VOGSY's pragmatic approach to AI

The current technology landscape is moving through an accelerating hype cycle around Artificial Intelligence. New models and capabilities are announced at a dizzying pace, and software vendors are locked in a race to integrate the latest trends into their products. In this environment, getting caught up in pursuing futuristic possibilities is easy.

However, a different path is possible—one guided not by the allure of the next big thing but by a steady, pragmatic focus on solving real-world business problems. This philosophy underpins VOGSY's approach to AI. It is a perspective articulated by our founder, Leo Koster, who recognizes that in a field of constant change, the only sustainable strategy is to remain pragmatic and focused on the domain you know best: project-based ERP for international professional services firms. And to do so with the best possible AI management system governance, ISO 42001.

This pragmatic approach has led us to develop our "glass box" philosophy, a direct contrast to the opaque, "black box" systems that are becoming common in the market. We prioritize governance, transparency, and tangible value over speed and speculative features. This article tells the story of that choice. It explains why this commitment to pragmatism and governance is the foundation for building a trustworthy, sustainable, and valuable AI capability for the long term.

A "black box" AI is a system whose inner workings are opaque. It produces outputs and recommendations, but cannot explain how they reached them. While this may be acceptable for consumer applications, it is a non-starter for a mission-critical business system that manages a firm's finances, projects, and resources.

Our "glass box" philosophy is the antithesis of this approach. It is built on the core principles of transparency, explainability, and control. This means that we are committed to building systems where the logic is understandable and the outputs are verifiable. It is a philosophy that required a strategic decision: to build the foundations of a responsible (Link-to:-#2-what-is-an-ai-management-system-aims-and-why-does-it-matter) first, before rushing a host of AI features to market. This governance-first approach is the essence of our pragmatic strategy.

The first principle of our pragmatic approach is to focus solely on solving the tangible, immediate problems professional services firms face. Our focus is on delivering measurable value today. This means targeting the areas of opportunity, friction, risk, and inefficiency that impact your business every day.  

This translates into focusing on practical (Link-to:-#1-ai-in-erp-separating-hype-from-practical-application) that deliver clear benefits. For example, we target the administrative burden of time tracking with features that can encourage and help users fill their timesheets based on a user's project involvement, work schedule, leave, and company holidays. We are simplifying access to information by allowing users to interact with VOGSY in natural language,  

"Which projects behind on schedule?" without building a complex report. The goal of these features is simple and pragmatic: less manual effort, more timely insight, and fewer blind spots in your operations.

The second principle is a direct consequence of our "glass box" philosophy. We made the deliberate, strategic decision to embark on the journey to ISO 42001 certification before the general availability of our AI Assistant. This is not the fastest path to market, but it is the only responsible one.  

This "govern first" approach means that every AI capability we develop is built within the pre-existing framework of our AIMS. Data security, explainability, and human oversight rules are already in place. This ensures our AI is sound, secure, and responsible from day one. We believe that for enterprise-grade AI, responsibility cannot be an afterthought; it must be the foundation.

The final principle is an unwavering commitment to keeping a human in control. In the VOGSY ecosystem, AI is designed to augment human expertise, not replace it. The AI Assistant is meant to suggest, prepare, analyze, and communicate—it is not designed to make independent, autonomous decisions.  

This principle is embedded in every use case. The AI might suggest a resource for a project, but the resource manager makes the final assignment. It might generate a draft of a client status report, but the engagement manager reviews, edits, and approves it before it is sent. This ensures that your professional team's deep contextual knowledge, ethical judgment, and strategic insight always remain the driving force behind your business decisions. AI is a powerful enabler, but humans are always in control.

This pragmatic, "glass box" approach is more than just a product strategy; it is a statement about the kind of company we are and the partner we aim to be. In a volatile market, stability and trust are invaluable. By consciously choosing not to chase fleeting hype cycles, we are building an AI capability that is sustainable, reliable, and focused on creating enduring value for our customers.

When you choose a partner for a core system like ERP, you make a long-term decision. You need a partner who will be there for the next product release and the next decade. Our pragmatic approach demonstrates a commitment to that long-term journey. We are building our AI capabilities on a solid foundation of governance, designed to produce repeatable, auditable, and trustworthy results for years to come.

VOGSY's pragmatic approach to AI is a deliberate and considered choice. It is a commitment to tangible value over speculative hype and responsible governance over reckless speed. Our "glass box" philosophy ensures that as we embed intelligence deeper into our platform, we do so in a way that is transparent, controllable, and always in service of solving our customers' real-world challenges. We believe this approach is the only way to build an AI you can trust to be at the core of your business.