FAQ

Questions before a first project – and our answers

Everything companies ask us before a project: answered briefly, with a link to the page where it is covered in detail.

01 First call 30 minutes,assessment withintwo working days 02 Logic document One or two sessions,you sign it off 03 Pilot 2–4 weeks, withequipment 3–6 months 04 Measure Before and after,with your numbers 05 Operation Your IT or us 01 First call 30 minutes, assessment within twoworking days 02 Logic document One or two sessions, you sign it off 03 Pilot 2–4 weeks, with equipment 3–6 months 04 Measure Before and after, with your numbers 05 Operation Your IT or us
Figure: The path of a project, as described in the answers below
SubjectProject path
SheetU-03
Date24 September 2026
DrawingW&K Connect

What it is

What is an AI employee, and how is it different from a chatbot?

An AI employee is an AI agent assigned to a role in your company: with access to your systems, with memory for your rules and with limits at which a human decides. A chatbot answers questions; the AI employee carries out tasks. In detail → AI employees

What is the difference between an AI assistant, an AI agent and a chatbot?

An AI agent carries out tasks in systems, an AI assistant supports a person in their work, a chatbot only answers questions. The AI employee is an agent with the permissions, the memory and the limits of a role. In detail → AI employees

What does “legal duties as a system rule” mean in practice?

“Legal duties as a system rule” means that the system can require a mandatory entry instead of just reminding you of it. Examples are the supporting document as a required field, the VAT treatment based on goods and counterparty, and the second approval before a payment. In detail → CRM & ERP with AI

What is the difference between AI consulting, AI integration and AI operation, and which of these do you do?

AI consulting maps your workflow and writes down the logic. AI integration implements it in your systems, and in AI operation we keep the result running if you wish. We do all three, always with the process first. In detail → Services

What is a logic document, and why do I sign it off?

A logic document records your process in your own words: decisions, data sources, exceptions and the points at which a human approves. You sign it off because we only build after that, and that way the result fits your company. In detail → How we work

Who it is for

Which companies is this worthwhile for?

Working with us suits companies with 5 to 250 employees that use several systems or have a task that no standard software covers. Whether it pays off for your workflow is shown by measuring before and after. In detail → Home

Isn't this only for large companies?

No, this is not only for large companies. The smallest pilot covers one process or one role with one AI employee. A company with five employees is enough for that. In detail → Home

Wouldn't industry software be a better fit than an implementation with you?

Sometimes industry software is a better fit, and then we tell you so. But if your company works differently from the rest of the industry in three places, the industry software starts holding you back. We check this against your process. In detail → CRM & ERP with AI

When do you advise against a project?

We advise against a project if nobody in the company has time to go through the process with us, if the baseline cannot be measured or if your existing system already solves the task. In detail → Services

Costs

What does a pilot cost?

The price of a pilot depends on the scope of the process, on the systems and on the company. We give you the price range in the first call, based on your process, and in writing within two working days. In detail → Pricing & pilot models

How are the costs calculated: fixed price, time and materials or operation?

A pilot has a fixed scope and a fixed price. We estimate extensions on a time-and-materials basis before they start. Operation costs a monthly amount that depends on roles, systems and hosting. In detail → Pricing & pilot models

What does ongoing operation cost?

The cost of ongoing operation depends on whether we or your IT operate the system and on how many AI employees and interfaces are running. It is fixed before the pilot. In detail → Pricing & pilot models

Is there public funding?

For digitalisation and AI projects in SMEs there are federal and state funding programmes. We check in the first call whether your project qualifies. We make no commitment, because the programmes change. In detail → Pricing & pilot models

Data, data protection, operation

Where do the AI models run and where is our data stored?

Memory, agent logic and business data are stored on servers in Germany, separately for each customer, or on your infrastructure. Critical data is processed offline by locally running models; external language models only receive non-critical data, and their providers are processors under Art. 28 GDPR. In detail → AI employees, operating models

Does the data have to stay in Germany?

Your data is stored on servers in Germany or on your own server, and critical data is processed there offline. Non-critical data can go to external language models whose providers are bound as processors under Art. 28 GDPR. In detail → AI employees, operating models

What happens to our data in the pilot and in the demo?

In the pilot we work with your data in your systems. In the demo, all input counts as test data: real customer or personal data does not belong there. It is deleted when the access expires. In detail → AI transparency

What happens to our data at the model providers?

We process critical data offline with local models; it does not leave your environment. Non-critical data can go to external language models whose providers are contractually bound as processors under Art. 28 GDPR. The agent's memory belongs to you. In detail → AI transparency

Cloud, own server or hybrid: what do you recommend?

We recommend what your process and your IT can support: our servers in Germany, separate for each customer, your own infrastructure or a mix. Critical data stays offline in every case, and external models only receive non-critical data. In detail → AI employees, operating models

Duration

How quickly are first results visible?

For a clearly defined process, you see first results 2–6 weeks after signing off the logic document. Visible means measured: time per case and error rate against the baseline, not an impression. In detail → AI integration & process automation

How long does a pilot take?

A pilot takes 2–4 weeks while your operations continue. If equipment, sensors or machines are involved, it takes 3–6 months, and before that we measure the baseline for 2–4 weeks. In detail → Pricing & pilot models

How long does it take to implement an ERP/CRM with AI?

The implementation starts with two or three sessions to map the process and 1–2 weeks for rules, permissions and approvals. Setup and integration then take 4–12 weeks, depending on the areas and interfaces. In detail → CRM & ERP with AI

How it works

How does the first call work?

The first call takes 30 minutes, by video or phone, without a presentation: we look at one workflow from your day-to-day work. Within two working days you then receive one page with our assessment. In detail → Contact

What happens in the first 30 days?

In the first 30 days we get to understand your process in one or two sessions and write the logic document, which you read, correct and sign off. Then the build begins. In detail → How we work

What do we need to contribute ourselves?

Above all, you contribute time: for a CRM or ERP implementation, two or three sessions with the people who do the workflow today, one hour for the logic document, feedback during the pilot and the decision on the switch-over date. In detail → CRM & ERP with AI

Prerequisites

Does this work with our existing software: scales, phone system, DATEV, online shop?

Integration usually works. We connect whatever has an interface, a file export or database access: scales via their protocol, phone systems via API, DATEV via document exchange. Anything that has none of these we check in the first call. In detail → AI integration & process automation

What data does the AI need, and what if we still work with Excel?

The AI needs the data your process already produces today: emails, documents, lists. You can start with Excel. If a workflow depends on a single file, we recommend moving its data into a system with an interface. In detail → AI integration & process automation

Do we need our own IT staff?

You don't need your own IT staff. One person who knows the process is enough: for mapping the process, signing off the logic document and giving feedback. We take over operation, or we onboard this person to do it. In detail → AI integration & process automation

Do we need additional licences?

You don't need additional licences for your ERP or CRM; your existing ones remain. Language models and operation are part of our offer, and the cost of operation is fixed before the pilot. In detail → AI employees

Measuring

How do we measure whether the AI employee is worthwhile?

We measure whether the AI employee is worthwhile before and after, with your numbers: time per case, queries, errors, onboarding time. We define what is measured before the pilot. In detail → AI employees

What do you measure before and after the pilot?

Before the pilot we measure the baseline, for equipment the hours of downtime, the unplanned failures and the maintenance costs of the last twelve months. Afterwards we measure the same figures. We don't start a pilot without this baseline. In detail → Predictive maintenance & industrial AI

After the project

What happens after the project: who operates, who maintains?

After the project, either your IT operates the system with our documentation, or we take over operation and maintenance with monitoring and a fixed point of contact. In detail → AI integration & process automation

How are our employees onboarded, including drivers and warehouse staff?

Onboarding takes place on site, at the workplace, with real cases. Each role also gets an AI employee that answers questions: the new driver asks it, not the boss. In detail → CRM & ERP with AI

What if an employee leaves: does the knowledge stay in the system?

The knowledge stays: rules, corrections and decisions sit with the agent for the role, not with the person. Whoever takes over keeps working with it. In detail → AI employees

Does AI replace our employees?

No, AI does not replace your employees. It takes routine work off their hands, such as looking things up, gathering information and retyping, and puts decisions in front of them. Your employees go from clerks to decision-makers. In detail → AI employees

Why us

How do I recognise a reputable AI provider?

You can recognise a reputable AI provider by three things: it asks about your process first, not about your budget. It measures before and after. And it says openly what it cannot do. In detail → About us

What makes you different from an AI agency and from an IT systems house?

We are not tied to any vendor, we write down the logic before we build, and we operate what we build. We also work with AI employees ourselves in management and accounting. In detail → About us

External service provider or an in-house position?

An external service provider with a fixed scope is right for one process and one pilot. For operating many processes, it is worthwhile to have your own person, whom we onboard, or to leave operation to us. We document everything so that you do not depend on us. In detail → Services

Law and responsibility

Is the EU AI Act relevant to us, and what has applied since August 2026?

The EU AI Act applies as soon as you use AI in your company. Since 2 August 2026, AI that communicates with people must identify itself as AI under Art. 50. We check the risk category of your project before the start. In detail → AI transparency

What happens if the AI employee makes a mistake? Who stops it?

Its role and the approval threshold set its limits: a human decides on money, contracts and staff. Anything beyond the role remains a proposal until a human approves it; every action is logged. In detail → AI employees

Can you name reference customers?

We do not name reference customers on the website: our customers' processes are their competitive advantage. We arrange a reference call on request if the customer agrees. In detail → Why we don't name customers

Is your question not here?

Ask it in the first call

30 minutes, one process from your day-to-day work, no presentation. We tell you honestly whether this is a case for us.

Reply within one working day.