Raife Dowley
Raife Dowley is an AI automation expert at Make, where he builds his own agentic workflows and tests new AI tools and techniques as they emerge, including local AI experiments in his spare time. He came to content after years of hands-on platform experience in marketing operations, and now writes about the AI and automation tools he uses daily, on Make and beyond.

Articles by Raife Dowley

How to connect Mailchimp and NetSuite using Make in 2026
Skip rigid point-solution connectors and build a Mailchimp-to-NetSuite sync in Make you control down to the field.
October 20, 2026

How to automate customer service with AI agents in 2026
Automate customer service across support tickets, order status, and ecommerce tasks with AI agents, then build the workflow in Make.
August 27, 2026

Agent observability 2026: see what your agents are doing
Observe exactly what your AI agents did on every run, which tools they called, and why they made each decision.
August 25, 2026

From incident to issue: connecting ServiceNow & GitHub: 2026
A practical guide to linking ServiceNow incidents and GitHub issues automatically, from native options to a no-code Make build.
August 18, 2026

How to connect ServiceNow and Slack with Make in 2026
Compare the native ServiceNow for Slack app with a Make scenario, then build a two-way flow your IT team controls.
July 31, 2026

How to connect ServiceNow & Microsoft Teams with Make
A practical, step-by-step guide to linking ServiceNow tickets with Microsoft Teams chats, and building your own custom connection using Make.
July 30, 2026

How to connect Stripe and NetSuite using Make in 2026
A step by step guide to syncing Stripe payments, customers, and refunds into NetSuite without custom code.
July 23, 2026

Salesforce WhatsApp integration: step-by-step 2026 guide
Learn how to create a Salesforce WhatsApp integration that connects your Salesforce CRM with your WhatsApp Business API to automate message exchange and log interactions directly within your CRM.
July 21, 2026

Jira ServiceNow integration: A practical setup guide for 2026
Build a Jira ServiceNow integration in Make with step-by-step instructions, bidirectional sync, field mapping and testing tips for ITSM teams.
July 20, 2026

Agent SQL: how to build an AI agent that queries your database
Build an AI agent that turns natural language into SQL queries against your database using Make, with steps, tests and variations.
July 2, 2026

Jira Salesforce integration: Connect dev & sales teams: 2026
Build a Jira Salesforce integration in Make to sync cases, issues, and status updates between sales and engineering teams.
July 1, 2026

HubSpot NetSuite integration: step-by-step 2026 guide
Build a HubSpot NetSuite integration in Make to sync deals, customers, and invoices automatically. Step-by-step guide with troubleshooting tips.
June 16, 2026

Jira GitHub integration: How to link commits & issues in 2026
Stop manually copying commit hashes. Learn how to automate your engineering workflow and keep Jira boards updated in real time.
June 15, 2026

Salesforce Outlook integration: How to sync emails and calendars in 2026
Build a Make scenario that keeps Salesforce contacts, emails, and calendar events in sync with Outlook, no manual logging required.
June 12, 2026

How to build an LLM integration: 2026 guide
A scenario-level walkthrough of connecting an LLM to your business systems with routing, validation, and operational guardrails.
May 27, 2026

How to use an AI agent to sort emails in 2026
Build a native Make AI Agents triage scenario that labels, prioritizes, and escalates incoming Gmail messages without manual review.
May 26, 2026

How to integrate Jira and Slack: 2026 guide
Build a two-way scenario that turns Jira issues into routed Slack notifications and Slack messages into Jira tickets.
May 20, 2026

HubSpot Salesforce integration: step-by-step guide (2026)
Stop losing leads to misaligned CRM data. Here's how to build a reliable, bi-directional sync between HubSpot and Salesforce.
May 14, 2026

ServiceNow Salesforce integration: step-by-step guide
Build a live ServiceNow Salesforce integration in Make. Sync incidents to cases, map accounts, and automate notifications without custom code or middleware.
May 13, 2026

Claude Code for business: Output to your tools (2026)
Route Claude Code's output into your CRM, Slack, and project tools. Step-by-step guide using Make MCP Toolboxes and the native Anthropic Claude module.
May 12, 2026

How to build an automation strategy that scales
A guide to planning, governing, and scaling automation — from first audit to full strategy.
March 12, 2026

How to add Google Calendar to Outlook calendar: Step-by-step guide
Sync Google Calendar and Outlook automatically with Make. No copy-pasting, no missed invites, and no developer required.
June 16, 2026

What is AI governance? A complete guide for growing teams
Rules, roles, and oversight aren't red tape. They're what let your teams and your customers trust every AI system and agent you run.

Agentic commerce: what it is and how to prepare
A practical look at the protocols that complete the transaction and the inventory, fraud, and fulfillment systems that still have to keep up.

HR automation: benefits, examples, and how it works
From onboarding to payroll, here's how HR teams turn repetitive admin into automated workflows across every system they use.

Competitive intelligence: how to automate monitoring with AI
Learn what competitive intelligence means, how the process works, and how to automate a sourced weekly brief with Make.

Claude MCP explained: How the model context protocol works
A hands-on look at the protocol that turns Claude from a chatbot into an agent acting across your entire stack.

Document process automation: what it is, and why extraction is only half the job
Most document tools stop at reading the file. This guide covers the full pipeline, including where documents actually get stuck afterward.

AI Marketing Agents: What They Are and How to Build One in Make (2026)
A straightforward explainer guide to what an AI marketing agent is, the tasks they can complete autonomously, the benefits and how to build one in Make.

7 AI automation examples you can build in Make (2026)
Seven real AI automation examples, each paired with a Make scenario template so you can clone the exact module chain instantly.

MCP vs API: what's the difference, and which one do you need in 2026?
AI agents need tools, as well as data. Here's how MCP and APIs each provide them, and how Make uses both.

AI ROI: how to measure and maximize the return on your AI investment
AI spending keeps rising, but proof of payoff is becoming increasingly importanant. Here's the formula, metrics, and mistakes that matter most.

5 best automated workflow tools for scaling manual processes
See how Make, Zapier, n8n, Power Automate, and Gumloop compare on features, pricing, and fit, so you can choose fast.

5 best LinkedIn automation tools in 2026 (tested & compared)
A tested comparison of the top LinkedIn automation tools for 2026, including Make's compliant option and four dedicated outreach platforms.

AI Business Strategy: A 2026 Framework That Works
A practical framework for turning AI experiments into a strategy the whole business can execute.

5 best AI automation tools for teams in 2026: Full breakdown
A hands-on comparison of five leading AI automation platforms, covering features, pricing, and the best fit for your team's workflows.

What Is an AI Readiness Assessment? A Guide for Mid-Market Teams
An AI readiness assessment reveals whether your team can deploy AI at scale. See the signals, gaps, and next moves for mid-market operations.

AI adoption: What it means and why It matters
AI adoption means moving artificial intelligence from isolated pilots into everyday operational use across every team, workflow, and business decision.

What is AI transformation? From first test to full rollout
AI transformation is the shift from isolated AI test projects to AI embedded across your operations. Learn the six stages, what each requires, and how to scale.

11 best marketing automation tools 2026: ranked and reviewed
Eleven marketing automation platforms ranked on AI readiness, workflow flexibility, integrations, and pricing for mid-market teams scaling in 2026.

Best AI agent platforms of 2026: ranked & reviewed
The best AI agent platforms ranked by production-grade criteria so mid-market teams can move from comparison to deployment this week.

What is sales automation? A 2026 guide with examples
The operational layer that runs lead routing, follow-ups, and CRM updates, explained for revenue operators and builders who want to ship one.

What is an agentic loop? (and how to build one) in 2026
The agentic loop is the heartbeat of every AI agent. Here's what it is, how it works, and how to build one.

The 7 best AI agents for customer support in 2026
From no-code ticket triage to multi-system resolution workflows, these are the AI agents worth deploying in 2026.

What Is an Agentic Operating System? 2026 Guide
What an agentic operating system actually is, the six layers it runs on, and where it beats traditional automation platforms.

What Is Security Automation? A Complete Guide for 2026
Security automation cuts response times from hours to minutes. Here is what it is, how it works, and where to start.

AI agents vs ChatGPT: what's the difference in 2026?
Most teams use ChatGPT. Few use AI agents. Here is the difference and how to start automating with Make.

Agent workflow memory: 2026 guide to AI agents that remember
Discover how agent workflow memory enables AI agents to retain context across sessions. Learn architecture patterns and implementation strategies for 2026.

AI agent vs chatbot: what is the difference?
Find out what separates an AI agent from a chatbot, when each one fits, and how to make the right call.

Autonomous AI (2026): how to remove bottlenecks without losing control
processes need to scale, autonomous AI removes the human bottlenecks slowing them down. But only if you know which decisions to delegate and which to keep.

RPA vs. agentic AI: What's the difference and which should you use?
Your RPA bots break when interfaces change. Learn when to use RPA vs agentic AI, how it earns its place, and how to build a hybrid automation program with Make that handles both

LLM agents: From demo to full automation (2026)
An LLM agent that runs in a demo is built for ideal conditions. Here's what it takes to make one work in yours in practice.
Automated time tracking: Capture every hour without the admin
Stop logging hours manually. Learn how automated time tracking works, which tools connect seamlessly, and how to build your first scenario with Make.

What is hyperautomation? A complete guide
Fragmented tools, manual handoffs, and siloed data — hyperautomation is how you fix all three at once.

What is human in the loop (HITL) in AI?
A practical guide to adding human checkpoints in your automated workflows — without slowing your team down.

What is agentic process automation? A complete guide
A complete guide to automation that thinks — what it is, how it works, and where to deploy it for maximum impact.

MCP Server Explained: Model Context Protocol for AI Agent Tools
MCP server lets your AI agents connect to real tools and take action entirely on their own, no coding required.

What is AI automation? A complete guide for 2026
Most teams use AI but stay stuck in pilots. Here's how AI automation turns those pilots into production systems.

Workflow automation in 2026: A practical guide
Here's what workflow automation really means, how AI is reshaping it, what it looks like in practice, and how to choose.

What is SEO automation? Complete 2026 guide
SEO automation explained: what it is, how it works, real examples, and criteria for choosing tools that scale organic search in 2026.