Smart data integration as a source of innovation
“Data, data, data, I can’t make bricks without clay”. What Sherlock Holmes already knew is now a no brainer around just about every management table. Anyone who wants to innovate cannot ignore digitisation, data and AI. “Everyone is indeed talking about it and yet there are still a lot of obstacles. Many companies are sitting on a mountain of data, but are not succeeding enough in turning it into value,” says Cedric Van Holsbeke, Chief Innovation Officer at Amista.
Holistic approach to data
Most companies manage their structured data, such as financial transactions, in CRM and ERP systems. Documents such as contracts mainly contain free text, are unstructured and usually only enter those systems via manual input. “Thanks to the latest evolutions in AI, we can now combine both into one reliable data source. And that is crucial. Because anyone who wants to innovate must have quality data,” states Pascal Decock, Managing Partner at Alluvion.
That is exactly where Amista and Alluvion complement each other. Amista brings experience in SAP implementations, integration and document management, while Alluvion specialises in Master Data Governance. “That combination makes us unique compared to other SAP partners,” he says. The customer portfolio is diverse, ranging from SMEs in specific sectors such as manufacturing and wholesale to large enterprises that consciously choose SAP as a strategic platform.
Master data governance as key to AI
Master Data Governance is all about improving and monitoring data quality. In doing so, it lays the foundation for quality AI. According to Cedric, this is essential in today’s paradigm shift: “Foundation models like ChatGPT are trained on huge amounts of public data, but not on your company’s specific information. The real value of AI arises only when you enrich those generic models with company-specific data. That’s how you develop your own AI agents that are really relevant to your processes.”
Amista thinks globally and looks ambitiously ahead. The joining of forces with Alluvion and the earlier integration of the Dutch specialist in document and information management GeONE fit into that vision. With 300+ employees in the Benelux and customers all over Europe, Amista has the strength to realise this ambition. In addition, it can count on development teams in Hungary and India. Via the first sales offices in the US, the door to further internationalisation is open there too. “Data knows no borders or time zones and companies worldwide face challenges in which we make a difference for them,” Cedric concludes.