Before feed mills can harness artificial intelligence's (AI) transformative potential, they must first address fundamental data management challenges that could undermine implementation efforts. In this conversation, Brian Sokoloski, chief technology officer at Easy Automation, discusses why siloed data systems, duplicate entries and inconsistent business processes represent the biggest obstacles to successful AI adoption. From conducting comprehensive business audits to standardizing data input methods, Sokoloski outlines actionable steps mill managers can take today to prepare their operations for AI integration. He also reveals surprising ways AI is already impacting the industry — from accelerating software development to enabling predictive maintenance — demonstrating that this technology isn't as distant as many believe.
Transcript of interview with Brian Sokoloski, chief technology officer, Easy Automation
Jackie Roembke, editor-in-chief, WATT's Feed Brands: Hi, everyone. Welcome to Feed Strategy Podcast. I'm your host, Jackie Roembke, editor-in-chief of WATT's Feed Brands.
This edition of Feed Strategy Podcast is brought to you by the Feed Mill of the Future Conference. The half-day conference, held January 27 at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), brings together feed industry experts to examine emerging technologies poised to shape animal feed manufacturing. The event is produced by Feed Strategy and Feed & Grain and organized in partnership with the American Feed Industry Association. For additional details and to view the full agenda, visit www.FeedMilloftheFuture.com.
Today we're joined by Brian Sokolowski. He is Easy Automation's chief technology officer. He's here to discuss AI-driven facility optimization and implementation. How are you today, Brian?
Brian Sokoloski, chief technology officer, Easy Automation: Doing well.
Roembke: Let's get right into it. In a previous conversation, you mentioned that AI can only run as efficiently as the data provided. What's the biggest data management mistake you see feed mill managers making right now that will prevent them from leveraging AI in the future?
Sokoloski: Yeah, great question. AI was built by humans. Data is input by humans. The underlying data is key to successful AI implementation. Some big mistakes out there that you see are siloed data. You have a lot of different systems at play. You have a lot of duplicate entries of data trying to determine what data is the master or makes the most sense. All of those issues compound to “garbage in, garbage out,” as the saying goes. We need to have good information to put in to get valuable insights out. So, breaking down those silos is key.
Roembke: What's one actionable step that mill managers can start working on immediately in order to prepare for implementation in feed production?
Sokoloski: Yeah, one of the big things is a business audit. Not only of your data and how you're inputting and storing and maintaining that, but also your business process in general.
Are you still handwriting information? Does every employee have their own Excel file to the side where they store their information in their own specific way? You know, just kind of reviewing your processes and coming up with a standard way to input and track data is key. You may be running several systems from a long time ago — just the way you've always done it.
You may be looking at optimizing systems by consolidation. That would be an option as well. The key is to just kind of review your process and make sure that you're capturing and storing data in a way that makes sense.
Roembke: Beyond efficiency gains, what's the most compelling opportunity that AI presents feed mills that might surprise people who think that some of these things are so way off into the future?
Sokoloski: Yeah, so when you hear AI out in the media, you're thinking, you know, a self-driving car, something that you can see that AI is taking hold of. But the thing that's surprising to a lot of people is that there is a lot of code that's written, not just for feed mill software, but everything you use in your life is being developed with AI and AI-assisted coding tools.
What does that mean? It means faster go-to-market with code, less errors, less bugs. You're getting updates out a lot faster. You know, so some of the stuff that you don't realize is happening, but it is happening right now today. And it's really driving the software forward that we're using every day.
Roembke: Are there other practical applications that we maybe haven't touched on?
Sokoloski: Yeah, I mean, some of the stuff that's on the horizon is looking at mill-specific data, especially down the equipment level, and like doing predictive maintenance on equipment or offering insights on how to optimize equipment just to kind of generally improve the facility overall is definitely on the horizon in the very near future.
Roembke: Excellent. Thank you so much, Brian. If you'd like to hear more from Brian on the topics we've discussed here and much more, please consider joining us at the Feed Mill of the Future Conference. The event will be held at IPPE 2026 on January 27. For more information, visit www.FeedMilloftheFuture.com.
Thanks again, Brian, and thanks to you for tuning in.
Sokoloski: Thank you.