How Cloud ERP And AI Can Help People Work Smarter: 3 Principles That Work
As organizations race to adopt AI and cloud ERP, the real challenge isn’t the technology itself—it’s whether it actually helps people work better. In an article from Forbes, written by supply chain management expert Richard Howells, the focus shifts from digital transformation buzzwords to a more human definition of productivity. Howells argues that productivity has stalled because companies have spent decades designing systems around processes and metrics instead of people. Drawing on insights from Elisabetta Spontoni, Executive Vice President at Capgemini, Howells makes the case that cloud ERP and AI deliver value only when they align with how humans actually work.
Three practical principles stand out. First, AI solutions should be designed around real-world roles, not abstract capabilities. Embedding intelligence directly into daily workflows—such as surfacing supplier risk or sustainability impacts at the right moment—helps technology support better decisions without adding friction.
Second, simplification matters. Many ERP environments are weighed down by unused custom code that slows change and innovation. Moving to modular, cloud-based ERP makes it easier to evolve systems incrementally and adapt as business needs shift.
Third, data should empower employees, not overwhelm them. Clean, well-governed data builds trust, speeds decision-making, and helps people see the real impact of their work.
Ultimately, the article positions AI as a digital colleague—handling routine tasks, reducing noise, and freeing people to focus on what truly drives value. The future of productivity, it concludes, is more human, not more mechanical.
