Top Predictions for the ERP Software Industry in 2020

About this issue

Looking toward a New Decade

ERP News Magazine Issue 5, dated December 2019, brings together forecasts for the ERP industry in 2020. Its contributors consider cloud adoption, manufacturing change, analytics, artificial intelligence and the leadership practices required to make enterprise systems useful. Three substantial interviews examine pharmaceutical supply networks, contract management and the evolving caniasERP platform. The issue is a record of expectations at the end of 2019; its predictions remain distinct from subsequently observed outcomes.

Manufacturing, Leadership and Market Expectations

Nick Goode of Sage Business Cloud X3 explores three trends likely to affect manufacturing. His discussion connects digital change with shifting consumer expectations, sustainability and more adaptable ways of delivering technology to employees. The emphasis is on how manufacturers organize themselves around changing demand, rather than treating digitization as an isolated IT exercise.

David Beldyk of DABCO Consulting examines leadership behavior after an ERP implementation. He shows how apparently reasonable management habits can undermine a shared system: rewarding local results at the expense of the wider business, accepting unexplained discrepancies or encouraging workarounds. His contribution makes post-go-live leadership part of the implementation's continuing success. Robin Irvine of Avaap offers three industry predictions, while Bryan Nella's supply-chain outlook addresses sustainability, data-led decisions and a changing global trading environment. These outlooks describe anticipated pressures rather than confirmed future events.

Three Executive Interviews

John Hogan, Senior Vice President of Engineering at TraceLink, describes a network-based approach to the pharmaceutical supply chain. The interview connects serialization and regulatory requirements with the potential to exchange information among manufacturers, distributors and other participants. Hogan discusses how a digital network could support visibility and coordinated responses to disruptions. Network size and reach are company-reported figures from the publication period. The interview is an executive account of TraceLink's approach, not an independently evaluated implementation at a single named pharmaceutical customer.

Colin Earl, founder and CEO of Agiloft, considers contract and commerce lifecycle management. He explains the argument for using contracts as a core record connecting commercial obligations, operational processes and risk management. The discussion includes no-code configuration, document assembly, audit trails and AI-assisted extraction or review of contract information. Earl also describes security and planned product development. These are attributed vendor statements; the summary does not convert them into an assurance that every customer deployment meets every regulatory requirement.

Behiç Ferhatoğlu of IAS discusses caniasERP, TROIA, IASDB and the company's Industry 4.0 work. His interview addresses flexibility, sector experience, international operations and the role of ERP in making business information accessible. He describes investment plans for AI, big data and a more comprehensive cloud subscription offering targeted for 2020. The account also covers the caniasERP Live event and internal efforts to document business practices. Planned products and growth ambitions remain prospective in the source.

Analytics and a Named Example

Lucy Thorpe of InCloud Solutions argues that analytics is moving from a discretionary addition to a practical business requirement. She distinguishes useful, focused insight from overwhelming users with information. Her SAP Analytics Cloud example describes Manchester City using historical team and player data to create fan-facing content and interactive experiences. This is a separate named analytics use case, rather than a full ERP implementation or a claim of measured financial return. The article's comments on prescriptive analytics are an outlook for further development.

Jean Magny of Genius Solutions encourages manufacturers to confront uncertainty rather than postpone necessary ERP change indefinitely. His discussion recognizes time constraints and employee resistance, connecting modernization with communication and preparation. Kalyani Chaudhari of Sage Software Solutions adds a broader 2020 prediction article, while Genius ERP's closing forecast considers usability, connected operations and the continuing evolution of manufacturing systems. Technology Evaluation Centers examines selection criteria, showing how apparently objective comparisons can conceal assumptions about price, vendor size, user experience and customization. Jonar's Paragon appears as a product illustration within that analysis.

The News behind the Forecasts

Oracle discusses autonomous database deployment choices, and SAP Enable Now coverage addresses skills and tailored learning. IFS announces Endeavor Energy Resources' selection of a common system for ten divisions; the intended consolidation is not presented as already achieved. A separate IFS article explains why APIs matter to the practical use of IoT and AI. Acumatica summarizes recognition and user-review material, while Capgemini and Bayer announce a broad strategic IT transformation agreement. Nicky Tozer, Glenn Graney, Lucy Thorpe and Robin Irvine also contribute shorter outlook or panel material. Together the issue frames the coming year through technology possibilities, organizational discipline and the specific requirements that should guide ERP decisions.