In this episode, Geert Vromman sits down with Christophe Krekels, former CEO and founder of Krekels, now co-owner of Visix Brand Shiners, and Director of Visix Poland; 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. A grounded, practical story on how a manufacturing business can evolve step by step toward digitalisation, together with its people.
Listen now!
In this episode, Geert Vromman talks to Kristof Janssens, Operations 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.
It’s an honest conversation about starting small, thinking together, and making AI practical – even in a classic production environment.
In this episode, Geert Vromman and Jeroen Claes flip the script (Geert is doing most of the talking this time) to dive deep 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.
Want to get your hands on our DIY AI Starterkit to get a taste of what AI could mean for your company? https://cropl.ink/DIY-start-AI
Or want to read a bit more on how to start with AI? https://cropl.ink/HowToStartAI
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.
We explore:
What makes Agentic AI smarter than traditional AI
The real-world business tasks you can already automate
Where to be careful (spoiler: privacy and compliance!)
Why clean, structured data is a must
And what this means for the future of work and productivity
Not just tech talk — we keep it practical, clear, and fun.
Ready to find out how Agentic AI could change how you work? Hit play, and let’s explore the possibilities together.
How do you scale AI in your company without losing sleep over privacy or budget? In our latest Cropland podcast episode, Geert and Jeroen Klaas dive into a hot topic: the pros and cons of custom GPTs (think: ChatGPT with your flavour) versus tailored AI chatbots built by Cropland.
We unpack what a custom GPT really is, what it can (and can’t) do, and how secure it actually is when deployed inside your organisation.
Spoiler alert: it might not be the silver bullet you were hoping for.
We then shift gears to our own tailored chatbot solutions—designed with privacy, integration, and compliance at the core (hello GDPR!). They may not come with flashy APIs, but they do come with real-world impact, lower long-term costs, and the peace of mind that your data stays where it should.
Geert Vromman en Jeroen Claes bespreken de veelgestelde vraag 'Buy versus Build' met betrekking tot AI-tools en implementaties. Ze duiken in verschillende scenario's, zoals de voor- en nadelen van het kopen van bestaande software versus het ontwikkelen van custom AI-oplossingen.
Verder bespreken ze de strategische afwegingen bij bedrijfstoepassingen en de rol van start-ups. Hierbij worden begrippen als proof of concepts en return on investment uitgelegd, evenals moderne oplossingen zoals agents en Robotic Process Automation (RPA).
Afsluiten doen ze met praktische adviezen voor bedrijven die willen beginnen met AI, en de noodzaak om strategisch na te denken voordat je actie onderneemt.
Volg ons voor meer AI-inzichten en praktische tips!
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.
Curious to learn more? Tune in now and discover how A.I. can work for you!
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.I. developments in our latest podcast.
We're also diving into our predictions for A.I. in 2025. Wondering what the future holds for artificial intelligence? Join our conversation by tuning into the '2024 A.I. Unwrapped' podcast.
