Build & Run: what “run” means at elio
IT has long distinguished between two phases: “Build” for design and development, “Run” for day-to-day operation. For online shops and web platforms, this distinction goes without saying. Nobody takes a shop live and then leaves it to its own devices. Updates, security patches, performance optimisation and monitoring are an integral part of operation.
In AI projects, however, the run phase is often underestimated. A lot of attention goes into the pilot, the choice of model and the first demo. What happens afterwards is frequently not defined. Yet AI solutions change more in operation than conventional software: data changes, language models are developed further, users ask new questions and regulatory requirements are added.
elio run therefore describes our commitment not only to develop AI solutions, but also to operate and develop them further. Or, as we put it on our AI agency page:
Why AI projects stall after the pilot
A pilot runs under ideal conditions: selected data, a small group of users, a committed project team. Everyday business looks different. AI solutions lose impact after launch above all in four places:
Stumbling block | What happens in everyday business |
|---|---|
Data becomes outdated | Product data, prices, availability and internal documents change constantly. An AI that works with the status at project start quickly gives wrong answers. |
Nobody measures quality | Without monitoring, nobody notices when answers get worse, response times increase or costs get out of hand. |
Integration remains piecemeal | AI only delivers its benefits once it is connected to shop, ERP, PIM and CRM. Isolated solutions remain isolated solutions, even if they contain AI. |
Responsibilities are unclear | Who installs updates? Who responds when something does not work? Who decides on new features? |
The five building blocks of elio run
1. Hosting and infrastructure
AI applications need an infrastructure that meets your requirements for performance, scaling and data protection. Together with our partner main cloud and technology partners such as Microsoft Azure, we tailor hosting and infrastructure to your project. elio is a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data & AI.
2. Monitoring and transparency
What is not measured cannot be improved. Operation therefore includes keeping an eye on availability, response times and errors, and analysing how users interact with the AI. AI applications add their own key figures, such as the quality of answers or the cost per request. For complex architectures, we work with our partner main cloud on Datadog, which brings together monitoring, logging and infrastructure analysis.
3. Data and integration
AI is only as good as the data it works with. In operation, the aim is to keep data flows between shop, ERP, PIM and CRM stable so that the AI always accesses up-to-date information. As a synQup Platinum Partner, we connect systems via an integration platform that automates data flows. We explain in detail how important structured product data is for AI agents in the article Is your shop ready for AI agents?.
4. Security and governance
AI solutions run on servers, use interfaces and process company data. The same security requirements therefore apply to them as to any other application on the web. This includes timely security updates, as recently with the critical PHP security vulnerabilities, as well as clear roles and access rights. elio is certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
On top of this comes the regulatory framework of the EU AI Act. Anyone using AI should know which requirements apply to their own use case and train their team in working with AI. With our AI training courses, we train employees in a practical way, including a certificate.
5. Further development
An AI solution is never finished. New language models, new use cases and feedback from your users are reasons to improve it continuously. That is why we see AI projects as a full service: analysis, technical development, implementation, training and ongoing further development.
elio run in practice: AI in the online shop
Operating AI becomes particularly tangible in e-commerce. Here, every weakness has a direct impact on revenue and customer satisfaction.
AI chatbot in the shop
Our AI Copilot answers customer enquiries directly in the shop, within seconds and around the clock. For the answers to be correct, product data, delivery information and service texts must stay up to date in operation.
AI search
The AI product search Neverest, a brand of our partner main cloud, recognises relationships, understands typos and synonyms and searches content and images as well as products. In operation, the integrated analytics show what customers search for, what they click on and what they buy.
AI agents and agentic commerce
AI agents increasingly research and order on behalf of customers. Whether a shop is visible to them depends on complete, structured product data. This data must be maintained continuously in operation.
As a Shopware Platinum Partner, we know the platforms on which these solutions run and combine AI operation and shop operation in one team.
How to get started: from the AI Readiness Check to elio run
Step 1: Analysis
In the AI Readiness Check we assess technically, organisationally and strategically how ready your company is for AI. The result is a set of prioritised use cases and a concrete action plan.
Step 2: Build
We develop the AI solution and integrate it into your existing system landscape, from data connection to training your employees.
Step 3: Run
We operate the solution, keep an eye on it and develop it further. Alternatively, your own team takes over operation and we support you wherever you need us.
Good to know
We are happy to work with in-house development teams. Our customers' independence is not a risk for us, but part of how we see ourselves.
Frequently asked questions about elio run
elio run stands for the run phase, i.e. the day-to-day operation of AI solutions and digital platforms by elio GmbH. This includes hosting, monitoring, security, data maintenance and further development after go-live.
elio GmbH was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Giessen (Gießen). Further locations are in Frankfurt am Main, Estenfeld near Würzburg and Heilbronn. elio is a Shopware Platinum Partner, synQup Platinum Partner and Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data & AI.
Yes. You decide which tasks remain with you and which we take over. Many customers work with their own developers and administrators; we complement them where know-how or capacity is lacking.
In addition to individual AI projects, our portfolio includes the AI chatbot AI Copilot, connecting shops to AI agents, as well as AI consulting and AI training. For AI product search, we rely on Neverest, a brand of our partner main cloud.
The easiest way is a conversation or the AI Readiness Check. Together we clarify which use cases are worthwhile and what the operation of your AI solution should look like.
Conclusion: AI has to run, not just start
The success of an AI project is decided less in the demo than in everyday business. Up-to-date data, reliable monitoring, consistent security and ongoing further development make the difference between a pilot project and a solution that adds value for the long term. That is exactly what we mean by elio run.
Would you like to put AI on a stable footing?
Would you like to introduce AI in your company or put existing AI solutions on a stable footing? Talk to us. We will show you what elio run can look like for your project.
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