From Automation to Autonomy
Agentic AI Consultancy
I help businesses implement autonomous AI systems that reason, plan, and execute complex tasks — transforming static workflows into intelligent, adaptive operations that scale without constant human oversight.
What is Agentic AI?
AI agents don't just respond — they understand, decide, and act. Unlike traditional AI tools, agentic systems can pursue goals autonomously, coordinating complex workflows without constant human intervention.
The Difference
Traditional Automation
Fixed scripts that follow rigid rules. When conditions change, they break.
No adaptabilityChatbots
Reactive, single-turn interactions. They respond but don't act.
No agencyGenerative AI
Creates content on demand. Powerful, but requires human orchestration.
No executionThe Agentic Loop
Perceive
Gather context from environment and data
Reason
Analyze information and options
Plan
Develop strategy to achieve goals
Act
Execute tasks using tools and APIs
Learn
Improve from feedback and results
Ready to explore what AI agents can do for your business?
See how I can helpServices
From strategy to implementation, I help organizations harness the power of agentic AI to transform how work gets done.
Agentic AI Strategy & Consulting
Identify high-impact use cases for AI agents in your organization. I analyze your workflows, assess feasibility, and develop a practical roadmap for implementation.
- Workflow Analysis
- Feasibility Assessment
- Implementation Roadmap
AI Agent Development
Design and build production-ready AI agents that reason through complex problems, connect to external systems, and coordinate as multi-agent teams.
- Chain-of-Thought & ReAct Patterns
- Tool Use & API Integration
- Multi-Agent Orchestration
AI Integration & Modernization
Integrate AI agents into your existing enterprise systems. Migrate from rigid, rule-based automation to adaptive, intelligent workflows.
- Enterprise System Integration
- Legacy Modernization
- Agentic RAG Implementation
Training & Enablement
Upskill your internal teams on agentic AI concepts, best practices, and implementation patterns so they can build and maintain AI systems independently.
- Agentic AI Fundamentals
- Hands-On Workshops
- Best Practice Documentation
How I Work
A transparent, structured methodology that takes you from initial concept to production-ready AI agents.
Discovery
Understand your workflows, pain points, and business objectives. We identify where AI agents can deliver the highest impact.
Assessment
Evaluate technical feasibility, data requirements, and integration complexity. Define success metrics and project scope.
Design
Architect the agentic solution. Define agent capabilities, tool integrations, coordination patterns, and safety guardrails.
Build
Develop and integrate AI agents using proven patterns. Implement robust error handling, monitoring, and human-in-the-loop controls.
Optimize
Monitor performance, gather feedback, and continuously improve. Refine agent behavior based on real-world results.
Ready to start the conversation?
Book a Discovery CallCredentials & Expertise
20+ years of continuous learning across technology, business, and emerging AI — from enterprise CRM systems to cutting-edge agentic architectures.
Agentic AI Nanodegree
Udacity
Currently completing
Comprehensive program covering advanced agentic AI patterns including multi-agent systems, tool use, RAG, and production deployment.
Curriculum includes:
- Chain-of-Thought & ReAct patterns
- Agentic workflow patterns
- Tool use and API integration
- Agentic RAG implementation
- Multi-agent system design
- State management & memory
AI & Machine Learning
- Deep Learning Nanodegree
- Computer Vision & OpenCV
- TensorFlow & PyTorch
Business & Strategy
- Financial Engineering I & II
- Marketing & Operations
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Software Architecture
- Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture
- Cloud Services for Android
- Microservices with Spring Cloud
Enterprise Systems
- Microsoft CRM Implementation
- Java Web Security
- Advanced Jenkins & CI/CD
Technologies & Platforms
Frank Oliver Schmitz
With over two decades in software engineering and technology leadership, I've witnessed the evolution from monolithic systems to microservices, from on-premise to cloud-native, and now — from automation to autonomy.
My journey spans enterprise CRM implementations at FlowFact AG, where I led R&D teams of 130+ people, to my current role as Chief Innovation Engineer at REWE digital, one of Europe's largest retailers. Today, I specialize in agentic AI — building systems that don't just respond to commands, but actively reason, plan, and execute to achieve complex goals.
What draws me to this work is the same thing that draws me to astrophotography: the precision required, the patience demanded, and the satisfaction of capturing something that works reliably at scale. The same careful attention needed to image distant galaxies applies to engineering AI systems that perform consistently in production.
I bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world business applications. My approach is results-oriented: I focus on what works, what scales, and what delivers measurable value to your organization.
Career Journey
Software Developer
Enterprise SoftwareStarted career with C++, VB6, VBScript and enterprise software development
Product Manager & R&D Lead
FlowFact AGCRM solutions including Microsoft CRM, team leadership, product innovation
International Consulting
Savills Quinta Property, PortugalReal estate technology consulting and Sales Executive in Quinta do Lago
Sabbatical & Education
Columbia University, Wharton School, Vanderbilt UniversityFinancial Engineering & Risk Management (Columbia), Pattern-Oriented Software Architecture (Vanderbilt), Mobile & Cloud Development (Vanderbilt/Maryland), Marketing, Operations & Accounting (Wharton)
Teamlead Mobile & Java Development
FlowFact AGMobile app development, Java backend architecture, CRM platform modernization
Software Architect Fulfillment
REWE digitalDeep Learning, microservices architecture, team leadership
Innovation Manager
REWE digitalUAV technology, AI/ML exploration, innovation strategy
Chief Innovation Engineer
REWE digitalLeading innovation initiatives, AI agent development, emerging tech
The same precision required to capture distant galaxies applies to engineering AI systems that perform reliably at scale.
Let's Discuss How AI Agents Can Transform Your Workflows
Whether you're exploring agentic AI for the first time or ready to implement, I'd love to hear about your challenges and goals. Let's schedule a conversation.
I typically respond within 24 hours