Last updated · Peter Baker
Short answer: build it yourself in Zapier or n8n when the workflow is simple, one person owns it and someone on your team enjoys the work. Pay Ishigai when the workflow touches several systems, needs AI judgement, or has to keep running when the person who built it is on holiday. Ishigai pilots start from £2,500.
Side by side
| Build it yourself | Ishigai pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Tool subscription plus your team's time | From £2,500, fixed price |
| Best for | Simple, single-step workflows between two tools | Workflows across several systems, or needing AI judgement |
| Who fixes it when it breaks | Whoever built it, if they're still around | Documented so your team can, or we run it as a managed agent |
| Measurement | Usually none | Measured before and after over 30 days |
| What you own | The automation, often undocumented | The build, the documentation, running costs and a roadmap |
When DIY is the right call
- The workflow is "when X happens in one tool, do Y in another". Zapier's ready-made connections handle that well.
- Someone on your team likes building these and has a few hours a month to look after them.
- Nothing customer-facing depends on it. If it fails quietly for a week, nobody outside the firm notices.
If that describes your workflow, build it yourself. Ishigai uses n8n in its own builds, and we'd rather tell you to save the money than sell you a pilot you don't need.
When to pay someone
- The workflow crosses three or more systems, such as a CRM, an inbox and a reporting tool.
- It needs judgement: reading call notes, triaging enquiries or drafting client updates.
- It has to keep running. DIY automations tend to break silently when a tool changes, and the person who built them has moved on.
- You need to know it worked. An Ishigai pilot is measured before and after, so you can see the hours it returned.
Not sure which side your workflow sits on? The AI Opportunity Audit from £750 includes that call for every opportunity it ranks, and the worked example shows how.
The costs DIY doesn't show you
A DIY automation looks free once the tool subscription is paid. The real costs turn up later, and they're worth counting before you start.
- Build time. The first version of a multi-step workflow usually takes a weekend or several evenings, often from the most senior person in the firm.
- Maintenance. Tools change their connections and fields. Someone has to notice when a step stops working and fix it.
- Usage pricing. Zapier charges by the number of tasks run, so a workflow that works well gets more expensive as you use it more. n8n can be self-hosted to avoid that, but then someone has to run the server.
- Knowledge in one head. Without documentation, the automation leaves when its builder does.
A middle route
Many firms end up somewhere in between. Ishigai builds the workflow, often in n8n, documents it, measures it for 30 days and hands it over. Your own team then runs it day to day, and you only call us back if you want managed AI agents on top. You get the DIY running cost with a build that was done properly once.
Frequently asked questions
Should a small firm use Zapier or n8n for AI automation?
For simple, single-step workflows between two tools, yes. For workflows across several systems or needing AI judgement, a measured pilot is usually cheaper than the time lost to a DIY build that breaks.
Does Ishigai build on Zapier or n8n?
Ishigai uses n8n and other tools where they fit. The build is documented either way, so your own team or another provider can run it.
How much does an Ishigai pilot cost?
From £2,500 for one workflow over 30 days, measured before and after. Larger builds across several systems typically run up to £15,000. See pricing.
Can we start DIY and bring Ishigai in later?
Yes, and that often works well. Build the simple automations yourself, and bring in help when a workflow crosses several systems or needs judgement. We can document and tidy an existing build as part of a pilot.
Who owns the automation Ishigai builds?
You do. The build, the documentation and the running-cost breakdown are yours at handover, so your own team or another provider can run and change it without us.
Related reading
- Pricing: every Ishigai price on one page.
- Worked example: what the £750 audit actually looks like.
- What an AI audit costs in the UK: 2026 market ranges, with sources.
- AI Process Automation: how a 30-day pilot works.
- Ishigai vs doing nothing: what waiting actually costs.
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