Paul Esherwood, Author at ERP Today

Paul Esherwood

Former editor

157 Articles Published

Editor’s Words: capability and complexity

In a previous editorial, I quoted Tom Peters who famously said: “If you’re not confused, you’re not paying attention” - but that sentiment is already outdated.

Being #2 set the stage for #1 in cloud ERP

Oracle has been on a journey of self-reflection over the last few years.The once brash and spiky vendor has reinvented itself with a new customer-centric narrative, a modernised partner network and a portfolio of products that has escalated it to the undisputed position as the world’s leading cloud ERP vendor.

Partnerships key to mass-adoption

When the world’s largest consulting firms like Accenture, Deloitte and EY start talking about a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ the rest of the world better sit up and take note

Cute acquisitions augment the core offering

ServiceNow is building-out its offering with highly targeted acquisitions that enrich the core proposition rather than making huge plays that history knows are sometimes difficult to integrate.

Abstract stock image | Oracle and Microsoft

Tech Trends Report 2022

The Deloitte Tech Trends report is in its thirteenth year and looks at current, emerging and future technology trends. It is essential reading for any digital leader and is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and thorough reports of its kind.

Industries: the final frontier for cloud

Ever bought something new to find that it’s actually something old in a different wrapper? There are some great examples of deep domain experience, regulatory compliance and finely tuned capability - but there is also a lot of vapourware out there too.

Boomerang hires and the importance of maintaining relationships with former employees

The battle for talent is well documented in this issue of ERP Today and virtually all large employers are in a race against time to find, hire and onboard the staff they need to meet their obligations.

Benefits of low code app development still flying under the radar, according to ServiceNow research

A ServiceNow survey reveals that while many employees in the UK and Ireland see the potential benefits of low code app development for enhancing efficiency and collaboration at work, there remains a significant need for education on its advantages, as many are hesitant due to perceived complexity and lack of creativity.

ServiceNow beats expectations on all fronts

ServiceNow has announced financial results for its fourth quarter that beat all predictions. The highlight from the earnings call is the growing number of customers that are spending more than $1m – up by over 50 percent.

Microsoft confirms position as #1 cloud vendor

Microsoft has announced its results for Q2 and revealed stunning growth across the board including a 32 percent increase in cloud revenue – worth $22.2bn on the quarter – confirming its position as the number one cloud vendor.

IBM announces strong(ish) Q4 results

IBM exceeded Q4 expectations with earnings of $3.35 per share on $16.7 billion in revenue, boosted by strong performances in consulting, hybrid cloud, and Red Hat, while facing declines in infrastructure and financing, and the results follow the company's recent divestiture of non-core units.

Heathrow Airport takes off with Oracle Cloud

Heathrow Airport has transformed its HR and finance functions with the implementation of Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, with Capgemini and Oracle Consulting combining their resources to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and deliver the programme at pace.

DXC Technology expands global partnership with ServiceNow

DXC Technology, a Fortune 500 technology services company, has announced the formation of a new global DXC ServiceNow strategic business group to deliver market-leading, cost-efficient, resilient technology services that transform enterprise service operations, built on DXC Platform X.

Deloitte and Oracle rejuvenate legacy data systems for Galderma

Deloitte and Oracle have transformed the legacy data systems of the world’s largest independent global dermatology company, Galderma, through the implementation of Deloitte SuperLedger™, a platform built on Oracle Cloud.

Lumenia’s HEADtoHEAD event set for 8th to 10th March

ERP Today partners with Lumenia Consulting for a virtual event from March 8-10, showcasing live ERP product demonstrations by 14 vendors and offering insights on ERP readiness and implementation strategies.

Bill McDermott and ServiceNow cover story preview

Bill McDermott is a titan of the industry and currently serves as the CEO at one of the hottest enterprise software companies in the world – ServiceNow. In an all-access interview, McDermott talks exclusively to Paul Esherwood about his life, career and the opportunity to build ServiceNow into the defining enterprise software company of the twenty-first century. This short extract previews some of the topics that we covered.

Strong SAP results reveal record cloud performance

For the fourth quarter, the company saw rapid expansion of current cloud backlog to €9.45bn, up 32 percent. Driven by strong adoption of RISE with SAP, S/4HANA current cloud backlog is up 84 percent to €1.71bn, while cloud revenue increased by 28 percent to €2.61bn.

Ex-Oracle SVP joins de Novo as NED

Clive Swan, a former Oracle SVP with over 30 years of experience, has joined de Novo Solutions as a non-executive director, enhancing the firm's governance and credibility as it aims to leverage Oracle and ServiceNow technologies to offer industry-specific services in the competitive $330 billion professional services market.

Oracle chair and CTO Larry Ellison speaks | Oracle Q4

Oracle buys Cerner in $28bn industry play

Oracle has announced the acquisition of Cerner Corporation for approximately $28.3bn. The all-cash deal will give a serious boost to Oracle’s aspirations to lead in the vertical cloud battleground - with healthcare and health services being their number one priority.

ServiceNow and Qualtrics partner up reuniting McDermott with his last SAP acquisition

ServiceNow and Qualtrics have announced the availability of new joint capabilities that enable companies to deliver personalised service experiences. The partnership between Qualtrics and ServiceNow re-establishes a connection between ServiceNow CEO, Bill McDermott, and the company that he bought during the final months of his tenure at SAP.

Oracle cloud revenue up 22 percent as stock soars

The news boosted Oracle’s share price by nearly 16 percent on Friday pushing the value of the company to more than $280bn. The rally also boosted Larry Ellison’s personal fortune by $16bn to a staggering £135bn making him the world’s fourth richest person, one spot behind Microsoft founder, Bill Gates.

ERP Today Live! with Anwen Robinson, GM & SVP, Infor UK

Anwen Robinson joined Infor as UK General Manager and SVP back in February 2021. Now settled in the role and ready to share her plans for the region - we had a lot of fun discussing what had been achieved so far, Infor's commitments to industry specificity, creating an identity for the Infor in the UK and what that means for customers.

Paul Kurchina joins ERP Today as Global Brand Ambassador

Paul Kurchina, former board director of ASUG and respected SAP analyst, has joined ERP Today as its first global brand ambassador and advisor. Kurchina is considered by both industry and technology corporations as an information technology visionary and internationally respected builder of teams and communities.

ERP Today Live! On the cloud vs. in the cloud, with Infor

This is the third session in a 3 part series looking back at articles we wrote in 2019 so we can find out if our predictions were correct and what’s changed in the last 2 years. This session focusses on the difference between being on the cloud and in the cloud.

Salesforce stock dips despite strong Q3 as Benioff lays ground for transition

Salesforce stock dipped 6 percent in extended trading, despite announcing solid results for its third quarter of fiscal 2022 ended October 31, 2021. It also announced the appointment of Bret Taylor as the company’s co-CEO – a move that some expect to signal the start of a transition of leadership.

ERP Today Live! Digital competencies for a robust finance function, with Infor

This is the second session in a 3 part series looking back at articles we wrote in 2019 so we can find out if our predictions were correct and what’s changed in the last 2 years. This session focusses on digital competencies, with a particular emphasis on the finance function, and back in 2019 we wrote: ‘In every vertical market there will be winners and losers and it is likely that the victors will share some common DNA while the defeated will unfortunately bear the same characteristics.”

ERP Today Live! Platforms are the key to enterprise modernisation – with Infor

This article reflects on a 2019 prediction that the importance of platforms in ERP selection has surpassed mere functionality, a view supported by Phil Lewis from Infor, emphasizing the continued relevance of integrated technology platforms for successful enterprises.

Automation Anywhere and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust launch white paper series

Automation Anywhere and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust are collaborating on white papers that explore how automation, particularly RPA combined with AI, can enhance efficiency and patient outcomes in healthcare, showcasing their successful implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Etting of Unit 4 interview by Paul Esherwood, Mayfair, London | Unit4 Q2

Unit4 acquires Compright to support compensation management and planning

Unit4 has acquired Compright to enhance its SaaS compensation planning capabilities, enabling automated compensation processes and analytics for customers across 40 countries, thereby addressing the challenges of talent management in a rapidly changing environment.

New analysis from Priority Software reveals ERP trends for 2022

Priority Software's analysis highlights that the evolution of ERP systems, driven by customer demands for flexibility and integration of new technologies, is crucial for businesses to adapt to a rapidly changing environment, with trends such as headless architecture, cloud computing, AI, IoT integration, mobile ERP, and two-tier ERP systems shaping the future landscape.