Small Business Showcase: CoopSys

When it comes to integrating artificial intelligence into your business, Bob DeLisa can tell you from experience that the first step is being prepared, even if your company has been using AI for a while. 

“We understand the potential for AI, both good and bad, so what we’re doing is looking out for our clients,” said DeLisa, founder, partner and CEO of CoopSys in Windsor.  

“We’re helping businesses get prepared to reign in AI across their organizations.”  

CoopSys specializes in regulated industries such as healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, where compliance, security, and reliability are critical.   

Founded in 1993, the company partners with small, mid-sized and large companies to integrate technology, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence in a way that “transforms infrastructure into a strategic advantage.” 

Preparing Businesses for AI integration 

“We’ve been in technology a very long time, and AI is just the next level of technology in our eyes,” said DeLisa.  

“It’s all unraveling in stages, and the first stage is preparedness, or what we call readiness.” 

The centerpiece of Coopsys’ infrastructure transformation process is a generic AI Readiness Kit, which includes a five-minute self-assessment questionnaire to help plan for AI integration at an organizational level, plus industry-specific companion guides.  

“AI is just the next level of technology in our eyes.”

CoopSys’ Bob DeLisa

Simply put, automating processes with AI can shorten time frames, improve quality, and reduce costs, DeLisa says, while amplifying what humans do.

“You’re always going to need a human in the loop to make those decisions, affirm everything and then carry it all out—knowing that helps eliminate some of the fear that’s out there about AI taking people’s jobs,” he said.   

“I believe AI is an amplifier–meaning you now have a way to delegate the things out that help make your job easier.” 

“A lot of clients were asking us where to go with AI,” DeLisa said. “So we stepped up with an AI service arm and an entire rebranding.” 

Why Connecticut? 

“I was born and raised here, and in 1993, I launched Cooperative Systems from the basement of my home in Bristol,” he said. 

A third-generation Italian-American whose family settled on Windham Street in Hartford’s South End, DeLisa says he’s always felt a deep connection to Connecticut and its entrepreneurial spirit. 

His father was also actively involved with CBIA in the 1980s and 1990s, instilling him with a strong belief in the power of community, advocacy, and business leadership, he said. 

“What truly sets Connecticut apart is its exceptional quality of life.”

DeLisa

 But it’s Connecticut’s location that offers the perfect intersection of opportunity and quality of life. 

“Our proximity to major markets fuels our growth and keeps us connected to innovation hubs,” he said. “But what truly sets Connecticut apart is its exceptional quality of life.” 

Top-tier education, healthcare, and cultural amenities create an environment where CoopSys employees can thrive personally and professionally.

Giving Back 

A dedicated volunteer committee at Coopsys organizes quarterly events to support local causes and organizations, from food drives to tech mentorships. 

Deeply committed to education and workforce development, DeLisa serves as co-chair of the emerging technologies industry advisory board for Bulkeley High School and the Hartford Public School District through CBIA affiliate ReadyCT.  

“Coopsys joined CBIA to help shape the future of business in Connecticut. It helps us amplify our impact, and we’re proud to be part of that movement.”