WBSP823: Scale Growth by Understanding the State of ERP in 2026, an Objective Panel Review

Send a textAI-native ERP platforms are fundamentally redefining the architectural assumptions that have governed ERP systems for decades, shifting the focus from rigid transaction processing toward adaptive, intelligence-driven orchestration. Unlike legacy ERP systems that retrofit AI as an auxiliary feature, platforms such as Rillet are engineered with AI embedded at the core, enabling native reasoning over financial, operational, and contextual data. This architectural inversion changes how ERP systems are deployed, configured, and differentiated, allowing them to automate workflows, infer relationships, and dynamically adapt to business conditions without relying on extensive manual configuration or brittle customization layers. As a result, AI-native ERP platforms represent not just incremental innovation but a structural shift in enterprise architecture, with the potential to redefine how organizations manage processes, scale operations, and extract decision-grade intelligence from their core systems.In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ, Andy Pratico from Essential Software Solutions, and Phil Coerper from Ringling Business Solutions conduct an in-depth independent review of a leading AI-native platform Rillet.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/rillet-an-independent-review/Questions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/🔗Phil Coerper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philcoerper09/🔗Andy Pratico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-pratico-80175410/🔗Shrestha Dash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrestha-dash-662b00204/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send a textThis wave of product launches, acquisitions, and platform expansions highlights how enterprise software vendors are rapidly embedding AI, data integration, and domain-specific intelligence deeper into their operational cores. Announcements such as Anaplan’s role-based AI agents, Pipefy’s expanded AI agent availability, and Beroe’s integration with the Model Context Protocol signal a shift toward agent-driven orchestration and context-aware automation across planning, procurement, and workflow execution. At the same time, acquisitions like BlackLine’s purchase of WiseLayer and ECI Software Solutions’ acquisition of Amper Technologies reflect a strategic push to strengthen financial automation and real-time manufacturing visibility. Meanwhile, platform enhancements from BillingPlatform, Certinia, Propel Software, and Avetta emphasize tighter integration across revenue lifecycle management, ESG compliance, product development, and supplier governance. Collectively, these developments illustrate a broader industry transition toward AI-native, composable enterprise architectures designed to improve decision quality, accelerate execution, and deliver measurable operational outcomes.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWDc-dx3Q0IQuestions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/🔗Robert Kramer: linkedin.com/in/robert-kramer-58239b22/🔗Kenneth ("Kengon") Gonzalez: linkedin.com/in/kengon/🔗Michael Fauscette: linkedin.com/in/mfauscette/🔗Donald Farmer: linkedin.com/in/donalddotfarmer/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send a textEnterprise Asset Management (EAM) systems have evolved from simple maintenance tools into strategic platforms that directly influence operational resilience, financial performance, and long-term scalability. Organizations depend on EAM to maximize asset uptime, reduce unplanned downtime, and optimize maintenance costs through structured preventive and predictive maintenance strategies. As asset environments become more complex—with IoT-enabled equipment, distributed facilities, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements—the choice of an EAM system affects far more than maintenance teams. It shapes capital planning, lifecycle cost management, operational visibility, and integration with broader enterprise systems such as ERP and supply chain platforms. Selecting the right EAM solution therefore becomes a critical architectural decision, enabling organizations to extend asset lifecycles, improve operational efficiency, and build a scalable foundation for future digital transformation.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top EAM systems in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these EAM systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each EAM system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyHW5OMDLD8Read: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-eam-systems/Questions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/r-58239b22/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send a textERP selection for complex equipment manufacturers requires a structurally different evaluation framework than selection for high-volume or make-to-stock businesses, yet many organizations continue to rely on generic ERP shortlists, accounting-centric systems, or horizontal platforms that lack native support for engineered-to-order processes. These environments demand deep integration across engineering, estimating, project execution, and long-cycle manufacturing—capabilities that general-purpose ERP systems often address only through costly customization. As a result, ERP initiatives frequently exceed budgets, introduce operational friction, and fail to scale with business complexity. Without alignment between ERP architecture and the engineered-to-order operating model, the system becomes a constraint rather than an enabler of operational efficiency and long-term growth.In this episode, Sam Gupta hosts Steve Moon, Business Systems Consultant and Andy Pratico, The ERP Santa Claus, from Essential Software Solutions to discuss ERP for complex equipment manufacturers: why selection fails and how to fix it.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/erp-for-complex-equipment-manufacturers-why-selection-fails-and-how-to-fix-it/Questions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/🔗Steve Moon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-moon-b86b7513/🔗Andy Pratico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-pratico-80175410/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send a textThis wave of enterprise software announcements underscores how AI agents, ecosystem alliances, and data infrastructure are becoming foundational to modern enterprise architecture. Vendors such as Pipefy and Aquant are expanding libraries of pre-built AI agents, while Salesforce continues to scale its Agentforce ecosystem through industry-specific releases, AWS integrations, and its acquisition of Informatica to strengthen data governance and orchestration. At the same time, platform vendors like IFS and Freshworks are enhancing their core cloud offerings to embed automation and intelligence deeper into operational workflows. Strategic collaborations—including Zendesk’s agreement with AWS and Iterable’s release of a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server—highlight the growing importance of standardized orchestration layers that allow AI agents to operate securely across distributed systems. Meanwhile, initiatives such as Sage’s AI Trust Label reflect increasing focus on governance, transparency, and responsible AI adoption as autonomous capabilities become embedded into mission-critical enterprise processes.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyTFFz7aXVAQuestions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/🔗Robert Kramer: linkedin.com/in/robert-kramer-58239b22/🔗Thomas Wieberneit: linkedin.com/in/thomaswieberneit/🔗Jon W. Hansen: linkedin.com/in/jwhansen/🔗John Santaferraro: linkedin.com/in/johnsantaferraro/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send a texteCommerce has transformed from a basic online ordering interface into a strategic digital channel that directly influences revenue growth, customer experience, and scalability. As customer expectations rise and digital journeys become more complex, selecting the right eCommerce platform now requires evaluating architectural fit, extensibility, and alignment with your long-term business model—not just front-end functionality. In this video, we examine eCommerce platforms for 2026, beginning with the critical decision factors that buyers must understand before comparing vendor lists. We focus exclusively on true best-of-breed eCommerce platforms rather than ERP add-ons or entry-level portals, and explain what it takes to support the full digital commerce lifecycle. We also explore key architectural considerations, including headless versus traditional frameworks, composable and microservices-based designs, and how AI-native capabilities are redefining personalization, automation, and operational efficiency in modern eCommerce environments.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top eCommerce platforms in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these eCommerce platforms. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each eCommerce platform.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDmFJCOQ-MARead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-ecommerce-platforms/Questions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/r-58239b22/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send a textFor decades, ERP systems have formed the operational backbone of enterprise organizations, enabling process consolidation, reducing data silos, and enforcing financial discipline. However, these benefits came with structural tradeoffs. Implementations were lengthy. Data models became rigid. Customizations and reporting required specialized skills and significant cost. As organizations move into 2026, tolerance for these constraints is declining. Businesses must respond faster to market shifts while maintaining tighter capital discipline and delivering modern user experiences. At the same time, the ERP landscape is undergoing a structural transition. Economic pressure, evolving business models, and rapid advances in AI are forcing vendors to rethink long-standing architectural assumptions. While many traditional vendors rely on incremental modernization, agentic overlays, or acquisitions, a new class of AI-native platforms is challenging the foundations of ERP design itself. This shift raises critical questions about data structures, transactional integrity, and system flexibility—separating superficial innovation from true architectural transformation.In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ provides comprensive insights into the state of ERP in 2026.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/the-state-of-erp-in-2026-ai-native-structural-shifts/Questions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/🔗Shrestha Dash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrestha-dash-662b00204/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send a textThis cluster of enterprise software announcements highlights how vendors are rapidly embedding AI, expanding ecosystem integrations, and strengthening vertical depth to drive measurable operational outcomes. From Camunda’s integrations with ServiceNow to Pipefy’s launch of next-generation AI agents and Coupa’s introduction of agentic AI capabilities, the focus is shifting toward autonomous execution layers that can orchestrate workflows, enforce policies, and improve decision speed. At the same time, platform expansions such as ECI’s NET1 Commerce Suite, HighByte’s Intelligence Hub updates, and Deltek’s platform enhancements demonstrate continued investment in unified operational and data architectures to support increasingly complex digital environments. Strategic moves—including Rootstock’s acquisition of Praxis Solutions and Provus’ partnership with Kantata—underscore how vendors are closing functional gaps through targeted acquisitions and alliances rather than rebuilding entire platforms. Finally, initiatives such as Sage’s AI Trust Label and Flowfinity’s AI service expansion reflect a growing emphasis on governance, transparency, and trust as AI becomes embedded infrastructure across the enterprise stack.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzfdn7jJiVgQuestions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/🔗Robert Kramer: linkedin.com/in/robert-kramer-58239b22/🔗Michael Fauscette: linkedin.com/in/mfauscette/🔗Brian Jackson: linkedin.com/in/urbanpaddler/🔗John Santaferraro: linkedin.com/in/johnsantaferraro/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform. 

Send a textTransportation management has evolved into a strategic control point for cost optimization, service reliability, and long-term supply chain resilience. As freight networks grow more fragmented and execution complexity increases, selecting a TMS is no longer about basic load planning or freight rating—it is about architectural fit, operating model alignment, and the platform’s ability to support your logistics strategy over time. In this video, we examine the top TMS systems for 2026, beginning with the critical decision factors that should shape your evaluation before reviewing any vendor list. We clarify the differences between true best-of-breed TMS platforms and ERP-embedded or broader supply-chain-suite offerings, and why those distinctions materially impact flexibility, neutrality, and scalability. We also explore the implications of choosing independent software vendors versus platforms tied to logistics service providers, including the tradeoffs between software independence, managed services integration, and network effects. Finally, we discuss how company size, operating model complexity, and industry context influence which TMS architectures are structurally aligned—or misaligned—with your organization’s future state.In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top TMS systems in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these TMS systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each TMS system.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNaOtCGwdaIRead: https://www.elevatiq.com/post/top-tms-systems/Questions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/r-58239b22/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send a textThis week’s enterprise software announcements reflect a broad, coordinated push toward AI-native experiences layered across collaboration, operations, finance, and core business platforms. Salesforce’s latest version of Slack, Oracle’s role-based AI agents for Fusion Cloud, and SAP’s extension of its business suite all signal that hyperscalers are embedding AI directly into day-to-day workflows rather than positioning it as a standalone add-on. In parallel, Sprinklr’s new AI capabilities and Upstream Works’ enhanced agent desktop extend this trend into customer experience and contact center operations, while Kantata’s new AI platform targets the specialized needs of professional services firms. NetSuite’s “Next” roadmap reinforces Oracle’s mid-market modernization strategy, and ScienceLogic’s reimagined applications highlight how observability and IT operations are also being reshaped by AI-first design principles. Rounding out the picture, Cleo’s invoice payment and financing solution underscores growing pressure to modernize B2B financial operations, while Sage’s acquisition of Criterion signals continued consolidation in the HCM space—together illustrating a market that is rapidly standardizing on AI-driven interaction layers even as vendors compete to redefine their category boundaries.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-5FOS9QamYQuestions for Panelists?🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/🔗Robert Kramer: linkedin.com/in/robert-kramer-58239b22/🔗Thomas Wieberneit: linkedin.com/in/thomaswieberneit/🔗Jon W. Hansen: linkedin.com/in/jwhansen/🔗Kenneth ("Kengon") Gonzalez: linkedin.com/in/kengon/Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro SommFor more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.