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Getting Started with AI-Powered CRM Solutions

A simple approach to empower your business with AI solutions

While AI opens the door to tremendous opportunities for growth and efficiency, the sheer volume of information can be daunting. This is particularly true for organizations that want to embark on their first AI project. But how do you cut through the noise and take meaningful action?

AI CRM Solutions for Real-World Use Cases

AI-powered Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions have the potential to revolutionize how businesses interact with their customers, offering engagement options that were previously unattainable.

Applied AI develops Minnesota’s next generation of experts by educating citizens of all ages in the tools, processes, and applications that are needed to implement solutions that use Artificial Intelligence (AI).

At the recent Applied AI Conference, an attendee illustrated how their company leveraged AI to analyze customer satisfaction (CSAT) surveys:

"We had hundreds of thousands of comments from years of CSAT surveys we received from our customers, but we'd never done anything with them because it was too tedious for anyone to analyze and understand. We used a Large Language Model (LLM) to ingest the comments and ask questions about the data to gain valuable insights."

By employing AI, they transformed overwhelming data into actionable insights, ultimately enhancing their customer experience and engagement strategies.

Both Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Customer Service, and Customer Insights and Salesforce Sales, Service, and Marketing Cloud offer robust AI-driven features that can help businesses achieve similar results.

Consider your own organization: where do you have mounds of data that could provide valuable insights but lack the resources to analyze it effectively?

  • Inform product and service enhancements by utilizing AI to analyze customer interactions across multiple channels (e.g., notes, voice recordings, emails, social media) to extract valuable insights into customer preferences, pain points, and expectations.
  • Close deals faster with more confidence by employing AI to analyze the heaps of Opportunity “Closed Lost Notes” and receiving recommendations for similar deals that were won or lost.
  • Draft knowledge articles by asking AI to review support cases and their related solutions, saving time in identifying common issues and writing draft knowledge articles for review and use.
  • Increase customer engagement and revenue per customer by enlisting AI to analyze customer preferences and behavior to provide personalized product or service recommendations.

Transform overwhelming data with actionable insights with AI-powered CRM solutionsAI-powered CRM solutions can revolutionize customer interactions by transforming overwhelming data into actionable insights. But how do you avoid the analysis paralysis and get started?

Five Steps to Kickstart Your AI Journey

To help you navigate the complexities of getting started on your first AI implementation, we’ve outlined five actionable steps to get started:

Begin by identifying potential use cases for AI within your organization. Prioritize these based on their impact, feasibility, and risk. Focus on areas where AI can deliver the most value, such as improving customer service, enhancing sales processes, or streamlining marketing initiatives.

Data is the foundation of any AI initiative. Assess the quality and volume of your data and ensure it’s clean, relevant, and comprehensive. This might involve consolidating or integrating data from disparate sources and implementing data governance practices to maintain its integrity.

Choose the appropriate AI techniques and tools based on your identified use cases and data readiness. For instance, natural language processing (NLP) can be useful for analyzing customer feedback, while machine learning algorithms can focus efforts for opportunity management.

Before a full-scale rollout, develop a proof of concept (PoC) to test your AI solution on a smaller scale. This allows you to validate your approach, identify potential issues, and make necessary adjustments before broader implementation.

AI projects are iterative by nature. Continuously measure the performance of your AI solutions against defined metrics. Learn from the data and refine your models to enhance accuracy and effectiveness over time.

Take the Next Step

Take the first or next step in your AI-powered CRM solutions journey.The journey of integrating AI into your business might seem daunting at first, but with our structured approach, it becomes manageable, exciting, and rewarding. At Ascendex Consulting, we are dedicated to guiding businesses like yours through this journey with confidence and expertise.

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Interested in getting started or just learning more? Contact us or schedule a free AI for CRM Ideation Consultation. Together, we can unlock AI’s potential to drive your business forward.

Don Mink, Ascendex Consulting

 

Don Mink

Director of CRM Solutions

Becky Brister

Operations, Finance and Administrative Lead

Accomplished operational and digital transformation consultant in finance, supply chain and operational software/systems in Manufacturing, Finance, Distribution, Retail and Supply Chain Management. Served on both sides of large ERP system/software initiatives and implementations brings tremendous value as a trusted partner committed to helping make sound decisions from sourcing options through implementation. Decades of experience and learning with small and mid-sized businesses moving them to the next level of operational efficiency and revenue grow. She has recently entered the world of board member of non-profit organizations and love supporting them with her vast experience.

Outside the Office

Becky is passionate about her family, which includes 7 very active grandchildren, and she attends as many of their activities as she can. She and her husband of 45 years have an awesome group of friends they love to travel with. Home and product design is a place she finds fulfilling.

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Renee Ramler

Administrative Assistant

Renee has re-entered the workforce after many years of home educating her six children. She previously worked as the sole administrative assistant at her church for several years.  It was there she fell in love with serving others and assisting the needs of a core leadership team. She has a passion for helping others achieve their goals.  

Outside the Office

Renee enjoys cooking, walking and is an avid reader. If she can do all of that at her family cabin while entertaining friends, her bucket is full! 

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Jamie Anderson

Operations & Administrative Support Professional

Jamie comes to Ascendex with 8 years of experience in Human Resources in a variety of support roles. Having worked for both large corporations and a small family business she knows how to get the job done. Prior to joining Ascendex, Jamie took a break from her career to start a family. As Operations & Administrative Support Professional, she wears many hats contributing to the daily operations of the Ascendex business including HR, Accounting, and Operations. 

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources and a Minor in Psychology from St. Cloud State University.

Outside the Office

You will see her running…after her 3 very energetic and busy boys! She loves being her family’s biggest cheerleader, especially in the bleachers and on the field. She has a passion for serving others and enjoys home organization.

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John Bird

Director of Data and Business Intelligence

John has over twenty years of enterprise systems expertise. John has a breadth of experience across ERP and Data and Business Intelligence. He has played lead roles in implementations and integrations, from ERP implementations of Workday, PeopleSoft, and Oracle to Big Data Analytics with Amazon, Hadoop, and other BI-related tools. 

John’s career has allowed him to work with General Motors, Mayo Clinic, Norstan, Farstad Oil, Campus Crusade, Pentax, Thomson Reuters, Express Scripts, and Castlelake—just to name a few. He has been a COO of a Legal Software Company and has led implementations of BI solutions as well as ERP applications.

Education

John completed a BA in Mathematics from Bethel University, Software Engineering Development Program through EDS, PMP certification, and is in the process of completing a Big Data Analytics master’s degree from San Diego State University

Outside the Office

John loves family time with his wife, seven children, eight grandkids, and two Irish setters, woodworking, and smoking whatever can fit on a Recteq!

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Benji Borner

Managing Director, Innovation & Leadership Services

Accomplished business-savvy Technology Executive with a global background serving multiple industries. Broad experience in driving business value, strategic planning, leadership, process improvement, P&L responsibility, and execution. Regarded as a strategic thinker with a high business acumen that delivers to commitments in complex enterprise environments. Strong analytical and problem-solving thinking skills with the ability to drive positive change. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills that authentically builds high performing teams while inspiring collaboration and loyalty. Utilizes technical aptitude along with a thorough understanding of business operations, finance, and relationships to drive value and deliver results

Education

  • Bachelor’s degrees in Business Management from St. Cloud State University with a minor in Computer Information Systems.
  • Masters degree in Software Engineering from the University of St. Thomas.

Outside the Office

I’m passionate about supporting and coaching my kids in their activities, whether it’s on the hockey rink or the baseball field. I love spending time on the water, unwinding at the cabin, and prioritizing my physical and mental well-being. I also thrive on engaging in meaningful conversations that spark new ideas. If I’m off the grid, chances are you’ll find me in the yard—either perfecting our backyard rink or meticulously tending to the landscape.

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Brandon Maciej

Amplify Practice Lead & Shareholder

Brandon leads the Ascendex Data & BI practice and has spent over eighteen years leading organizations through operational change and technology transformation. 

Brandon’s career has included consulting roles at Wipfli LLP, one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the U.S., and UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune Five healthcare organization. He has vast experience in multiple industries, including manufacturing and distribution, healthcare, financial services, professional services, technology, and government. Brandon is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt, and his skillsets include change management, business intelligence, strategy, and technology implementation.

Education

Brandon received two bachelor’s degrees (Entrepreneurship and Marketing) from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota and a Six Sigma Master Black Belt from Villanova University.

Outside the Office

He enjoys boating and serves as the President of the Schmidt Lake Improvement Association. He is an avid sports enthusiast with season tickets to the Twins, Gopher hockey, and Gopher football. His favorite sports are soccer (go Loons!) and football (go Vikings and Gophers!).

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Matt Bochnicek

CEO, Founder

Matt leads Ascendex and founded the business in 2016. He has spent his career of over two decades in the fields of technology, strategy, innovation, and growth. Matt provides strategic direction and leadership for the business and serves as a management consultant or engagement leader on critical projects. Before Ascendex, Matt was a consulting partner in one of the most prominent accounting and consulting firms in the U.S., where he launched and led the Twin Cities consulting practice, one of the largest in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area. He was also a member of the consulting division’s executive leadership team. Matt has worked with hundreds of organizations ranging from emerging businesses to some of the largest corporations in the world. He has significant experience in many industries, including professional services, financial services, manufacturing and distribution, healthcare, technology, logistics, and government/public sector. Matt is consistently active on non-profit boards and foundations, currently serving on the board of directors and executive committee for a non-profit where he recently completed a two-year term as board president. He is also an adjunct faculty member and venture center business advisor for the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Matt is a former Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal “40 Under 40” honoree and is a speaker, panelist, moderator, and competition judge in various capacities in the Twin Cities. 

Education

Matt received an MBA (Strategy, Finance, & Marketing) from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree (Economics & Political Science) from Creighton University.

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Kathryn Kvas

Director of Solutions

Kathryn has over a decade of expertise spanning across strategy, technology, operations, M&A, data and analytics, change management, and business development. Kathryn’s career has included consulting roles at Wipfli LLP, one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the U.S., and UnitedHealth Group, the largest U.S. healthcare organization. Prior to joining Ascendex, Kathryn was a Director of Business Development & Analytics for a $500M+ annual revenue business within UnitedHealth Group. Her industry experience includes: technology, manufacturing and distribution, healthcare, financial services, professional services, and government. 

Education

  • Two bachelor’s degrees (Operations Technology Management and Finance, Investment, & Banking) from the Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin—Madison.
  • Excel certification from the Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin—Madison.
  • Six Sigma Green Belt from Villanova University.

Outside the Office

When not at the office you can find her enjoying any and all outdoor activities: long walks with her dog, paddle boarding, volleyball, skiing, golf, and tailgating in the fall…If you notice, there are a few Gopher alumni on the team, and Kathryn being a Badger alum can promote a variety of heckling within the office.

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Matt Leirdahl

Director of ERP

Matt’s 10+ year career has included consulting roles at Wipfli LLP and RSM US LLP, two of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the U.S. He has a vast background in ERP and supply chain technologies across industries, including food and beverage, life sciences, discrete manufacturing, and retail. In addition to ERP expertise, Matt has extensive knowledge in business intelligence, integration design, custom development, and change management.

Education

Two Bachelor’s degrees (Entrepreneurial Management and Management Information Systems) from the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota.

Outside the Office

When not hard at work for his clients, Matt can be found in the tailgate lot at the University of Minnesota, the hardware store for his new DIY project, watching whatever NFL game is on TV, or tending the smoker on his back patio.

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Haylee Morgan

Technology Consulting Manager

Haylee’s career began as a consultant at RSM US LLP, one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the U.S. Following her time at RSM, she worked for the Texas based technology consulting firm, Rand Group. She has a vast background in ERP and supply chain technologies across industries, including food and beverage, and retail. She is a Microsoft certified consultant in Supply Chain Management, Finance, and the Power Platform.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a certificate in Computer Science from the University of Georgia, Athens.

Outside the Office

Haylee is a proud Georgia Bulldog, the first of her kind here at Ascendex. When she’s not cheering on the dawgs or hard at work, you can find her playing pickleball, doing yoga or spending time with family!

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