The Future of ERP

In this week’s episode, the discussion centers around the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in finance departments, as highlighted in a recent SAP Insights research paper. SAP’s Paul Saunders, the head of product strategy for cloud ERP and chief evangelist, discusses how AI is changing traditional finance roles and responsibilities, the areas being disrupted most, and the human skills needed to critically evaluate AI-driven recommendations and develop insights to bring those recommendations to life.

With over 25 years of experience as a CTO, CIO and industry analyst Paul has extensive knowledge of ERP. Prior to joining SAP, he was Vice President, Research for Gartner, providing advice to the world’s largest and most influential technology providers. He was also lead author for Gartner’s ERP strategic roadmap and the lead analyst covering SAP. 
He has lived half of his life in the UK and half in the United States.

He is a frustrated, failed musician who spent several years working in NYC and Hollywood, CA in the music industry working with major label recording artists and film studios. He has a double platinum disk for his work with a megastar to prove he used to be cool once.
Paul lives in a very remote location in Scotland. Fortunately, he has good internet.

Paul Saunders: LinkedIn, SAP Community

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 45: How AI is Changing Finance with SAP’s Paul Saunders first appeared on The Future of ERP.

The conversation centers on the evolution of public cloud ERP systems and their advantages for businesses. Key topics include the transition from highly customized on-premise solutions to standardized cloud offerings, which facilitate faster deployment and continuous updates. The discussion also covers the necessity of a cloud mindset, where organizations embrace standard processes to maximize benefits. Success stories illustrate how companies like Neurod and KTM have effectively adapted to public cloud ERP, demonstrating improved operational efficiency and a strategic focus on their unique strengths.

Saskia Fontanive has been working for Innovabee since 2015. She bears an important responsibility for the successful completion of our SAP S/4HANA implementation projects. In addition, she takes care of supporting our existing customers and is significantly involved in personnel development and resource planning. Before her current position as a consulting manager, she worked as a consultant and project manager, where her focus was on SAP S/4HANA public cloud projects.

What is particularly noteworthy is that she accompanied the development and implementation of SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud from the very beginning and played a key role in building up Innovabee together with managing directors’ board. In the first few years of her professional career at Innovabee, she worked at the Waiblingen location before moving to Hamburg in 2021.

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 44: Embracing the Cloud Mindset: Unlocking the Benefits of Public ERP for Innovation and Efficiency with INNOVABEE’s Saskia Fontanive first appeared on The Future of ERP.

Cloud ERP systems are transforming small and midsize businesses by enabling integration, automation, and AI-driven analytics. Henrik Hausen, CEO of All4Cloud, emphasizes the importance of a cloud mindset that prioritizes standardization over customization for successful implementation. Cloud solutions offer regular updates, enhanced security, and the ability to focus on core business activities rather than IT management. AI integration automates data processing and decision-making, improving scalability and flexibility as companies grow. Hausen advocates for a shift from on-premise systems to cloud-based platforms, which can streamline processes and reduce reliance on manual input, ultimately driving operational efficiency and innovation.

Henrik Hausen is CEO at SAP gold partner all4cloud. He is an expert in SAP Cloud ERP and has been shaping a sustainable and value-based corporate culture with 100% cloud DNA since founding his company. Customers and employees are at the forefront of everything he does.

Henrik Hausen:

LinkedIn Profile

all4cloud Website

YouTube

Facebook

Xing

kununu

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 43: Transforming Small and Midsize Businesses: Cloud ERP, AI Integration, and the Shift from On- Premise Systems first appeared on The Future of ERP.

Digital transformation is reshaping the business landscape. Cloud ERP solutions provide a pathway to enhanced efficiency, scalability, and innovation. By transitioning from legacy systems to cloud-based platforms, companies can streamline processes, improve data accessibility, and adapt quickly to market changes. This shift not only reduces IT overhead but also enables continuous improvement and agility in an ever-evolving business environment.

Simon is Managing Director of the Walldorf Consulting Group and heads the Cloud and Software-as-a-Service Practice. He advises SMEs and large enterprise customers on the strategy and operationalization of their SaaS cloud strategy around SAP S/4HANA Cloud and other solutions from the SAP portfolio. Walldorf Consulting is a global SAP consulting company based in Walldorf with offices in the USA, Singapore and Malaysia. Since 2020, the company has focused exclusively on the transformation of its customers into an SAP Cloud and Software-as-a-Service environment and today consists of more than 170 cloud experts worldwide.

In his 15-year consulting history, Simon has been a trusted advisor for the digitalization of his clients’ business functions and has extensive expertise in transforming business processes into a digital, cloud-based future. His expertise includes strategic transformation programs for major clients as well as numerous successful strategy projects and implementations for medium-sized companies in the automotive, services, hi-tech, medical technology and retail sectors.  

The heart and DNA of Walldorf Consulting is its own process methodology based on SAP Activate – the Walldorf Consulting Fit-2-Standard approach – which has been awarded the Grand Winner seal of the SAP Quality Award by SAP. Through the combination of didactic approaches and consistent alignment with the process standards of SaaS solutions, significantly higher standardization rates can be achieved and thus significant advantages in terms of project duration, risk management and total cost of ownership can be achieved, which get the most out of the cloud solutions in setup and operation. In the last 3 years, more than 30 customers have been successfully transformed into an SAP Cloud using this methodology.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-buchacher-lassnig-22919415b/

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 42: Why Implementing Cloud ERP As-A-Service is Nothing Like Implementing an On-Premise Solution with WCA’s Simon Flick first appeared on The Future of ERP.

Discover how cloud-based ERP solutions are transforming small and medium enterprises. This episode delves into the challenges of growth, the importance of adopting a cloud mindset, and the benefits of standardized processes. Gain valuable insights on scalability, innovation, and cost-effectiveness to guide your company’s digital transformation journey.

Sebastian is Project Lead for SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud at ORBIS, based in Austria. In this role, he is responsible for project implementations as well as presales. With more than 6 years of SAP S/4HANA Cloud experience, he is passionate about supporting customers on their digital transformation journey to the cloud.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-buchacher-lassnig-22919415b/

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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Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

The post Episode 41: The Challenges and Opportunities of Moving to a Public Cloud ERP Solution with ORBIS’ Sebastian Buchacher-Lassnig first appeared on The Future of ERP.

This episode delves into the crucial decision between brownfield and greenfield approaches in ERP migration, using a relatable house renovation analogy. The speaker explores the complexities of updating existing systems (brownfield) versus starting fresh (greenfield), highlighting the pros and cons of each approach. While brownfield offers familiarity and less disruption, greenfield provides opportunities for comprehensive modernization and innovation. The discussion emphasizes the importance of considering long-term business needs, emerging technologies, and the rapidly changing market landscape when making this decision. The episode concludes by underscoring the critical role of modern ERP systems in driving business success, positioning them as indispensable tools for both daily operations and strategic management in today’s dynamic business environment.

Michael Perfler has been active in the SAP industry for over 20 years and has extensive project experience with a clear focus on SAP Cloud solutions. As the managing director of Phoron Consulting, he always prioritizes customer benefits and utilizes his profound knowledge and technical expertise to develop innovative and tailored SAP solutions. With his ability to understand customer needs and implement complex projects, he has earned a reputation as a trustworthy and solution-oriented partner.

Phoron Consulting is a dynamic, medium-sized SAP consulting firm with locations in Austria, Germany, and Brazil, positioned internationally. With a dedicated team of over 180 employees, Phoron distinguishes itself through its focus on innovative solutions and technological leadership in the realm of SAP Cloud solutions and ERP implementations.

As specialists in digital transformation, Phoron assists companies in optimizing their business processes through tailored SAP solutions that address the specific needs and challenges of clients. Phoron Consulting combines cross-industry expertise with technical know-how to help companies enhance their efficiency, improve competitiveness, and succeed in the global 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 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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Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

The post Episode 40: From Home Renovation to Digital Transformation: Embracing S/4HANA Cloud Innovation Through ERP Migration first appeared on The Future of ERP.

Beat Wyler from Innflow dives into the world of modern ERP systems and their importance in today’s business landscape. Wyler defines a “Modern ERP system” as a comprehensive and integrated software solution that streamlines business processes, improves efficiency, and enhances decision-making capabilities. The conversation then shifts to the role of intelligent technologies like AI in helping small and medium-sized companies to grow. He highlights how AI can empower businesses to make informed decisions by analyzing data from various sources such as business processes, smart assets and products, social media, third-party providers, and even external factors like traffic and weather. He explains how AI enables companies to stay competitive in their industries by unlocking new opportunities, discovering trends, and adapting to changing market conditions. Wyler explores the concept of introducing new business models, such as “as-a-service,” and discusses how a modern ERP system can facilitate the adoption of these innovative approaches.

Beat Wyler is a Consulting Manager Cloud at Innflow AG, a leading SAP partner in Switzerland that specializes in SAP Cloud services and Cloud ERP. Beat has over 25 years of experience in helping Swiss Enterprises become more resilient and agile, save operational costs, and shorten lead times by taking their supplier and plant networks and operations to the next level. This can only be achieved by increasing the level of digitalization within your business. Beat can show you how to transform your company into a smart and sustainable enterprise, based on SAP Cloud solutions and best-practice processes.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatwyler/

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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Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

The post Episode 39: The Benefits of a Modern ERP System for Small and Growing Companies with Innflow’s Beat Wyler first appeared on The Future of ERP.

SAP’s Gabriele Fiata reflects on the significant changes within the industry over the last 20 years, emphasizing the transition from internal experts to shared security with cloud providers. The discussion delves into the factors driving businesses to choose cloud ERP systems, focusing on the security and compliance advantages of cloud-based solutions. Addressing common misconceptions, Gabs explores concerns and skepticism towards cloud ERP security, particularly among smaller companies with limited IT expertise. The conversation also touches on the increasing trust in cloud-based ERP systems over on-premise systems, as highlighted in an IDC study. Come join us as we discuss the Future of ERP!

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.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielefiata

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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Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

The post Episode 38: How ERP Security is Evolving to Build Trust in Business with SAP’s Gabriele Fiata first appeared on The Future of ERP.

Join SAP’s Hassan Binoumar and Michael Mackey as they discuss the latest updates in quote-to-cash processes and how they can help businesses optimize their subscription models.

SAP’s Hassan Binoumar and Michael Mackey delve into the intricacies of quote-to-cash processes. With the rise of subscription-based business models, it has become increasingly important for companies to streamline quote-to-cash workflows to ensure efficiency and accuracy in billing and revenue recognition. Hassan and Michael share insights on how SAP’s solutions can help businesses navigate these challenges, providing real-world examples and best practices for implementing quote-to-cash strategies. Whether you are new to subscription services or looking to optimize your existing processes, this podcast offers valuable information to help you stay ahead of the curve in today’s dynamic business landscape.

Hassan Binoumar, based in Levallois-Perret, FR, is currently a VP EMEA Q2C at SAP, bringing experience from previous roles at SAP. Hassan Binoumar holds a 1992 – 1995 International business @ Ecole Superieure de Commerce International (ESCI). With a robust skill set that includes Enterprise Software, Sales Management, Middle Market, CRM, Channel Partners and more, Hassan Binoumar contributes valuable insights to the industry. 

Mike is a solution advisor specializing in Order-to-Cash solutions, where he is focused on understanding customer and market trends, identifying customer pain points and strategic needs, and how SAP’s Order-to-Cash solutions can solve them.   This includes Subscription Monetization, Everything/Anything-as-a-Service offerings, Invoice-to-Cash consolidation & automation, Entitlement Management, and beyond. Mike specializes in supporting SAP customers throughout their process of understanding the capabilities and transformative value that SAP’s solutions can provide, as well as leveraging best practices and ensuring getting the most out of their chosen solutions.    

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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Please give us a like, share, and subscribe to stay up-to-date on future episodes!

The post Episode 37: Your Ticket to the Subscription Train: Quote-to-Cash Update first appeared on The Future of ERP.

On this week’s episode we had a thought-provoking discussion on the future of artificial intelligence in the technology community and the importance of staying ahead of the innovation curve and utilizing these tools effectively to drive successful digital transformation efforts. Discover the significance of data quality, governance, and security in adopting AI technologies and transitioning to cloud-based architectures. Don’t miss out on uncovering the central role of ERP systems in leveraging future technologies and achieving business success. Tune in now!

Geoff Scott, CEO and Chief Community Officer of ASUG, believes that the connections we make for our members have the potential to become career-defining relationships that inspire innovation and success for their organizations. 

His forward-thinking leadership prioritizes helping our members make the most of their investment in SAP technologies. To that end, Geoff works closely with customers, members, the SAP Executive Board, and the extensive partner ecosystem to amplify the voice of the SAP customer. Additionally, he enjoys the time he’s able to spend with our members at ASUG conferences, events, as well as in informal meetings. Geoff has more than 20 years of leadership and technology experience. including seven years of extensive SAP implementation and operations experience. His background in the automotive, food, retail, and startup spaces brings valuable, broad-based experience to ASUG. 

Past positions include CIO for TOMS Shoes, where he led the implementation of SAP: CIO at JBS; and senior leadership positions at Ford Motor Company. Before becoming CEO, Geoff was an ASUG member and served on the board. Geoff has served on several philanthropic boards and is the founding member of the Denver CIO Executive Council. He is a proud Spartan and alum of Michigan State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting as well as his MBA. 

In his spare time. Geoff is an avid sports photographer in his community and challenges himself to keep up his application development skills by creating apps for his own enjoyment and use. Connect with Geoff on Twitter @gscott16.

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, Twitter

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The post Episode 36: The Value of Modern Cloud ERP with ASUG’s CEO Geoff Scott first appeared on The Future of ERP.