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Build (or fully specify and test) 2 working automations for a business

The capstone project for Automation for WhatsApp, Email & Google Sheets — a free Data & Tech course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.

Start the course free Download the project workbook

The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.

What you will submit

A single shared document or link (Google Doc, Notion, PDF or a slide) containing, for BOTH automations: a plain-English write-up of the trigger and each action, the apps used, screenshots proving each automation ran (trigger → Sheet row → WhatsApp/email sent), the defensive measure you added, the estimated hours-saved-per-week with your maths, your recommended platform/plan, and the go-to-market note (one-off price, retainer, who pays subscriptions, how you'd find your first client). If a flow is fully specified rather than fully built, include a clear step-by-step spec plus screenshots of your test of the parts you did build.

What to do, step by step

  1. Choose one real or realistic Nigerian small business and describe it in 2-3 sentences: what it does, and which two repetitive, time-wasting tasks you will automate (for example: a boutique that copies Instagram orders by hand and forgets to confirm them; a salon that loses money to appointment no-shows).
  2. Build (or fully specify and test) AUTOMATION ONE — ideally the order/lead-capture flow: a form submission that adds a row to a Google Sheet AND sends a WhatsApp or email alert to the owner AND (bonus) a confirmation to the customer. Build it in Zapier, Make or n8n, set up the trigger and each action, and map the data correctly.
  3. Build (or fully specify and test) AUTOMATION TWO — a different pattern from Lesson 5 (an auto-reply, a scheduled daily/weekly report email, an appointment or payment reminder, or a lead follow-up). Again set up the trigger and actions and map the data.
  4. Test both automations end to end with real submissions or triggers (submit the form on your phone; let a scheduled report run; add a test calendar event), and capture screenshots that PROVE each worked — the trigger, the resulting Sheet row, and the WhatsApp/email that was sent. Include at least one defensive measure (a filter, a required/typed field, a fallback value, or failure notifications turned on) and note it.
  5. For EACH automation, document it clearly: the trigger, each action in order (in plain English), the apps used, and an estimate of the hours per week it saves the business (show your maths — e.g. 4 minutes per order saved × 20 orders/day). Also note which platform and plan you'd recommend and why (consider task/operation volume and cost).
  6. Write a short go-to-market note (4-6 sentences): the one-off price in ₦ you'd charge for these two automations, a monthly retainer figure, who pays the platform subscriptions, and how you'd find and pitch your first client (e.g. the free automation audit).

Files to work with

Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KB

How it is graded

CriterionWeight
Two distinct, sensible automations chosen for a real Nigerian business, each correctly described as a trigger plus ordered actions across the right apps (Sheets/Forms/email/WhatsApp/Calendar)25%
Automation One built and proven — a working form/lead-capture flow (form → Sheet row + alert), shown working end to end with screenshots of the trigger, the Sheet row, and the message sent25%
Automation Two built and proven — a different pattern (auto-reply, report, reminder or follow-up) shown working with screenshots20%
Reliability & data flow — data mapped correctly, both flows tested end to end, and at least one defensive measure (filter, required/typed field, fallback, or failure notifications) included and explained15%
Hours-saved documentation & go-to-market — clear hours-saved maths and platform/plan recommendation, plus a realistic ₦ price, retainer, subscription note and client-finding plan15%

You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.

Before you submit: make your link public

If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to finish Automation for WhatsApp, Email & Google Sheets before submitting the project?

Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Automation for WhatsApp, Email & Google Sheets is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.

How is the project graded?

An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.

Can I resubmit if I fail?

Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.

What do I actually submit?

A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.

Is the certificate real?

Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.

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Automation for WhatsApp, Email & Google Sheets is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.

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