After a decade plus in the enterprise software space, I’ve witnessed countless technology transformations. But few shifts have been as profound, or as necessary, as what’s happening in the ERP world today. My recent conversation with Ali Jani, Chief Product Officer at Acumatica, illuminated just how dramatically these systems are evolving from necessary back-office utilities into strategic drivers of business growth.

Watch the full interview on the K&Co Tech podcast here:

From Necessity to Innovation: A 30-Year Journey

Ali’s story perfectly encapsulates this transformation. Starting as an electrical engineer and computer scientist in the early 90s, he inadvertently built a thriving PC manufacturing business while trying to fund his software dreams. What struck me most was his observation about those early days: “Every time my employees would come up and ask me questions like, hey, can I sell this at this price? Can I do XYZ? I was like, hey, why can’t the software answer that for you instead of me having to answer?”

This frustration led to building custom integrations because existing accounting systems couldn’t handle the complexity of modern business operations. It’s a challenge that resonates with business leaders today—but now the stakes are even higher.

The Balance Between Innovation and Practicality

One thing that became crystal clear during our discussion is that today’s business leaders face an unprecedented challenge: embracing rapid innovation while delivering practical, real-world solutions. On that front, Ali shared he believes that over the next five years, we’ll probably do as much as we did in the last 25 years.

This acceleration isn’t slowing down, it’s speeding up. The companies that will thrive are those that view change not as a threat to control, but as an opportunity to gain competitive advantage. Ali made a particularly insightful point about this and how you can embrace or spearhead change, but still be in control: “I think if you balance, hey not being reckless, you know, nobody wants to be reckless with change. So, I think you should embrace change if you feel like you can stay in control.”

The Complexity Challenge: Why Modern Business Demands More

What’s driving this ERP evolution? Business complexity. Companies that once operated in single channels are now multi-modal operations. Distributors have become retailers. Manufacturers are going direct-to-consumer. This isn’t just about adding new sales channels, it’s about managing entirely different business models within the same organization.

This complexity creates what Ali calls the “20% problem” — that unique differentiator that sets your business apart from competitors. Traditional ERP systems force organizations to customize extensively to accommodate this uniqueness, creating technical debt that eventually could leave the company behind. The solution? Platforms that are inherently adaptable without requiring costly customizations.

Democratizing Innovation Across the Organization

Perhaps the most compelling insight from our conversation was Ali’s philosophy about democratizing technology. “How do I put the power in the hands of everyone? How do I democratize technology so that there are no IT bottlenecks?”

This approach flips traditional ERP thinking on its head. Instead of limiting system access to control costs, successful organizations are involving everyone — employees, vendors, and customers — in the innovation process. It’s a philosophy that extends beyond internal walls, as Ali emphasized: “Everything we built actually comes from our customers. We innovate together.”

I’ve had this discussion many times with enterprise leaders driving AI initiatives, and to a one, the organizations having the most success are those that democratize access across the organization and encourage adoption and experimentation. Ali’s experiences on this front speak to just that.

The Platform Advantage: Building for the Future

The conversation revealed a fundamental shift in how we should think about ERP architecture. Ali’s insistence on building Acumatica as a platform company rather than just an ERP vendor reflects a deeper understanding of business longevity. “Platform companies are the ones that last. Those are the ones that really make it.”

This platform approach addresses the traditional SaaS dilemma: you can stay current but can’t adapt, or you can customize but get left behind. The goal is delivering all the benefits of SaaS solutions without the traditional drawbacks.

Looking Ahead: The Human-AI Partnership

When I asked Ali to peer into his crystal ball, his response surprised me. While AI will certainly transform how we interact with business systems, the real shift will be in the relationship w=that we have with AI systems themselves. “The system will come out to you and ask questions instead of you asking the system questions. The roles kind of get reversed — we become the helper of the system instead of the system being a helper of us.” I think that if people thought about AI in that vein as opposed to the “AI is coming for all of the jobs” it would go a long way toward spurring adoption and innovation.

Essential Guidance for ERP Buyers

For business leaders evaluating ERP platforms today, Ali’s guidance centers on three critical factors:

  • Get everyone involved from the start
  • Think long-term growth rather than short-term needs
  • Ensure your vendor is aligned with your success

The bottom line? Today’s ERP decision isn’t just about operational efficiency — it’s about building the foundation for decades of business growth and adaptation. The companies that recognize this shift and choose their platforms accordingly will be the ones writing the next chapter of business success.

 

This article was originally published on LinkedIn.

 

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