Chris Vavra, Author at ERP Today

Chris Vavra

Senior Editor, ERP Today

208 Articles Published

SPS Commerce Unveils AI-Enabled Supply Chain Innovations to Address Omnichannel Complexity

SPS Commerce has unveiled a suite of product innovations to help retailers and suppliers adapt to evolving supply chain challenges, emphasizing AI-enabled automation, omnichannel integration and industry standardization.

Manufacturing Systems and Automation

Syspro Acquires Evocon to Strengthen Digital Shopfloor Capabilities, Operational Efficiency

Syspro has acquired Estonia-based Evocon to enhance its digital shop floor capabilities, providing manufacturers with improved real-time production monitoring and operational efficiency tools, enabling better decision-making and deeper integration.

Financial Management

Hg Acquires OneStream to Accelerate Finance AI Platform Development

OneStream has entered a $6.4 billion all-cash acquisition agreement with Hg, enhancing its AI capabilities and signaling intensified competition within the expanding corporate performance management software market.

Manufacturing Systems and Automation

AI Moves to the Core of ERP: What Technology Leaders Should Expect

Artificial intelligence is evolving from a supplementary feature to an essential element of ERP, enhancing demand forecasting, operational responses, and executive decision-making.

Manufacturing Systems and Automation

Syspro, SugarCRM Collaboration Offers Connected Floor Solution for Manufacturers and Distributors

Syspro and SugarCRM have partnered to introduce Sugar for Syspro, an integrated solution that enhances precision selling for manufacturers and distributors by unifying product, customer and sales data for a better connected ERP system.

Analytics and AI

How Manufacturers Can Achieve Operational Stability in 2026

As manufacturers head into 2026, they face pressure to enhance efficiency and stability through modern ERP technologies, moving from reactive chaos to predictable operations.

Analytics and AI

i-Genie.ai Joins Microsoft’s Pegasus Program to Accelerate Innovation

i-Genie.ai, an AI consumer insights platform, has joined the exclusive Microsoft for Startups Pegasus Program to enhance its growth with advanced technology and mentorship.

The Great Cloud Recalculation Oracle+IBM

Cloud Platform and Technology

Epicor Sets Final On-Premises Release Dates as Cloud Strategy Accelerates

Epicor has announced the timeline for the final on-premises feature releases of its ERP platforms, urging customers to evaluate cloud migration as it transitions towards AI-powered capabilities, with support phases outlined and potential savings highlighted.

Manufacturing Systems and Automation

ERP Technology Developments Impacting Manufacturing Jobs in 2026

Manufacturing technology executives must decide by late 2025 whether to adopt autonomous AI agents to enhance operational efficiency or risk losing competitive advantages with governance emerging as the key challenge for successful implementation.

Analytics and AI

Panaya’s AI-Driven Autonomous Testing Layer Designed to Ease ERP Bottlenecks

Panaya's Seemore agentic AI layer enhances autonomous testing for SAP, Oracle, and Salesforce, allowing enterprise teams to manage updates more efficiently through risk analysis, codeless test creation and self-healing scripts, amid an anticipated surge in the automation testing market driven by the demand for AI-ready ERP capabilities.

ERP Strategy and Planning

Five ERP Strategic Implications for Operations Leaders in 2026

As organizations face a pivotal shift in ERP to autonomous action-driven frameworks, leaders must prioritize rapid modernization, governance transparency, and adaptability to remain competitive.

Analytics and AI

Enterprise Software Faces AI-Driven Disruption as Development Productivity Gains Fail to Materialize

In 2026, the enterprise software industry will undergo significant disruption due to AI, leading to increased merger and acquisition activity among mid-market companies, while organizations struggle to convert productivity gains from AI into strategic business value.

Data and Data Management

Ellucian Completes Anthology SIS and ERP Acquisition, Adding 260 Higher Education Customers

Ellucian's acquisition of Anthology's Student Information Systems and ERP business, following Anthology's bankruptcy, expands its customer base to more than 260 institutions.

Manufacturing Systems and Automation

Three Trends Changing Manufacturing ERP in 2026

The manufacturing ERP landscape is transforming by 2026 due to the emergence of autonomous operations, composable architectures and sustainability ledgers, shifting focus toward action, which requires new governance and integration strategies.

Cloud Platform and Technology

Overcoming AI Adoption Challenges in Manufacturing and Supply Chain

AI is rapidly becoming essential in manufacturing and supply chain management, but uneven deployment due to barriers like data quality and user adoption persists, while vendors are focusing on domain-specific AI to integrate predictive insights directly into core processes.

Analytics and AI

Data Integrity is the New ERP Mandate

Data integrity is crucial for ERP success, as reliable information underpins automation and insights; organizations must modernize data handling without full system overhauls, confront legacy issues, and embrace governance to enhance efficiency and decision-making.

Supply Chain Management

Creating Supply Chain Value Through Analytics and AI

AI and analytics are transforming supply chain management by automating repetitive tasks, redefining planner roles into strategic storytellers, and providing decision intelligence to navigate disruptions.

Security

ServiceNow’s Armis Acquisition Signals Strategic Enterprise IT Push

ServiceNow's $7.75 billion acquisition of Armis aims to enhance its cybersecurity offerings by merging its configuration management database with Armis' real-time asset discovery tools, thereby tripling its security revenue and addressing the integrated vulnerability management needs of enterprises.

Analytics and AI

Why Industry-Built ERP Will Lead the Next Wave of Manufacturing Modernization

Manufacturing executives are increasingly favoring vertical ERP systems over generic platforms due to the former's ability to provide tailored, out-of-the-box solutions that align with industry-specific workflows.

Analytics and AI

December’s M&A Sprint Signals AI Infrastructure Consolidation Era for Enterprises

In December 2025, a surge of over $100 billion in strategic technology acquisitions is compelling ERP executives to pivot away from fragmented solutions towards more robust, AI-native architectures amidst rising valuations and an emphasis on security.

Financial Management

BlackLine Acquires WiseLayer in Bid to Enhance AI Capabilities

BlackLine's acquisition of WiseLayer marks a pivotal moment in finance as AI agents take on complex judgment-heavy tasks, transforming operating models and integration practices while significantly enhancing efficiency and accuracy in financial operations.

Financial Management

BillingPlatform Adds Platform Capabilities for Advanced Revenue Insights

BillingPlatform's upgraded capabilities transform billing into a real-time decision system for revenue leaders, enhancing visibility, reducing manual reporting, leveraging AI for transparency and robust integration.

Analytics and AI

Certinia Launches Winter ’26 Release for Improved Agentic AI, Workflow

Certinia's Winter '26 release leverages AI to enhance operational efficiency for services-centric organizations by automating project monitoring, streamlining sales-to-delivery processes and improving customer success management.

Cloud Platform and Technology

Oil and Gas ERP Leaders Signal Agentic AI Push in Recent Deployments

Oil and gas operators are prioritizing digital transformation through cloud ERP modernizations with autonomous AI agents and unified data platforms, highlighting the industry's focus on operational efficiency and competitive advantage.

Enterprise Content Management

The Importance of Professional and Managed Services for ERP Vendors

Manufacturing and distribution organizations are increasingly adopting managed services for ERP systems to cope with labor shortages and budget constraints, allowing internal teams to focus on strategic initiatives.

Analytics and AI

Aptean Launches AppCentral 2.0, Bringing Vertical AI Into Daily Industrial Operations

Aptean’s AppCentral 2.0 is a Vertical AI platform that enhances operational efficiency in manufacturing and distribution by integrating AI agents for real-time decision-making, automating routine tasks, and providing predictive insights.

Businessperson hold an image of an AI agent in hand.

Manufacturing Systems and Automation

Why the Future Belongs to Pragmatic, Practical AI

The focus for manufacturing leaders has shifted towards pragmatic AI solutions that deliver measurable operational improvements in ERP processes by driving profitability amidst growing AI investment in the sector.

Supply Chain Management

IFS Acquiring Softeon, Bringing Industrial AI to Warehouse Management

IFS's planned acquisition of cloud-native Softeon aims to enhance warehouse management capabilities, integrating AI and robotics into operations, amidst a growing $8.6 billion market driven by labor shortages and automation demands.

Cloud Platform and Technology

Tekniska verken Picks IFS Cloud to Strengthen Digital Transformation, Service Delivery

Tekniska verken has chosen IFS Cloud to digitize its operations and enhance service delivery by integrating legacy systems into a unified platform that utilizes industrial AI for improved efficiency, visibility and asset management.

Manufacturing Systems and Automation

Syspro Joins National Association of Manufacturers

Syspro has joined the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to collaborate with U.S. manufacturing leaders on innovation, supply chain resilience and digital transformation.