracting fields from emails, PDFs, and images, confidence and validation, human review queues, and measuring accuracy.Learn →
  3. 13AI Agents & Tool Use in AutomationFrom fixed workflows to agents: tool calling, agent nodes in no-code platforms, the Model Context Protocol, approval steps, and when agents are worth it.Learn →
  4. 14Guardrails & Human-in-the-LoopInput and output guardrails, handling bad input, personal data, approvals, audit trails, and designing automations whose failures are visible.Learn →
  5. 15Prompting for Reliable AutomationsPrompt templates with variables, fixed output formats, parsing model output robustly, defaults and fallbacks, temperature, and versioning prompts in automations.Learn →

Module 4 · CODE, GOVERNANCE & CAPSTONE

  1. 16Python for AutomationWhen to write code, scripts that call APIs, working with files and spreadsheets, scheduling, secrets, and deploying small automations.Learn →
  2. 17Governance, Security & CostSecuring connections and credentials, data privacy, ownership and documentation, change management, and estimating and controlling automation costs.Learn →
  3. 18RPA & Desktop AutomationWhat robotic process automation is, attended vs. unattended bots, when RPA beats APIs (and when it doesn't), selectors and brittleness, credentials, and RPA governance.Learn →
  4. 19Testing Automations Before Go-LiveTest cases from real examples, edge cases and failure paths, test environments and sandbox accounts, regression testing after changes, and user acceptance.Learn →
  5. 20Documenting & Handing Over AutomationsWhat to document for each automation, process diagrams, runbooks for failures, ownership and access, change logs, and handing over to operations or business owners.Learn →

Module 5 · ON THE JOB: AUTOMATING BUSINESS OPERATIONS

  1. 21On the Job: Automating Accounts PayableFinance processes 2,500 supplier invoices a month by hand. Capture invoices from email, extract data with AI, run 3-way matching, route exceptions for approval, and post to the accounting system.Learn →
  2. 22On the Job: Automating Employee Onboarding & OffboardingNew hires wait days for laptops and access; leavers keep access for weeks. Trigger workflows from the HR system, provision accounts and equipment, track checklists, and close security gaps.Learn →
  3. 23On the Job: Sales & CRM AutomationLeads sit uncontacted for days and the CRM is full of duplicates. Automate lead capture, enrichment, deduplication, scoring and routing, follow-up tasks, and AI-drafted outreach with human approval.Learn →
  4. 24On the Job: Automating Expense ApprovalsTurning an expense policy into rules, auto-approval thresholds, routing to managers and finance, receipt checks, AI receipt reading, and audit trails.Learn →
  5. 25On the Job: Inventory Reorder AlertsReorder points, safety stock, lead times, days of cover, automated alerts and purchase-order drafts, and reviewing the rules as demand changes.Learn →

Module 6 · ON THE JOB: CUSTOMER-FACING AI AUTOMATION

  1. 26On the Job: AI Triage for the Support Inbox6,000 customer emails a month land in one inbox. Classify intent, urgency and sentiment, extract order details, route to the right queue, draft replies for agents, and keep humans in control.Learn →
  2. 27On the Job: A WhatsApp/Web Chat Qualification AssistantTurn website and WhatsApp enquiries into qualified bookings — conversation design, collecting details step by step, validation, booking via API, consent, and handing over to humans.Learn →
  3. 28On the Job: The Automated Weekly KPI DigestManagers spend Monday mornings assembling reports. Pull data from several systems, compute KPIs, detect anomalies, have AI write a grounded narrative, and deliver a reliable digest every week.Learn →
  4. 29On the Job: Automating Review & Feedback AnalysisCollecting reviews and survey comments, AI tagging of topics and sentiment, routing urgent issues, weekly summaries, and checking tagging quality.Learn →
  5. 30On the Job: Appointment Booking & RemindersAutomating bookings, confirmations, reminders and follow-ups; reducing no-shows; rescheduling flows; time zones; consent for SMS; and measuring impact.Learn →

Module 7 · ON THE JOB: RUNNING AN AUTOMATION PRACTICE

  1. 31On the Job: Monitoring & Maintaining AutomationsForty automations are live and one silently stopped three weeks ago. Add run logging, health dashboards, alerting, ownership, and handle API changes, expired credentials and AI drift.Learn →
  2. 32On the Job: Measuring ROI & Building the Business CaseLeadership asks whether the automation programme is worth it. Baseline the manual process, estimate and measure hours saved, quality and speed gains, total costs, payback and prioritise the pipeline.Learn →
  3. 33On the Job: Running an Automation Centre of ExcellenceCitizen developers across the company are building flows. Set up intake, standards, environments, reusable components, training and support so automation scales safely.Learn →
  4. 34On the Job: Change Management for AutomationHow staff experience automation, communicating purpose, involving process experts, training and new roles, handling fear of job loss, and measuring adoption.Learn →
  5. 35On the Job: Tracking Automation Platform CostsHow no-code platforms bill (tasks, operations, runs), AI call costs, plan limits and overages, finding the most expensive workflows, and optimising.Learn →

Module 8 · CAPSTONE & CAREER LAUNCH

  1. 36Capstone: A Guarded AI AutomationBuild and document a working automation that connects at least two real tools, uses AI where it helps, and has a guardrail that catches bad input.Learn →
  2. 37Portfolio & Interview Preparation for Automation RolesLand an automation role — showcase measurable automations, choose certifications, and prepare for process-analysis, technical and scenario interviews.Learn →
  3. 38Job Search Strategy for Automation RolesAutomation job titles, in-house vs. agency vs. freelance, a portfolio of working automations, demo videos, quantified results, and where to find opportunities.Learn →
  4. 39Pricing & Selling Automation ProjectsScoping automation projects, phase-based estimates, contingency, fixed price vs. hourly, maintenance retainers, value-based framing, and protecting your margin.Learn →
  5. 40Your First 90 Days in an Automation RoleStart well — learn the processes and platforms, build trust with business owners, deliver a visible quick win safely, and set up the monitoring and documentation habits that keep automations alive.Learn →
Start learning →

Delivery

Blended — self-paced lessons plus live build sessions

Portfolio outcome

A working automation connecting at least two real tools, with a guardrail that catches bad input.

Certificate

Certificate of completion, verifiable online with its credential code.

By the end of this program, you'll be job-ready to…

  • Turn a manual business process into a trigger/decision/action automation
  • Connect an AI model to real tools via APIs or no-code platforms
  • Design guardrails so failures are visible instead of silent

Salary expectations

Estimated U.S. national average annual salary by experience level.

$60,000

Entry-level

$90,000

Mid-level

$125,000

Senior-level

Estimated figures for planning purposes — actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Tools you'll master

Zapier / MakeAI APIs (LLMs)WebhooksNo-code/low-code tools

Practical training, every chapter

  • A live "try it yourself" example in every chapter you can run immediately
  • A hands-on exercise per chapter, with hints and a reveal-able answer
  • An open-ended challenge per chapter, graded against real success criteria
  • Class practice prompts for pairs or cohorts, not just solo homework

Why take this program

Interview- and job-ready

Built to the same bar Aicloud actually hires against — not a generic syllabus.

Tier 1 company partners

Program partnerships with leading employers are in progress — see Affiliation for status.

Job connection access

Graduates get access to Aicloud's own hiring pipeline and employer referral network.

Professional networking

Cohort discussion boards and live sessions connect you with peers and mentors, not just content.

A real portfolio

You leave with a concrete, explainable artifact — proof of knowledge, not just a certificate.

Register Explore Packages