The automation reference shelf we actually use.
Free ClarioAI tools, the platform documentation we check before committing to a build, the Canadian privacy sources that shape our data handling, and a few applied-AI products worth studying. No affiliate links, no paid placements.
ClarioAI tools (free, no signup for most)
Everything here runs on real data and returns a real answer — no gated demos.
ROI Calculator
Estimate hours reclaimed, annual CAD savings, build cost, and payback period.
n8n Cost Calculator
Compare per-task Zapier/Make spend against flat self-hosted n8n hosting.
AI Readiness Score
5-minute assessment of stack, data, and team readiness with a ranked roadmap.
Loom Teardown
Send a 5-minute screen recording of a workflow, get the top automation wins in writing.
Automation Playbook
The written playbook we use to scope and sequence SMB automation builds.
Platform comparisons
n8n, Zapier, Make, and Power Automate compared by cost, hosting, and use case.
Automation & AI platform documentation
Primary sources we check before recommending or building on a platform.
Canadian privacy & compliance
What we read when a build touches customer or patient data in Canada.
Office of the Privacy Commissioner — PIPEDA
The federal private-sector privacy law most Canadian SMB automation falls under.
Ontario IPC — PHIPA
Health-information rules that constrain clinic and dental automation in Ontario.
Commission d'accès à l'information — Law 25
Quebec privacy obligations, including consent and data-transfer rules.
DataRemoval.ca
Canadian personal-data removal service — useful context when scoping what data a workflow should never store.
DataWill.ca
Digital-estate and account-succession planning for Canadian households and owners.
Applied AI examples worth studying
Narrow, single-purpose AI products. Useful reference points when scoping a vertical assistant.
PromptPack.co
Packaged prompt libraries — a decent model for how to standardise prompts across a team.
AIMechanic.ca
AI diagnostics for vehicle issues; a clean example of a narrow domain assistant.
AIVet.ca
AI pet-health triage — shows how to scope an assistant that must defer to a professional.
HealthStars.ca
Canadian healthcare provider discovery; relevant if you run clinic intake workflows.
SMB operations & finance
Adjacent tools our clients ask about while automating back-office work.
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