When we talk about artificial intelligence today, it's easy to get swept up in the hype. Every tech conference, article, and webinar talks about AI potentially changing everything.

But from my perspective, working closely with thousands of organizations globally, the real question isn't if AI will change ERP. It already is.

The real opportunity lies in how we can apply AI practically to create real, measurable business value — starting today.

From monolithic ERP to flexible, intelligent systems

For decades, ERP was viewed as a “one-size-fits-all” backbone: large, monolithic systems designed to handle every aspect of business management.

We believe that has been changing over the past few years. Companies are embracing a composable ERP approach and assembling the solutions they need, from different vendors if necessary, and extending their core ERP with specialized capabilities.

AI is accelerating this shift.

AI is giving businesses new ways to:

• Automate repetitive tasks.
• Optimize processes intelligently.
• Predict trends before they become problems.
• Personalize the system for each user, not just the department.

At Priority, we believe that ERP should no longer be a static system you adapt to, it should be a flexible platform that adapts to you. AI is the catalyst that makes this possible.

Four key ways AI is already impacting ERP systems

Here's where we see AI creating meaningful change for ERP users:

1. Effectiveness
   AI automates repetitive tasks, suggests next-best actions, and optimizes workflows. This frees people to focus on what they do best: thinking strategically and creatively.
2. User experience
   Systems can now learn individual user behaviors. For example, in Priority ERP, the interface can automatically reorder itself based on how you actually work — offering a personalized, frictionless experience without extra effort.
3. Prediction
   AI can predict customer churn, forecast inventory needs, and spot operational risks early by analyzing patterns too complex for humans to see.
4. Sustainability
   AI helps companies reduce waste by optimizing truck routes to lower emissions, minimizing overproduction, and improving resource management. Business value and sustainability goals no longer need to be separate conversations.

Cloud and AI: A natural partnership

Our move to cloud-based ERP SaaS solutions, partnering with AWS cloud infrastructure, has created a strong foundation for AI innovation.

The cloud makes it easier to:

• Consolidate real-time data from across the business.
• Integrate external inputs like weather and traffic sensors.
• Scale resources on demand to power increasingly sophisticated AI models.

Simply put, the cloud unlocks AI's full potential allowing businesses to make better decisions, faster.

Practical applications: More than just a dream

At Priority, we're already making AI an everyday part of our users' experience — not through flashy add-ons, but with smart, thoughtful design choices that remove friction from daily workflows. Our AI capabilities provide personalized recommendations that anticipate user needs and streamline activity.

For example, users receive smart homepage shortcuts based on their most frequent actions, along with a proactive to-do list that surfaces tasks requiring attention. The system learns which reports and searches are used most often and auto-saves them for quick access. It even suggests hiding irrelevant screens or functions, gradually refining each user's workspace to be cleaner, faster, and more intuitive. These subtle improvements not only save time, but also help users feel more confident and in control of their ERP environment. The key is always real value, not novelty.

But we're not stopping at personalization. With the introduction of Priority aiERP, we've taken a major leap forward by embedding artificial intelligence into the very fabric of our system. Instead of relying on documentation or support tickets, users can now ask the system questions — from how to perform a function to what data they should be looking at — and receive instant, context-aware answers powered by our proprietary AI engine, trained on years of product knowledge.

Priority aiERP also enables highly accurate, multi-dimensional forecasting — helping businesses anticipate demand, identify trends, and make informed decisions faster than ever before. From inventory and sales to procurement and staffing, our AI engine can analyze historical data, external variables, and usage patterns to generate reliable forecasts in real time.

And this is just the beginning. Throughout the year, we'll continue rolling out intelligent features across the platform — all focused on making Priority aiERP not just smarter, but truly indispensable to how our customers work.

Where to start

Many organizations I speak with feel overwhelmed by the possibilities of AI. My advice is simple: Start small, but start smart.

• Identify one high-impact area — such as inventory replenishment or demand forecasting — where AI can deliver quick, tangible benefits.
• Focus on cleaning and organizing your existing business data to make it “AI-ready.”
• Choose flexible, open systems that allow you to grow and adapt your AI initiatives over time.

Most importantly, think beyond today. You may not know exactly how your business will evolve in five years — but you can future-proof your technology choices now to ensure you're ready for whatever comes next.

Final thoughts

AI isn't about replacing your ERP. It's about reimagining what your ERP can do — how it can learn, adapt, predict, and support your business as it grows. At Priority, our vision is clear: To help organizations move beyond static systems toward intelligent, adaptable platforms that deliver practical, measurable value — every day.