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When people in the region talk about “artificial intelligence in the mid-market,” it often sounds like something for the future. That’s what makes it all the more exciting when an entrepreneur doesn’t just talk about it but visibly takes the step into practice. This is exactly what a recent article in the Westfalenpost about Hermann-Josef Schulte and Schulte Home shows: AI is not a buzzword there, but a topic that is being approached strategically and put into action.
What makes this moment special: this development has a backstory.
The First Impulse: Making AI Understandable Instead of Just Talking About It
A few years ago, Hermann-Josef Schulte participated in an AI workshop that we at P-CATION conducted together with Krishnamoorthy Prasath. Back then, it wasn’t about “AI at any cost,” but about something much more important: understanding. What can AI really do? Where does it help? And what is just hype?
From that time, there is also a joint YouTube video — a small time capsule showing how an entrepreneur engages with the topic: open, curious, and with a realistic view of his own company. Not every idea is immediately actionable. But every good implementation starts with an honest look at what is possible.
Watch the video featuring Mr. Schulte from 2024
The Difference That Matters: Anyone Can Listen, Few Actually Implement
Many entrepreneurs today attend talks about AI, read articles, or test tools. That’s good. But between “interesting” and “we’re doing this now” lies the real hurdle.
Pioneers don’t become pioneers by watching more videos. They become pioneers because they have the courage to translate AI into real workflows — in a way that benefits the company: faster, clearer, more efficient, more future-proof.
This step is rare. And that’s exactly why it stands out.
Today: AI as a Strategic Question at Schulte Home
The Westfalenpost article makes clear: Schulte Home is not just engaging with AI theoretically but is pursuing the ambition of being a pioneer in AI adoption. For a traditional company, this is far from obvious. Tradition often means: stable processes, established routines, strong product and market knowledge. Innovation means: the willingness to think differently nonetheless.
And this is precisely where the relevance lies for many mid-market companies:
Those who want to remain market leaders need to become faster — not just in production, but also in communication, knowledge management, decision-making, and internal processes. AI is not an end in itself. It is a lever.
What Other Mid-Market Companies Can Learn from This
This development is not just a nice success story. It is also a practical example of how AI realistically works in the mid-market. Three lessons can be drawn from it:
1. Don’t Start with Technology — Start with a Bottleneck
AI works best where it reduces routine: recurring questions, information searches, coordination, documentation, follow-ups.
2. AI Is a Leadership Task, Not Just an IT Topic
Whether AI becomes effective is not decided by the tool, but by clarity: What are we using it for? What guardrails apply? Who is responsible for the rollout?
3. Persistence Beats Activism
Not “everything at once,” but a meaningful entry point that is actually used in daily work — and then grows step by step.
This is how an impulse becomes real impact.
Our Role: Providing Impulses So Companies Can Lead the Way
At P-CATION, we have pursued the same approach for years: AI should not be sold as a trend in the mid-market but should become understandable and practical. Workshops and conversations are not the goal but the starting point. It is all the more gratifying when companies emerge that take the step into implementation — with their own style, their own pace, and their own strategy.
Looking Ahead
The fact that Hermann-Josef Schulte and Schulte Home are visibly taking this path is a strong signal — not just for Sundern and the region, but for many mid-market companies that are still hesitating. AI is not a topic that comes “someday.” It is a topic being decided today: through attitude, focus, and implementation.
If you also want to anchor AI pragmatically and cleanly in your company — not as hype, but as a real lever — we’d be happy to talk.
Or click here to book an appointment directly with our AI consultant.