About North Idaho AI
Your local AI partner bringing enterprise capabilities to North Idaho businesses
Meet John Hynds
The rare consultant who can look at your P&L and AI—and fully understand both.
Most AI consultants have never signed the front of a paycheck or worried about making payroll. I have. I built and ran LoCarb Outlet—a retail business that hit $500K in first-year revenue with a 5-person team and over 2,000 SKUs. I know what it's like to watch cash flow, manage inventory, and make every dollar count.
That's why my AI consulting focuses on one thing: making you more money or saving you real time. No jargon. No experiments. Just practical solutions that improve your bottom line.
I bring 40+ years of enterprise technology expertise—from managing 150 engineers across 12 countries at Polycom to holding multiple patents in network architecture—but I translate all of it into business outcomes you can measure.
Why This Background Matters to You
Most consultants have either deep tech experience or business ownership experience. Rarely both. I've spent 40+ years in enterprise technology and built a successful retail business from scratch. This combination means I understand the tech and your P&L pressures.
The Framework That Changed Everything
At Polycom, I faced a familiar problem: customers wanted unified communications, but every implementation was custom, inconsistent, and unpredictable. Sound familiar?
So I created the "Assured Design Program"—a repeatable framework that standardized how we designed, documented, and deployed collaboration systems. Result? Faster sales cycles, smoother implementations, and dramatically better customer outcomes.
That's exactly what I bring to AI consulting: proven frameworks that turn complexity into predictable results.
I've also built AI-powered tools myself—not just talked about them. At Device Authority, I designed AI-driven cybersecurity support systems that reduced resolution time and improved customer satisfaction. These weren't demos or pilots; they were production systems handling real customers.
And I've run a business. LoCarb Outlet taught me what you already know: cash flow matters, marketing needs ROI, inventory costs money, and every hire is a bet on growth. When I recommend an AI solution, I'm thinking about your payback period, not just the technology.
What This Means For You
✓ Predictable Outcomes
40 years of building repeatable systems means I know how to deliver consistent results, not one-off experiments
✓ Business-First Thinking
I've signed payroll checks. I think about ROI, cash flow, and opportunity cost—not just cool technology
✓ Enterprise-Grade, SMB-Priced
I bring Fortune 500 expertise but understand SMB budgets and constraints
✓ Real-World AI Experience
Multiple patents, production AI systems built, and actual business ownership—not just theory
Local Expertise, Enterprise Technology
We bring world-class AI capabilities to North Idaho businesses
North Idaho AI was founded with a simple mission: make enterprise-level AI accessible to small and medium-sized businesses in our region. We believe North Idaho companies shouldn't have to choose between expensive consultants flying in from Seattle or DIY solutions that don't deliver results.
Based in the heart of North Idaho, we serve businesses throughout Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, and the greater Spokane region. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities that businesses face in our market—from seasonal fluctuations in tourism to workforce availability in manufacturing.
Our approach is different. We don't just implement technology and disappear. We educate, empower, and partner with businesses to ensure AI adoption is successful and sustainable. Whether you're taking your first steps with AI or scaling across your organization, we meet you where you are.
Why Local Businesses Choose Us
We combine local presence with world-class AI expertise
Truly Local
We're not flying in from Seattle or operating remotely from California. We're based in North Idaho, understand the local business culture, and are available for in-person meetings when needed.
Education + Implementation
We believe successful AI adoption requires both education and implementation. We train your team, build custom solutions, and ensure sustainable long-term success rather than just delivering technology.
Abacus.AI Specialization
Through our expertise with Abacus.AI, we bring Fortune 500-level AI capabilities to North Idaho SMBs at prices that make sense for businesses with 10-100 employees and $2M-$20M in revenue.
Outcome-Focused
We focus on measurable business outcomes, not technology for technology's sake. Every solution includes clear ROI projections and performance metrics tied to your bottom line.
Our Approach
We believe AI adoption should be practical, sustainable, and measurable
Assess & Educate
We start by understanding your business, identifying opportunities, and educating your team on what AI can realistically accomplish for you.
Implement & Train
We build custom solutions tailored to your needs and train your team to use them effectively, ensuring smooth adoption and immediate value.
Support & Optimize
We provide ongoing support, monitor performance, and continuously optimize to ensure you're getting maximum ROI from your AI investments.
Serving North Idaho & Eastern Washington
We proudly serve businesses throughout the region, with a focus on Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, and Spokane.
Let's Start the Conversation
Ready to explore how AI can transform your North Idaho business? Book a free consultation today.