The inaugural Mastering ERP conference on December 12 saw ERP and AI professionals join leading experts from the Park Plaza London Riverbank Hotel, collaborating together on best practices for innovating ERP applications from base using artificial intelligence.
As a complementary event to ERP Price Today Celebration 2024This learning and discussion-based summit provided the critical insights and key connections ERP Insiders need to plan and execute their AI in ERP projects next year and beyond. Mark Vigoroso, CEO of ERP Today, was both the host and keynote speaker, presenting A recent study from Wellesley Information Services suggests that even as AI adoption advances, organizations are cautious about its application in core operational areas, highlighting the need for continued development and validation of AI technologies. AI to meet these specialized requests.
The research report shows that 27% of organizations currently use or have used AI for customer service, but outside of this function, AI adoption is extremely low for other business functions. Data suggests that a significant number of organizations are still evaluating how to integrate AI into their core business functions.
Outside of research, Mark dropped an interesting tidbit from an academic who reports that if AI development stopped at this point, it would take 5-10 years to fully absorb the impact of the models and everything that has been developed so far, as has already happened for every industry in the world today.
Other highlights of the speech include Maria Axente, Head of AI Public Policy and Ethics, PwC UK, who discussed the critical role of technical expertise when it comes to “creating” trust in AI. Axente evoked the fable of Icarus with our wings as dreams, about to unfold thanks to the potential of AI. But like Icarus, ERP Insiders must be wary of the solar heat of prejudices that harm both trust and ethical guarantees.
The PwC leader also highlighted a fundamental question for engineers: who are we to decide on ethical AI? In other words, back-end architects should not be relied upon to define and mitigate AI biases – instead, organizations should define this, especially since engineers may inadvertently bring their own biases to the table. , such is human nature.
Ultimately, effective deployment of AI requires transparency, fairness and security. Strong governance frameworks and proactive risk management are key to mitigating security risks and ensuring compliance with regulations, enabling businesses to deploy AI responsibly and securely.
Mark Wheeler, Director of Product and Intellectual Property, NTT Data Business Solutionsmeanwhile gave a funny and bubbly talk that avoided the hype and discussed AI in practical terms. Attendees knew they were in for a treat when he asked them which song he should have used as an introduction to his keynote speech; Livin’ On A Prayer and Drop It Like It’s Hot were some of the suggestions reflecting the hopes and dreams of ERP insiders when it comes to AI.
In his speech, Wheeler acknowledged that AI is only generating marginal gains at the moment, but that we are still on track when it comes to the exponential curve of AI development. It also discusses the critical KPIs Insiders need to establish and the investments they need to make in people, processes and platforms to realize the benefits of improved decision-making, reduced costs and streamlining of operations. Participants learned how to deliver competitive advantage by strategically aligning AI investments with their organizational goals, as well as the crucial steps and strategies they need to leverage to build a compelling business case for AI integration.
A panel discussion on AI ethics, governance and security in enterprise systems saw the return of Axente with our friend Abigail Allman, host of the Women in ERP podcast, leader in ERP solutions, resulting IT and UN Women delegate to the UK – talk about a triple threat! Abigail chaired the debate with guests Maria, Emma Chambers, Head of Applications and Platforms at Calor, and Richard Hunt, CEO and Founder of Turnkey. A lively debate and discussion on the critical issues of responsible AI, governance and security ensued. The review focused on how the three intertwine to deliver unbiased, compliant, and secure AI capabilities. Delegates learned why transparency, fairness and accountability are essential to the responsible deployment of AI and how data, algorithms, design and training contribute to good governance. The panel also examined the multitude of critical security exposures that AI can introduce and the key safeguards that insiders should put in place.
Nadja Andersen, vice president of solutions strategy and innovation at Kelly Services, reminded ERP insiders that before they can embark on integrating AI into their ERP landscape, it is essential to understand the road ahead. Andersen dove into key AI concepts, emerging trends, and essential terms that ERP Insiders need to know for successful adoption in their organization – in other words, how to lay the groundwork for them to be prepared before going too far down the path of automation.
Stijn Stabel, VP of Data at TVH, examined strategies for modernizing ERP landscapes to prepare for AI integration, ensuring improved efficiency, data utilization and decision-making capabilities. Shanthi Nachiappan, Director of Statsdatamining Limited, gave an in-depth insight into Augmented Recovery Generation (AGR), drawing on her extensive experience within the BT Group.
Creating efficient, resilient, scalable and AI-ready databases was the priority of Philip White, CEO of Audacia. In his presentation – which gave the metaphor of building a Caterham vehicle – AI was presented as fundamentally dependent on the robustness of an organization’s databases. White explored essential strategies for creating effective databases that are not only AI-ready, but also resilient and scalable. Following White, Lunacon Founder and Enterprise Systems Architect Pete McDermott spoke about IFS and AI in relation to the clean core. The advent of AI, he argued, requires a streamlined and efficient ERP system to fully exploit AI’s potential. His session discussed the importance of achieving a clean ERP core and minimizing customizations as a preparatory step for AI integration, highlighting the benefits of standardization, improving the quality of data and improving system performance.
The day closed with a panel moderated by Mark Vigoroso with Stijn Stabel, Nadja Andersen and Emma Chambers. Experts shared the impact of AI on the IT workforce and services, as well as what this new reality means for Insiders and their businesses. New concepts such as gamification in recruitment and “Co-coding”, where development experts work alongside citizen developers, were discussed. . Salesforce has also been mentioned as an AI ‘winner’ among the various software players – but the most important takeaway is that when it comes to ERP, the vendor that keeps customers’ hearts cleanest will lead the way .
Overall, Mastering ERP provided valuable insights into the successful adoption of AI in organizations, focusing on the fundamental steps required for integration. One of the key takeaways was the importance of understanding the fundamental concepts of AI and how it fits into the broader business landscape. Before embarking on AI, organizations must understand the essential terms, trends, and critical context of AI to ensure successful implementation.
The role of technical expertise in building trust in AI systems was also highlighted. Experts are essential to making AI solutions reliable, transparent and ethical. Their involvement in testing and ensuring that AI systems meet ethical standards is crucial to fostering trust among stakeholders and ensuring long-term success.
