Written by,
Guðrún Ólafsdóttir, Chief Product Officer at Annata
A365 is our cutting-edge, cloud-based ERP/DMS platform designed for the automotive, trucks & buses, and equipment industries. Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive, all-in-one platform or specific modules to address key areas, A365 has you covered.
AI needs guidance, and that guidance comes from people who understand the real world
We’re entering a new chapter in how work gets done in the equipment and automotive services industry. As AI becomes more embedded in the tools we use, especially through Microsoft’s Power Platform and innovations like Copilot, it’s not replacing people. It’s reshaping roles, redefining workflows, and amplifying human potential.
At Annata, we see this shift up close.
From transactions to decisions
Traditionally, many roles in equipment and vehicle operations have been focused on manual data entry, repetitive lookups, and linear processes. Whether it’s logging service cases, tracking rental asset usage, or compiling reports, these tasks, while necessary, consume time and mental bandwidth.
The result? Teams are moving from executing tasks to making decisions, with AI acting as the assistant, not the driver.
The rise of the functional consultant and domain expert
One of the most exciting trends we’re seeing is the elevation of functional consultants and domain experts.
In other words: AI needs guidance, and that guidance comes from people who understand the real world.
Functional consultants are no longer just configuring the system; they’re shaping the way AI interacts with users, data, and business logic. And that’s a big shift in responsibility and impact.
Collaboration across roles is the new standard
In the workplace, boundaries between roles start to blur, in a good way. A service coordinator doesn’t need to wait for a BI analyst to create a report. Rental operations lead can explore utilization patterns instantly, without relying on separate reports or external tools. And developers are freed up to focus on building complex features, not customizing forms for each minor workflow tweak.
A culture shift, not just a technology shift
This is why at Annata, we’re not only evolving A365, we’re helping our partners and customers to adapt their ways of working. Because the future of work in our industry isn’t replacing people.
It’s about amplifying them.
Ready for what’s next?
If you’re using A365 today, you’re already on the path towards an AI-enhanced future. Our platform is designed to plug directly into Microsoft’s latest innovations, meaning you can explore, test, and adopt these features without waiting for a major overhaul
As roles evolve and expectations shift, our goal is to be your enabler, your guide, and your partner in building the next generation of digital operations, where people and AI work together to drive real business outcomes.
Let’s keep the conversation going. Connect with me on LinkedIn, or reach out via our Annata Contact Us page. We’d love to hear from you.
About the writer
Guðrún Ólafsdóttir is the Chief Product Officer at Annata, bringing over two decades of global experience in product development. Her career has taken her from Iceland to Denmark and Malaysia, where she has worked as a developer, consultant, and trainer primarily with solutions from LS Retail, a Microsoft ISV. From her early days as a hands-on developer to leading cloud transformation efforts as Development Director, Guðrún has continuously shaped innovation and streamlined development processes to support partners through digital change.
Since joining Annata in 2023, she has been driving product strategy for A365, applying her deep knowledge and unique perspective from Business Central to the Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations space. Guðrún is passionate about building impactful solutions and helping teams and partners thrive in a cloud-first world.
