Advanced Architectural Products

Rapid ROI, Quick Wins, and a Foundation for Scalable AI

Industry: Manufacturing (Building Systems)
Focus: AI for workflow automation, AI-assisted development, and secure on-prem architecture
Interviewee: Matt Krause, CEO (and acting CTO), Advanced Architectural Products (AAP)
Interview Date: 10/15/2025 (60 days into initial engagement)

Summary

Advanced Architectural Products (AAP) partnered with Augusto to accelerate its AI journey through secure architecture, enablement, and early success. In just 60 days, AAP stood up an on-prem AI stack, built the foundation for a secure “Second Brain,” and empowered its lead developer to use AI for software development, boosting productivity by 10×.

Working with Augusto’s experts, AAP’s team developed a proprietary AI capability that has quickly become a competitive advantage, enhancing sales performance and customer engagement while remaining tightly guarded from competitors.

By focusing on quick wins and secure implementation, Augusto helped AAP build trust, confidence, and momentum toward long-term AI transformation.

“I haven’t worked with a company that’s clicked and operated as well as Augusto yet.” — Matt Krause, CEO, Advanced Architectural Products

The Company

Advanced Architectural Products designs and manufactures high-performance building insulation systems that improve energy efficiency and longevity. Operating in a technical, relationship-driven market, the company views AI as a strategic advantage to scale innovation, accelerate operations, and protect valuable IP.

The Challenge

AAP’s leadership saw the potential of AI but needed a secure, practical path to achieve real business value:

• Fragmented internal efforts and limited AI expertise.

• A need for trusted guidance to accelerate implementation.

• A desire for early wins to build confidence and adoption.

• A strong focus on data sovereignty and IP protection.

Why Augusto

• Trusted Partner: Augusto approached Advanced Architectural Products’ AI transformation with a focus on measurable business outcomes. Their balance of technical depth and business understanding made them a trusted partner capable of bridging strategy, security, and execution.

• Proven Process: Using Augusto’s Digital Pace Framework, AAP gained structure and visibility across every phase of its AI adoption journey. The framework ensured consistent progress, keeping teams aligned, priorities clear, and results measurable.

• Enablement Focus: Rather than creating dependency, Augusto empowered AAP’s internal team. Their hands-on approach built skills and confidence within AAP’s staff, ensuring the organization could sustain and expand its AI efforts independently over time.

• Scalable Talent: Augusto’s culture and delivery model are designed to grow with clients. By attracting top AI and engineering talent who share a mindset of curiosity and integrity, Augusto can scale alongside AAP’s evolving needs without compromising quality or security.

“Augusto is genuine, ROI-minded, and security-conscious.
They deliver while keeping our IP protected.”
— Matt Krause, CEO, Advanced Architectural Products

The Solution

• Secure, On-Prem AI Infrastructure
  Augusto deployed a private, open-source AI environment within AAP’s systems, ensuring complete control over proprietary data and methods.

• AI Enablement & Development Acceleration
  Through hands-on enablement, Augusto helped AAP’s lead developer achieve 20–100× faster software development speed using modern AI-assisted workflows.

• Confidential AI-Enhanced Sales Capability
  In collaboration with Augusto, AAP created a proprietary AI enhancement that improves how the company engages customers and identifies opportunities. This innovation is being used selectively and remains confidential to preserve AAP’s competitive advantage.

• Workflow Automation Foundation
  Building on early wins, automation initiatives are expanding across sales, marketing, and operations to scale productivity and consistency.

• Second Brain Implementation
  A governed, on-prem knowledge system now consolidates internal expertise, laying the groundwork for future AI-powered insights.

Early Outcomes (First 60 Days)

• Developer Velocity: Productivity increased 10× through AI enablement. AAP’s internal teams can now develop, test, and deploy applications faster than ever, accelerating innovation cycles across the organization.

• Strategic Advantage: Proprietary AI capabilities are improving sales performance and customer engagement while remaining confidential to protect AAP’s competitive edge.

• Data Sovereignty: A secure, on-prem AI environment was deployed, ensuring all sensitive data remains under AAP’s control.

• Momentum: Early wins fostered organizational trust and enthusiasm for AI adoption.

• Scalability: Workflow automation and governance are expanding across teams, creating a foundation for repeatable innovation.

“With Augusto’s help, our developer productivity skyrocketed, and we built a secure foundation for AI with quick wins that created real momentum across the business.”
— Matt Krause, CEO, Advanced Architectural Products

Architecture & Security

• Full Data Control: All models and data remain inside Advanced Architectural Products’ environment, ensuring intellectual property stays protected at every level.

• Governance: Structured policies and best practices ensure compliance, validation, and transparency throughout AAP’s AI operations.

• Security Mindset: Augusto combines open-source flexibility with enterprise-grade safeguards, providing AAP the freedom to innovate without sacrificing security.

Timeline

Phase 1 – Setup (Weeks 0–2): Infrastructure deployment and enablement kickoff.
Phase 2 – Build (Weeks 3–6): Second Brain development and internal AI acceleration.
Phase 3 – Scale (Weeks 7–10): Expanding workflow automation and secure integrations.

Matt’s Advice to Other CEOs

• Act Early: “Don’t wait too long, AI is bigger than the PC revolution.

• Start Small, Prove ROI: Quick wins build confidence and adoption.

• Choose Trusted Partners: Work with teams who protect your data and align innovation with your goals.

• Build Securely: Data sovereignty and IP protection are non-negotiable.

• Move with Purpose: Balance speed with prudence to scale responsibly.
  
  

“You need to do this in a consistent manner with a trusted partner, and you don’t want to wait too long. This is how the future will be, so you need to carefully embrace it.”
— Matt Krause, CEO, Advanced Architectural Products