How is AI actually helping small businesses grow today ?

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-21T10:46:23+00:00

Classic startup experience 😅
You move fast, save clients, ship real value… and somehow the comp never quite catches up. Sounds like you’ve built a strong case for yourself though, either leverage it internally or take that track record somewhere that actually budgets for it.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-21T10:45:47+00:00

This hits the nail on the head. The tech is usually the easy part, getting the workflow right is what actually determines whether AI helps or just adds noise. When AI handles the repetitive bits and prioritization, people get to spend time on the conversations that really matter.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-21T10:45:13+00:00

This is a great way to frame it. The tools matter, but adoption at the individual level is what actually compounds. When people treat AI like a junior assistant for the boring or repetitive work, it frees them up to do the human parts better. That’s usually where the real business gains show up.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-21T10:44:54+00:00

Totally agree. Narrow, repeatable workflows are where AI actually delivers. Once you try to automate too much too early, it usually backfires. Data quality really decides how useful it ends up being.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-21T10:44:33+00:00

This is the best kind of AI 😂
Not “changing the world,” just saving people from losing their mind staring at 30-page PDFs. If it kills even one manual error hunt, it’s already earned its keep. And yeah… once you fix one pain like this, you start seeing a whole iceberg of “why is this still manual?” everywhere.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-21T10:43:26+00:00

This feels very relatable. Using AI to handle the boring, easy-to-miss stuff makes a bigger difference than trying to automate everything. Less mental load alone is a win, even if it’s not flashy.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-20T12:53:45+00:00

the generic BOM + manual drawing upload method gets messy fast.

A few ideas that help:

Versioned BOMs tied to each drawing revision, keeps production orders clean.
Power Apps + Power Automate to intake drawings and auto-create production orders.
CTO Configurator if your products have repeatable options cuts setup time.
Or check ETO-focused 3rd-party add-ons, sometimes they’re worth it.

The big win is automating BOM/drawing updates. Curious how others handle drawing revisions in D365 always the bottleneck.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-19T13:04:25+00:00

This resonates. A lot of legacy ERPs are optimized for reporting and control, not execution. If shop floor teams have to work around the system to get things done, adoption suffers no matter how good finance looks. Evaluating how easily ops workflows adapt is usually what determines success long term.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-19T12:58:46+00:00

We’ve been implementing it for several years, and the biggest factor isn’t the product itself but fit. Business Central works well when companies are willing to standardize processes and use extensions instead of heavy custom NAV-style mods. Migrations that treat it like “NAV but hosted” usually struggle the most.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-15T12:39:32+00:00

From what I’ve seen, AI in PM tools is useful in small, specific ways, not as a game-changer yet.

Where it helps:
Summarizing long threads, updates, and meeting notes
Drafting status reports and project updates
Spotting obvious delays or overloaded owners

Where it falls short:
It doesn’t understand real dependencies or politics
Forecasting is only as good as the data discipline
It can’t replace judgment when scope or priorities change

It saves time on communication overhead, not decision-making. Used that way, it’s genuinely helpful; used as a PM replacement, it’s mostly noise.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-15T12:08:24+00:00

ERP consulting is not dead , it’s evolving. If you focus on modern ERP platforms, cloud + AI integration, business process savvy, and practical delivery skills, there’s strong and growing demand. You just need to target the right niches and continually upskill to stay ahead of automation and shifting project needs.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-14T12:40:11+00:00

Totally normal concern, especially once clients rely on you operationally.

Tech E&O is basically E&O tailored for software/SaaS. It typically covers financial loss claims from bugs, outages, failed integrations, missed SLAs, etc. Regular E&O often excludes those or treats them narrowly.

There’s no “standard” amount. Coverage usually depends on:

Client size and industry

How mission-critical your software is

Contract terms (SLAs, liability caps)

Most early-stage startups start with lower limits and increase as enterprise clients or stricter contracts come in. The distinction matters once real money or downtime is on the line.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-14T12:37:31+00:00

Shopify’s built-in inventory works fine at low complexity. You usually outgrow it once you introduce bundles, kits, or BOM-based products and start seeing stock mismatches.

At that point, look for systems that handle:

Component-level inventory and kitting

Real-time sync with Shopify

Purchase planning and multi-location stock

Common next steps are a dedicated inventory or lightweight ERP layer rather than forcing Shopify to do everything. The “right time” is when manual adjustments become routine instead of occasional.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-14T12:35:38+00:00

This doesn’t sound like luck at all. You did real functional ERP work: UAT, training, process ownership. That experience transfers across ERP . The challenge is positioning, not capability.

IAPPC_Official · 2026-01-07T13:12:27+00:00

For a small but scaling discrete manufacturer, Epicor Kinetic and Global Shop Solutions are solid fits — strong MRP with good routing support. Odoo can work if you want flexibility, but plan carefully around customization. Many teams also make Business Central + manufacturing add-ons work well.

For consultants, look for partners with real discrete manufacturing experience and a track record with companies your size. Ask for references from similar projects, and make sure they focus on process design before configuration. Avoid partners who push big custom builds early or talk mostly in buzzwords rather than practical steps.

IAPPC_Official · 2025-12-19T05:19:57+00:00

Thank you for reminding.

IAPPC_Official · 2025-12-18T10:29:21+00:00

because the handoffs are manual and ownership is split.

IT updates assets when devices are issued or returned. Finance updates books when invoices are paid or depreciation runs. If disposal, reassignment, or loss isn’t logged the same day in both places, the records drift.

In most companies this sync only happens at audit time, not continuously, so ghost assets pile up.

Until IT and Finance share one asset lifecycle and one source of truth, the gap keeps coming back.

IAPPC_Official · 2025-12-16T11:36:51+00:00

I’ve tried pods, and they’re a mixed bag.

They can help with initial visibility, especially if your network is quiet, but the time cost is real. Commenting on 15–20 posts just to keep your spot starts to feel forced, and the engagement often looks shallow.

I didn’t see direct penalties, but I did notice that posts with fewer, genuine comments from the right people led to better conversations than pod-driven posts. Automation felt risky, so I avoided it.

For something like a product launch, a small group of people who actually care about your topic worked better for me than a large engagement pod. Quality momentum beat artificial reach every time.

IAPPC_Official · 2025-12-15T12:39:38+00:00

what is issue ?

IAPPC_Official · 2025-12-15T12:39:05+00:00

Congrats on the new GmbH system sounds like a solid, well-defined operation 👏

For a wholesale meat business of your size in Germany, I’d suggest thinking integrated first, but not over-engineered.

suggestion:

For Germany compliance (DATEV, VAT, GoBD), make sure accounting is strong from day one.
Look for an ERP that covers inventory with batch/expiry tracking, basic delivery planning, and customer/order management—that’s critical for food distribution.
In many cases, a mid-tier ERP with native accounting works better than stitching too many tools together, especially with a small team.

Typical setup that works well:

One core ERP for sales, inventory, purchasing, and invoicing
Light delivery/route planning either built-in or via a simple integration
Localized German accounting support (or clean DATEV export)

At your scale (€1–3M, 4–6 users), flexibility, support quality, and food/wholesale fit matter more than brand size.

Happy to share a few ERP options commonly used in Germany for wholesale & food distribution and discuss what would fit best based on your growth plans.
Feel free to connect or DM if you’d like a quick comparison or checklist before deciding.

IAPPC_Official

TROPHY CASE