At Cognova Consulting, we bring together decades of strategic leadership, technological innovation, and practical business insight to help enterprises harness the transformative power of Agentic AI. Our founder, James Sims, has spent his career at the intersection of strategy, operations, and advanced technology, helping organizations turn complexity into competitive advantage.
From pioneering digital transformation in the retail, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors to leading AI integration projects across grocery, food and beverage, and distribution enterprises, James has consistently brought clarity, innovation, and rigor to every initiative. Today, that expertise is focused on Agentic AI—where intelligent agents orchestrate workflows, drive automation, and uncover capabilities that conventional systems simply cannot match.
Cognova Consulting helps organizations bridge the gap between deterministic systems and probabilistic intelligence. Whether you’re just beginning to explore the potential of AI or are seeking to scale its impact across your enterprise, we provide the tools, frameworks, and expertise to make AI not just understandable—but actionable.
At Cognova Consulting, our expertise comes from years of hands-on experience merging strategic insight, technological innovation, and practical operational excellence. Rather than merely discussing possibilities, we’ve actively guided organizations through thoughtful implementations of agentic AI solutions tailored precisely to their readiness, capabilities, and objectives—transforming strategic aspirations into real-world outcomes.
We have successfully shaped pragmatic, impactful strategies within diverse sectors—including worldwide augmentive staffing, retail, distribution, and food manufacturing—consistently balancing visionary ideas with realistic execution. Our experience spans large-scale digital transformations, from orchestrating complex order management systems handling 170,000+ daily transactions, to groundbreaking automation projects that replaced manual data entry for weekly payroll processing of 60,000 employees. Each initiative demonstrates our commitment to achieving measurable, transformative results without disrupting the core operations that organizations depend upon.
Our approach to AI-driven automation is nuanced and strategic, based on each client’s current state and long-term goals. Rather than imposing overly ambitious systems, we thoughtfully match solutions to organizational readiness—ranging from standalone, ad hoc AI tools to carefully integrated application enhancements. Our team has architected targeted AI-driven content generation workflows and collaborated with innovative startups exploring technologies such as self-checkout grocery carts, shopper path-to-purchase analytics, promotional heat maps, and beacon-triggered omnichannel interactions. We always prioritize alignment with the client’s capability, culture, and strategic intent.
Behind our customer-facing innovations are carefully engineered systems designed to integrate seamlessly into existing technology ecosystems. We’ve deployed SCADA, MES, and Warehouse Management Systems across complex manufacturing environments, and have strategically integrated targeted predictive analytics and real-time decision-making into OEE analytics, balancing functionality and stability. Moreover, our skilled teams have smoothly managed complex technology transitions during M&A processes, successfully executing over 100 site integrations ahead of schedule.
Recognizing that technology’s true value lies in empowering teams, we have led deployments of SharePoint and cloud-based collaboration platforms like Smartsheet, significantly enhancing productivity and connectivity for distributed workforces. We also bring deep expertise in security and compliance, implementing robust, practical solutions aligned with ISO 27001, NIST, and PCI-DSS standards. Our intelligent document workflow solutions help finance, legal, and compliance teams streamline processes, reduce risk, and increase operational transparency.
Our experience extends into strategic content creation, digital marketing, and thought leadership. Our experts have produced over 400,000 words of high-quality, SEO-rich content that have consistently boosted client visibility, lead generation, and brand reputation. We have curated comprehensive video-based knowledge libraries featuring over 1,700 targeted educational resources—strengthening customer relationships, enhancing user engagement, and reflecting the organization’s thought leadership.
We leverage targeted AI to design impactful, intuitive customer experiences—from personalized omnichannel loyalty programs to streamlined payment and checkout platforms. AI-driven chatbots can deliver amazingly high-quality and comprehensive responses, dynamically responding to the language and currency of the inquiry. Our user-focused customer portals and self-service systems enhance transparency, customer engagement, and satisfaction.
Our holistic approach enables rapid yet robust solutions delivery in regulated and high-volume environments. We also facilitate smooth, successful organizational transformations through proven change management frameworks that foster adaptability, collaboration, and sustainable growth.
Today, Cognova Consulting is fully dedicated—110%—to guiding organizations into the transformative era of AI-driven automation and intelligent orchestration. We’re inspired by the remarkable new opportunities emerging from the integration of probabilistic AI models and deterministic business systems, as well as the seamless fusion of structured and unstructured data. Our mission is to empower your organization to effectively harness these capabilities, turning complexity into clarity, inefficiencies into competitive advantages, and technological potential into sustained, measurable growth.
Architected, developed, and maintained complex enterprise applications leveraging Microsoft Dynamics AX (2009/2012), significantly enhancing ERP efficiency, functionality, and performance.
Designed and optimized extensive SSRS reporting solutions utilizing Visual Studio (2008, 2010, 2012) and Report Builder, including:
Parameterized reports
Click-through, drill-down, and drill-through reports
Interactive business analytics and dashboard reporting
Upgraded and migrated legacy databases from SQL Server 2003/2008 to SQL Server 2012, managing comprehensive data migration, performance tuning, and integrity validation.
Built, customized, and integrated complex SharePoint environments including:
SharePoint Foundation 3.0, 2010, and 2013 deployments
In-place and attach-method upgrades
Programmatic data uploads and custom field integrations
Developed robust .NET solutions (VB.NET/C#.NET) enhancing internal web systems, company intranet, and operational workflows.
Engineered custom XML data integration libraries and web services, seamlessly connecting Dynamics AX data to third-party web platforms.
Implemented and maintained sophisticated SQL Server environments, including installation, backup strategies, maintenance planning, log-shipping jobs, SSIS package modifications, and comprehensive performance tuning.
Conducted SQL optimization and stored procedure enhancements, improving database performance, scalability, and response times for high-volume transactional systems.
Designed and deployed custom web-based clocking and attendance solutions using ASP.NET, complemented by Windows services for automated reporting and data processing.
Delivered targeted technical training in SSRS reporting and Dynamics AX development, empowering development teams with enhanced skills and best practices.
Developed advanced financial and business intelligence reporting solutions, employing ASP.NET (VB.NET), Crystal Reports, and Jasper Reports to provide actionable insights for management decision-making.
Architected data transformation solutions (DTS/SSIS) facilitating seamless data transfers between heterogeneous systems, including SQL Server and Ingres databases.
Administered complex ERP system upgrades from Dynamics AX 4.0 through 2012, utilizing structured agile methodologies for robust and flexible implementation.
Built and enhanced secure intranet platforms on SharePoint 2010/2013, integrating advanced user authentication, document management workflows, and collaboration features.
Developed and maintained proprietary Help Desk software modules (HelpBox), significantly enhancing internal IT support capabilities and issue tracking.
Led development of barcode-integrated inventory management systems, improving asset tracking accuracy and operational efficiency.
Managed critical ERP and financial system integrations through SQL-based APIs, XML data uploads, and robust .NET integration libraries.
Designed comprehensive user documentation, manuals, and training materials, ensuring smooth adoption and utilization of newly deployed systems.
Oversaw hardware and network infrastructure setups, including configuration of POS terminals, network domain management, and PC troubleshooting across mixed OS environments (Windows/Linux).
Provided technical leadership and mentorship to diverse software development teams, guiding multiple successful project deliveries and promoting a culture of technical excellence and innovation.