Power Platform

This article explores how ERP leaders can rethink transformation to both de-risk delivery and accelerate time to value, rather than treating ERP as a slow, high-stakes rebuild. It outlines practical ways to use preconfigured industry baselines, data and integration accelerators, and stage-gated governance so decisions are transparent, auditable, and tied directly to business outcomes.

This piece examines the journey from traditional finance automation to AI-powered autonomous operations, outlining how technologies such as machine learning, generative AI, and intelligent agents can take on more of the end-to-end workload. It explores what “autonomous finance” means in practice, the steps needed to modernise processes and data, and how the CFO’s role evolves as finance shifts from manual control to AI-driven decision support.

Marabu, a leading manufacturer of printing and hobby inks, partnered with Hitachi Solutions to replace fragmented legacy systems with a unified Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform for ERP and CRM. Dynamics 365 Sales, Customer Service, Finance, and Supply Chain are being rolled out across multiple countries, harmonising processes, improving data quality, and creating a scalable foundation for Marabu’s international growth.

Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest social housing provider, worked with Hitachi Solutions to consolidate more than 50 legacy systems into a single Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform for finance and customer engagement. The new cloud-based solution gives Clarion a unified view of residents, simplifies case management, and supports consistent, omnichannel services across its housing operations.

The Royal Mint partnered with Hitachi Solutions to design and implement a new cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management platform to power its world-first Sustainable Precious Metals programme. The ERP solution tracks e-waste from intake through processing to finished products, supporting circular economy goals while improving agility, data management, and security.

Microsoft's June 2026 Power Platform updates introduce Advanced Connector Policies that govern AI agent access to SAP systems at the action and MCP server level. ERP leaders must understand what the new controls mean for low-code automation, connector visibility, and enterprise AI compliance.