AI unwrapped podcast

In this episode of the CROPLAND podcast, Geert Vromman is joined by Lara Snauwaert, recently appointed partner at VGD, where she leads HR Advisory. Lara works at the intersection of people, organisations, and change, which makes her exactly the right person to ask: why do AI implementations so often stall, not on the technology side, but on the human side? They explore the uncertainty AI creates, for employees who see their routines shifting, and for leaders who sense the rules of the game changing around them. Lara introduces a more layered approach to adoption. She argues for differentiated learning paths based on personality, culture, and psychological safety. The conversation also gets practical. Geert shares how CROPLAND itself has navigated this, building internal agents and expanding capacity without proportional headcount growth. A candid, grounded conversation for anyone leading, or living, an AI transition.

In this CROPLAND podcast, Geert Vromman speaks with Jeroen (COO) and Cédric (Senior AI & Data Strategist) about why multi-agent orchestration becomes essential as companies embed AI agents across CRM, ERP, and copilots. They explain that once multiple agents exist, a central “conductor” is needed to route requests, coordinate collaboration, and validate outputs, illustrated with an employee onboarding workflow where HR and IT agents execute steps end-to-end. The discussion covers where agents are built and run (e.g., Copilot, Gemini, custom solutions), how tools and platforms can be connected, and key challenges such as access rights, privacy, governance, shadow IT, model capacity and performance, human-in-the-loop approvals for critical actions, and ensuring reproducibility and traceability when agent behavior goes wrong.

In this CROPLAND podcast, Geert Vromman is joined by colleagues Jeroen (COO) and Cédric (Senior AI & Data Strategist) to examine the emergence of AI browsers and the delicate balance between productivity gains and organizational risks. They explore the rise of Agentic browsers, a fundamental shift where the browser evolves from a window to information into an autonomous agent that executes tasks in your name. While the productivity gains are significant, the strategic risks require immediate leadership attention. It introduces substantial strategic and operational risks that leaders must address: Privacy & Data Residency, Security Vulnerabilities, Operational Integrity. The technology is in its infancy and evolving rapidly, but the principle of “look before you leap” remains paramount for responsible AI adoption.

In this CROPLAND podcast, Geert Vromman welcomes Enzo Marquet, privacy consultant and AI specialist at Cranium, to discuss the intersection of data, privacy, and the accelerating “tsunami” of AI regulation. They analyze a critical blind spot for many organizations: the rise of Shadow AI, where employees independently use tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot without formal oversight. This practice introduces significant risks regarding unmanaged datastreams and hallucinations. Marquet clarifies the distinction between the risk-driven, often interpretive nature of GDPR and the European AI Act, which functions more as product legislation with specific risk categories, ranging from prohibited practices and high-risk systems to transparency requirements. Using practical examples such as HR chatbots and AI in recruitment, they explore the tangible challenges of algorithmic bias and the necessity of human supervision. To ensure scalability and avoid future rework, the discussion concludes with a strategic plea to start small, map current processes, and maintain rigorous registers through a “compliance by design” approach.

In this episode of the CROPLAND Podcast, Geert Vromman speaks with Pim ten Tusscher, Head of Products at PrecisionAQ, an international healthcare company supporting pharmaceutical and life sciences organizations with market research, health economics, market access, and medical communications. They discuss AI Assist and the evolution from traditional consultancy, built around slide decks, to a scalable digital platform. AI Assist combines domain expertise and market research data to deliver personalized, 24/7 virtual consultancy. They also explore adoption, quality validation through approaches such as RAG, and how usage and satisfaction are measured. Finally, they look ahead to connected AI agents and the broader lesson: AI only creates value when data is translated into relevant, actionable insights.

In this episode of the CROPLAND Podcast, Geert Vromman sits down with Jeroen Claes, COO and head of operations at CROPLAND, to explore the future of chatbot technology. They discuss how chatbots are evolving, the rise of voice-based solutions, and the technical hurdles that still need to be addressed. The conversation also dives into the differences between today’s chat and voice bots and how these technologies could reshape customer interactions in the years to come.

In this episode of the CROPLAND Podcast, Geert Vromman welcomes his friend and entrepreneur Seppe De Roeck. Seppe is the founder of Chillafish, a Belgian brand known for designing innovative and sustainable ride-on toys. The two dive into Seppe’s vision on building high-quality products and the challenges of operating in a global market. They also explore how AI is being used at Chillafish: from experimenting with generative language models to the potential of agentic AI in business processes. Seppe shares his experience with implementing AI tools in his company, and his perspective on how AI will shape the future of business operations.

In this episode, Geert Vromman sits down with Cedric Van Hees, a senior consultant at CROPLAND, to discuss his journey and experiences during his first 100 days with the company. Cedric shares what attracted him to CROPLAND, the balance between immediate project involvement and learning, and his first major project involving machine learning in the pharmaceutical industry. He also touches on the internal culture of open communication and feedback, his contributions to the team, and offers advice for new colleagues.

In this episode, Geert Vromman sits down with Christophe Krekels, co-owner and R&D/IT Director at Visix Brand Shiners; a merger company delivering large-format print solutions for trade shows, retail and events across Belgium and beyond. They reflect on Visix’s digital transformation: from manual quotes to a webshop that now handles 35% of all orders. Christophe shares how coding, structure and discipline turned data into action and why that mattered. They also dive into the growing impact of Power BI dashboards and how CROPLAND’s Start-AI program sparked concrete ideas, cross-team engagement, and broader awareness around AI’s real potential, even in production environments.

In this episode, Geert Vromman talks to Kristof Janssens, Finance Manager at Manna Foods, a Belgian SME known for its sauces and condiments, serving both retail and foodservice clients. Together, they reflect on Manna’s AI journey: from their first CROPLAND workshop to real operational changes. Kristof shares what worked, where the challenges were, and how cross-department collaboration turned AI into action. Geert explores what sparked engagement inside Manna, how concrete projects emerged from a single moodboard session, and why you don’t need to be ‘techy’ to get started with AI.

In this episode, Geert and Jeroen flip the script to dive into the importance of having a clear data and AI strategy, especially for growing businesses and SMEs. From navigating digitalisation to avoiding AI pitfalls, they explore why strategy comes before tools, and how companies can get started the smart way. Expect insights, examples, and the occasional Geert-style straight talk.

In this episode, Geert and Jeroen dive into the fascinating world of Agentic AI — the next big thing in the world of artificial intelligence. Forget about chatbots that just answer your questions. Agentic AI works differently: you give it a goal, it figures out how to get there. Think of it as your digital colleague who doesn’t just follow instructions, but actually solves tasks — from filling out CRM records to scheduling meetings and even kicking off invoicing flows.

How do you scale AI in your company without losing sleep over privacy or budget? In our latest Cropland podcast episode, Geert and Jeroen Claes dive into a hot topic: the pros and cons of custom GPTs (think: ChatGPT with your flavour) versus tailored AI chatbots built by e.g. CROPLAND.

In this episode, Geert Vromman and Jeroen Claes dive into one of the most common dilemmas in the world of AI: should you invest in off-the-shelf tools or develop your own tailor-made solution? They explore real-life business scenarios, weigh the pros and cons of each path, and look at how start-ups and corporate tools stack up against each other. Expect clear takes on proof of concepts, ROI, and newer concepts like AI agents and Robotic Process Automation (RPA).

A.I. is everywhere, but how can it deliver real value for your company? In our latest podcast, we break it down. From streamlining operations to uncovering new opportunities, Jeroen & Geert explore the practical ways A.I. can make a difference in your business.

As we wrap up 2024, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible strides made in A.I. this year. From breakthroughs to new applications, it’s been an exciting journey, and we’ve shared our insights on the most significant A.l. developments in our latest podcast.