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Courses and consulting for Swiss SMEs

AI programming for SMEs

Your team builds the tools that make your workflows simpler. No coding background needed: the AI writes the code, your people bring the process knowledge. I make sure it holds up.

30 minutes, free, no obligation

The problem

AI has arrived at work. The benefit often hasn't.

ChatGPT sprawl

Everyone tries something, nobody knows what it brings. What's left is copy-paste between a chat window and Excel.

Agencies cost too much

A small workflow doesn't justify a months-long software project. So everything stays as it is.

Tools that break

The quickly built AI tool works for two weeks. Then a file changes and nobody can fix it.

The offer

Three steps, you pick where to start

Start with one day, go deeper with your team, and get support when a tool has to become real software.

AI Kickstart Workshop

One day, your team, your processes: we find the three workflows where AI saves the most time and build the first tool on the spot.

Format
On-site at your company or online
Duration
1 day
Group size
up to 8 people
Outcome
Three prioritised processes and a first working mini tool

Price on request

AI Workshop Program

Four weeks, half a day per week: every participant builds their own tool that holds up in daily work.

Format
Open cohort in Bern/online or in-house
Duration
4 weeks, half a day each
Group size
4 to 10 people
Outcome
One production-ready tool per person, with tests and guardrails

Price on request

Build by Halvic Labs

When a tool needs login, multiple users or integration with your software, it becomes a software project. My studio builds it.

Format
Fixed-price project after analysis
Duration
2 weeks to 6 months
Group size
Your team and Halvic Labs
Outcome
Production software, Swiss hosting available

Price on request

How the program runs

Four weeks to your own tool

  1. 01

    Week 1: Pick the process

    Afterwards you can describe a workflow so an AI can build it.

  2. 02

    Week 2: AI meets your data

    Afterwards a coding agent processes your Excel, PDF and email data.

  3. 03

    Week 3: Build the tool

    Afterwards your own tool runs on real cases.

  4. 04

    Week 4: Secure and hand over

    Afterwards the tool is tested, documented and has guardrails.

Examples

What SME teams build with it

Typical everyday examples. Your case will look different, the approach stays the same.

  • Accounting

    Pre-sort receipts from the inbox and transfer them into the bookkeeping template.

  • Trades

    Turn notes and photos from a customer visit into a clean quote.

  • Retail

    Assemble the weekly stock report from several Excel lists automatically.

  • Practice

    Prepare appointment reminders and forms without handing patient data to third parties.

  • Agency

    Generate client reports from analytics exports in one click.

  • Manufacturing

    Create inspection reports from measurement data and flag deviations.

About me

From developer to AI systems expert

For years I was a cloud and data-platform architect. Then coding agents changed my job: they do routine work faster than any human. What still decides the outcome is the rest: architecture, tests, review, and software that holds up in daily use. That is exactly what I teach your team.

So I build the bridge: AI speed with real craft. That's anvil-coder, multiple audiobooks, and the work I do through Halvic.

  • 20 years of software architecture
  • Creator of anvil-coder (58+ AI agents)
  • Contributor to HelloDATA (open source, Canton of Bern)
  • Author of three audiobooks on AI engineering

Audiobooks

Twelve short audiobooks on AI, from the fundamentals to autonomous agent systems.

On Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play & more All audiobooks, blog and videos →

Trust

Honest, Swiss, no lock-in

Swiss data protection

We work with sample data without personal data. For production, Swiss hosting and local models are available.

No lock-in

The tools are yours, in plain code, in your repository. No commissions, no subscriptions through me.

A clear line

I tell you when a tool has to become real software. Then Halvic Labs takes over, or you pick another partner.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nicolas Schmid?

An AI systems architect from Bern, Switzerland. He spent years as a cloud and data-platform architect, contributed to the open-source enterprise data platform HelloDATA, and now builds production AI systems through his Swiss software workshop, Halvic Labs.

Which audiobooks has Nicolas Schmid published?

Three German-language audiobooks on AI engineering: “Vom Entwickler zum KI-System-Experten”, “KI-Agenten: Praxis, Skills und Kontext”, and “KI-Prompting: Praxiswissen für Anfänger”. They are available on Spotify, Apple Books, and Google Play.

What is anvil-coder?

An AI development system built by Nicolas: tickets in, shipped code out. Over 58 AI agents implement, test, and review code — with the discipline of real software craft, so the result holds in production.

How can I work with Nicolas Schmid?

The easiest way is a free intro call. I run the courses and workshops myself. When a tool has to become real software, my studio Halvic Labs builds it.

Do my employees need programming skills?

No. The AI writes the code. Anyone comfortable with Excel and email who can explain a workflow brings everything needed.

Which tools do we use?

Current coding agents such as Claude Code, plus your existing software. We choose the models based on data protection and budget. Local models are possible.

What happens to our data?

In the course we work with sample data without personal data. For production use we clarify upfront where data is processed. Swiss hosting is available, and the approach follows the Swiss Data Protection Act.

Is there funding for the course?

The canton of Bern currently has no funding specifically for AI training. Innosuisse supports innovation projects with a research partner, not courses. Industry funds sometimes co-finance training. Ask your trade association.

Which team size does this fit?

SMEs with roughly 5 to 50 employees. The workshop is for up to 8 people, the program for 4 to 10.

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Let's talk

Tell me in a short call which workflow costs you the most time. For interviews, podcasts or anything else, just send me an email.

Based in Bern, Switzerland