What is n8n? — The tool SAP just valued at $5.2B
A 50-year-old German company just valued an open-source tool at $5.2 billion. And no, it's not another generative AI startup — it's a platform that connects apps so they can talk to each other. SAP, one of the enterprise software giants, has invested in n8n. And that matters more than it seems, because if SAP — a company that sells extremely expensive software — is betting on accessible open-source automation, the model is shifting. Let me explain why and how this affects you even if you're not an engineer.
What is n8n?
Imagine you have several apps: your email, your calendar, your invoicing system, WhatsApp. Normally each one runs separately and you have to move information between them manually. n8n is a tool that connects them so they can do things automatically.
When someone messages you on WhatsApp asking for an appointment, n8n can automatically create an event in your calendar, send you a confirmation email, and log it in your spreadsheet — all without you lifting a finger. And that's just one simple example.
From there, let's jump to what really matters: who's putting up the money and why.
5.2 billion reasons
SAP isn't just any startup. It's one of the largest software companies in the world with 50 years of history. When SAP invests in n8n, they're saying: "automation isn't the future, it's the present, and we want to democratize it." That they value n8n at $5.2 billion isn't a bubble — it's a signal of where the market is heading.
And from there, the full picture.
What's next
Tools like n8n, Make (formerly Integromat), and Zapier are competing to become the connective layer between all the apps you use every day. The difference is that n8n is open source and you have full control over your data. In a world where more and more companies want autonomy without depending on closed platforms, that's more valuable than any investment.
Automation isn't a thing of the future. It's already here. And it starts by connecting two apps that didn't talk to each other before. SAP knows this. And they put $5.2 billion on the table to prove it.
— Max
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