Analytics and AI

IBM integrates its Consulting Advantage with Microsoft Copilot to enhance efficiency for consultants, saving over 250,000 hours annually, by optimizing access to proprietary information within familiar Microsoft 365 applications while maintaining governance and oversight.

Microsoft is deepening its collaboration with OpenAI by leveraging the startup's custom chip designs for its own semiconductor strategy, while addressing concerns about AI hardware depreciation, which may influence enterprise decisions on long-term cloud and AI investments.

Microsoft is transforming its Dynamics 365 ERP by upgrading its Model Context Protocol from a static toolset to a dynamic, real-time gateway, integrating analytics and allowing extensive access to ERP functions for improved AI-enabled operations by December 2025.

Microsoft and OpenAI have released GPT-5.1 in Copilot Studio for US customers, offering two versions—Instant and Thinking—for enhanced reasoning and personalization, thereby supporting enterprise-scale adoption and allowing organizations to test advanced AI capabilities in a controlled environment.

CFOs increasingly require FP&A teams to transform data into strategic insights for real-time decision-making, highlighting the need for advanced cloud-based capabilities that enhance collaboration and reduce reliance on outdated methods.

Workday's recent acquisition of Sana aims to integrate AI-powered tools into its platform, enhancing productivity and user experiences through new AI agents and a seamless learning system, marking a significant shift towards intelligent ERP solutions.

IFS Loops has introduced digital workers to address staffing challenges in industrial organizations, offering out-of-the-box solutions for 10 roles that enhance efficiency and transparency, demonstrated by Kodiak Gas's significant ROI through their recent implementation.

Sage launched its AI Trust Label for Sage Intacct users in the US and UK, marking the beginning of a global rollout aimed at enhancing user confidence in AI by providing transparency about data usage, ethical practices, and compliance standards.

Microsoft is leading a global partnership to transform enterprise AI and cloud adoption, positioning itself as a strategic enabler of change through integrated infrastructure, AI solutions, and workforce training.

The Cisco AI Readiness Report reveals that while 97% of organizations prioritize urgent AI deployment, 92% are unprepared due to fragmented and siloed data across disparate systems, indicating a critical need for unified and clean foundational data to enable effective AI implementation.

Deutsche Telekom and NVIDIA have partnered to invest €1 billion in the Industrial AI Cloud in Munich, aiming to create one of Europe's largest AI factories, enhancing Germany's AI capabilities by 50% with 0.5 exaFLOPS performance, while ensuring data sovereignty and compliance for European businesses.

Edward Sander and Jon Stevenson discuss how traditional banks can modernize operations and compete in the digital age by leveraging the EY Nexus Digital Marketplace and the EY-MoneyLion Alliance to overcome legacy systems and enhance customer engagement.

Sage launched a suite of AI-powered ERP tools at its event in Barcelona, enhancing capabilities for small- and medium-sized businesses with upgrades to Sage X3 and the upcoming Finance Intelligence Agent, underscoring the importance of AI in efficient tax and accounting operations.

Sage has launched Sage 50 Cloud, a fully cloud-deployed accounting solution for SMBs that maintains its familiar interface while enabling AI features like Sage Copilot.

Inetum, a long-time Microsoft partner, sponsors the Microsoft SME&C Summit EMEA from October 13-15, 2025, in Dublin, emphasizing their commitment to midmarket growth through cloud and AI solutions while showcasing initiatives from their recently inaugurated AI Center of Excellence.

“We’re moving beyond the hype cycle into a period where AI’s real value is emerging. Yet, many manufacturers are struggling to bridge the gap between its potential and its practical implementation.” — TVN Reddy, CEO, Aptean

The AI boom is prompting organizations to revamp their pricing strategies, with Zuora's new monetization platform offering tools to manage dynamic service value, enhance customer visibility, and support scalability amidst unpredictable consumption patterns.

Infor has launched its Built for Industry AI Agents, generative AI tools tailored for specific sectors that automate workflows and improve operational efficiency, utilizing its cloud platform on AWS to provide contextual, industry-specific solutions without the need for custom coding.

Inetum, a European leader in digital services, will unveil its breakthrough AI framework Coborg™ at the Big Data & AI exhibition.

AI adoption has reached a tipping point—but stand-alone models can only take you so far. True transformation requires Agentic AI, where intelligent agents orchestrate tasks across business processes, freeing up teams to focus on strategy and innovation. In this webinar on-demand, IBM and Oracle experts showcase how Agentic AI delivers scalable, accurate, and business-tailored outcomes across finance, supply chain, procurement and human resources. Drawing from insights and collaboration with clients at our Innovation Studio and client value accelerators, we explore: - Why point solutions and isolated models fall short of enterprise needs - How Agentic automation can significantly reduce manual work and accelerate time-to-value - What are the core factors that make or break an Agentic success story - Real-world examples of Agentic AI in action across Oracle Cloud solutions Watch now to see how IBM and Oracle’s collaborative approach helps organizations embed AI into their transformation journey—driving measurable ROI, efficiency, and competitive advantage.

Unit4's pragmatic AI integration in ERP systems aims to transform software from mere transaction recorders to proactive partners that assist, advise, and act, while emphasizing trust through explainability, auditability, and human oversight.

AI adoption has reached a tipping point—but stand-alone models can only take you so far. True transformation requires Agentic AI, where intelligent agents orchestrate tasks across business processes, freeing up teams to focus on strategy and innovation. In this webinar on-demand, IBM and Oracle experts showcase how Agentic AI delivers scalable, accurate, and business-tailored outcomes across finance, supply chain, procurement and human resources. Drawing from insights and collaboration with clients at our Innovation Studio and client value accelerators, we explore: - Why point solutions and isolated models fall short of enterprise needs - How Agentic automation can significantly reduce manual work and accelerate time-to-value - What are the core factors that make or break an Agentic success story - Real-world examples of Agentic AI in action across Oracle Cloud solutions Watch now to see how IBM and Oracle’s collaborative approach helps organizations embed AI into their transformation journey—driving measurable ROI, efficiency, and competitive advantage.

Sage has acquired Criterion, a US-based human capital management platform, to enhance its AI-driven HR and payroll capabilities for mid-sized businesses facing complex workforce management challenges.

BlackLine has achieved the ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its Artificial Intelligence Management System, validating the governance framework of its Studio360 platform and new Verity AI capabilities, thereby setting a global standard for trusted AI in finance.

Accenture has appointed Matt Prebble as the new lead for its UK, Ireland and Africa operations starting October 1, succeeding Shaheen Sayed, who has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer of Accenture's Reinvention Services.

Why the dream of self-driving ERP is finally shifting from a buzzword to a boardroom reality.

Sage CPO Walid Abu Hadba on navigating the agentic AI revolution, empowering SMBs to outmaneuver the giants, and why the real quantum threat isn’t what you think.