What ERP and IT Leaders Should Take Away from CES 2026

CES is often associated with consumer gadgets, but CES 2026 told a different story. This year, the spotlight was on real-world enterprise technology—the kind that helps IT teams secure systems, streamline operations, and finally get value from AI.

Security Is No Longer an Add-On
One of the biggest takeaways was how deeply security is being embedded into everything. From AI-driven threat detection to zero-trust device ecosystems and privacy-first edge AI, vendors are addressing the reality that ERP environments now span cloud, on-prem, and edge systems. The message was clear: security has to be built in from day one, not bolted on later.

AI Is Growing Up
AI at CES 2026 wasn’t about flashy demos. It was about execution. We saw AI agents designed to work across ERP, CRM, supply chain, and IT service systems—automating tasks like procurement, maintenance planning, scheduling, and reporting. For IT and ERP leaders, this is the shift from experimenting with AI to actually putting it to work in daily operations.

Data Is Moving Closer to the Action
Edge and embedded AI also stood out. By processing data closer to where it’s created, organizations can reduce latency, improve reliability, and keep sensitive data under tighter control. For ERP environments, that means faster insights, better performance, and fewer integration headaches.

So What Does This Mean for You?
CES 2026 reinforced that modern ERP environments need to be secure, flexible, and ready for AI. It also highlighted a familiar challenge: as new technology comes in, legacy systems and old data don’t magically disappear.

At Nogalis, we help organizations keep their ERP environments stable while preparing for what’s next. Our Lawson and CloudSuite managed services take the day-to-day burden off internal teams, and our APIX application retirement and data archiving solutions help reduce risk, cost, and complexity—without losing access to the data your business still needs. If CES 2026 made you rethink your ERP roadmap, we’d be happy to talk.