AI in ERP: Supporting your teams through the transition.

ERP and AI are two common acronyms, one familiar and proven; the other newer and still surrounded by questions. 

AI is revolutionising ERP, promising speed, efficiency, real-time insights, and smarter operations. AI is doing for ERP what the cloud did a decade ago, turning rigid systems into dynamic business intelligence tools. 

But with all the excitement about AI, we’re seeing a similar level of anxiety. Tech leaders, vendors, and the media talk about AI’s potential to transform ERP, but many teams on the ground who will actually use the ERP system on a daily basis feel something else: uncertainty, fear, and a sense that change is happening too fast. 

AI in ERP is not just a technological shift; it’s a human one. Success depends just as much on how people feel as it does on what the system can do. 

The Hype Is Real, But So Is the Fear 

The use cases for AI in ERP are impressive: 

• Predictive analytics that help finance teams forecast more accurately 
  
• Automated invoice matching and expense categorization 
  
• Natural language chatbots that guide users through complex workflows
• Demand planning tools that optimize inventory in real time
• Intelligent alerts that flag unusual behavior in transactions

These tools offer clear value by reducing friction, speeding up decisions, and freeing up time for more strategic work but
alongside that value, we hear the same questions again and again:

• “Will AI make my role obsolete?” 
• “What if it makes a mistake I can't explain?” 
• “How do I trust a system I don’t fully understand?” 
• “Are we just implementing this because it's the next shiny thing?” 

These questions reveal a deeper issue, and the challenge organisations face isn’t just about choosing the right tools, it’s about navigating the emotional and cultural impact of AI tools. 

Why the Human Factor Is Central to AI in ERP 

ERP systems touch almost every part of an organisation and when AI becomes part of that system, it doesn’t just change the software, it changes how people work, make decisions, and interact with each other. 

AI changes roles

Tasks that were once manual or tactical are now automated, freeing up time but also raising questions about value and relevance. People want to know what their role looks like in an AI-powered future. 

AI changes trust 

When a system suggests a financial adjustment or flags a compliance risk, users want to know why. If the reasoning isn’t clear, they may ignore it, or worse, distrust it entirely. 

AI changes culture 

If AI is seen as something being imposed from the top down, it creates resistance. But if it’s introduced as a tool to help people do their best work, it will become an enabler of change. 

What Organizations Need Now: Human-Led AI Adoption 

To overcome any resistance and unlock the true value of AI in ERP, organisations must consider their teams and act with empathy and clarity, and critically, be inclusive.

1] Communicate the “why” early and often

Explain how AI will support the business goals and how it helps people, not just systems. Make it clear that AI is a tool to support talent, not replace it.

2] Involve users from the start

Frontline users, team leads, and functional experts should help shape AI use cases. The best adoption happens when people feel part of the solution.

3] Design for transparency

Choose AI features that explain their outputs clearly. This builds trust and allows users to learn and adapt, rather than guess and second-guess.

4] Support reskilling and new roles

AI will change job descriptions. Help people transition by offering training, mentorship, and opportunities to evolve into higher-value roles.

5] Manage expectations

AI is powerful, but it’s not perfect. Acknowledge its limitations and be honest about what it can and cannot do. Make sure you avoid overselling and focus on long-term impact. 

Our Final Thought: AI Is the Future, but People Will Make It Work 

AI will absolutely shape the future of ERP, but its success is not just a question of software. It is a question of trust, purpose, and culture. 

At Positive8, we believe the most successful AI transformations are not the ones that move the fastest. They are the ones that bring people along, make room for concerns, and design for both intelligence and empathy. 

ERP is getting smarter so let's make sure it's also getting more human.