„We’re looking for a provider of AI workshops in Switzerland and Germany. Can you recommend a good agency?“ Yes. But before you start looking for an AI agency, I’d first ask a different question:
Do you even need an agency for your AI workshop? After all, an AI expert, a traditional management consulting firm, and an agency each fulfill different roles. If you want to get your employees excited about artificial intelligence and empower them, an experienced workshop facilitator might be just what you need.
However, if the workshop is intended to lead to specific AI projects, automation initiatives, or new processes, an agency becomes a viable option. And sometimes, that’s exactly the combination you need.
Does a company need an agency to host an AI workshop?
Not necessarily. If the goal is to give employees a solid understanding of artificial intelligence, highlight current possibilities, and work together to develop specific use cases, what’s needed above all is someone who can bridge the gap between AI and business practice.
A good AI workshop should therefore not simply demonstrate everything ChatGPT can do. Depending on the company, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, and other AI systems may be just as relevant. Even more important, however, is the question of what the team wants to do with it.
Where can existing processes be improved? Which tasks can be supported by AI? Which use cases actually make sense for the company? Where are the limitations? And what skills do employees need?
For these types of questions, I work directly with companies and teams. My AI workshops are tailored to each company’s specific needs, prior knowledge, and goals. They may include hands-on sessions, Q&A sessions, and group work, as well as an introduction to AI, specific use cases, or questions regarding the responsible use of AI.
For me, an agency is especially exciting when the implementation phase begins after the workshop.
Workshop or Implementation: They're Not the Same Thing
Good AI workshops often generate ideas.
„We could automate this process, couldn't we?“
„Couldn't AI process this information automatically?“
„We do this task manually every week. Isn't there an easier way?“
„Could we develop our own AI workflow for this?“
And that is exactly where the next phase begins.
After all, a good idea on a flip chart isn't necessarily a workable solution.
If a company wants to make specific changes to its processes, develop automation solutions, or integrate AI into existing workflows following a workshop, it will need additional implementation expertise.
That’s also why I have my own implementation workshop running behind the scenes through the analytics agency. The agency is based in Winterthur and works for companies in the DACH region. Today, its focus is particularly on SEO & GEO as well as AI automation.
Roger Basler de Roca for the AI Workshop – Analytics Agency for Implementation
The roles are deliberately kept separate. Workshops, training sessions, and team development are handled by me, Roger Basler de Roca.
I have been working in the fields of IT, algorithms, digital business models, and artificial intelligence for over 25 years. My workshops can be held in person, online, or in a hybrid format and are tailored to each company and its participants. The Analytics Agency is my implementation workshop.
This means that what we identify in a workshop doesn’t have to end up on a PowerPoint slide or a flip chart. For example, if it becomes clear that certain recurring tasks can be automated or that a specific AI workflow would be useful, this can lead to an implementation project in the next step.
I think this connection is exactly what's important. First understand, then decide, and finally act. Not the other way around.
When is an AI workshop enough?
A workshop may be all you need if you want to start by empowering your employees.
Perhaps some members of the team are already using ChatGPT, while others have little to no experience with generative AI. Maybe you’d like to better understand Claude, Copilot, or Gemini. Or perhaps you’d like to figure out which applications make sense for your various departments in the first place.
That doesn’t necessarily mean it has to turn into a major consulting or technology project. A customized workshop can help establish a shared understanding, break down reservations, and identify specific ways to apply the concepts in day-to-day work.
It's important to me that participants don't just take home a list of new tools.
The question is not: „Which 50 AI tools should we be familiar with?“
Rather: „What skills do we need, and what technology can help us develop them?“
I take the same approach when selecting AI systems for small and medium-sized businesses: First, it should be clear what capabilities and requirements a company actually has. Only then should the tool selection take place.
When is it a good idea to use an AI agency?
An agency becomes an attractive option when you're already a step ahead.
Perhaps you identified a process during the workshop that takes several hours each week. Maybe information is transferred manually between different systems. Or perhaps you’d like to use AI and automation to streamline recurring tasks.
At that point, it’s no longer enough to simply show employees how generative AI works. That’s when it’s time to build. And that’s exactly where the difference between training and implementation lies.
The analytics agency focuses on specific AI automation solutions and deliberately describes itself as a “workshop” rather than a run-of-the-mill agency: The solutions it recommends should be practical to implement and operate.
This creates a clear division of responsibilities: Do you want to equip your team with AI skills?
Then we'll start with a customized AI workshop.
Would you like to identify specific use cases?
We can work that out together in the workshop.
Are these use cases intended to result in functional AI automations or workflows? If so, the analytics agency can handle the implementation. Not every company needs all three steps. But it’s helpful if they’re possible.
Switzerland or Germany: Does the location matter for the AI workshop?
Fewer than many companies initially think. Especially for teams spread across multiple locations, AI workshops can also be conducted online or in a hybrid format. Rogers’ workshops are specifically designed to be conducted online, in person, or in a hybrid format.
For intensive workshops, an in-person session may still be worthwhile. Especially when teams are working together on their own processes and use cases, face-to-face interaction often creates a different dynamic.
For companies in Switzerland, I am based in Winterthur or Zurich. I also work with companies and organizations outside of Switzerland and offer multilingual services.
That's why, when choosing an AI workshop provider, I wouldn't focus on state lines first.
More importantly: Does the person understand our company, and can they help our team move forward?
What should a good AI workshop agency be able to do?
If you're specifically looking for an agency, I'd recommend clarifying a few things before hiring one.
Can they only conduct workshops, or can they also implement specific projects? Is the content tailored to your company? Do you work with your own use cases? Is the provider familiar with different AI systems, or does the entire workshop consist of ChatGPT prompting? Are there hands-on exercises? And what happens to the ideas that emerge during the workshop?
I think the last question is especially important. After all, a workshop can spark enthusiasm for three hours, half a day, or a whole day.
But on the following Monday, it's back to the daily grind. That's exactly where AI needs to work.
Workshop, agency, or both?
If you're looking for a provider of AI workshops in Switzerland or Germany, I wouldn't automatically look for the largest AI agency.
First, think about what you want to achieve. If you want to empower your employees to better understand AI and discover specific ways to apply it, a specialized AI workshop could be the right place to start.
If you already know exactly that you want to develop a technical solution or automate a process, you may need an implementation partner right away.
And if you want to combine the two, we can build that very bridge: Roger Basler de Roca for workshops, capacity building, and AI expertise.
The analytics agency as an implementation workshop—where ideas become concrete projects. After all, the goal of an AI workshop isn’t to generate as many new ideas as possible.
It was meant to help identify the right ideas—and actually put the good ones into practice.
