Our Top Takeaways from Dykema

We’re coming off our whirlwind trip at Dykema feeling completely energized from meeting with so many customers, partners, and industry leaders. From packed breakout rooms to thought-provoking panels, there was no shortage of information. 

Here are our top takeaways from the week — and why they matter for any organization trying to scale. 

1. Simplicity wins the day 

The biggest thing we heard throughout the conference: clinicians and office teams want simplicity and tech that’s intuitive, embedded into their workflow, and eliminates the need for them to log into yet another tool. 

Why? Because adoption is everything. There's no ROI from AI, dashboards, or analytics if the tools aren’t actually being used at the frontlines. 

2. Adoption is not a one-time event 

A powerful insight from one of our sessions: onboarding never ends. DSOs are constantly hiring, training, and expanding. That means your technology needs to be simple enough that new team members can onboard quickly — and start contributing right away. 

It's not just about ROI. It’s about removing friction, so that every new hire can quickly become a valuable member of your team. 

3. One PMS, one experience 

There was a strong push toward standardizing onto a single PMS and enabling single sign on across all locations. 

Why it matters: 

• A single source of truth enables cross-location insights 
• It creates a more consistent experience for patients and staff 
• It sets the foundation for scalable acquisitions and future growth 

The more standardized the tech, the easier it is to track performance, train staff, and integrate new practices. 

4. AI needs to deliver actionable insights 

Everyone was talking about AI — but what really stood out was that AI must deliver insights that can be acted on immediately, especially at the office level. 

For example: 

• Use AI to surface opportunities for same-store growth — identifying missed revenue, care gaps, or efficiency blockers. 
• Get the right data into the hands of office managers  -- and make sure it’s tangible and teachable 
• Enable real-time coaching, not just retrospective reports 

In short, insights are only valuable if they’re used.  

5. Know what motivates your providers 

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to engaging dentists. Whether it’s financial incentives, clinical excellence, or patient experience, understanding what drives each provider helps tailor your strategy. 

This came up multiple times: provider motivations vary — and your platform, metrics, and communication strategies need to reflect that. 

Tech that works starts with your team 

From DSO execs to front office staff, the message was clear: technology must meet people where they are. 

The future of dental tech isn’t just smarter — it’s more usable, more human, and more aligned with how care is actually delivered.