Enterprise Apps Unpacked

Informa TechTarget

What separates successful enterprise technology implementations from costly failures? Here on Enterprise Apps Unpacked, we’ll do a deep dive into strategies that actually deliver results. Every other Monday, veteran IT journalist David Essex interviews corporate leaders, industry experts and vendors—the people who are truly in the know—about important developments in ERP, HR and supply chain systems and the other applications that run the business. For business and IT leaders, these conversations cut through the chatter to help them make smart decisions about how they buy, deploy and use enterprise software.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Direct materials sourcing technology a hub for manufacturers

    Direct materials sourcing is a critical process in product design, engineering and manufacturing. That was never more apparent in 2017 when Tesla began to ship the Model 3, its first electric vehicle meant to be affordable for middle-income buyers. The company had set two ambitious and unprecedented goals: building an EV for a base price of $35,000 and completing the development cycle in three years, half the typical turnaround in the automotive industry. The compressed timeline put tremendous pressure on employees to source quality parts economically and on time while keeping up with the tight design and production schedules. But Tesla was working at a disadvantage. Much of its sourcing and procurement was still done manually, and an IT gap existed between the product lifecycle management system, where engineering and design were managed, and the ERP. In this episode, we explore the impact inefficient procurement can have on profit margins, how a direct materials sourcing platform can close the technology gap for manufacturers, and the role played by AI. Featuring: Spencer Penn, Co-founder and CEO, LightSource    In today's episode, we'll also cover: Why mastering the bill of materials is so important in sourcing's financial impact. How LightSource works, who uses it and where it fits in the product lifecycle. Lessons learned from Penn's experiences managing engineering finance at Tesla. References: LightSource on procurement's overreliance on email and spreadsheets Tesla misses Q3 goals due to "production bottlenecks" Automotive supply chains can benefit from sourcing alliances: Here's why. To learn more about enterprise applications, check out Search ERP.

    38 min

  2. 23 FEB

    Capgemini exec shares lessons from SAP agentic AI projects

    Agentic AI is the hottest trend in ERP. It promises to infuse enterprise applications with AI that anticipates users' needs, communicates with them in natural language and handles more of the tedium of working in ERP systems. SAP is one of the leaders of the push for agentic AI. It has aggressively added special-purpose AI agents and development tools for building custom agents and beefed up its data platforms to accommodate AI's needs. But in practice, building agentic AI that works across SAP and non-SAP systems is challenging, and it often requires outside help from a consulting firm or system integrator. In this episode, we explore the practical realities of implementing AI applications on SAP systems, including the design process, development tools and integration challenges. Featuring: Gianluca Simeone, Vice President, CTIO and GenAI Leader, Capgemini    In today's episode, we'll also cover: Keys to successful agentic AI projects. Integration tools and standards for SAP AI. Whether non-programmers can use low-code development tools to play a meaningful role in agentic AI design. The status of multi-agent orchestration protocols. References: SAP pitches role-based Joule assistants as ERP work partners Agentic AI explained: Key concepts and enterprise use cases Simeone explains procure-to-pay project in SAP video To learn more about enterprise applications, check out Search ERP.

    26 min

  3. 9 FEB

    AI-human symbiosis could be key for enterprise AGI software

    Controversies over artificial general intelligence (AGI) mostly come down to two big issues: whether it's possible to make computers that are as smart as humans, and whether doing so is worth the risk of AGI somehow turning against its creators. But what if AGI is not only feasible, but actually dependent on humans, and could ultimately be the ideal collaborator? The head of an AI research lab asserts that a human-machine symbiosis will be necessary if AGI is ever to attain the "embodied" intelligence of humans: the creativity, intuition and values that go beyond the computational intelligence of today's machines. In this episode, we explore how this human-machine symbiosis would work in practice, how it could change enterprise applications, and its implications for human intelligence. Featuring: Nik Kairinos, Co-founder and Chief AI Architect, Fountech AI    In today's episode, we'll also cover: How the human-machine symbiosis could solve AI bias and hallucination problems. The risk of humans behaving more like machines. Why making jobs more efficient with AI could spur job creation. References: Ultimate guide to artificial intelligence in the enterprise What is artificial general intelligence (AGI)? Fountech AI newsletter To learn more about enterprise applications, check out Search ERP.

    32 min

  4. 26 JAN

    AI-driven embedded lending emerges as digital finance option

    Artificial intelligence is starting to transform buy-now, pay-later options and other types of embedded lending by taking over many of the steps of credit approval. It can speed up the information processing, analysis and decision-making of online lending, improve its accuracy and profitability, and ultimately make credit available to more consumers and businesses. But AI lending also carries the risk of bias against minority groups, and borrowers and lenders must feel they can trust the AI to make fair, fiscally sound decisions. Many banks already have digital infrastructure for online lending and use it to offer loans on websites and retail payment terminals, but they're reluctant to add AI until the regulatory and risk management issues are resolved.      In this episode, we explore how embedded lending platforms work, who uses them, and the benefits and challenges of automating the lending process with AI. Featuring: Yaacov Martin, Co-founder and CEO, The Jifiti Group    In today's episode, we'll also cover: Jifiti's digital lending platform. Why embedded lending might be of interest to non-bank enterprises. The future of digital finance.   References: Injenico, Jifiti partner to offer payment options Digital payments to exceed $33.5 trillion by 2030: report Yaacov Martin article on bank readiness for AI lending Academic study on the rise of digital finance To learn more about enterprise applications, check out Search ERP.

    41 min

  5. 12 JAN

    How AI amplifies resume fraud and other job seeker cheating

    Fraud is among the most common abuses of information technology. Defined as intentional deception to gain an unfair advantage, fraud is increasingly common in talent management, especially recruiting, and has only gotten worse with the easy availability of AI. For example, AI enables job applicants to misrepresent their qualifications by falsifying resumes and cover letters and tweaking them to match job descriptions. One study showed that the technology levels the playing field so much that companies are less likely to hire the most qualified candidates and more likely to choose the least qualified ones. It's a growing problem for HR departments and hiring managers. In this episode, we explore the types of HR-related fraud, the role technology plays and strategies organizations can use to minimize its impact.  Featuring: Brian Sommer, Founder and President, TechVentive    In today's episode, we'll also cover: How applicants use AI to cheat on tests. What technology vendors are doing to address fraud. Why holding focus groups with job seekers can improve the recruiting process and provide insight into how people use AI.   References: How HR leaders can spot and stop fake job applicants Ultimate guide to recruitment and talent acquisition Academic study on how AI distorts recruitment To learn more about enterprise applications, check out Search ERP.

    34 min

  6. 29/12/2025

    How a distributor used AI-driven dynamic pricing for quick ROI

    Dynamic pricing is an increasingly popular agentic AI application that showcases AI's advantages over humans in certain tasks. In seconds, AI can analyze customer histories and external data to optimize price quotes without turning off customers. Such labor-intensive work can take salespeople minutes to complete, and they often have biases that cause them to miss opportunities. AI-driven dynamic pricing tools perform the analysis quickly and dispassionately, which is helping to make salespeople more productive and boosting profits.   In this episode, we explore an electrical distributor's use of an Infor ERP dynamic pricing tool, the work that went into developing and deploying it, the challenges, and lessons learned. Featuring: David Magee, CTO and CISO, Turtle    In today's episode, we'll also cover: Turtle's revenue and margin improvements from using the tool. Why optimizing prices is so important for large distributors. How the Infor AI goes beyond analytics. The role of Infor's data science team. References: Infor offers process mining, automation in CloudSuite ERP Infor debuts AI agents to tackle industry specific tasks Case study on Infor website To learn more about enterprise applications, check out Search ERP.

    29 min

  7. 15/12/2025

    Deloitte experts: Internal controls key in ERP cloud migration

    While ERP cloud migration promises numerous benefits, including cost savings, leading-edge features, broad accessibility and ease of use, it also carries substantial risks. This is especially true of moving the accounting and financial management modules of on-premises ERP to the cloud. A poorly executed move can break an organization's financial processes and expose sensitive data, raising significant financial and regulatory risks. But establishing internal controls early in the ERP planning process can be an effective safeguard. In this episode, we explore the kinds of controls that are most effective, who is responsible for them, the steps in developing controls, and where they fit in enterprise application ecosystems. Featuring: Laura Bellinger, audit and assurance partner, David Rains, audit and assurance principal, Deloitte accounting, controls and reporting advisory.   In today's episode, we'll also cover: How AI helps automate the process. Why cloud-driven financial transformations are a good time to improve existing controls. The role of consulting firms like Deloitte in setting up internal controls. References: Deloitte article by Bellinger and Rains What is risk management? Importance, benefits and guide What is digital transformation? Everything you need to know To learn more about enterprise applications, check out Search ERP.

    31 min

  8. 01/12/2025

    Living up to the hype: Lessons from IoT supply chain wins

    The affordable connected sensors made possible by the internet of things seem tailor-made for supply chain management. IoT sensors are ideal for collecting and transmitting the data that companies need for numerous supply chain processes, from traceability and procurement to inventory optimization and logistics. But has IoT lived up to its initial growth spurt and hype of a decade ago? Recent indications are that it is beginning to show clear value and positive ROI at companies that have implemented IoT in their supply chains. In this episode, we examine trends in IoT in general and in supply chains, the challenges of deploying IoT, and why widely available AI is boosting IoT's practicality as a business tool. Featuring: Subodha Kumar, Distinguished Chair and Professor of Statistics, Operations, Data Science and Information Systems, Temple University In today's episode, we'll also cover: Which IoT use cases provide the quickest wins. Where IoT fits into the broader ecosystem of supply chain software. The future potential of AI-enabled IoT in supply chains. References: Walmart deploys sensors to boost inventory tracking, AI efforts Guide to supply chain management Journal article co-written by Kumar on IoT in intralogistics To learn more about enterprise applications, check out Search ERP.

    22 min
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About

What separates successful enterprise technology implementations from costly failures? Here on Enterprise Apps Unpacked, we’ll do a deep dive into strategies that actually deliver results. Every other Monday, veteran IT journalist David Essex interviews corporate leaders, industry experts and vendors—the people who are truly in the know—about important developments in ERP, HR and supply chain systems and the other applications that run the business. For business and IT leaders, these conversations cut through the chatter to help them make smart decisions about how they buy, deploy and use enterprise software.

Information

  • Creator
    Informa TechTarget
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Enterprise Apps Unpacked