How can I find someone to help me assess opportunities for AI-tech that will improve a business such as a distillery?

1. Define Your Needs
Clearly outline what you want AI to improve—production efficiency, quality control, supply chain management, marketing, or customer engagement.

2. Search for AI Consultants or Firms
Freelancer Platforms: Check Upwork, Toptal, Fiverr, or PeoplePerHour for AI and business consultants.
Consulting Firms: Look at AI consulting firms such as McKinsey, BCG, Deloitte, or smaller niche AI consultancies.
3. Explore AI & Industry Networks
AI and Business Conferences: Attend events like AI Summit, CES, or industry-specific expos.
Online Communities: Join LinkedIn Groups, AI-specific Slack channels, or Reddit communities (e.g., r/artificial).
4. Engage Universities & Research Labs
Reach out to AI researchers or business schools that collaborate with industries.
Contact local universities with AI or data science programs.
5. Use Industry-Specific AI Experts
Some AI specialists focus on manufacturing, food and beverage, or supply chains—search for "AI in manufacturing" or "AI in beverage industry" experts.
6. Post a Job Listing
Use LinkedIn, AngelList, or AI-specific job boards (e.g., Data Science Central, Kaggle).

Hi there,

You can apply it for process optimization, prediction, quality control, automation and avoidance of waste.

For example, depending on your current process, if it's already quite automated, you fetch sensor data of the machinery. Think about temperature, pressure, and flow rate to identify optimal operating conditions.  

This way you become more efficient, use less energy, which can lead to cost saving and improved product quality.

A prediction on top of it, will avoid down time issues and eliminate blockers on 'promises' to sales partners and avoidance of sales disruptions.

Automation might also be important. Today, you might use 'people' in some areas of the process. Avoiding human errors and lack of people can help you to keep your business going and cut costs.

Last but not least, Co2 is going to be a mandatory measurement on end to end processes. Which means, waste is costly and causes unnecessary Co2. AI can help you optimize inventory management and grow profitability with +15% to net zero over time.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Sinem

I'd start by looking for someone who understands both the practical operations of a business like a distillery and the transformative potential of AI—not just in theory, but in execution.

You want someone who will take the time to understand your unique setup: your goals, bottlenecks, processes, and customer journey. AI should never be a generic plug-in—it should be a custom solution that elevates how you work, from production and supply chain optimization to customer engagement and even predictive analytics for demand and sales.

Search for consultants or agencies that specialize in AI strategy for small-to-medium businesses, especially those who offer personalized onboarding or discovery calls.
Platforms like this one, LinkedIn, Instagram (this one is highly slept on) and/or even professional Facebook groups can be great places to find vetted experts. Look for people with a track record of blending automation, tech, and marketing—because the right AI tools aren’t just about replacing tasks, they’re about freeing up your energy to grow.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask for a consultation first! The right expert will happily assess where you’re at, what you need, and build a tailored approach. A distillery has so much potential for smart tech—from intelligent inventory systems to AI-driven marketing funnels—and the right advisor will help you see exactly where to begin. (:

--- Best of luck!