From development to integration
For many years, we have been building digital solutions with our clients primarily through custom software development. We have created mobile applications for customers, internal systems for employees, customer portals for service management, and comprehensive industrial solutions. Our work has impacted various sectors, including banking, energy, telecommunications, logistics, and industry. In many cases, this approach remains the best choice today.
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, which, according to the latest surveys, is already being utilized by most Czech companies, a new opportunity has emerged to address business needs more efficiently, cost-effectively, and flexibly. We refer to this as the AI First approach. It means that from the outset, we look at projects through the lens of where and how AI can play a role. Only then do we build the architecture, processes, and goals around it. We don’t neglect traditional development, but we look at where artificial intelligence allows us to go the extra mile.
Just a few years ago, we started most digital projects with a clean slate, and developing from scratch was common practice. Today, the situation is different. A wide range of ready-made services and tools is available on the market, allowing for immediate use. Our task is to find the right balance between utilizing available solutions and custom development where it is truly necessary.
AI is pushing this trend even further. It can connect systems, automate routines, and open up new usage scenarios. This speeds up projects and reduces costs. Custom development does not lose its significance; it just takes on a new role, complementing what cannot be bought or easily integrated.
AI First in practice
Companies today are primarily seeking faster and more flexible solutions. In banking, there is an increasing demand for personalized services, with clients seeking to have all their financial information readily available in a single application. In the energy and utilities sector, the digitization of customer portals plays a significant role, saving time for both clients and operators. In the industry, open access to data is proving to enable teams to collaborate more effectively across regions.
The typical procedure that has proven successful for us is as follows: We work together with the customer to select a process that is currently slow or expensive. We prepare a pilot solution that utilizes available services and supplements them with our own customized components. We connect it to real data and measure the benefits within a short timeframe. If it works, we expand the solution further. This provides the company with quick feedback, enabling it to invest gradually based on the results.
A LOOK AT AI IN COMPANIES THROUGH THE LENS OF SURVEYS
The situation in Czech companies
- According to a ManpowerGroup survey from September 2025, 67% of Czech companies already fully utilize AI or plan to do so within a year.
- A study by Median and Asseco Solutions showed that the share of companies using AI tripled in a single year to 39%.
- Nevertheless, according to the research of the Czech Association of Artificial Intelligence, only 21% of companies have incorporated AI risks into their management systems.
Global perspective
- The McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2025 study reveals a global gap: 78% of companies claim to use AI, but only 1% have achieved a truly transformative implementation, with most projects getting stuck in the pilot phase.
Where AI First helps the most
Customer service and support
Companies are looking for ways to streamline communication with customers without compromising service quality. AI can answer common questions, sort requests, and lighten the load on human teams. Customers get answers faster, and operators can focus on more complex cases.
Internal processes
Many organizations spend an unnecessary amount of time on administration. AI has proven itself in processing documents, invoices, orders, and emails. This saves hours of work, reduces errors, and provides a better overview of what is happening in the company.
Working with data
AI is powerful when working with large amounts of data, such as predicting energy consumption, planning logistics, or analyzing investment trends. All of this can be done more efficiently and accurately. The data must be of high quality and well-structured. Without this, AI cannot offer reliable results.
Software development
Artificial intelligence is also changing development itself. It helps with code generation, writing tests and documentation, and designing user interfaces. This does not mean that it will replace developers. It speeds up their work, eliminates routine tasks, and gives them more space for the creative part.
You can learn more about how AI is transforming the work of developers in our article, “AI and Vibe Coding in an Enterprise Environment.”
Challenges of the AI First approach
AI First brings enormous opportunities, but it is not without risks. What do you need to think about?
Data quality: Without well-managed data, AI cannot offer reliable results.
Security: AI models can open up new avenues for attacks or abuse. It is necessary to have the right processes and controls in place.
Company culture: Introducing AI First means a change in mindset. It is not enough to purchase a new tool; people across the company need to learn how to work with it.
Regulation: In regulated industries, such as finance and healthcare, it is essential to monitor compliance with legal regulations and standards.
Companies that underestimate these areas often find that a quick pilot project later turns into expensive rework. That is why it is essential to consider proper oversight from the outset.
A new role as a partner
For us, this also means a change in how we understand our work. We are no longer code suppliers. We are increasingly acting as integrators who can select the right tools, connect them, and ensure their smooth operation. And if a solution requires supplementation with a custom-developed component, we can design it to integrate seamlessly into the overall solution.
Our customers expect us to help them navigate the wide range of AI technologies available. We advise them on where to start and ensure that the entire solution is secure, scalable, and measurable.
Speed, agility, savings
The AI First approach brings three main benefits. It allows new features to be launched in weeks instead of months. It provides space to test ideas on a small scale and quickly determine whether they are viable. It brings savings because AI takes over some of the routine work, allowing people to focus on activities that add higher value.
At the same time, we know that there are areas where custom development remains irreplaceable. Typically, these are areas where regulatory requirements, security, or specific logic that cannot be purchased as a service play a role. AI-first does not mean the end of traditional development, but rather an expansion of possibilities for building digital projects.
How to get started
Our experience shows that it is best to start with a smaller pilot. This enables you to quickly test the benefits of AI without the need for large-scale projects. A typical pilot project lasts 6 to 8 weeks, and the investment is in the hundreds of thousands of crowns, not millions. The exact price, of course, depends on the scope and complexity of the solution.
We have found the following approach to be successful:
- Select the proper process: identify the area with the greatest potential for automation
- Define the goal and expectations: set measurable metrics for success
- Verify the data and environment: audit the available data and systems
- Build a minimal solution: create a functional prototype
- Evaluate after a few weeks: collect data and analyze the results
- Decide on expansion: based on the data, decide on the next steps
In practice, customer service, internal administrative processes, and logistics have proven to be suitable candidates for pilot projects. It is in these areas that AI can quickly demonstrate measurable benefits, from reducing the time it takes to process requests to saving dozens of hours of routine work.
This approach has several advantages: the investment is relatively small, the results are quickly visible, and the company gains experience in how AI fits into its processes. This provides management with concrete data on which to base decisions about further development.
For more tips on getting started with AI, see our article AI is a game changer: 6 reasons to improve your customer portal right now.
What to take away
AI First is an essential shift for us because it gives digitization a new direction. This does not mean that we are abandoning traditional development. It means that we have a wider range of tools and know how to use them, so the client gets results faster, with less risk, and a better return on investment. Most often, a combination of both approaches proves to be the most effective. The use of AI and ready-made services, combined with customized development, enables companies to achieve fast and measurable results.
Statistics show that most Czech companies are already working with AI or will deploy it soon. Those who remain on the sidelines risk falling behind their competitors. The days when AI was merely an experimental technology are definitely behind us.
Would you like to discuss where AI First will pay off for you and where you should stick with the traditional approach? Contact us, and let’s explore specific opportunities within your company together.
