DEV Community: Muhammad Shinof

Why AI Alone Won’t Build the Next Generation of Great Companies

Muhammad Shinof — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:57:24 +0000

AI is changing the way business works. It can help automate simple tasks, create content, and analyze huge volumes of data. Thus, it is one of the most efficient technologies at the disposal of business owners and founders.

And although people tend to get excited about AI, there is one common belief that is developing today — technology is what makes great companies.

Not really.

The companies which will shape the following decade will not be those which use the best AI technologies. They will be companies that use artificial intelligence together with their execution, knowledge about the customer, and a vision of the solution to the problem.

AI Advantage Is Becoming Available for Everyone

A few years ago, the access to advanced AI technologies was exclusive to large companies. Today, startups have the opportunity to use advanced models, automation technologies, and development tools without much effort and money.

This democratization of AI has opened up tremendous opportunities.

Businesses can develop their products quicker, automate the process, decrease operational costs and make sound decisions based on the obtained data. Where several dozen people used to be needed to do something, nowadays one can achieve similar results with the help of a significantly smaller number of employees.

However, accessibility brings along a certain problem.

If all people have equal access to similar technologies, the competitive advantage of using AI becomes unsustainable.

The Main Differentiator Is Execution

It should be noted that technologies allow speeding things up but cannot substitute for strategic thinking.

The companies that succeed know their clients very well; they detect problems, verify assumptions, work out solutions, and keep improving their products based on the feedback received from clients.

While artificial intelligence can help analyze clients’ behavior and offer solutions to problems, the founders of the company should decide what problems should be solved and in what way.

Those who win the competition will be those whose execution of tasks and solution of problems clients face is consistent and effective.

Ventures in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The rise of AI affects the process of building of new ventures.

Historically, startups needed considerable upfront capital, long lead times, and many people.

AI is changing all that.

Write on Medium
Startups today have greater capability to validate their hypotheses rapidly, develop MVPs quickly, and grow businesses with less effort.

There lies the special opportunity for venture studios, startup builders, and innovation organizations to experiment with several hypotheses simultaneously in a way that was not possible before.

Speed, however, should not take the place of strategy.

Rapid development is essential but getting the right thing developed is even more crucial.

The Human Element Is Still Crucial

No matter how advanced technology gets, some things about business will always be essentially human.

Trust.

Leadership.

Innovation.

Empathy.

Vision.

It is always up to customers to select products and services that offer solutions and generate memorable experiences for them. It can be done with the help of AI, but not with the replacement of humans and their knowledge of what to offer and how to build relations with clients.

The future lies with those organizations that will be able to leverage AI and make people work better, not replace them.

Looking Forward

The future will belong to those businesses which will keep changing industries, processes, and the world through the power of AI.

However, those companies that will emerge to succeed in the future will do so not thanks only to AI technologies.

These will be founded by individuals who will manage to combine smart technology with business vision and strategy.

AI is a great accelerator.

Vision is an engine.

for more details visit Aperture Venture Studio..

Why the Next Wave of AI Startups Will Be Built in the Physical World

Muhammad Shinof — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:36:59 +0000

In recent years, most AI development has been centered around the digital process.

From chatbots, recommendation engines, content creation, and automation, artificial intelligence has revolutionized how we engage with information.

But the next big breakthrough won't just be software-based.

It will be physical.

The Missing Link in Connecting AI and Operations

Organizations have always produced large volumes of operational data from sensors, machinery, inventories, RFID networks, cameras, and connected devices.

It is not about the volume of data generated.

It is about extracting useful intelligence from it.

Factories, warehouses, hospitals, logistics hubs, construction sites, and industrial plants generate millions of operational data every day. But much of this data still remains isolated in different systems.

This is where the power of AI intersects with IoT.

When artificial intelligence is applied to operational data, organizations gain visibility into their assets, inventory, processes, machinery, and workforce like never before.

The Limitations of Artificial Intelligence Alone

AI is highly effective but lacks context.
Without knowing where items in the warehouse are located, the AI model cannot optimize the warehouse.

Without having sensor data, the AI model cannot predict equipment failures.

Without having real-world conditions available, the AI model cannot ensure workforce safety.

IoT offers the real-world signals.

AI turns the signals into decision-making.

That combination forms the foundation for what we can call AIoT, Artificial Intelligence of Things.

Real Problems Create Real Companies

The most common mistake made when creating startups is developing a solution and then looking for a problem.

The most successful companies come from addressing real operational problems.

Let’s look at some examples:

Asset Tracking and Visibility
Inventory Optimization
Workforce Safety Monitoring
Access Control & Security
Predictive Maintenance
Manufacturing Intelligence
Cold Chain Monitoring
These are not fictional uses cases.

They are real billion dollar operational challenges for organizations every single day.

If technology can solve these challenges effectively, there is an ROI involved which makes adoption much easier.

The Emergence of Venture Studios

In traditional startup models, the founders usually find the opportunities on their own.

Venture studios have a different approach.

Rather than waiting for opportunities, they systematically discover operational challenges, validate market need, create the solutions and form the companies around those opportunities.

The venture studio approach works especially well in AIoT because:

Real problems are available in the market
Technical infrastructure can be leveraged
Faster validation cycle
Leverage multiple ventures through expertise

This leads to more repetitive process of forming companies.

The Future Belongs to AIoT

The next wave of successful startups is expected to come from the intersection of:
Artificial Intelligence
Internet of Things
Real-time data
Industrial processes
Automation

In order to get more visibility and predictability, the demand for operational intelligence driven by AI will only increase.

The real chances won't come from building another chatbot.

The real chances will come from linking intelligence with the physical systems which actually move products, control assets, secure people and run the industry on a global scale.

AI isn't about being digital anymore.

It's physical and operational.
for more details visit Aparture Venture Studio.

Why Most Inventory Problems Are Actually Data Problems

Muhammad Shinof — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:45:04 +0000

Inventory management is typically perceived as a warehouse-related problem. If products are out of stock, too much in stock, or not available at the time of demand, it must be somewhere within the supply chain.
In reality, many inventory challenges begin much earlier—with data.
The Hidden Cost of Poor Inventory Visibility
Companies now create more data than ever through their operations. Data is created from sales transactions, supplier lead times, purchasing activities, demand for customers, and even activities within warehouses.

But the issue is that such data is often created in isolated systems.

If inventory managers depend on manual tools, old reports, or non-integrated systems, then the process will be reactive rather than proactive.

Here are the usual consequences:

Excess inventory which locks up money
Frequent stock outs
Poor demand forecasts
Delayed purchase decisions
Low customer satisfaction

Such issues don’t just reflect poorly on the management of inventories but also poor visibility issues.

Why Forecasting Fails

Many companies assume that forecasting presupposes making predictions flawlessly.

It does not.

The essence of forecasting is to improve decision-making based on the information available.

Companies with poor inventory management skills usually have one of the following problems:

Lack of Full-Fledged Information

Not only sales history is important.

Also, companies need to take into account:

Seasonal factors
Supplier reliability
Market dynamics
Campaigns
Different stages of product life cycles

Old Data

Data that is two weeks old might already be out-of-date.

Inventory visibility in real time helps businesses react to changes quickly.

Non-existent Standard Procedures

Even the most sophisticated technology will not save you from inconsistent inventory processes.

The more clear-cut your business processes are, the more effectively technology will work for you.

Inventory as an Asset

Most companies perceive inventory as a necessity.

Successful businesses regard it as an asset.

Every item in stock is capital which could be put to better use while low levels of inventory might lead to loss of profits and disappointed customers.

Balancing both sides requires appropriate data and discipline.

Technology in Inventory Management

Current inventory systems allow businesses to go beyond manual processes.
These are some of the key capabilities:

Automated stock surveillance
Demand forecasting
Supplier performance surveillance
Optimization of reorder points
Inventory turnover
Multisite inventory surveillance

Technology does not reduce uncertainty, but it certainly enhances a firm's flexibility.

Creating an Inventories Process That Is More Resilient

Organizations that perform well when it comes to inventories consider the following key principles:

Measure All

What is measured gets managed.

Measures to be taken:

Inventory turnover
Inventory carrying cost
Frequency of stockouts
Lead time
Order accuracy
Risk Diversification

Having only one supplier makes you vulnerable.

Establish connections with more suppliers whenever you can.
Keep Safety Stock

Unforeseen occurrences occur.

A good safety stock approach will protect the company from any unexpected occurrences without incurring too many expenses on inventory.

Improve Forecasting Continuously

Forecasting needs to be improved as more information comes up.

Revisit assumptions and make necessary changes.

Closing Remarks

Inventory management is no longer only a business process but a business tool as well.

Businesses that can take advantage of accurate information, use appropriate technology, and manage their inventories can gain more from their activities.

The future of inventory management isn’t in holding more stock.

It lies in making better decisions using better information.
for more details visit The Inventory Master.

Stop Losing Money on Mispriced Inventory — How Margin Master Fixes It for Independent Retailers

Muhammad Shinof — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:42:33 +0000

** Stop Losing Money on Mispriced Inventory — How Margin Master Fixes It for Independent Retailers**

As a hardware shop owner, you know how tough it can be – managing thousands of SKU's, distributor hot sheets every week, and making pricing decisions based solely on your instincts. You end up losing margins in the process – sometimes more than a thousand dollars per month.
This is where Margin Master by Retailer soft Inc., developed by actual hardware shop owners with over 25 years experience in the industry, comes in.

The Problem with Manual Pricing

Independent retailers typically spend 1–3 hours each day on manual price change administration. This is time taken away from their customers, employees, and growth potential. The worst part about manual price changes is that they result in inconsistent policies within all departments, a lack of awareness of the impact on annual profits, and slow-moving inventory.

What Margin Master Does Differently
What-If Analysis in Seconds
Margin Master immediately presents the financial effect that would be gained annually or monthly without even changing one price. Want to boost Blind A-items that cost less than $5 by 7%? Preview the dollar value before deciding to go through with the action.
🧠 Intelligent Item Segmentation
No product is alike and should thus get the same approach. Margin Master divides your products into four groups:

Sensitive – remain within 5–10% of the competitors' prices
Competitive – keep the product on the list of the highest visibility
Blind – the item is not compared; thus, earn a better margin
Non-Comparable – unique items that will yield the highest margins

The secret about which most retail shops are unaware of is that 84% of SKUs in warehouses are Blind and Non-Comparable items.

With manual pricing, you're literally leaving money on the table. With Margin Master, independent retailers have everything they need to price intelligently, compete confidently, and guard their margins – automatically. for more details visit The Inventory Master.

How Smart Inventory Technology Is Transforming Modern Business Operations

Muhammad Shinof — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:45:57 +0000

**
Inventory management had always been one of the least considered aspects of business operation that silently eats into your profits by causing stock shortages, excess inventories, asset misplacements, and inaccuracies in manual data entry.
Fortunately, advancements in technology have revolutionized what was once thought impossible, and companies such as The Inventory Master are paving the way towards success.
In this piece, we will look at how modern inventory technologies work, the inventory management solutions available currently, and why businesses throughout North America are switching over to smart inventory solutions.**
for more details visit The Inventory Master