Advertise on podcast: WBSRocks: Scaling Growth with AI, Enterprise Software, and Digital Transformation

Send us Fan Mail Organizations often struggle to align departments that operate with different goals, terminology, processes, and performance metrics. Sales may focus on revenue and customer commitments, while operations prioritizes capacity and execution, finance emphasizes profitability and controls, IT focuses on systems and data, and customer service manages expectations after the sale. As a result, the same business issue can look very different depending on who is evaluating it. These differences can lead to conflicting priorities, inconsistent definitions, slower decisions, and unnecessary friction across teams. Without a shared operating framework that connects processes, data, responsibilities, and performance measures, even well-intentioned departments can optimize their own functions while working against the broader goals of the organization. In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ discuss how to build departmental consensus across competing priorities, terminology, and operating models. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/how-to-build-consensus-aligning-competing-transformation-priorities/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Shrestha Dash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrestha-dash-662b00204/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail Modern FP&A platforms such as Pigment are evolving beyond traditional budgeting, forecasting, and reporting to support broader finance transformation initiatives. As planning becomes more connected across finance and operational functions, selecting an FP&A platform is increasingly a strategic business and architectural decision rather than simply a software purchase. In this webinar, we explore how modern CPM and EPM architectures are reshaping planning, forecasting, performance management, data integration, and cross-functional collaboration. We also examine why finance leaders must evaluate these platforms through a long-term transformation lens, considering scalability, governance, integration, and evolving business requirements rather than focusing solely on immediate features and short-term needs. In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ, Andy Pratico from Essential Software Solutions, and Phil Coerper from Ringling Business Solutions conduct an in-depth independent review of a leading FP&A platform Pigment. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/pigment-epm-platform-an-independent-in-depth-review/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Phil Coerper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philcoerper09/ 🔗Andy Pratico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-pratico-80175410/ 🔗Shrestha Dash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrestha-dash-662b00204/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm

Send us Fan Mail What are the top discrete manufacturing ERP systems in 2026? Before comparing the leading options, it is important to understand what defines a discrete manufacturing environment. Unlike process manufacturing, which typically relies on formulas, recipes, percentages, yields, and batch-based production, discrete manufacturing revolves around identifiable parts and individual units assembled into finished products. Common examples include automotive components, aerospace equipment, industrial machinery, electronics, and furniture. While the distinction may appear straightforward, it creates fundamentally different requirements for ERP architecture, including bills of materials, routings, production scheduling, material planning, engineering change management, product configuration, costing, quality, and traceability. Understanding these operational differences is critical when evaluating ERP systems designed for discrete manufacturers. In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top discrete manufacturing ERP systems in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these ERP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each ERP system. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE5EZ4bAZP8 Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/r-58239b22/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail Heavy equipment manufacturers often operate in complex environments where disconnected systems, operational resistance, and demanding project coordination can create significant barriers to transformation. Yet a successful ERP transformation requires far more than selecting and implementing new software. It requires alignment across engineering, production, supply chain, finance, and operations, while addressing the processes and organizational challenges that often span multiple facilities. In this podcast, we explore the real-world ERP transformation journey of Charl-Pol, a Canadian manufacturer operating five plants across Canada. Through its experience, we examine the practical challenges, critical decisions, and lessons that manufacturers should consider when modernizing their ERP landscape and building a more integrated operating model. In this episode, Sam Gupta from ElevatIQ is joined by Philippe Blackburn from Charl-Pol, Sultan Kaker and Louis Corriveau from Concerti where they discuss a heavy equipment manufacturing ERP Transformation: Charl-Pol’s Journey. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/inside-a-heavy-equipment-manufacturing-erp-transformation-charl-pols-journey/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Philippe Blackburn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippeblackburn2/ 🔗Sultan Kaker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sultan-kaker-686049206/ 🔗Louis Corriveau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-corriveau-4a5939/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail ERP projects rarely fail because of software alone. In many cases, the problems begin much earlier with weak governance, unclear decision rights, and teams that are not structured around the needs of the transformation. This webinar explores how organizations should build and organize ERP teams across the readiness, software selection, and implementation phases. It also examines how roles, responsibilities, and decision-making structures should evolve as the project moves from strategy and requirements to solution design, execution, and adoption. Ultimately, the right ERP team structure helps organizations make faster decisions, maintain accountability, manage risk, and keep transformation priorities aligned throughout the ERP lifecycle. In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ discuss the art of building ERP teams across phases. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/the-art-of-building-erp-teams-across-phases-readiness-selection-and-implementation/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Shrestha Dash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrestha-dash-662b00204/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail What are the top project manufacturing ERP systems in 2026? Before comparing the leading options, it is critical to define what project manufacturing actually means. In a true project manufacturing environment, the project is fundamental to how the company plans, executes, delivers, and financially manages its products and services. While many manufacturers track activities as projects, including contract printing and packaging companies, project management requirements alone do not make an organization a project manufacturer. The distinction becomes clearer when operational and financial processes converge around the project, including engineering, procurement, production, labor, material consumption, costing, billing, revenue recognition, and profitability. Understanding these differences is essential when evaluating ERP systems designed to support the unique requirements of project-driven manufacturers. In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top project manufacturing ERP systems in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these ERP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each ERP system. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3pgt8O9S4Y Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/r-58239b22/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail Selecting and deploying a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is no longer simply a tactical shop-floor decision. It is an architectural choice that determines how effectively ERP, machines, production data, and emerging AI workflows work together. In this webinar, we examine Infor’s MES/MOM strategy and how it fits within the broader CloudSuite ecosystem. We also analyze how Infor is responding to the emergence of AI-native manufacturing platforms and what that means for manufacturers evaluating their future technology stack. More importantly, we explore how CloudSuite, MES, and Velocity Suite come together to create an integrated digital factory foundation connecting enterprise planning with shop-floor execution. In this episode, Sam Gupta from ElevatIQ is joined by Matt Barber from Infor and Jan Burian from ARC Advisory Group where they discuss Infor MES Strategy: Unifying ERP, Shop Floor, and AI for Manufacturing Operations. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/infor-mes-strategy-unifying-erp-shop-floor-and-ai-for-manufacturing-operations/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Matt Barber: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjbarber/ 🔗Jan Burian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janburian/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail Modern FP&A platforms such as Cube are evolving beyond traditional budgeting, forecasting, and reporting to become a broader foundation for finance operations and enterprise planning. As organizations look to reduce spreadsheet dependency, finance leaders must evaluate more than individual features, considering forecasting agility, collaboration, governance, data architecture, and executive visibility. In this webinar, we explore why FP&A platform selection should be approached as a long-term finance transformation decision rather than a standalone software purchase. We also examine how modern CPM and EPM architectures are reshaping financial planning, modeling, and decision-making across the organization. In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ, Andy Pratico from Essential Software Solutions, and Phil Coerper from Ringling Business Solutions conduct an in-depth independent review of a leading FP&A platform Cube. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/cube-fpa-platform-an-independent-in-depth-review/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Phil Coerper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philcoerper09/ 🔗Andy Pratico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-pratico-80175410/ 🔗Shrestha Dash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrestha-dash-662b00204/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm

Send us Fan Mail Configure-to-order manufacturing has unique ERP requirements because product configuration sits directly between the sales and production processes. Unlike make-to-stock, make-to-order, or engineer-to-order environments, CTO manufacturers rely on configurators to translate customer requirements into products that can actually be manufactured. These configurators may be used internally by sales teams or exposed directly to customers, but the resulting configurations must ultimately flow into executable ERP processes, including bills of material, routings, pricing, costing, procurement, and production. Depending on the product complexity, configurations can range from relatively simple options and attributes to sophisticated, multi-layered product structures, making the integration between front-end configuration and back-end ERP execution critical. In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top configure-to-order manufacturing ERP systems in 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these ERP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each ERP system. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql3IkCx7QDo Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/r-58239b22/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail Most ERP systems are effective at generating dashboards, alerts, exception reports, and operational signals, but they often stop short of helping organizations execute the required response. This creates a persistent gap between identifying an issue and taking action, resulting in operational latency across planning, approvals, and execution. To answer these questions, we examine how Taco, Inc. addressed this challenge using data from Epicor ERP and explore the limitations of traditional ERP workflows in closing the loop. More importantly, we break down what organizations need to move beyond visibility and connect ERP insights directly to timely, coordinated action across modern supply chain operations. In this episode, Sam Gupta from ElevatIQ is joined by Mark Bates from Taco Comfort Solutions, and Mike Romeri and Cesar Oliveira from A2go.ai where they discuss how to close the ERP decision gap and how AI Agents turn Epicor signals into autonomous supply chain execution. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/closing-the-erp-decision-gap-how-ai-agents-turn-epicor-signals-into-autonomous-supply-chain-execution/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Mark Bates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-bates-675015236/ 🔗Mike Romeri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-romeri/%20 🔗Cesar Oliveira: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceoliveira/%20 Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail ERP selection is no longer just about modules, workflows, integrations, and reporting. Organizations must now understand the architectural differences between AI-powered and AI-native ERP systems. While copilots, AI agents, OCR, predictive analytics, and conversational interfaces may create similar user experiences, what happens underneath can be very different. These architectural choices can affect transactional integrity, governance, scalability, implementation complexity, and long-term maintainability. As vendors race to position their platforms around AI, buyers need to look beyond feature lists and marketing claims. The real question is not simply how much AI an ERP offers, but how AI fits into the underlying architecture and whether that architecture can support the organization’s operational requirements over the long term. In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ discuss the differences between AI-Native and AI-Powered ERP Systems. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/ai-native-vs-ai-powered-erp-systems-which-ones-are-better/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Shrestha Dash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrestha-dash-662b00204/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail Engineer-to-order manufacturing creates some of the most complex ERP requirements because engineering is deeply embedded in the order lifecycle rather than completed before production begins. Products are typically highly customized, high value, and associated with longer sales and delivery cycles. Even after an order is won, engineering changes may continue while procurement, production, costing, and project activities are already underway. As a result, ETO manufacturers need far more than conventional manufacturing functionality. Their ERP architecture must tightly coordinate CRM, estimating, engineering, CAD/PLM, procurement, production, project management, and finance while maintaining visibility into changes, costs, schedules, and margins throughout the entire order lifecycle. In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top engineer-to-order manufacturing ERP systems In 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these ERP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each ERP system. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yhNGpbpKBA Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/r-58239b22/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail ERP implementations rarely fail because of limitations in core functionality. Instead, they tend to break down in the final stages, where industry-specific workflows, company-specific processes, and complex edge cases drive extensive customization that can cost several times more than the ERP platform itself. This last mile is often where organizations lose control of project scope, budgets, and implementation timelines. AI-native ERP strategies are beginning to change this dynamic by shifting custom capabilities outside the ERP core. Rather than embedding complex customizations or relying on fragile bolt-on solutions, platforms such as AiSpecify enable organizations to build governed, auditable applications around the ERP, extending functionality while preserving data integrity, simplifying future upgrades, and maintaining a disciplined enterprise architecture. In this episode, Sam Gupta from ElevatIQ is joined by Sam Yen from Everest ERP where they discuss how to decide between configure, buy, or build and how AI Changes ERP Decisions. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/configure-buy-or-build-how-ai-changes-erp-decisions/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Sam Yen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yensam/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail Selecting a modern FP&A platform such as Drivetrain is no longer simply a budgeting or software decision. It is a strategic architectural choice that influences forecasting agility, data governance, cross-functional collaboration, and executive visibility across the finance organization. As CPM and EPM platforms continue to evolve, finance leaders must look beyond feature comparisons and evaluate underlying data models, integration strategies, workflow orchestration, and long-term operational fit. In this webinar, we explain why FP&A platform selection should be approached as a finance transformation initiative rather than a standalone technology purchase, highlighting why this perspective is critical for organizations transitioning from spreadsheet-driven planning to scalable, connected, and data-driven finance operations. In this episode, Sam Gupta and Shrestha Dash from ElevatIQ, Andy Pratico from Essential Software Solutions, and Phil Coerper from Ringling Business Solutions conduct an in-depth independent review of a leading FP&A platform Drivetrain. Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/drivetrain-fpa-platform-an-independent-in-depth-review/ Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/ 🔗Phil Coerper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philcoerper09/ 🔗Andy Pratico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-pratico-80175410/ 🔗Shrestha Dash: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrestha-dash-662b00204/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

Send us Fan Mail Make-to-stock manufacturers operate in a supply chain-driven environment where products are produced in anticipation of customer demand and held in inventory until they are sold. Unlike make-to-order businesses that manufacture only after receiving customer orders, make-to-stock organizations depend on accurate demand forecasting, inventory optimization, production planning, and efficient distribution to balance customer service levels with inventory carrying costs. These operational priorities require ERP systems with strong planning, inventory management, and supply chain capabilities, making their needs fundamentally different from those of make-to-order, engineer-to-order, and project-based manufacturers. In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top make-to-stock manufacturing ERP systems In 2026. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these ERP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each ERP system. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1hrx4abjXE Questions for Panelists? 🔗Sam Gupta: linkedin.com/in/samguptausa/r-58239b22/ Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.