Practical IT insight for decision-makers.
Articles on AI, automation and well-run company IT, without jargon. Written by Caster Consulting.
What to automate first: choosing processes by payback
Automate first what is frequent, rule-based, time-consuming and done today by someone copying data between systems. Don't start with the most impressive process; start with the one whose…
ERP implementation in an SME: time, cost and pitfalls
An ERP rollout in a small or mid-sized company takes months, not years, if you go module by module. Most overruns aren't caused by the software but by…
Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace for an SME?
At similar prices both are good choices, so price doesn't decide; how your team works does. Lots of Excel macros, Word templates and Office files swapped with partners…
Is an AI assistant worth it for an SME, and where to start?
Yes, it's worth it, but probably not where you'd think first. Don't start with a big transformation; start with one narrow, frequent, text-based task whose results you can…
Rolling out a CRM across 27 countries: what we learned
A multi-country CRM rollout rarely fails on the software. It fails because the countries mean different things by the same number. A shared data model, a few well-chosen…
The EU AI Act for SMEs: what to do, and by when
If your company uses Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini, the EU AI Act asks less of you than you might fear, but not nothing. Three things already apply:…
EU e-invoicing is coming: what should an SME do now?
Structured e-invoices will replace PDF invoices across the EU, and the dates are now set at EU level: cross-border digital reporting from July 2030. Companies that tidy up…
NIS2 for SMEs: does it apply to you, and what to do?
If your company is at least medium-sized and works in one of the listed sectors, NIS2 applies to you directly. If it's smaller, it probably doesn't, but your…
AI agents in business: where they work today, and where not
AI agents work today where the task is narrow, the rules are clear and a person approves the important steps. Give them long, multi-step, ambiguous tasks with broad…
Company data and AI: what never to paste into ChatGPT
The biggest AI risk in a small company isn't the tool; it's shadow AI: customer data pasted into staff's free personal accounts. The fix isn't a ban, but…