AI & Automation Services Christchurch

Systems that talk to each other, integrated seamlessly

Drowning in support tickets, invoicing, bookings, and scheduling chaos? The secret to turning mess into momentum is getting systems to work together. Good news is, we know how to make them play nice. With over 2000+ app integrations, we’ll get your data flowing smoothly so you can finally claim back those hours. From CRM platforms and email marketing tools to project management software and accounting systems, we connect them all. Using a platform that's not commonly supported? No problem. We specialise in building custom workflows for those ‘outside-the-box’ setups. It’s about making the systems bend to your needs, not the other way around.

Better customer experiences

Chatbots, AI-powered CRMs, and touchpoint tracking. Today’s customers expect seamless interactions at every turn. Smart automation handles the routine stuff, while AI learns from every interaction, getting better at predicting what customers need before they even ask. Whether it’s instant responses to common questions, personalised recommendations that actually make sense, or systems that remember customer preferences across all channels, AI creates a smooth, consistent experience that people now expect. The result is smoother journeys that reduce friction at every step, happier customers, and valuable insights that help you connect the dots between what customers want and what your business delivers.

A laptop displaying the VEBS Xaber website.

A laptop showing an Analytics dashboard.

Real-time data for smarter decisions

Want live insights at the click of a button? AI and automation make it effortless. Inventory systems that can suggest stock issues based on patterns, so you’re never caught off-guard. Operational bottlenecks flagged before they slow you down. Product specs pulled up instantly without digging through documentation files. And predictive analysis that spots risks before they become problems. Imagine a chatbot that indexes your entire knowledge base (technical docs, product specs, compliance details), and serves up precise answers in seconds. We can build it! Need to know which products meet specific ratings? Just ask. It’ll scan hundreds of documents and deliver exactly what you need. The maths is simple. Faster decisions = fewer delays = more revenue.

More space to grow

Growth shouldn’t mean grinding harder. It’s about working smarter, now and into the future. With AI and automation it’s easier to scale faster without drowning in admin. Serve x10 more customers without the need to hire more staff. Reclaim mental bandwidth from repetitive tasks. And fuel real innovation instead of just keeping up. Watch workflows self-optimise and bottlenecks disappear. Suddenly you’re growing faster than you thought possible, with room to breathe and build what’s next. This is scaling without the squeeze.

A laptop displaying the Oakview website.

Our automation build process

Discovery

First step is a deep-dive into your business operations to uncover inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and opportunities for automation. This phase is all about understanding how your team works, so we can help you work smarter.

Design & mapping

Then we map out intelligent automation flows and AI integrations with a focus on simplicity, clarity, and real-world usability. The goal? To make your processes faster, more consistent, and less manual.

Develop & build

Our team builds custom AI and automation solutions tailored to your systems, from CRM integrations to custom bots and workflow tools. Everything is scalable, secure, and designed to work with how you operate.

Finishing touches

Rigorous testing begins across platforms and scenarios for performance, reliability, and user adoption. Then we tweak and refine until it runs like clockwork.

Go live

Once live, we monitor performance, provide training, and offer ongoing support. As your business grows, your automation grows with you.

AI that adds value. Because it’s built around your business

Most agencies just slap generic tools like ChatGPT on your business and call it a day. We tailor AI to your everyday workflows. Here's how we make it work for you:

Smarter process automation

Handles real tasks like processing emails into CRM notes and auto-filing invoices, routing approvals, and even flagging urgent requests, so nothing slips through the net.

Intuitive chatbots

Trained on your data (legal docs, product specs, internal guides) fully indexed and integrated across your website and digital workspace to give instant, accurate answers.

Connecting AI via MCP

Builds intelligent connections between AI and your business apps, so data flows, tasks trigger, and everything just works together.

Calculate your automation savings!

Here is a quick and easy calculator to see just how much time and money you can save by automating processes, try it out!

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Got questions? We’ve got answers

Here are the questions we get asked most, along with our straight-up answers.

What types of businesses can you help?

Pretty much any business tired of doing things the hard way. Whether you're a startup needing to scale without the growing pains, e-commerce store bogged down in orders, or tradie buried under paperwork and scheduling nightmares. If you've got repetitive tasks, we've got automation solutions.

What apps can you integrate?

Short answer: over 2,000+ apps. From CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot) and tools like Slack/QuickBooks to e-commerce (Shopify) and custom legacy systems. If you use it, it can be connected to automate workflows. Tell us your stack!

Can you build custom workflows for unsupported platforms?

Custom workflows are built specifically for those ‘outside-the-box’ setups, automating even the most unique processes.

Do you offer any training for our staff?

Absolutely. We'll train your team at launch, and provide ongoing support as needed, backed by detailed documentation we create for every custom project.

Do you provide ongoing support?

Support doesn’t stop after launch. We stick around to optimise, troubleshoot, and make sure you get the most out of your automation solutions. If you need support, we’re just a phone call away.

Where are you based?

Based right in the heart of Christchurch, NZ, supporting clients worldwide.

See what others are saying:

My site was painfully slow, and my hosting provider was useless. Sidebar offered dedicated hosting for barely more than I was paying for shared hosting, and migrated me across. The speed improvements impressed me – way beyond what I expected. And Lane's a genuinely nice guy who's super responsive, and always generous with his time and advice. I'd absolutely recommend them. If you're a smaller business managing your own website, it's worth paying that little bit more for dedicated hosting. Web speed and security is everything online, and Sidebar delivers.

Lisa

Copy By Kudo

I moved my webhosting late 2024 and after 6 months something wasn't working right. I meet Lane at Sidebar and then he worked his magic!! I say that because in the 6 weeks or so since Sidebar has been hosting my website, business has taken off - Literally. Like turbo charged. Lane says he only did what should have been done. But he knows what needs to be done and completed the change over without fuss. Thank you!!

Rob

BuildQual NZ

We recently worked with Lane for our new website build. From the moment he came in for the initial meeting, I knew he was the right man for the job. He is extremely knowledgeable, professional and efficient. The website is now complete and looks amazing. If anyone I know is ever needed a website build or update, I will have no hesitation in recommending Lane & Sidebar to complete this job. One of the best in the business.

Sean

Collinson Forex

I'm very impressed with Sidebar, their service is consistently excellent whenever I need help. My site experienced zero downtime and loads much quicker than previously, which has helped drastically with user experience. Their customer service is fantastic, responses are quick and are genuinely helpful resolving any questions I have. I wholeheartedly recommend them for anything website related!

Rebecca

GeekHQ

Working with Sidebar on our custom dashboard was a great experience. They integrated all our existing applications and created a central hub that changed how we operate across our group of companies. Their team was very collaborative, skilled at solving problems, and full of fresh ideas that really improved our vision. We couldn't be happier with the results!

Mitchell

Optimus Group

The biggest challenge you helped us solve was ensuring our website remained functional, up to date, and aligned with our goals - something we didn't have the in-house expertise to manage effectively. What you delivered that exceeded our expectations was your ongoing support. That kind of follow-through is rare and really appreciated. We would absolutely recommend you and your company to anyone needing a website, support with an existing one.

Louise

SAM Property

AI & automation

Ditch the busywork. Work smarter. Grow faster.