Meet the Specialists
Esp 18: ERP Is a Finance Transformation Wearing an IT Label And CFOsNeed to Reclaim It
Thomas Hood
Thomas Hood, Partner & Finance Transformation Leader at SC&H, reframes ERP as a finance transformation, not an IT project. Drawing on deep experience helping global organisations modernise finance, he explains why ERP, EPM, and data must become decision-making engines, not just systems of record.
Esp 17: From "Vibe Coding" to Enterprise Engineering (Part 2)
Jan Baan
Jan explores the collision between probabilistic AI and deterministic ERP, why governance and architectural control are essential, and what must change for organisations to move from experimentation to true enterprise engineering, where AI strengthens control rather than eroding it.
Esp 17: From "Vibe Coding" to Enterprise Engineering (Part 1)
Jan Baan
Jan Baan, Founder of Rappit, reframes the AI conversation in ERP from speed and experimentation to discipline and long-term system integrity. Drawing on decades of enterprise engineering experience, he explains why unchecked “vibe coding” and AI-generated extensions risk creating a new, harder-to-unwind generation of technical debt.
Esp 16: From firefighting to flow: how automation changes release readiness
David Zimmerman
David Zimmerman, VP of Product and Solutions at Opkey, reframes release readiness as a discipline of control and confidence rather than a last-minute testing scramble. Drawing on deep experience in ERP automation and continuous testing, he explains why organisations must move from reactive “firefighting” to structured, automation-led execution.
ESP 15: Driving Local Ownership For A Global ERP Standard And Why It Matters
Arne Buthmann
Arne Buthmann, founder of Oxygy, reframes ERP transformation as an ownership and resilience challenge rather than a compliance exercise. Drawing on deep experience helping global organisations embed and sustain ERP standards, he explains why success is not achieved at go-live, but through local adoption, behavioural change, and long-term ownership.
ESP 14: Automation First: Why ERP Projects Fail Without Continuous Testing (Before, During & After Go-Live)
David Zimmerman
ERP lifecycle automation specialist focused on reducing transformation risk, reframes ERP success as a quality and resilience challenge rather than just a delivery milestone. Drawing on deep experience across testing, implementation, and post-go-live optimisation, David explains how embedding automation and testing from day one enables organisations to move faster while protecting critical business processes.
ESP 13: AI-First ERP: A CTO Playbook For Turning Business Central Into A Data & Decision Platform
Martin Rusnak
Interim and Fractional CTO focused on turning ERP into the operational backbone of AI-driven enterprises, positions Microsoft Business Central as the launchpad for unified data, intelligence, and scalable digital operating models rather than a migration end goal.
ESP 12: Composable ERP: The CIO's Escape Plan From Monolithic ERP Pain
Tim Faith
Fractional CIO focused on helping organisations escape monolithic ERP constraints, positions composable ERP as a strategic business enabler rather than a technology architecture decision. Drawing on real-world modernisation engagements, he explains how leaders can move away from disruptive rip-and-replace cycles toward incremental, outcome-driven capability evolution.
ESP 11: Mobilizing C-Suite & Board to Turn ERP into a Value Engine.
Rui Teixera
Fractional CFO in Life Sciences, reframes ERP as a leadership led value engine rather than an IT or finance project. Drawing on real-world transformation experience, he explains how CFOs and executives can translate ERP into board level outcomes. While showing why culture, communication, and early leadership alignment are the true drivers of ERP success.
ESP 10: The ERP Bootcamp: Train Your Project Team Before the Project Starts
Bret Robinson
As the creator of the AI Experts methodology, Bret shares how educating teams early, understanding data upfront, and using AI to guide decisions can dramatically reduce ERP risk. This episode explores how organizations can use AI driven insight to plan smarter, choose the right ERP, and prepare people to succeed long before implementation begins.
ESP 9: The ERP Doctor explains why ERP programs fail
Dr James A Robertson
The ERP Doctor explains why ERP programs fail and how they can be engineered to succeed. Drawing on decades of experience recovering troubled ERP initiatives, he outlines the early warning signs of failure, the critical role of visible executive leadership. This episode is essential viewing for leaders aiming to prevent ERP failure long before go-live.
ESP 8: Silence: The Biggest Risk in ERP / Phase 0
Jakob Bent Smed
The most overlooked risks in ERP transformation: silence. He explains how fear, politics, and a lack of psychological safety derail ERP programs long before go-live, and why Phase 0 is the critical moment to surface truth, build trust, and address human risk. This episode offers a powerful leadership perspective on turning transparency and culture into strengths that drive ERP success.
ESP 7: The Power of Taking Time (to Do It Right)
Judith O'callaghan
Director and Facilitator at Masterclass with SAP, explains why the most successful ERP programs slow down before they speed up. Drawing on 20+ years of global ERP leadership, she makes the case for Phase 0 as the critical foundation that defines readiness, alignment, and long-term success > reinforcing that ERP transformation is ultimately a human journey, not a technology rollout.
ESP 6: SAP 5X Explained: The Biggest SAP Shift Since R/3
Alisdair Bach
Alisdair Bach, Founder of Dragon ERP, breaks down SAP’s new 5X strategy and why it marks the biggest shift since R/3. He explains how SAP is moving from cloud-centric to value-centric transformation, unlocking brownfield modernization, unifying legacy and future landscapes through the Omniverse, and reshaping the ecosystem around AI-driven orchestration and specialist partners. This a must-watch for anyone navigating SAP’s next era.
ESP 5: Turning ERP Adoption into Business Value
Arne Buthmann
Arne Buthmann, Partner at OXYGY Consulting, challenges the idea that go-live equals success. He explains why real ERP value is created after implementation > When leaders shift from control to orchestration, align around shared KPIs, and turn user adoption into measurable business performance. This episode offers a clear, leadership driven view of how ERP transforms results, not just systems.
ESP 4: Mastering SAP: The Human Side of Transformation
Sana Asher
Sana Asher, Founder of SAP Masterclasses, reframes ERP and SAP transformation as a people first challenge, not a technology one. Drawing from global SAP S/4HANA programs, she shares why leadership, communication, and mindset are the true drivers of success and how strong change management turns a functional system into a thriving organization.
ESP 3: ERP vs Best-of-Breed: Choosing the Right System for Your Business
Sam Gupta
Sam Gupta, Founder of ElevatIQ, explains why successful digital transformation starts with strategy & not software. Drawing on 200+ ERP initiatives, he breaks down the real trade-offs between ERP suites and best-of-breed, the hidden ROI risks leaders miss, and why clarity in business design is critical before making any ERP decision.
ESP 2: The IFS Revolution
Charlie Shephard
Charlie Shephard shares how IFS Cloud is redefining ERP through connected operations, automation, and AI at the core. He explains how real-time visibility and intelligent insights help organizations save time, improve decisions, and move beyond traditional ERP toward smarter, more agile operations > making this a must-watch for leaders exploring the future of ERP and AI.
ESP 1: ERP Isn’t Broken But How We Buy It Is
Andy Pratico
In Episode 1 of The ERP Perspective, ERP Reality Check, ERP veteran Andy Pratico cuts through the noise around ERP failure. With 40+ years of hands-on experience, he explains why ERP projects break down during selection, not implementation and highlights how misaligned requirements, demo-driven decisions, and leadership gaps, rather than the software, determine ERP success or failure.
