IFS wins ERP AI and Innovation of the Year for IFS.ai; Sovos named runner-up for real-time tax intelligence platform.
AI in ERP has entered a new phase that is being defined by execution rather than experimentation. This year’s ERP AI and Innovation of the Year Award recognizes solutions that move beyond isolated AI use cases to deliver enterprise-wide impact.
The category focuses on product innovation and development inside core ERP systems. This year’s judges looked for platforms that improved performance, supported better decisions, and enabled meaningful transformation at scale.
Winner: IFS.ai Across the Enterprise 
IFS took top honors for its flagship platform, IFS.ai, which earned the highest scores from the judging panel for both scope and real-world applicability.
What set IFS.ai apart was the depth of its integration. Rather than positioning AI as an overlay, IFS has embedded intelligence directly into its core ERP platform, spanning asset management, service operations, and manufacturing environments. The platform represents a clear evolution in ERP: AI is no longer a bolt-on capability, but a foundational element of how the system operates.
Judges were particularly impressed by the platform’s ability to support industrial-scale use cases. From predictive maintenance to optimized service delivery, IFS.ai demonstrates how AI can enhance decision-making, reduce downtime, and improve operational performance across complex enterprise landscapes.
“Winning the ERP Today Award for AI and Innovation of the Year is a recognition we are proud to receive on behalf of our customers, whose real-world results are at the heart of what IFS.ai was built to deliver,” Cathie Hall, Chief Customer Officer at IFS tells ERP Today. “Unlike generic AI tools, IFS.ai is engineered for the industries that keep the world running, from energy and aerospace to manufacturing and field service. This award reflects our continued commitment to building industrial AI that creates measurable impact for asset-intensive businesses.”
Runner-Up: Sovos and Global Compliance 
Sovos was named runner-up for its solution, “Sovos Intelligence—Mirror Visibility for Real-Time Tax Compliance.” The project applies AI to global tax compliance, which is one of the most demanding areas of enterprise operations.
By embedding real-time intelligence into ERP workflows, Sovos gives finance and compliance teams continuous visibility into obligations across jurisdictions. The system tracks regulatory changes, applies the correct rules at the point of transaction, and flags risks before they become issues. This reduces reliance on after-the-fact reconciliation and helps organizations stay aligned with complex, fast-changing requirements.
Judges highlighted the sophistication of the solution and its immediate practical value for multinational enterprises. The platform fits into existing processes without adding friction, while improving accuracy and control. For multinational enterprises, this means fewer surprises, faster reporting cycles, and stronger confidence in compliance across global operations.
“Navigating global tax compliance is the most sophisticated technology challenge facing multinational businesses today,” says Kevin Akeroyd, CEO, Sovos. “The pace of change, complexity, and necessity to respond in real-time or face significant penalties has companies reacting vs. planning strategically. Sovos is on a mission to transform compliance from a necessary requirement to a force for growth, and solutions such as Mirror Visibility with AI enable us to do that.”
What This Means for ERP Today Awards in 2026
AI is moving from experimental to operational across ERP environments. The most compelling solutions are those embedded directly into core processes rather than layered on top complex systems. In 2026, judges will expect to see AI capabilities that are fully integrated and delivering measurable outcomes at scale.
Industry-specific AI can be a key differentiator. Generic AI features are no longer enough, as many solutions in the market now address real-world challenges such as compliance, asset management, or service optimization. Future nominees will need to demonstrate domain depth as well as technical sophistication.
The value of AI will be judged by business performance. Projects that show clear ROI—whether through efficiency gains, risk reduction, or revenue impact—will define the next wave of winners. Expect 2026 submissions to focus heavily on quantifiable results.
