In this episode of “The Future of ERP,” host Richard Howells talks with Deloitte partner Geraldine Aubert about choosing the right path for cloud ERP transformation—whether to start fresh with a greenfield implementation or upgrade existing systems with brownfield. Geraldine shares insights from decades of SAP experience, highlighting how automation, AI, and strategic rollout planning enable companies to improve compliance, scale globally, and drive sustainable innovation. Learn about real-world challenges, practical trade-offs, and key success factors like strong people engagement and governance. Geraldine’s perspective offers a blueprint for businesses aiming to future-proof their operations amid rapid digital change. Tune in to discover ideas to fuel your ERP journey and why smart transformation is about balancing speed with lasting value.

Geraldine Aubert is a Partner in Deloitte’s Enterprise Performance practice, specializing in SAP consulting with over 25 years of experience. She leads global SAP S/4HANA transformation programs, focusing on delivering business value through strong collaboration between business operations and IT. Geraldine brings deep expertise in manufacturing, industrial products, automotive, chemicals, and medical devices industries. She heads Deloitte’s SAP manufacturing practitioners in Germany, covering areas such as production planning, quality management, plant maintenance, asset management, product lifecycle management, and integrated business planning (IBP). Geraldine is known for her strategic guidance in navigating complex digital transformations, including greenfield and brownfield ERP implementations on cloud platforms.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

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The post Episode 73: Greenfield or Brownfield with Deloitte’s Geraldine Aubert first appeared on The Future of ERP.

In this insightful episode of The Future of ERP, Ryan Throop from IBM joins hosts Richard Howells and Oyku Ilgar to explore the critical role of cybersecurity in the cloud ERP landscape. As businesses move from traditional on-premise solutions to cloud-centric environments, cybersecurity challenges grow more complex. Ryan shares how AI-driven threat detection and shared security models empower organizations to protect sensitive data while boosting operational efficiency. Listener takeaways include the importance of security awareness training, the evolving role of AI in security operations, and the growing emphasis on integrating ERP systems into broader identity governance frameworks. With compelling insights on managing insider threats, third-party risks, and emerging technologies, this episode is a must-hear for any business leader or IT professional focused on digital transformation success. Stay secure, stay innovative, and join the conversation!

Ryan Throop is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with 15 years of experience in SAP Security, GRC, and Cybersecurity. He currently he is the Global SAP Security Offering Leader with IBM Consulting – Cybersecurity Services, specializing in securing SAP environments.

At IBM, Ryan plays a pivotal role in shaping the SAP Cybersecurity services strategy and offering. His expertise in SAP security has been instrumental in developing and enhancing IBM’s comprehensive suite of SAP security services, which are trusted by clients across the globe.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ryan is committed to fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness and education. With his extensive experience, technical acumen, and passion for cybersecurity, Ryan Throop continues to make significant contributions to the field, helping organizations safeguard their critical systems against ever-evolving threats.

Ryan’s LinkedIn

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

Oyku Ilgar: SAP Community, LinkedIn

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The post Episode 72: Staying One Step Ahead: Shared Security Roles in Cloud ERP Threat Prevention with IBM first appeared on The Future of ERP.

In this episode of The Future of ERP, Abhishek Vesudevan from Westernacher shares the story of a company overcoming growth pains caused by disjointed systems and manual workflows. Listeners will learn how a strategic Cloud ERP implementation integrated sales, procurement, finance, warehousing, and transportation—enabling real-time data visibility and driving impressive benefits like freight cost savings and efficiency gains. Abhishek emphasizes that successful transformation hinges not only on technology but on process standardization and engaging users throughout the journey. He also highlights emerging trends, from AI-powered automation to sustainability innovations embedded in ERP. This episode offers practical insights and inspiring stories for any business pursuing digital transformation. Tune in to hear how ERP is evolving from a backend system to the brain of business.

Listen now and rethink what ERP can do for your organization!

Abhishek Vasudevan leads the S/4HANA Practice for Westernacher in the U.S. and Canada, with a focus on helping organizations adopt SAP S/4HANA in both Public and Private Cloud environments. He brings over 14 years of SAP experience, specializing in greenfield implementations and end-to-end process design across core ERP and supply chain execution.

In his current role, Abhishek is responsible for practice growth, go-to-market strategy, and customer success. He works closely with SAP and client leadership teams to shape solution roadmaps, guide presales, and ensure delivery excellence.

Earlier in his career at Westernacher, Abhishek served as a solution architect and successfully led over 10 greenfield SAP implementations in the digital supply chain space, including Transportation Management, Event Management, and Global Track and Trace. He also held a leadership role at Amazon, where he managed strategic programs across North American fulfillment operations.

Abhishek holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

Oyku Ilgar: SAP Community, LinkedIn

SAP NEWS Article – TBD by Oyku Ilgar

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The post Episode 71: How Can Cloud ERP Serve as a Strategic Catalyst for Digital Transformation first appeared on The Future of ERP.

This episode delves into the dynamic future of retail, spotlighting the pivotal role of AI in reshaping supply chains and customer interaction. Experts discuss how retailers are harnessing AI to deliver hyper-personalized shopping experiences, leveraging clean data to anticipate consumer needs and optimize inventory. The conversation explores the increasing importance of sustainability, with brands adopting eco-friendly practices and transparent supply chains to meet conscious consumer demands. The rise of social commerce platforms like TikTok is also examined, revealing how retailers are integrating social media into their sales strategies and supply chain management for unprecedented agility. This episode offers valuable insights into how technology, strategic data utilization, and a commitment to sustainability are converging to redefine the retail landscape and create new opportunities for brands and consumers alike.

Amanda Spencer is a global leader who is passionate about driving retail growth and innovation and understanding customer needs. With a diverse background spanning marketing, partnerships, and business development, she has gained experience in both the technology and consumer industries. Currently, Amanda is the Global Industry Marketing Lead for Retail at SAP, where she drives messaging and content creation based on industry trends and customer insights. Amanda focuses on helping retail providers leverage technology to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

Oyku Ilgar: SAP Community, LinkedIn

Blog Post

Retail Trends 2025

Lesson from APAC: Social Commerce is Not One-Size-Fits-All

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SAP Industry Market Report for Retail: Grow Without Boundaries

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The post How is AI transforming your shopping experience and what does it mean for the future of retail? first appeared on The Future of ERP.

In this episode of The Future of ERP, host Richard Howells welcomes Sakis Tabakis from E.ON Digital Technology and Max English of PwC to explore how cutting-edge cloud ERP and Generative AI are reshaping financial excellence. Sakis shares how E.ON’s Digital Lighthouse project is not just about technology upgrades – it’s a strategic foundation for agility in a fast-moving energy sector. The trio dive into how SAP Datasphere, SAP PAPM, and AI-driven insights create a unified, reliable data platform that breaks down silos, ensures compliance, and empowers smarter decisions in real time. Sakis highlights a bold vision: “The future of ERP is invisible. It thinks before you do, it speaks your language, and it acts when it really matters.” Max emphasizes the human side of digital transformation, reminding listeners that embracing AI means gaining efficiency and trusting technology as an enabler – not a threat. Whether you’re curious about AI’s impact on finance or the future of cloud ERP, this episode offers inspiring lessons and practical insights.

Tune in and discover what’s next for enterprise systems in a rapidly changing world!

Sakis Athanasios Tabakis leads the Systems & Digitisation team within the Finance Controlling department of E.ON Digital Technology. In this role, he is responsible for the digital transformation of core steering processes — most notably through the Digital Lighthouse Project, a scalable platform for data-driven management of IT costs, investments, and value contribution.

Over the past years, he has held leadership positions in multinational CFO organizations across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, driven by a clear mission: to make digital transformation in Finance a strategic, repeatable process. Because to this day, the success of many initiatives still hinges on chance, individual expertise, or personal courage.

Drawing on over 15 years of experience in Finance, he recently developed a structured framework to measure and accelerate the digital maturity of CFO functions — with a rigorous focus on Processes, People, and Systems.

As a University Alliance Partner and Corporate Ambassador for E.ON Digital Technology, he is convinced that digital fluency in Finance must not be left to chance — not for emerging talents, nor for seasoned leaders. That is why he shares his insights where true transformation begins: in the mindset of people.

Max is a Senior Associate in SAP Data & Analytics, concentrating on Data Management and SAP DWC. He has specialized in the field of Data & Analytics, with a particular focus on Data Management and all topics related to SAP. Cloud-based data warehousing solutions and the ecosystem around it are an integral part of his daily work and passion.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

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The post Episode 69: Leveraging GEN AI and Cloud ERP for Next-Gen Financial Excellence with E.ON Digital Technology and PwC first appeared on The Future of ERP.

This episode explores the evolution of ERP cybersecurity, emphasizing the shift from on-premise to cloud ERP and the shared responsibility model. Key topics include the rising risk of cyberattacks on supply chains, the benefits of expert collaboration in cloud security, and the importance of integrating security from the design phase. The discussion highlights cultural changes, trust-building, and the role of employee training in strengthening defenses. Emerging technologies like AI are examined for their potential to enhance threat detection, automate responses, and proactively defend against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks, shaping the future of secure and resilient ERP systems.

Thought leader with a strong background in security as well as business processes, controls, and enterprise risk management.

For more than 20 years, he has been leading teams in implementing innovative process improvements to identify and mitigate risks to promote resilience for the whole enterprise and enable overall business growth.

Gabriele Fiata: LinkedIn

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

Oyku Ilgar: SAP Community, LinkedIn

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The post Episode 68: Cybersecurity Talks: From Complexity to Confidence with Private Cloud ERP first appeared on The Future of ERP.

This episode examines how generative AI is fundamentally changing ERP systems and financial decision-making. It explores AI’s role in enhancing cash flow management, forecasting, and scenario modeling by integrating diverse data sources and automating complex analyses. The discussion highlights AI-driven hyper-personalized financial strategies, fraud detection, and cross-system communication, showing how AI helps manage uncertainty and volatility. It also addresses the importance of data quality, governance, potential biases, and risks in deploying AI in finance, emphasizing the ongoing value of ERPs as trusted platforms in a complex digital ecosystem.

John Froelich is a Senior Vice President at Bramasol, a leading SAP Partner helping companies make the most out of their Office of CFO Solutions and solutions for the Digital Solutions Economy.  John has over 40 years of experience in sales, marketing and design and implementation of SAP Solutions and has deep technology experience having worked with IBM, Avaya, SAP and AT&T’s Bell Laboratories.  He has delivered over 150 webinars and webcasts and spoken at numerous conferences including SAP Sapphire, SAP Insider, ASUG, Fiber Connect, and many others.  He was also a business coach and is certified in a variety of coaching methodologies including Brian Tracy, EMyth and others.  John lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife. 

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

Oyku Ilgar is a marketer and thought leader specializing in SAP’s digital supply chain and ERP solutions since 2017. As a marketer, blogger, and podcaster, she creates engaging content that highlights innovative SAP technologies and explores key topics including business trends, AI, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Finance & Accounting and English Translation, along with a master’s degree in Business Administration and Foreign Trade, specializing in marketing. With her background in digital transformation, Oyku communicates technology trends and industry insights to help professionals navigate the evolving business landscape.

Oyku Ilgar: SAP Community, LinkedIn

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The post Episode 67: How Generative AI is Revolutionizing Finance and Decision- Making with Bramasol’s John Froelich first appeared on The Future of ERP.

This episode examines how digital transformation, cloud migration, and AI are shaping the future of banking and ERP. It opens with an overview of the most significant trends for 2025, highlighting the shift to digital-first strategies and the growing reliance on cloud solutions. Falk Rieker discusses the challenges banks face in understanding customer needs, building loyalty, and managing data complexity. The conversation covers practical examples of AI integration in banking, explores strategies for effective data management, and considers how banks can differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape. The episode concludes with advice for leaders on navigating business transformation and enhancing user experience in financial services.

Falk Rieker is the Global Vice President and the Global Head of Financial Services at SAP, the world’s leading enterprise software company. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, leading a team of experts who define and deliver innovative and customer-centric solutions and strategies for banks, capital markets, and insurance firms of all sizes and segments.

His responsibilities include business development, customer and partner engagements, solution & GTM strategy. He is the primary spokesperson for financial services, supporting press and analyst relations. He maintains executive relationships in key accounts, owns the industry cloud strategy and drives strategic partnerships and initiatives.

He is a recognized thought leader and speaker in the financial services space, passionate about helping financial institutions leverage the latest technologies and trends, such as software as a service, business data cloud, and artificial intelligence, to transform their business models, enhance their customer experience, and drive efficiencies. His articles have been published and been quoted in leading media like American Banker, Wall Street & Technology and Forbes. He has been recognized as a top 100 “Fintech Influencers to Follow”.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

Oyku Ilgar has been working in the digital supply chain area at SAP since 2017. As a marketer and blogger, she creates written and visual marketing content about ERP and Supply Chain solutions and focuses on the topics of business trends, IoT, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

Oyku Ilgar: SAP Community, LinkedIn

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The post Episode 66: Banking Trends: Embracing AI for the Future of Financial Services first appeared on The Future of ERP.

This episode explores how technology and business truly come together to drive meaningful change, focusing on the shift from on-premise to cloud ERP. You’ll hear how companies are breaking free from outdated systems, overcoming technical debt, and embracing more agile, modular approaches to stay ahead in a fast-changing world. The conversation unpacks common myths about security and customization, explains why cloud ERP offers greater trust and flexibility, and highlights the priorities today’s CIOs are setting to future-proof their organizations. With insights on continuous innovation, compliance, and keeping your business unique, this discussion will leave you rethinking what’s possible for the future of work.

Maura is Senior Vice President of ERP Product Marketing at SAP. She is a seasoned technology market professional, with 20 years in the industry. She has led projects in product marketing, business development, mergers and acquisitions, partner marketing, go-to-market, and sales strategy.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

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The post Episode 65: From Legacy to Leading Edge: How Cloud Solutions Empower Business Success first appeared on The Future of ERP.

SAP’s Lauren Husum, Vice President of Product Marketing for SaaS ERP, dives into the evolving landscape of ERP systems. Lauren explains why ERP remains the heart of organizations, serving as a critical foundation for innovation rather than becoming obsolete. She highlights three key trends shaping the future of ERP: the integration of AI, the importance of smart data, and the continued evolution of ERP applications.

Lauren explains how AI is revolutionizing business processes by enhancing decision-making, boosting operational efficiency, and increasing employee productivity. SAP’s approach to AI emphasizes relevance, reliability, and responsibility, ensuring AI solutions are embedded in enterprise applications, trained on extensive business data, and developed with strong ethical standards. She stresses that AI’s success depends on high-quality, harmonized data across systems, which ERP platforms uniquely provide.

Ultimately, the episode underscores that ERP is not dead but evolving into a powerful enabler of digital transformation. Organizations that leverage ERP combined with AI and smart data will unlock greater agility, efficiency, and growth in the years ahead.

Lauren is the Vice President of Product Marketing for SaaS ERP. In this role, Lauren and her team lead the value proposition, messaging, and positioning for the SaaS ERP offering targeting the midsize/lower large enterprise segment. Previous to this role, Lauren was the Chief of Staff for the Marketing & Solutions board area serving as a trusted advisor to the Chief Marketing & Solutions officer driving strategic business planning, operations, and growth.  With a focus on driving the business forward, this team worked to scale business priorities across the organization while driving world-class operations to ensure success across the board area.

Lauren joined SAP in May 2021 after 10 years at Microsoft where she served many product marketing roles across the unified communications, productivity, and cloud space.

Lauren graduated from the University of Washington with her Bachelors of Business Administration with a focus in marketing.

An optimist at heart, Lauren is passionate about women in business and spending time coaching young adults to build their resumes and expertise to be successful in their careers.

Richard Howells has been working in the Supply Chain Management and Manufacturing space for over 30 years. He is responsible for driving the thought leadership and awareness of SAP’s ERP, Finance, and Supply Chain solutions and is an active writer, podcaster, and thought leader on the topics of supply chain, Industry 4.0, digitization, and sustainability.

Richard Howells: LinkedIn, X (Twitter)

Oyku Ilgar has been working in the digital supply chain area at SAP since 2017. As a marketer and blogger, she creates written and visual marketing content about ERP and Supply Chain solutions and focuses on the topics of business trends, IoT, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

Oyku Ilgar: SAP Community, LinkedIn

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The post Episode 64: The Top Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for ERP: AI, Data and Applications first appeared on The Future of ERP.