Is n8n suitable for real-world B2B backend solutions?

Hey everyone,

I’m on the hunt for a low-code platform that can handle the heavy lifting of a B2B product backend. I’ve been checking out n8n and other automation tools, but I’m not sure if they’re up to the task for live environments.

Most folks I’ve talked to say they use these platforms for quick prototypes, then rewrite everything in code for the actual deployment. It’s got me wondering:

  1. Has anyone here managed to skip that rewrite step?
  2. Are there success stories of n8n workflows being used with real customers?
  3. What are the pros and cons of using n8n in production?

I’d love to hear about your experiences or any alternative suggestions you might have. Thanks in advance for your insights!

I’ve been using n8n for a mid-sized B2B logistics company for about a year now, and it’s been a game-changer for us. We initially started with it for some internal process automation, but gradually expanded its use to handle customer-facing workflows as well.

One of the biggest advantages we’ve found is the speed at which we can implement new features or integrations. What used to take weeks of development can now be done in days or even hours. This has allowed us to be much more responsive to customer needs and market changes.

However, it’s not without its challenges. As our usage grew, we had to invest time in creating a robust testing and deployment pipeline. We also found that some complex logic was better handled in custom code nodes rather than trying to force it into the visual workflow.

Scalability hasn’t been a major issue for us yet, but we’re keeping a close eye on it as our customer base grows. We’ve implemented some load balancing and caching strategies to help mitigate potential bottlenecks.

Overall, I’d say n8n has been a net positive for our business, but it does require a shift in mindset and approach compared to traditional development.

I’ve been using n8n in production for a B2B SaaS product for about 18 months now, and it’s been quite reliable. We chose it for its flexibility and extensive API integrations, which have saved us significant development time. However, there are trade-offs to consider.

On the plus side, n8n has allowed us to rapidly iterate on complex workflows and integrate with various third-party services seamlessly. The visual interface makes it easier for non-technical team members to understand and contribute to process improvements.

That said, we’ve encountered some challenges with version control and deployment processes. It’s not as straightforward as traditional code-based solutions. We’ve had to implement custom scripts to manage workflow versioning and deployments across environments.

Performance can also be a concern for high-volume operations. We’ve had to optimize some workflows and occasionally fall back to custom code for particularly intensive tasks.

Overall, n8n has been a valuable tool for us, but it requires careful consideration of your specific use case and scalability needs before fully committing to it as a backend solution.

ive used n8n for a small b2b project and it worked pretty well. saved time on integration stuff. but watch out for complex logic - sometimes easier to just code it. also had some hiccups with version control. overall tho, its solid for simpler backends if u dont need crazy performance. just plan carefully before going all in