Key takeaways
- AI technology: The use case is the real challenge
- Baggenstos develops its own AI agents for consulting and more
- Practically developed and operated AI agents optimize business processes
AI agents require meaningful use cases
Sven Heeb is familiar with the problem from various client conversations: interest in AI is high, but: "Many people understandably feel overwhelmed and don't see how they can achieve improvements with AI in their day-to-day business." It is easier to see from an outside perspective: without an experienced partner with a neutral view of operations, integrating AI is anything but simple. This is reflected in various studies.
The AXA SME labor market study shows: AI is becoming more important, yet only a third use it to optimize processes. According to Bitkom , almost a quarter of German SMEs see no use cases, and many lack sufficient know-how. In the EU, Eurostat cites a lack of expertise as the main obstacle (71 percent).
However, the studies also show that AI is perceived as an opportunity in most companies. "We see this with our customers, too", says Sven Heeb, "but they are hesitant because an AI project is not the same as implementing new software." The reason is obvious: AI fundamentally transforms an organization.
AI Solution Advisor
The agents developed by Baggenstos experts provide specialized knowledge and guidance. They perform specific tasks. The AI Solution Advisor helps companies find the right path into the world of AI, agents, automation, and RAG solutions. It is fueled by Baggenstos expertise and is capable of identifying use cases for SMEs and proposing the necessary technical setup. Depending on the requirements, different Microsoft services are needed: Azure AI/Microsoft Foundry, for example, for high levels of customization with complex integrations and extensive data landscapes, or Copilot Studio for internal business cases that leverage M365 for rapid implementation. In more complex scenarios, a combination may also be appropriate.
The agent covers topics such as use cases and target vision, business value and objectives, data sources and knowledge base, integrations and system landscape, logic and complexity, scaling, criticality and governance, as well as organization, operations, time to value, and budget framework.
Guidance for better AI decisions
The AI Solution Advisor is currently being developed internally and used to prepare for customer meetings. It assists in complex consultations, ensuring they are structured and lead to a clear, understandable basis for decision-making. For now, it is reviewed and guided by a human Baggenstos consultant.
"We don't leave our customers alone with AI", says Sven Heeb. "It is the human who understands organizations." Consistent technology decisions are the result of a combination of human empathy and an up-to-date, well-founded data basis. "Our agent helps our consultants focus on the customer during meetings." Baggenstos' own use cases – as an SME itself – can also serve as a blueprint for implementing value-adding AI systems.
"With our experience, companies succeed in deploying AI agents that work securely and in compliance with data protection regulations, making organizations more efficient and businesses more customer-centric and therefore more successful", says Sven Heeb. Good prospects, then, that the positive attitude of SMEs toward AI will lead to new systems that strengthen business models and customer relationships.
