The AI Practical Guide Series for SMEs

A practical program for companies that want to implement automation and AI in a practical and efficient way. Through four modules that build on one another, you’ll learn where AI truly makes sense in your processes, how to apply it in your day-to-day work, and where an Excel spreadsheet would suffice.

What?

In four modules that build on one another, you’ll learn to identify AI potential, translate it into real-world processes, and operate it reliably—always with a focus on your own use cases.

When?

The series will take place in the second half of 2026, with in-person sessions scheduled between September and December: two intensive knowledge modules and two hands-on workshops lasting several days.

Who is this for?

For anyone who wants to do more than just experiment with AI in their own company—who wants to use it strategically. From administrative staff to specialists and project teams, all the way up to executive management.

  • Module 1 - understanding AI

    Thursday, september 10th 2026

    Fundamentals, terminology, opportunities, and risks, as well as initial applications. The result: a common language within the team.

  • Module 2 - using AI

    Thursday, october 1st 2026

    Prompting, AI routines in everyday life, and quality assurance—practiced using real-world tasks. The result: your own AI routines in your daily work.

  • Module 3 - AI in action (Build Lab)

    Tuesday - Wednesday, november 10th - 11th 2026

    Pain Canvas, Process Map, data quality, and setting up an initial workflow in n8n. Result: a first working prototype for a real-world process—within the limits of what your systems allow.

  • Module 4 - Making AI Robust (operation Labs)

    Thursday - Friday, december 10th - 11th 2026

    Debugging, monitoring, fallbacks, and governance checks—including an EU AI Act checklist. The result: stable, well-documented operations.

  • We always recommend booking the entire series. If you're unsure about the best place to start or whether you could begin right away with the first prototypes, please feel free to contact us. We'll put together a customized package for you.

How we work:

Process before Tool

We don't start with the tool, but with the actual bottleneck in the company—and only then do we decide whether a checklist, automation, or AI is the right solution. AI is an option, not a goal.

Your own case, not a textbook case.

Starting with the Build Lab, you'll work on a process specific to your company, using a transferable example process as a starting point.

A prototype instead of PowerPoint.

In the Build Lab, you'll build your first working workflow. The extent to which you can ultimately integrate and use the workflow depends on your company's systems and access permissions; that's exactly what we'll figure out together in the Build Lab.

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Module 1

understanding AI

Laying the groundwork and finding a common language. We’ll define key terms, assess opportunities and risks, and take a look at some initial applications.

  • You’ll gain access to tried-and-true frameworks and evaluation methodologies to:.

  • Organizing Fundamentals and Concepts in an Easy-to-Understand Way

  • Assess Opportunities and Risks Realistically

  • Identify Initial Use Cases

  • Create Events

  • We’ll work with sample processes, short tests, and clear guidance. The first module focuses on orientation and methodology.

  • Result: A sense of direction and a common lanuage as the foundation for all further steps.

  • What you’ll take away:

    Clarity, structure, and an evaluation framework for getting started with AI.

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Module 2

using AI

Understanding turns into a productive routine. We practice prompting on real-world tasks, integrate AI routines into our daily workflows, and ensure the quality of the results.

  • Prompting for Real-World Tasks

  • AI Routines for Everyday Work

  • Quality Assurance of the Results

  • Create Events

  • You’ll actively work on your projects and apply the logic directly to your company’s context.

  • Result: Your own, reliable AI routines for everyday work. steps.

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Modul 3

AI in action (Build Labs)

Now it's time to get to work. Over the course of a day and a half, you'll work on your own process: from identifying the bottleneck, through process and data analysis, to the first running workflow.

  • The focus is on application, interaction, and control:

  • Process Analysis / Problem Analysis

  • Check and Prepare Data Quality

  • Setting Up Your First Workflow in n8n

  • Fundamentals of Agent Logic and Workflow Orchestration

  • for everyda We use n8n in our lab settigns. the concepts can be adapted to other automatoins platforms such as Make or Power Automate. Result: an initial, functional prototype for a real-world process. Provided that the systems, interfaces, and acess rights within your own company allow for it.

  • Result: An application-oriented AI system and clarity on how to effectively combine agents.

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Modul#3

Making AI Robust (operation Labs)

A prototype is just the beginning. In the Operations Lab, we ensure the workflow built in Module 3 is operationally reliable by using real-world error scenarios from actual operations.

  • The focus is on application, interaction, and control:

  • Debugging and Monitoring

  • Fallbacks

  • Governance Review Using the EU AI Act Checklist

  • Create Events

  • Results: stable, well-documented operations.

  • Result: An application-oriented AI system and clarity on how to effectively combine agents.

Your added value:

  • Fundamentals of AI—from the basics to automation logic

  • Identifying risks early on

  • Integrating AI effectively into real-world processes

  • First functional AI and automation modules; a basic understanding for future work with autonomous agent systems

  • Learn in a small group: The number of participants is limited to 10 people

What you bring to the table:

  • Willingness to work on a process from your own daily work routine

  • Access to an automation platform such as n8n, Make, or Power Automate—or the ability to set one up yourself

  • Basic access rights to the systems and data related to the selected process, ideally coordinated with your company’s IT department

In the hands-on labs, we work with n8n. The extent to which a process can actually be automated depends on the systems, interfaces, and access rights within the respective company.

As a member, it's free for you

Please note that this offer is primarily intended for our USER members, and we can only allocate one spot per company. We always recommend booking the entire series. If you’re unsure about the best way to get started or whether you could begin right away with your first prototypes, please feel free to contact us at:  events@hubaachen.de 

Register now for the workshop seriesRegister only for Modules 3-4

Not a member? This is how to register:

All four workshops

€ 3.500

We recommend booking the entire workshop series including all modules. This way we can support you best.

  • Costs excl. VAT

  • Basic analytics
  • Up to 1,000 subscribers
Book now

Workshops 3 & 4

€ 2.950

You want to dive right into buidling prototypes for your company? Booking module 3 & 4 is your way to go then.

  • Costs excl. VAT

  • Basic analytics
  • Up to 1,000 subscribers
Book 3 & 4

You're not sure whether you're already ready to dive right into module 3 & 4? Or you just have a general question regarding the program? We're happy to help:  events@hubaachen.de 

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Speaker:

Dr. Miriam Zeichner

Director Corporate Consulting and Lead AI Stratey & Integration