'CynthAI is a smart senior data analyst and strategic consultant in one'
At Crowe, the rise and rapid development of artificial intelligence has not gone unnoticed. The accounting and consulting firm uses CynthAI both internally and for their clients. This is a revolutionary service platform that increases productivity and optimises business processes by combining and integrating AI, data analytics and business intelligence. The result? Insight into performance and targeted improvement recommendations for each company.
Every entrepreneur understands that there needs to be an increasing focus on technology and AI within their own business, according to Marcel Donkers, innovation partner at Crowe. For many, however, the question is: where do I start? "See it but as a lifestyle change that is definitely not easy, but make sure you make a step of progress on this every day. So we did the same at Crowe. Die knowledge we are now happy to share with the market with our own AI tool: CynthAI. This delivers tailor-made insights specifically tailored to the business needs of the respective company."
Donkers now has more than 25 years of experience in technology, IT, people and organisations. He Studied Computer Science and Business Administration. After his education, he was always active in the world of accountancy and consultancy. He has now been with Crowe for two years. "The society is extensively digitised. Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. At Crowe see this as a great opportunity with unprecedented potential. Also here we started from scratch, have made considerable strides and are further digitally transforming the organisation. And our customers benefit."
'CynthAI is a smart senior data analyst and strategic consultant in one'
CynthAI, data analyst and strategic advisor in one
So now Crowe is offering its customers CynthAI. A smart senior data analyst and strategic advisor in one. With other words: a new virtual colleague available 24/7. "It is more than an AI tool. This multifunctional platform takes any business to the next level. Your can include all the relevant business information of an organisation, such as its vision, mission, terms of employment, norms and values plus strategy, business notes and data. CynthAI quickly understands a company's dna and can then provide targeted answers because CynthAI has access to the right data. CynthAI is also a chatbot to ask specific questions to. For example: show the number of orders made to this customer in the last four years or the turnover of the last few years. CynthAI can display this using graphs or create predictive models for the next three years. This tool saves time and thus provides financial benefits. The User thus always has the complete company data at hand."
Working a little smarter every day
The goal of Donkers and his colleagues is to bring clients along in rapid technological developments such as AI. "We can show what it means concretely for their work. The Indeed, success of AI within an organisation depends on the data you incorporate into it. Often, this data is difficult to access or of insufficient quality. This is a key consideration when applying AI. Every entrepreneur wants to have that data available to back up decisions with the right numbers. Thanks to AI, it is possible to quickly get answers that were previously not insightful or took an employee many hours to surface. Unfortunately, many companies are still not using it enough." According to Donkers, it is essential to stimulate people's curiosity. "If once they see that they can work a little smarter every day, enthusiasm grows. With AI keeps users more time to focus on other tasks, preferably work they get a lot of satisfaction from."
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New employee lifestyle
The aim is to teach people a new Data & AI lifestyle both at work and perhaps privately. Donkers: "Compare it to New Year's Eve. Everyone makes good resolutions, but a different life is not created just by going to the gym once at the beginning of January. The also calls for a different diet, sleeping better, drinking less, quitting smoking, et cetera. Who maintain that for at least one year can speak of a new lifestyle. The Accepting and getting used to AI in your life goes basically the same way. Only then can you start working structurally smarter and more efficiently."
AI quick scan for entrepreneurs
For those who want to know how much AI can already be applied within their own organisation, Crowe offers the opportunity to make a Quickscan via the website. So gives an entrepreneur a holistic view of what steps to take and how the integrated business can grow to the next level. "Think of it as a picture of your business, focusing on four domains: people, organisation, technology and everything to do with Data & AI. As specialist we can guide entrepreneurs in their route to that new Data & AI-driven lifestyle. At Crowe we have many experienced specialists. Users have to stay hungry themselves, though."
Do the AI quick scan
Legislation around AI
As Donkers points out, developments in AI are moving fast. And That applies to both large and small companies. What Not to be forgotten, however, are rules around Data privacy and Security and the EU AI Act. Donkers says: "For instance, since 1 August 2024, the EU AI Act is being phased in, a comprehensive legislation that sets rules for the development, marketing and use of artificial intelligence (AI). The implementation of artificial intelligence should be done responsibly. Entrepreneurs would do well to include employees in their responsibilities. Tell them about the risks. Fortunately, there is increasing awareness and everyone knows: we have to deal with this, both with AI itself and its consequences. This with an eye on the future is a serious gamechanger that offers an awful lot of possibilities and therefore really adds value to any business."
Pictured: Marcel Donkers, innovation partner at Crowe.
Text: Rob Buchholz - Photography: Bram Becks
