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Die Folge, nach der Sie gefragt habt, und ein gutes Stück früher als geplant. Seit dem 7. Juni 2026 gilt die EU-Frist zur Entgelttransparenz. Die meisten reden über Compliance. Die eigentliche Frage ist: Was bedeutet das für Ihre nächste Gehaltsverhandlung?Jan Nordh ordnet die neue EU-Entgelttransparenzrichtlinie aus der Marktperspektive ein, praktisch, nicht juristisch. Warum die Regel Verhandlungsmacht Richtung Kandidat verschiebt, warum Deutschland die Frist verpasst hat und bis voraussichtlich 2027 hinterherhinkt, und was das für euch trotzdem schon heute ändert. Im Zentrum steht der Teil, über den im Sales kaum jemand konkret spricht: die variable Vergütung. Wichtig dabei: Provision, Bonus und OTE sind von der Regel ausdrücklich erfasst, fixer und variabler Teil müssen sogar getrennt berichtet werden. Der eigentliche Hebel ist deshalb nicht die Base, sondern die Frage, wo im Vertrieb die Ungleichheit wirklich sitzt: in Territorium, Accounts, Quota und Ramp.Die fünf Kernpunkte der Richtlinie in einfachen Worten, und was sie praktisch bedeutenWarum der Wegfall der Gehaltshistorie-Frage euren größten Verhandlungsnachteil beseitigtWarum im Sales die Ungleichheit nicht in der Base sitzt, sondern im variablen TeilDie richtige Frage im Gespräch: ist das die Base oder die On-Target-Earnings?Für IT-Vertriebsprofis, Enterprise Account Executives, Sales Leader und alle in Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software und AI im DACH-Raum und in den Nordics. Stand Juni 2026.https://www.nordh.de
My guest today is Alex Sacerdote, founder of Whale Rock Capital Management. Whale Rock is a technology focused investment firm that manages more than $17 billion across hedge fund, long only, and hybrid strategies. Over the past three years it has been one of the best performing hedge funds, compounding at roughly 44 percent a year. Alex invests through a single lens that he has refined over twenty years. He looks for technology S-curves, durable competitive advantages, and underappreciated earnings power. This conversation is a tour through how he applies that framework right now. We start with his highest conviction position, which is Anthropic, and use it to work through the entire AI stack from chips to models to applications. Please enjoy my conversation with Alex Sacerdote. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- Become a Colossus member to get our quarterly print magazine and private audio experience, including exclusive profiles and early access to select episodes. Subscribe at colossus.com/subscribe. ----- Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- Trusted by thousands of businesses, Vanta continuously monitors your security posture and streamlines audits so you can win enterprise deals and build customer trust without the traditional overhead. Invest Like the Best listeners get a special offer of $1,000 off Vanta when you go to vanta.com/invest. ----- WorkOS is the infrastructure B2B and AI-native companies use to sell to enterprise. It covers everything enterprise security requires: SSO, SCIM, RBAC, Audit Logs, AI governance, and more. Trusted by 2,000+ fast-growing companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Cursor, and Vercel. ----- Rogo is the AI platform for finance. They're building agents for Wall Street that are trained to understand how bankers and investors actually do work: from diligence and modeling, to turning analysis into deliverables. To learn more, visit rogo.ai/invest. ----- Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Visit ridgelineapps.com. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Timestamps: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like The Best (00:02:29) Alex Sacerdote (00:03:08) Anthropic: Highest Conviction Position (00:13:23) Investing in Private Markets at Scale (00:19:08) S-Curves: The Full Framework (00:25:08) When to Buy Tech Companies (00:30:20) Identifying the Leader from the Pack (00:34:04) Anthropic & OpenAI's Competitive Moats (00:37:31) AI's Threat to Enterprise Software (00:43:18) Network Effects in the Agent Era (00:44:22) The Hardware Renaissance: Chips & Infrastructure (00:53:56) Why So Few Investors Get This Right (00:55:36) Key Risks to the AI Bull Case (00:57:47) The Application Layer (00:59:40) How AI Is Changing Research at WhaleRock (01:02:53) The Role of Investor Networks & Idea Sharing (01:03:40) Building a Multi-Product Firm (01:07:58) WhaleRock as a Learning Machine (01:09:15) The Kindest Thing
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailThis week's enterprise software announcements further confirm that the market is rapidly converging around agentic AI, semantic intelligence, and autonomous workflow orchestration. Blue Yonder introduced new AI agents and mobile applications aimed at strengthening supply chain execution and frontline operations, while Zendesk expanded its AI customer service strategy through the acquisition of Forethought. Actian launched an AI analyst designed to convert business glossaries into a live semantic layer, highlighting the growing importance of governed enterprise context for AI-native operations. Meanwhile, ActiveCampaign and Contentsquare announced new capabilities focused on customer engagement and digital experience intelligence. On the enterprise planning side, Anaplan expanded its AI planning portfolio with CoModeler, Custom Analyst, and Agent Studio, while Oracle continued embedding coordinated AI agents directly inside Fusion ERP workflows through its new Fusion Agentic Applications initiative. In parallel, Apollo.io acquired Pocus to strengthen its agentic go-to-market stack, Databricks introduced Lakewatch as an open agentic SIEM platform built on the lakehouse architecture, and Rootstock Software acquired Ascent Solutions to deepen its manufacturing and warehouse execution capabilities.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksS15kccXPcQuestions for Panelists?
Die meisten Kandidaten üben ihre Antworten. Aber sie verstehen die Fragen nicht. Und genau das entscheidet im Interview über Angebot oder Absage.Jan Nordh hat über Jahre in Debrief-Meetings gesessen und gehört, was Hiring Manager über Kandidaten sagen, sobald diese den Raum verlassen haben. In dieser Folge dreht er den Tisch um und zeigt das Interview von der anderen Seite: Was wird bei Fragen wie Erzählen Sie etwas über sich, Was ist Ihre größte Schwäche oder Warum verlassen Sie Ihre Rolle wirklich bewertet? Mit der Brille des Enterprise-Sales: Der Hiring Manager ist der Economic Buyer, und Sie verkaufen genau ein Produkt, sich selbst als Lösung für sein Problem.Du erfährst:Warum Erzählen Sie etwas über sich keine Aufwärmfrage ist, sondern die erste bewerteteDen Satz, den Hiring Manager im Debrief denken, wenn Sie über den alten Arbeitgeber herziehenDie saubere Gehaltsstrategie: recherchieren, ankern, die Frage zurückdrehenWarum das Angebot fast nie an den besten Lebenslauf geht, sondern an den besten FitFür IT-Vertriebsprofis, Enterprise Account Executives, Sales Leader und alle, die in Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software und AI im DACH-Raum und in den Nordics ihren nächsten Karriereschritt machen wollen.https://www.nordh.de
TechIreland has released its Irish Startup Funding Review 2026 Edition, a report of startup fundraising activity in 2025. The report shows that 319 Irish startups raised a total of €992 million last year. Since the highs of 2021, annual fundraising now appears to have settled at around the €900m–€1 billion mark, with the 2025 total up just €14m compared to 2024. In terms of the number of companies raising funding, there was also a slight uptick from 2024, when 307 companies raised funding. Early-stage activity remained notably strong – primarily attributed to Enterprise Ireland's PSSF and HPSU supports. A record 211 companies raised up to €1 million while data also reveals that there is an ongoing challenge in scaling into Series A and beyond, where momentum continues to lag. As in previous years, a small number of large outliers skewed the total figure. The top four companies: Lets Get Checked (€150m), XOCEAN (€115m), Tines (€114m), and ProVerum (€73m), accounted for nearly half of all funding raised. Furthermore, the majority of large rounds were concentrated in Q1, which alone accounted for €616m raised – a record high for any quarter over the last ten years. This, however, reveals a more concerning picture for the following three quarters, in which fundraising activity sharply cooled, with just €376m raised over the remainder of the year. Deep Dive into 2025 A standout first quarter saw 69 Irish companies raise €616m, making Q1 2025 one of the strongest quarters on record for Irish startup funding. However, funding levels flattened significantly during the remaining quarters, with a combined funding total of only €376m, across 250 startups, underlying a weakened momentum after Q1. The findings align with new figures from the Irish Venture Capital Association VenturePulse survey, published in association with William Fry, which show that Irish technology SMEs raised €221.7m in venture capital in Q1 2026, a fall of 58% compared with the same period last year. IVCA noted that the decline should be viewed in the context of an exceptionally strong Q1 2025, when Irish firms raised more than half a billion euro – a record for a first quarter. Early Stages Early-stage funding activity reached an all-time high in 2025, with 211 companies raising rounds below €1m. This was largely driven by Enterprise Ireland, including the 198 startups announced at the StartUp Day 2026. Despite the strength of early-stage activity, the report identifies ongoing weakness in follow-on and scale-up funding. The number of €1-5m rounds increased to 58 However, €5-30m rounds declined to pre-2019 levels Large growth rounds above €30m remained relatively stable, though most were concentrated in Q1 Findings suggest that while Ireland continues to generate new startups at scale, access to follow-on capital is becoming increasingly competitive. The IVCA's Q1 2026 data suggests that these pressures are continuing into the new year. IVCA reported that funding declined across all deal-size bands except transactions of less than €1 million. The report also notes that just four outlier deals accounted for 46% of all funding, showing the extent to which headline totals remain dependent on a small number of large rounds. Sectoral Focus Life Sciences retained its position as the strongest-funded sector in Ireland during 2025, accounting for more than half of total funding. Major rounds included LetsGetChecked, ProVerum, Deciphex and Perfuze. Enterprise Software and FinTech followed as the second and third strongest sectors, both performing better than in the previous two years. Several of the year's largest rounds reflected Ireland's growing reputation in deep tech, AI, medtech, and robotics. Enterprise Ireland also notes growing momentum in AI-enabled solutions, with 99 of its supported startups in 2025 incorporating AI as a central part of their product or service. The report also notes a sharp decline in Energy/CleanTech funding, falling from €328m in 2024 to €...
The CEO of Vista Equity Partners explains what it will take to win the “agentic revolution.”
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailThis week's enterprise software announcements highlight how rapidly the market is evolving toward agentic architectures, semantic intelligence, and AI-driven operational orchestration. Anthropic expanded MCP with a framework designed for full-stack agentic applications, reinforcing the industry's push toward composable AI ecosystems. Meanwhile, Hubbl Technologies raised funding to position itself as an intelligence layer for the Salesforce agentic environment, while Salesforce continued broadening its AI footprint through Agentforce for Communications. Sage enhanced the Sage Intacct Suite with new capabilities focused on finance operations, and Sinch introduced a collection of AI agent features targeting customer engagement workflows. On the operational side, Typeface unveiled a marketing orchestration engine, while Blue Yonder announced new AI agents and mobile applications aimed at supply chain execution and workforce enablement. At the same time, Zendesk moved deeper into AI-powered customer support through its acquisition of Forethought, and Actian launched an AI analyst designed to transform business glossaries into a live semantic layer, signaling the growing importance of governed enterprise context for AI-native operations.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCxtpqQ_vIwQuestions for Panelists?
Warum meldet sich ein Recruiter nach einem guten Gespräch plötzlich nie wieder? Die meisten geben dem System die Schuld, dem Markt oder dem ATS. Die ehrliche Antwort ist unbequemer — und sie hat fast immer mit etwas zu tun, das in Ihrer eigenen Hand liegt.In dieser Folge spricht Jan Nordh gemeinsam mit Co-Host Jessica Klartext über das, was wirklich passiert, wenn ein Recruiter ghostet. Wichtig vorweg: Es geht nicht um die internen Talent-Acquisition-Teams, mit denen Jan täglich zusammenarbeitet, sondern um ein Muster im volumengetriebenen Recruiting — und um die eigentliche Lektion dahinter. Warum Zuverlässigkeit die am meisten unterschätzte Karrierestrategie im Enterprise Sales ist, warum Vertrauen die einzige Währung ist, die zählt, und wie Sie Ihr Glaubwürdigkeitskonto wieder ins Plus bringen.Du erfährst:Den echten Grund, warum Recruiter ghosten — und warum er strukturell ist, nicht persönlichWarum „flaky" gefährlicher ist als eine Lüge — und genauso wirktWie Hiring Manager die verlässliche Acht der unberechenbaren Zehn vorziehenEin 4-Stufen-Modell, mit dem Sie Ihre eigene Glaubwürdigkeit systematisch aufbauenFür IT-Vertriebsprofis, Enterprise Account Executives, Sales Leader und alle, die in Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software und AI im DACH-Raum und in den Nordics ihre Karriere strategisch steuern wollen.https://www.nordh.de
Warum bekommen qualifizierte Kandidaten das Angebot nicht – obwohl sie auf dem Papier perfekt passen? Oft liegt es weder am Lebenslauf noch an der Erfahrung. Es liegt an einem Verhaltensmuster, das Hiring Manager instinktiv abschreckt: Pick-Me-Energy.In dieser Folge erklärt Jan Nordh, Gründer von Nordh Executive Search und seit 19 Jahren spezialisiert auf Senior- und Executive-Rollen in Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software und AI-Infrastruktur, warum das Gegenteil von Pick-Me-Energy nicht Arroganz ist – sondern Alignment.Du erfahrst:Was Pick-Me-Energy konkret im Interview ausloest – und warum erfahrene Hiring Manager sofort reagierenWarum Alignment – die präzise Verbindung deiner Skills zum spezifischen Job-Kontext – entscheidender ist als jeder Selbstpraesentation-TrickWie die Incentive-Struktur interner Recruiter funktioniert – und wie ihr sie versteht, ohne euch zu verbiegenDie drei konkreten Verhaltensaenderungen, die den Unterschied machenDiese Folge richtet sich an IT-Sales-Professionals, Enterprise Account Executives, Cybersecurity-Kandidaten und alle, die verstehen wollen, wie sie in Senior-Interviews als klare, respektierte Gegenüber auftreten – statt als jemand, der darauf wartet, ausgewaehlt zu werden.Keywords: Jobinterview Enterprise Sales, Vorstellungsgespraech Tipps, Alignment Karriere, Recruiter Incentives, Cybersecurity Jobs DACH, IT Sales Nordics, Executive Search, Senior Kandidat Interview, Pick Me Energy, Kandidatenpositionierunghttps://www.nordh.de
Bonnie Tinder is the founder and CEO of Raven Intelligence, an independent B2B peer review site that amplifies the voice of the customer. She focuses on software customers, consulting partners, and software vendors and helps identify the best partners for their needs. In this episode, she and Bob Evans speak about Workday's accelerating AI transformation following its Innovation Summit. Bonnie offers a practitioner's perspective on how Workday is rethinking enterprise software around agentic AI, faster deployments, embedded governance, and a startup-like culture shift under returning leadership. Episode 59 | Workday's AI Reset The Big Themes: Workday's Startup Reboot: Bonnie Tinder's biggest observation was that Workday appears to be entering a new operational chapter defined by urgency, sharper execution, and a startup mindset. Rather than behaving like an incumbent defending market share, Workday seems to be restructuring around focused AI ownership and entrepreneurial velocity. Bonnie connected this directly to Aneel Bhusri's leadership style, comparing it to Steve Jobs returning to simplify Apple's priorities. No One Wants DIY Enterprise AI: A major theme was the rejection of the “build it yourself” narrative for enterprise core systems. Bonnie and Bob both strongly challenged the idea that enterprises will vibe-code their own payroll, financials, or HCM systems. The reason is simple: risk. Enterprise systems are compliance-heavy, operationally critical, and intolerant of failure. Bonnie's “you can't get payroll 90% correct” line perfectly captured the reality. CEO Leadership Is Non-Negotiable: AI transformation must be CEO-led. Bottom-up experimentation alone is unlikely to produce meaningful enterprise change. AI affects operating models, workflows, investment priorities, talent strategy, governance, and competitive differentiation. That requires executive sponsorship and strategic ownership. Bob argued that companies cannot approach AI using 2023 or 2024 decision frameworks. Instead, leadership teams must rethink vendor evaluation, operational transformation, and business outcome measurement. Bonnie reinforced that major transformation initiatives succeed when leadership drives adoption from the top. The Big Quote: “The real AI gold rush isn't in the models, it's really that unglamorous work of moving 30-year-old legacy systems to a point where agents can actually do something with the data.” More from Bonnie Tinder: Connect with Bonnie on LinkedIn. Visit Cloud Wars for more.
Ist künstliche Intelligenz dabei, die klassische Enterprise-Software zu verdrängen – oder erleben Anleger aktuell eine massive Überreaktion an den Märkten? In dieser spannenden Folge des Plutos Finanzpodcasts spricht Host Simone Prinz mit Technologie-Investor, Unternehmer und „High Growth Investing“-Autor Stefan Waldhauser über die Zukunft von SaaS-Unternehmen im Zeitalter von KI. Während viele Softwareaktien in den vergangenen Monaten massiv unter Druck geraten sind, stellt sich eine zentrale Frage: Versteht der Markt die Auswirkungen von KI auf Enterprise-Software womöglich komplett falsch? Gemeinsam analysieren wir: - warum KI bestehende SaaS-Modelle nicht automatisch zerstört - welche Software-Unternehmen echte Gewinner der KI-Ära werden könnten - weshalb sogenannte „Systems of Record“ künftig sogar noch wertvoller sein dürften - und warum Unternehmen wie monday.com trotz Kursverlusten für Investoren interessant bleiben könnten Darüber hinaus sprechen wir über: - KI-Hype vs. fundamentale Realität - die Zukunft seat-basierter SaaS-Geschäftsmodelle - Bewertungslogiken bei Wachstumsaktien - sowie Chancen und Risiken für Tech-Investoren in Europa und den USA Eine tiefgehende Diskussion über künstliche Intelligenz, Enterprise-Software, Marktpsychologie und langfristiges Growth Investing – für alle, die Technologie, Kapitalmärkte und die Zukunft der digitalen Wirtschaft verstehen wollen. Diese Podcast-Folge anhören und erfahren, warum einige der spannendsten Technologieunternehmen heute günstiger bewertet sind als vor fünf Jahren.
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailThis week's enterprise software announcements reveal how aggressively vendors are repositioning around AI agents, composable integration, and industry-specific workflows. NetSuite introduced its new integration platform to simplify connectivity across enterprise ecosystems, while Oracle expanded both its process manufacturing capabilities and AI agent portfolio inside Fusion Cloud Applications. QAD and Tata Consultancy Services strengthened their manufacturing operations strategy through the Redzone partnership, reinforcing the growing importance of connected frontline execution. Meanwhile, Intuit Mailchimp rolled out new e-commerce enhancements, and Seismic and Highspot announced a major merger that could reshape the sales enablement landscape. On the AI infrastructure side, Anthropic expanded MCP with a framework for full-stack agentic applications, while emerging vendors like Hubbl Technologies positioned themselves as orchestration layers for the Salesforce agentic ecosystem. Finally, Sage, Salesforce, and Sinch continued the broader trend of embedding AI agents deeper into finance, communications, and customer engagement workflows, signaling that the enterprise software market is rapidly shifting from passive systems of record toward autonomous systems of execution.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0Ktqz2rXh8Questions for Panelists?
SaaS Scaled - Interviews about SaaS Startups, Analytics, & Operations
Today, we're joined by Bill Hewitt, CEO of LinkSquares, the first and only Agentic CLM platform that transforms contracts into active drivers for your business. We talk about:If agentic AI can already replace traditional software If AI will lead to SaaS companies reducing workforceAdvice for SaaS startups to stay relevant and growIf building a software business is getting easierThe rising value of product managementHow AI impacts marketing and the product selection process
Robert is Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, which manages $107 billion in assets as of year‑end 2025, and a TIME 100 honoree—TIME magazine's annual list recognizing the world's most influential leaders across business, technology, and society. He shares how enterprise software is evolving into agentic execution, why AI strengthens rather than replaces software, how “bringing the model to the data” reshapes economics, and why companies must continuously evolve their systems, culture, and decision‑making to stay relevant through periods of rapid change.-This podcast/webcast is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, or business advice. It is not a solicitation, recommendation, or endorsement. All opinions expressed by participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Evoke Advisors Division of MAI Capital Management, LLC ("Evoke”), its affiliates, or any companies mentioned. Information shared has not been independently verified by MAI or its affiliates. MAI Capital Management, LLC (“MAI”) is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which does not imply any particular level of skill or training.Certain information contained herein has been obtained from third party sources and such information has not been independently verified. No representation, warranty, or undertaking, expressed or implied, is given to the accuracy or completeness of such information by any person.While such sources are believed to be reliable, Evoke does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information. Evoke does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein as of any future date.The content is intended for a general audience and does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell securities or adopt any investment strategy. Any examples or scenarios discussed are illustrative only, involve risks and uncertainties, and do not guarantee future results. Non-traditional assets carry significant risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Decisions should be based on individual objectives, risk tolerance, and circumstances.Statements herein are general and may not reflect an individual's or entity's specific circumstances or applicable laws, which vary by jurisdiction. Further, speakers' views are personal and may differ from Evoke and MAI recommendations and are not specific investment advice; and do not consider client objectives, risk tolerance, and diversification. Guests may have current or past relationships with Evoke and MAI, its affiliates, or the host, including as clients, service providers, or business partners. Participation does not constitute an endorsement or testimonial. No compensation has been paid or received for guest participation unless disclosed. MAI and its affiliates may have business relationships with entities mentioned in this podcast, which could create potential conflicts of interest. These relationships may include advisory services, investment management, or other arrangements. MAI seeks to manage such conflicts consistent with its fiduciary obligations and policies.(As of December 22, 2025)
In a new mini-series, former Media Leader editor-in-chief Omar Oakes is joined by former Dentsu International CEO, now AI strategist Hamish Nicklin to argue over the nuances of AI development and its use in the creative industries.In the series' final episode, the duo debate for and against the prompt: "Goodbye Salesforce and Adobe because AI will end enterprise software."Taking the “for” side of the argument is Nicklin, while Oakes represents the “against” side, posing sceptical questions.Nicklin argues that the ability of people to build their own software through vibe coding will undercut SaaS business models, which are becoming too expensive to compete.Highlights:1:05: Recent developments in AI: BuzzFeed's sale, Americans hate AI6:26: SaaSmageddon: Why AI is disrupting software businesses, with valuations collapsing20:17: Claude Cowork and its plug-ins33:32: How realistic is replacing everything with vibe coding? The ease of building personal software and how IT might change51:31: Second-order effects: What about safety and security? What about fixing bad code?55:07: Verdicts
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailRecent announcements across the enterprise software landscape highlight an accelerating convergence of AI, integration, and industry-specific innovation as core pillars of modern enterprise architecture. Oracle continues to expand its footprint with new capabilities across financial services, process manufacturing, and AI agents embedded within Oracle Fusion Cloud, reinforcing the shift toward intelligent, industry-aware ERP ecosystems. At the same time, Sage is advancing AI-driven enhancements in Sage X3, while NetSuite is strengthening composability through its new integration platform. Beyond core ERP, ecosystem players such as ActiveCampaign, Bombora, and Omilia are embedding intelligence into customer engagement and data workflows, while emerging innovators like Fibr AI attract funding to push experimentation at the edge. Strategic partnerships, including QAD and Tata Consultancy Services, further signal the importance of services-led transformation. Collectively, these moves reflect a broader structural trend: enterprise platforms are evolving into tightly integrated, AI-augmented ecosystems where domain specialization, real-time intelligence, and composable architectures define competitive advantage.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtcFOMAANWMQuestions for Panelists?
Was unterscheidet Sie von anderen Kandidaten?Diese Frage taucht in fast jedem ernsthaften Vorstellungsgespräch auf - und die meisten Kandidaten beantworten sie falsch. Nicht weil sie schlecht vorbereitet sind, sondern weil sie genau das tun, was man ihnen immer beigebracht hat: einen Pitch liefern.In dieser Episode erklärt Jan Nordh, Gründer von Nordh Executive Search und Executive Headhunter mit 19 Jahren Erfahrung in Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software und AI-Infrastruktur, warum der vorbereitete Elevator Pitch im Interview nach hinten losgeht - und was erfolgreiche Kandidaten stattdessen machen.Du erfährst:- Die drei häufigsten Fehler, die Kandidaten bei dieser Frage machen (und warum gerade erfahrene Professionals besonders häufig in Falle Nummer drei tappen)- Warum Pitchen im Interview dieselbe Wirkung hat wie eine aufdringliche Software-Demo - und wie top Kandidaten das vermeiden- Eine konkrete Technik, mit der du die Führung im Gespräch übernimmst, ohne arrogant zu wirken- Wie Consultative Selling - das du täglich im Job anwendest - zur stärksten Interview-Methode wirdFür IT-Sales-Professionals, Enterprise Account Executives, Sales Leader und alle, die in Cybersecurity, Enterprise Software oder AI-Infrastruktur ihre nächste Rolle suchen oder sich gezielt positionieren wollen.https://www.nordh.de
Warum scheitern selbst starke Enterprise-Sales- und Cybersecurity-Profile oft schon in den ersten Sekunden?Nicht wegen mangelnder Erfahrung.Nicht wegen fehlender Keywords.Sondern weil ihr Lebenslauf kein klares Bild vermittelt.In dieser Episode spreche ich darüber, wie Hiring Manager, Recruiter und Headhunter wirklich CVs lesen — und warum die meisten Lebensläufe im IT-Vertrieb viel zu lang, zu generisch und zu austauschbar sind.Das erwartet Sie:Warum ein ATS Sie meist nicht „automatisch aussortiert“Die drei Fragen, die ein Headhunter in den ersten Sekunden beantwortet haben willWarum Aufgaben nichts sagen — Ergebnisse dagegen allesWelche Kennzahlen in einen Enterprise-Sales-CV gehörenDie häufigsten Fehler bei Senior-Level-CVsWarum Ihr CV kein Archiv, sondern ein Verkaufsdokument istWie Top-Performer ihren eigenen „Elevator Pitch“ klar positionieren
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailRecent developments across the enterprise software landscape underscore a dual narrative of rapid AI-driven innovation alongside growing skepticism around how value is measured and delivered. Critiques such as the limited practical relevance of metrics like AWU from Salesforce highlight the disconnect that can emerge between vendor messaging and CIO priorities, even as the broader ecosystem accelerates toward agentic and automated capabilities. Companies like Incubeta and Intentsify are expanding data-driven and agentic offerings, while Klaviyo integrates with ChatGPT to embed conversational intelligence into marketing workflows. Enterprise application vendors are also advancing domain-specific innovation, with Unanet targeting GovCon growth automation, Aptean enhancing routing intelligence, and Oracle and Sage introducing AI-driven enhancements across financial services and ERP platforms such as Sage X3. Meanwhile, partnerships like Cognizant with Uniphore and acquisitions such as ActiveCampaign acquiring Feedback Intelligence reinforce a broader trend: enterprise systems are increasingly converging around AI-infused automation, but buyers must remain vigilant in distinguishing substantive capabilities from surface-level innovation narratives.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usuYQZcFrRQQuestions for Panelists?
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailRecent announcements across the enterprise software ecosystem highlight a clear pivot toward agentic AI, ecosystem orchestration, and embedded intelligence within core business platforms. Salesforce is advancing this shift with MuleSoft Agent Fabric, enabling automated agent discovery, while ServiceNow is doubling down through expanded partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic to operationalize AI agents in mission-critical workflows. Strategic collaborations such as Cognizant partnering with Typeface and Uniphore further reinforce the growing importance of composable AI ecosystems. Meanwhile, application-layer innovation is accelerating, with Simpro Group expanding its AI-first platform via acquisition, Klaviyo integrating with ChatGPT, and Unanet and Aptean introducing automation and routing capabilities tailored to vertical use cases. At the same time, data and demand-generation players like Intentsify and Incubeta are embedding agentic capabilities into their offerings, collectively signaling a broader transformation: enterprise platforms are rapidly evolving into interconnected, AI-native environments where intelligent agents, data, and workflows operate as a unified system rather than siloed functions.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_TyTBrq0ccQuestions for Panelists?
Elena Burger speaks with Joe Schmidt, partner on the enterprise team at a16z, about the future of enterprise software in the age of AI. Using Workday as a case study, they discuss why many of today's most important enterprise systems feel broken, how platform shifts reshape entire categories, and what an AI-native replacement might look like. The conversation covers the limits of legacy SaaS, why “AI revenue” may be overstated, and how agents could fundamentally change how companies manage workflows, permissions, and internal systems. They also explore why even the most defensible software businesses may now be vulnerable to replatforming. Resources: Follow Joe on X: https://x.com/joeschmidtiv Follow Elena on X: https://x.com/elenaburger Read more from ‘Workday's Last Workday?': https://a16z.com/workdays-last-workday/ Stay Updated:Find a16z on YouTube: YouTubeFind a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Show on SpotifyListen to the a16z Show on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailRecent developments across the enterprise technology landscape signal a decisive shift toward real-time, AI-driven, and sovereignty-aware architectures. From Deepgram securing new funding to accelerate voice AI for real-time applications, to IBM launching cloud platforms aligned with digital sovereignty mandates, vendors are re-architecting core infrastructure to meet emerging regulatory and latency requirements. Strategic moves such as the merger of Tasq AI and BLEND to build enterprise trust layers, alongside Teradata scaling over 150 AI engagements, highlight growing enterprise demand for governed, production-grade AI. Meanwhile, innovation is accelerating across the stack—from Tredence introducing agentic commerce accelerators and Akkodis scaling AI-core platforms, to infrastructure players like ClickHouse and Artie doubling down on real-time data as a foundational layer. At the orchestration level, Salesforce and ServiceNow are embedding agent-based ecosystems through MuleSoft Agent Fabric and deeper partnerships with OpenAI, collectively reinforcing a broader industry trajectory: enterprise systems are evolving from static systems of record into dynamic, intelligent, and autonomous platforms.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7YXOXZawPoQuestions for Panelists?
SaaS Scaled - Interviews about SaaS Startups, Analytics, & Operations
Today, we're joined by Uri Haramati, CEO and Founder of Torii, the governance platform for SaaS and AI. We talk about:The blurring of lines between AI and SaaSChallenge of gaining enterprise-wide, centralized policies and management of AI and SaaS The amazing opportunities of AI, with many simultaneous new challenges and risksHow users will interact less with UIs and more with AI agentsThe identity management complexity of increasing non-human identitiesRead Torii's SaaS Benchmark Annual Report 2026, which takes a data-backed look at what companies actually use: sanctioned apps, shadow apps, and the AI tools taking over our workspace.
The Investing Power Hour is live-streamed every Thursday on the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast YouTube channel at 5:00 PM EST. This week we discussed:(00:00) Introduction(01:15) Tim Cook's Legacy at Apple(08:20) ServiceNow's Earnings and AI Focus(11:28) Software Sector and Valuation Concerns(13:29) CEO Changes and Market Implications(18:41) Intel's Earnings and Semiconductor Outlook(24:09) Philip Morris and Tobacco Market Trends(30:53) Regulatory Risks in Nicotine and Tobacco(38:26) American Express: Stability and Pricing Power(44:24) Tesla Earnings and Narrative Control(53:13) Market Speculation: Tesla and SpaceX Merger(57:52) Small Cap of the Week: Zeta Global(01:00:50) Enterprise Software and AI Risks(01:02:31) Avis Meme Stock*****************************************************Subscribe to Emerging Moats Research: emergingmoats.com *********************************************************************Chit Chat Stocks is presented by Interactive Brokers. Get professional pricing, global access, and premier technology with the best brokerage for investors today: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/ Interactive Brokers is a member of SIPC. *********************************************************************Check out Value Spotlight: Stockwriteup.com *********************************************************************Fiscal.ai is building the future of financial data.With custom charts, AI-generated research reports, and endless analytical tools, you can get up to speed on any stock around the globe. All for a reasonable price. Use our LINK and get 15% off any premium plan: https://fiscal.ai/chitchat *********************************************************************Disclosure: Chit Chat Stocks hosts and guests are not financial advisors, and nothing they say on this show is formal advice or a recommendation.
In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, Abhijit Mitra, CEO of Outreach, joins host Boaz Ashkenazy for a wide-ranging conversation on how agentic AI is fundamentally reshaping the way revenue teams operate.Abhijit shares his journey from tutoring a seventh-grade student advanced math in India to spending 30 years building enterprise systems at Oracle, SAP, and ServiceNow before joining Outreach as head of product and engineering—and eventually stepping into the CEO role. From there, the discussion dives deep into how Outreach has evolved from a sales execution platform into a full agentic AI infrastructure for go-to-market workflows.The conversation explores the critical distinction between true autonomous agents and what Abhijit calls "fancy dashboards"—how Outreach's agents autonomously research accounts, personalize outreach, prep sellers for meetings, provide real-time coaching, and even submit forecasts without human intervention. Abhijit explains why the shift from SaaS seat licenses to hiring agents with skills and capacity represents the next evolution of enterprise software, and why companies that don't adapt will not survive.Boaz and Abhijit also dig into the governance challenge at the heart of enterprise AI adoption—shadow AI, role-based access control, and how to give individual sellers the autonomy to personalize their own agents while keeping everything inside trusted organizational guardrails. The episode closes with Abhijit's vision for self-adapting AI that learns best practices from every rep and distributes them across the entire team, making every rep your best rep.This episode is essential listening for sales leaders, revenue operators, and enterprise technology buyers who want to understand how agentic AI is moving beyond individual productivity tools to unlock fundamentally new go-to-market operating models.Chapters[00:00] Introduction: Abhijit's Career from Oracle and SAP to Outreach[01:26] First Job: Teaching 12th Grade Math to a 7th Grader in India[01:58] Outreach's Evolution from Sales Execution to Revenue Orchestration[03:42] 2025 Was the Launch—2026 Is When Agents Actually Happen[04:12] What Makes a True Autonomous Agent (Not a Chatbot or Dashboard)[07:46] The New Paradigm: Hiring Agents vs. Renting Software Seats[09:43] Personal Agents and the Case for Individual Autonomy[12:06] Enterprise Governance: Why Every Rep Needs Guardrails[12:34] Shadow AI, Sovereign AI, and What CISOs Are Actually Worried About[13:34] Role-Based Access Control for Agents: Match the Person, Not the Platform[14:20] Day in the Life: What Agents Do So Sellers Don't Have To[17:06] Outreach's Own 100-Person Sales Team as a Live Testing Ground[17:34] The Numbers: 39% Productivity Increase Measured Internally[19:17] Is SaaS Dead? The Real Transformation Happening in Enterprise Software[21:50] What's Next: Self-Adapting Agents That Learn and Spread Best Practices[24:30] Two Words on the Future of Work: Unleash Your Best Performance[25:38] Closing Thoughts on Augmentation, Fear, and Human PotentialConnect with Abhijit MitraLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitrasaab/Connect with Boaz AshkenazyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy/Email: info@shiftai.fm
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailThis week's enterprise software and AI developments highlight the rapid expansion of agentic systems, data-driven commerce, and infrastructure innovation across the technology stack. ServiceNow deepened its strategic collaboration with OpenAI, reinforcing the momentum behind AI-powered workflow automation across enterprise operations. In parallel, marketing and customer engagement platforms are embedding more autonomous decisioning capabilities, with Optimove introducing an AI content decisioning agent and RainFocus launching a new system designed to orchestrate complex event marketing workflows. Commerce and product discovery ecosystems are also evolving, as Algolia partnered with Microsoft to deliver real-time product data into AI-driven shopping experiences, while Tredence introduced agentic commerce accelerators aimed at modern digital retail environments. Meanwhile, infrastructure and AI platforms continue to attract significant investment and innovation: Cast AI achieved unicorn status through Kubernetes and AI cost optimization technology, Deepgram secured new funding to advance real-time speech intelligence, and IBM launched a cloud platform aligned with digital sovereignty requirements. Complementing these moves, Tasq AI merged with BLEND to build a trust layer for enterprise AI, while Teradata reported accelerating enterprise AI adoption with more than 150 engagements in 2025—further signaling how AI agents, real-time data platforms, and infrastructure innovation are converging to reshape the enterprise software landscape.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrQAVO7nrDwQuestions for Panelists?
Enterprise customers demand 99.9% availability, regardless of how the underlying software is built. In this episode, Murali Swaminathan (CTO @ Freshworks) discusses how enterprises actually win with AI! We explore the “Architecture of Predictability” – proactive architectural safeguards to scale “responsible AI by design” across a global organization serving 75,000 customers. Murali shares his leadership playbook for implementing the technical safeguards and product trust controls that empower hundreds of engineers to build safely. We also dive into the shift from deterministic flowcharts to “workflows with a brain” and why backend systems engineers are the secret bedrock of agentic products. Plus, Murali deconstructs the dual evolution required of modern leaders: mastering strategic thinking at the business level while cultivating systems thinking at the engineering level. ABOUT MURALI SWAMINATHAN Murali Swaminathan joined Freshworks as Chief Technology Officer in September 2024. Murali is responsible for Freshworks' technology roadmap and strategy, leading the company's global engineering and architecture teams. With over 30 years of experience in software engineering, he has held leadership roles at ServiceNow, Recommind (now OpenText), and CA Technologies (now Broadcom), where he delivered scalable, secure solutions that enabled digital transformation and business agility. Murali holds a master's degree in Software Engineering Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor's degree in electronics and instrumentation from Annamalai University in India. SHOW NOTES: Freshworks' operating context: Engineering for 75,000 global customers (2:09) Navigating the tension between rapid AI adoption and enterprise-grade reliability (4:58) Breaking the "Positive Scenario" Trap: Using AI to automate negative test cases and corner-case detection (6:40) Why Responsible AI is a competitive advantage: Building "kill switches" and trust gates (8:31) Responsible AI by Design: Moving from reactive compliance to proactive architectural safeguards (10:48) Technical safeguards: Leveraging hyperscaler frameworks for model compliance and data anonymization (13:39) Product Trust Controls: Demonstrating reliability through role-based access and thresholds (16:25) Why engineering leaders should experiment in small teams before global rollout (20:35) Simulating Chaos: Using Business Continuity Planning (BCP) to test AI system resilience (22:13) Workflows with a brain: Transitioning from deterministic flows to agentic runtime decisions (24:16) The AI Team Profile: Why backend system engineers, not just data scientists, are the bedrock of agentic products (29:25) Cultivating a mindset shift toward agentic system orchestration (32:10) The shift to systems thinking: How engineering roles evolve from "building pieces" to managing end-to-end system flows (33:38) How to approach strategic business thinking as an engineering leader (36:43) Rapid Fire Questions: Guy Kawasaki's "Think Remarkable" and the best way to predict the future (38:23) LINKS AND RESOURCES Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference - Tech titan and creator of the Remarkable People podcast Guy Kawasaki delivers a practical, tactical, and sometimes radical discussion of how to make a difference in the world and live a fulfilling life. This episode wouldn't have been possible without the help of our incredible production team: Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-Host Jerry Li - Co-Host Noah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/ Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan's also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/ Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The last time Canva CEO Melanie Perkins was on Decoder, the company was starting a big push into enterprise. Now, she's leading it through a total reinvention, going, in Canva's words, "from a design platform with AI tools to an AI platform with design tools." But there's a lot of competition in that AI enterprise space. Not only is Canva competing with design software like the Adobe Creative Suite, but also it's competing with AI companies, like Anthropic and Meta, that are launching their own AI design platforms. So we talked a lot about whether Canva really is the right platform to bring the whole workspace together. Read the full interview transcript on The Verge. Links: Canva AI 2.0 goes all in on prompt-powered design tools | The Verge The creative software industry has declared war on Adobe | The Verge Anthropic launches Claude Design | TechCrunch Canva is now in the coding and spreadsheet business | The Verge Melanie Perkins thinks the world needs more alternatives to Adobe | Decoder (2024) Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this milestone 200th episode, original hosts Darcy Boerio, Bob McAdam, Wayne Schulz, and Todd McDaniel reunite for a nostalgic "trip down memory lane" that spans over a decade of enterprise software history. The conversation reflects on the podcast's humble beginnings in 2014—originally as a Microsoft-centric show—and its evolution into a broader industry resource.
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailThis week's enterprise software developments highlight how AI orchestration, ecosystem partnerships, and platform specialization continue to reshape the market. Usercentrics announced plans to acquire MCP Manager, strengthening its capabilities in consent and privacy governance as regulatory pressure grows. Meanwhile, Sage expanded its AI strategy by partnering with Augusta Labs to accelerate the development of an AI Center of Excellence, while ServiceNow both enhanced its global partner program and deepened its collaboration with OpenAI—signaling continued momentum around AI-powered workflow automation. Product innovation is also advancing across industry and marketing platforms: Syntax introduced a construction toolkit designed for SAP environments; Zone & Company launched an agentic orchestration layer for finance automation; and NiCE unveiled the Cognigy Simulator as an AI performance testing environment. In the marketing technology space, Optimove released an AI content decisioning agent, RainFocus introduced new workflow capabilities for event operations, and Algolia partnered with Microsoft to enable real-time product data delivery for AI-powered shopping experiences—reinforcing how AI agents, orchestration layers, and ecosystem collaboration are rapidly becoming foundational elements across modern enterprise software platforms.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbpRZ1iq_T4Questions for Panelists?
Send us Fan MailGuest: KG Charles-Harris, Founder & CEO of Quarrio -- The SaaS AI trap is believing fast answers are good enough when the real advantage comes from trustworthy, decision-grade intelligence.In this episode of SaaS Backwards, Ken Lempit talks with KG Charles-Harris, founder and CEO of Quarrio, about why most AI tools fall short in enterprise environments where decisions need to be accurate, auditable, and actionable. KG explains the difference between probabilistic AI and deterministic AI, and why that distinction matters far more than most SaaS leaders realize.They also explore why business users do not want more dashboards or more software to learn. They want answers to questions, delivered instantly, in a way they can trust. The conversation covers Quarrio's long path to market, how enterprise trust is built through founder-led sales, and why compressing the cycle from data to decision to action may become one of the biggest competitive advantages in SaaS.Key takeaways:Most enterprise AI tools are fast, but not reliable enough for decision-makingDeterministic AI is better suited for auditable, enterprise-grade answersSaaS users want answers, not more dashboards or reporting delaysDecision velocity may become a major competitive advantageFounder-led sales and trust are critical in early enterprise go-to-market–Growth stuck? Get a free SaaS GTM Checkup---Stalled pipeline? Lost deals? Diagnose your GTM gaps with a free, actionable checkup.
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailThis week's enterprise software updates highlight how AI capabilities, ecosystem partnerships, and vertical specialization are increasingly shaping product strategy across the industry. Sage expanded its AI footprint by introducing a Copilot within the Sage Operations Suite and partnering with Augusta Labs to accelerate development through a new AI Center of Excellence. Meanwhile, customer experience and marketing platforms continue embedding intelligent automation, with Salesforce advancing Slackbot capabilities inside Slack, Treasure Data launching a marketing “Super Agent,” and Cordial introducing AI agents designed to support campaign orchestration and personalization. Product innovation is also occurring across data and commerce platforms, as Akeneo announced its Winter Release and Syntax introduced the Syntax Construction Toolkit to streamline SAP-centric construction workflows. At the ecosystem level, ServiceNow enhanced its global partner program while Usercentrics moved to acquire MCP Manager to strengthen consent and privacy governance capabilities. Finally, startup momentum continues in the digital workplace space, with Flip securing a $20 million Series A funding round—further reinforcing that AI agents, ecosystem expansion, and verticalized platforms are becoming central themes in the evolving enterprise software landscape.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07D4gVzwpyoQuestions for Panelists?
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailThis week's enterprise software announcements reflect a clear industry-wide acceleration toward AI-embedded operations and ecosystem expansion through partnerships and acquisitions. Accenture's acquisition of Faculty highlights the growing demand for AI-native capabilities that combine advanced data science with enterprise delivery scale. At the same time, platform vendors are rapidly embedding AI directly into operational workflows: Panaya introduced Seemore, an agentic AI layer designed to automate software change analysis, while Sage added a Copilot capability to Sage Operations Suite to bring conversational intelligence into day-to-day business processes. Industry incumbents are also extending AI deeper into vertical workflows, with SAP unveiling AI-enhanced retail innovations and AVEVA launching new AI tools aimed at engineering and design environments. Meanwhile, ecosystem consolidation and integration remain active themes, as Flexera expands through acquisitions and Syspro partners with SugarCRM to strengthen go-to-market alignment between ERP and CRM layers. Complementing these moves, vendors such as Flowfinity, Akeneo, and Cordial continue to release platform updates that integrate automation, AI agents, and workflow intelligence—further reinforcing that AI is no longer an experimental add-on but a structural layer across enterprise software ecosystems.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTg_sSh1hVQQuestions for Panelists?
One of the biggest hurdles in achieving buy-in from the office of the CFO to embark on an ERP project is justifying the purchase through expected return on investment (ROI). But beyond identifying the potential ROI, you must also understand how your organization and people will be able to realize those returns. On this episode of the ERP Advisor, Shawn Windle, trusted ERP business advisor, teaches businesses how to accurately predict ROI for software investments, and ACTUALLY achieve those results through proper expectation and resource management.Connect with us!https://www.erpadvisorsgroup.com866-499-8550LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/erp-advisors-groupTwitter:https://twitter.com/erpadvisorsgrpFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/erpadvisorsInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/erpadvisorsgroupPinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/erpadvisorsgroupMedium:https://medium.com/@erpadvisorsgroup
Join us this week for The Tech Leaders' Podcast, where Gareth sits down with Cathy Mauzaize, President of EMEA at ServiceNow. Cathy talks about her journey to ServiceNow via some of the biggest tech companies in the world, unpicking the hype and reality around AI Agents, and why the Middle East is embracing modern tech faster that Europe.On this episode Rob and Gareth discuss how companies survive in a modern, global economy, how AI will impact human learning, and a nugget of advice from Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella.Timestamps:Introduction and early days (2:07)Legacy Tech and the Middle East (13:00)Priorities for Enterprise (21:55)AI Agents: Hype and Reality (25:48)AI and Human Learning (32:05)Commercial Impacts of AI (38:00)ITAM and AI Agents (45:43)Advice for 21-year-old Cathy (49:20)https://www.bedigitaluk.com/
My guest today is Mitchell Green. Mitchell Green is the co-founder and managing partner of Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm that has spent 15 years building one of the most disciplined investment machines in the business. Unlike most firms chasing power law outcomes, Lead Edge is designed to deliver consistent returns by talking to thousands of companies a year, applying a rigorous eight-point criteria to filter down to a handful of investments, and leveraging a uniquely constructed LP base of world-class executives and entrepreneurs. In this conversation, Mitchell walks through every component of the machine, from how they source and evaluate companies to how they think about selling, building culture, and staying competitive in a world being reshaped by AI. For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- Become a Colossus member to get our quarterly print magazine and private audio experience, including exclusive profiles and early access to select episodes. Subscribe at colossus.com/subscribe. ----- Ramp's mission is to help companies manage their spend in a way that reduces expenses and frees up time for teams to work on more valuable projects. Go to ramp.com/invest to sign up for free and get a $250 welcome bonus. ----- Trusted by thousands of businesses, Vanta continuously monitors your security posture and streamlines audits so you can win enterprise deals and build customer trust without the traditional overhead. Visit vanta.com/invest. ----- WorkOS is a developer platform that enables SaaS companies to quickly add enterprise features to their applications. Visit WorkOS.com to transform your application into an enterprise-ready solution in minutes, not months. ----- Rogo is the AI platform for finance. They're building agents for Wall Street that are trained to understand how bankers and investors actually do work: from diligence and modeling, to turning analysis into deliverables. To learn more, visit rogo.ai/invest. ----- Ridgeline has built a complete, real-time, modern operating system for investment managers. It handles trading, portfolio management, compliance, customer reporting, and much more through an all-in-one real-time cloud platform. Visit ridgelineapps.com. ----- Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com). Timestamps: (00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:00:53) Episode Intro: Mitchell Green (00:02:01) Cold Calling 10,000 Companies (00:03:54) Building the Lead Edge Machine (00:06:15) Lead Edge's LP Profile (00:09:22) Hitting Doubles and Triples (00:11:39) Knowing When to Sell (00:15:08) Lead Edge's Eight Buying Criteria (00:18:12) The Opportunity in Enterprise Software (00:24:54) Using Criteria for Filtering, Not Prediction (00:27:11) Building Relationships with Entrepreneurs (00:29:16) Improving the Investment Machine at Scale (00:31:59) Lead Edge's Culture (00:35:08) Mitchell's Schedule (00:36:37) The Mount Rushmore of Investment Machines (00:38:40) The AI Readiness Score (00:40:50) Overhyped, Frothy Markets (00:42:16 When AI Will be a Good Opportunity (00:44:29) Lessons from Competitive Skiing (00:47:33) Starting a Fund & Keeping Score (00:49:15) The Kindest Thing
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailRecent announcements across the enterprise software landscape highlight an accelerating shift toward AI-native capabilities, deeper operational visibility, and composable enterprise architectures. Integrations such as Beroe's DataHub with the Model Context Protocol and Panaya's Seemore agentic layer reflect growing momentum around context-aware AI orchestration, while Pipefy's AI agents and SAP's AI-enhanced retail innovations demonstrate how vendors are embedding intelligence directly into operational workflows. Strategic acquisitions—including Accenture's move to acquire Faculty and Flexera's expansion through multiple purchases—underscore the race to strengthen AI-driven services and platform breadth. Meanwhile, Rockwell Automation's expansion of its MES portfolio, Certinia's Winter '26 release, Flowfinity's platform enhancements, and ECI Software Solutions' acquisition of Amper Technologies reinforce the importance of real-time manufacturing visibility, service lifecycle integration, and process automation. Collectively, these developments signal a broader transition from static enterprise systems toward adaptive, AI-driven platforms designed to improve execution speed, operational insight, and scalability.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoX9TLCKcQYQuestions for Panelists?
In this episode of Talk Commerce, Tim Johnson discusses the evolving role of AI in workplace automation, the importance of effective prompting, and the need for tailored sales playbooks. He emphasizes the significance of subject matter experts in leveraging AI tools and the changing expectations of clients in terms of personalization. Tim also shares insights on the future of e-commerce and the rapid development of products in the market.AI is transforming workflows and automating processes.Effective prompting is crucial for maximizing AI tools.Sales playbooks need to be tailored to specific industries.Subject matter experts are essential for guiding AI use.Clients expect personalized interactions based on research.Personalization must be balanced with trust and accuracy.Rapid product development is becoming the norm in e-commerce.Companies must navigate the risks of quick market entry.Staying updated on AI advancements is vital for success.Engaging with clients on a personal level enhances relationships.Chapters00:00Introduction to Tim Johnson and His Role01:38The Evolution of AI in Workflows04:36Educating Teams on Effective Prompting08:16Tailoring Sales Playbooks with AI10:52The Importance of Subject Matter Experts13:39Understanding Client Expectations16:28Navigating Personalization and Trust18:24The Future of E-commerce and Rapid Development22:16Closing Thoughts and Shameless Plug
Sumeet Arora, Chief Product Officer at Teradata, joins The Tech Trek for a sharp conversation on the shift from human driven SaaS to agentic software. This episode digs into what changes when software stops just supporting human workflows and starts driving outcomes alongside people, why trust and governance matter more as AI systems take on more responsibility, and what serious companies need to do now to prepare.This is a practical discussion about where the market actually is, what gets overhyped, and what leaders should focus on beneath the noise. Sumeet lays out a clear view of the emerging enterprise stack, from knowledge and context to agents, governance, and outcomes. He also explains why the winners may not be the loudest companies in AI, but the ones that get their data, knowledge, and operating model right.In this episode• Why agentic software is a real shift, but still in its early stages• What trust, governance, and explainability need to look like in an AI first enterprise• How software companies should rethink product strategy for agents as well as humans• Why every employee may need to become a manager of AI agents• Why knowledge infrastructure could matter more than the agent layer itselfTimestamped highlights• 00:45 Teradata's role in helping enterprises become autonomous• 02:34 Where we really are in the agentic AI maturity curve• 10:16 How software shifts from workflow centric to outcome centric• 16:17 Why every employee may need an AI workforce• 21:57 The skill gap between enterprise users and agentic adoption• 24:48 Why knowledge, not just agents, will define the winnersStandout line“The fundamental winners will be ones who get the knowledge fabric correct.”Practical takeawayIf you are building for an AI driven future, do not start with agents alone. Start with trusted knowledge, usable context, clear policies, and systems that can explain decisions. The companies that treat agentic AI as a stack, not a feature, will be in a much stronger position.Follow The Tech Trek for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of technology, product, AI, and enterprise transformation.
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us Fan MailThis wave of product launches, acquisitions, and platform expansions highlights how enterprise software vendors are rapidly embedding AI, data integration, and domain-specific intelligence deeper into their operational cores. Announcements such as Anaplan's role-based AI agents, Pipefy's expanded AI agent availability, and Beroe's integration with the Model Context Protocol signal a shift toward agent-driven orchestration and context-aware automation across planning, procurement, and workflow execution. At the same time, acquisitions like BlackLine's purchase of WiseLayer and ECI Software Solutions' acquisition of Amper Technologies reflect a strategic push to strengthen financial automation and real-time manufacturing visibility. Meanwhile, platform enhancements from BillingPlatform, Certinia, Propel Software, and Avetta emphasize tighter integration across revenue lifecycle management, ESG compliance, product development, and supplier governance. Collectively, these developments illustrate a broader industry transition toward AI-native, composable enterprise architectures designed to improve decision quality, accelerate execution, and deliver measurable operational outcomes.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWDc-dx3Q0IQuestions for Panelists?
In this episode of Cloud Wars Live, Bob Evans speaks with Bonnie Tinder, founder and CEO of Raven Intelligence, about the surge of hype, confusion, and opportunity surrounding AI in enterprise technology. As headlines claim AI could replace traditional software and “vibe coding” threatens SaaS vendors, Tinder brings a grounded perspective from years of advising organizations on enterprise systems like Salesforce, Workday, and SAP. Their conversation explores what AI can realistically do today, why enterprise software remains critical, and how companies can move forward without falling for hype. Episode 58: AI Hype vs. Reality The Big Themes: Why “Vibe Coding” Won't Replace ERP: The idea that AI-powered “vibe coding” could replace enterprise applications is a popular narrative, but both Evans and Tinder challenge its practicality. Even companies developing cutting-edge AI models are still relying on traditional enterprise systems. For example, Tinder notes that AI companies themselves are hiring administrators for established software platforms rather than replacing them. Leadership Must Guide AI Adoption: The discussion also emphasizes that AI adoption cannot be left solely to technology teams. According to Evans, the entire executive leadership team, especially the CEO, needs to be actively involved in defining how AI will shape the organization. AI initiatives affect workflows, job roles, data governance, and competitive strategy. Without clear leadership alignment, different departments may pursue conflicting approaches, slowing progress or introducing risk. Fear and FUD Are Slowing Progress: Ironically, the greatest threat from AI hype may be paralysis. Tinder argues that fear, uncertainty, and doubt in the market are causing many companies to delay decisions altogether. Organizations worry about choosing the wrong tools, implementing technology too early, or missing the next wave of innovation. This hesitation can prevent companies from making meaningful progress. Instead of waiting for perfect clarity, organizations should take practical steps. The Big Quote: “You can vibe code your way around [a] notion or a content system, that's way different though, than having an in-house solution for an enterprise software." More from Bonnie Tinder: Connect with Bonnie on LinkedIn. Visit Cloud Wars for more.
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send a textThis wave of enterprise software announcements underscores how AI agents, ecosystem alliances, and data infrastructure are becoming foundational to modern enterprise architecture. Vendors such as Pipefy and Aquant are expanding libraries of pre-built AI agents, while Salesforce continues to scale its Agentforce ecosystem through industry-specific releases, AWS integrations, and its acquisition of Informatica to strengthen data governance and orchestration. At the same time, platform vendors like IFS and Freshworks are enhancing their core cloud offerings to embed automation and intelligence deeper into operational workflows. Strategic collaborations—including Zendesk's agreement with AWS and Iterable's release of a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server—highlight the growing importance of standardized orchestration layers that allow AI agents to operate securely across distributed systems. Meanwhile, initiatives such as Sage's AI Trust Label reflect increasing focus on governance, transparency, and responsible AI adoption as autonomous capabilities become embedded into mission-critical enterprise processes.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyTFFz7aXVAQuestions for Panelists?
Stefano Puntoni, Marketing Professor at the Wharton School and Co-Director of the Wharton Human-AI Research Program, explains how artificial intelligence is pressuring SaaS margins, lowering barriers to entry, reshaping pricing models, and marking a potential inflection point for enterprise software markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send a textThis cluster of enterprise software announcements highlights how vendors are rapidly embedding AI, expanding ecosystem integrations, and strengthening vertical depth to drive measurable operational outcomes. From Camunda's integrations with ServiceNow to Pipefy's launch of next-generation AI agents and Coupa's introduction of agentic AI capabilities, the focus is shifting toward autonomous execution layers that can orchestrate workflows, enforce policies, and improve decision speed. At the same time, platform expansions such as ECI's NET1 Commerce Suite, HighByte's Intelligence Hub updates, and Deltek's platform enhancements demonstrate continued investment in unified operational and data architectures to support increasingly complex digital environments. Strategic moves—including Rootstock's acquisition of Praxis Solutions and Provus' partnership with Kantata—underscore how vendors are closing functional gaps through targeted acquisitions and alliances rather than rebuilding entire platforms. Finally, initiatives such as Sage's AI Trust Label and Flowfinity's AI service expansion reflect a growing emphasis on governance, transparency, and trust as AI becomes embedded infrastructure across the enterprise stack.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzfdn7jJiVgQuestions for Panelists?
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send a textThis week's enterprise software announcements reflect a broad, coordinated push toward AI-native experiences layered across collaboration, operations, finance, and core business platforms. Salesforce's latest version of Slack, Oracle's role-based AI agents for Fusion Cloud, and SAP's extension of its business suite all signal that hyperscalers are embedding AI directly into day-to-day workflows rather than positioning it as a standalone add-on. In parallel, Sprinklr's new AI capabilities and Upstream Works' enhanced agent desktop extend this trend into customer experience and contact center operations, while Kantata's new AI platform targets the specialized needs of professional services firms. NetSuite's “Next” roadmap reinforces Oracle's mid-market modernization strategy, and ScienceLogic's reimagined applications highlight how observability and IT operations are also being reshaped by AI-first design principles. Rounding out the picture, Cleo's invoice payment and financing solution underscores growing pressure to modernize B2B financial operations, while Sage's acquisition of Criterion signals continued consolidation in the HCM space—together illustrating a market that is rapidly standardizing on AI-driven interaction layers even as vendors compete to redefine their category boundaries.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-5FOS9QamYQuestions for Panelists?
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send a textThis week's enterprise software developments underscore a widening gap between rapid AI-driven platform innovation and the unresolved execution risks embedded in large-scale ERP programs. On one side of the ledger, Mendix and OutSystems both advanced their agentic AI roadmaps with new releases aimed at operationalizing autonomous workflows, while ServiceNow's unveiling of its AI Experience, Sprinklr's new AI capabilities, and Braze's product enhancements at Forge 2025 reinforce how aggressively vendors across ITSM, CX, and marketing automation are repositioning around AI-first interaction layers. Salesforce's latest Slack updates and Upstream Works' enhanced agent desktop further extend this trend into collaboration and contact center operations, signaling that AI augmentation is now table stakes across front-office and service environments. In parallel, Plex's expanded connected worker integrations highlight how these same concepts are being pushed into manufacturing execution and workforce enablement, while Cleo's invoice payment and financing solution reflects growing pressure to modernize B2B financial operations. Yet this innovation narrative is tempered by Daedong USA's loss of an injunction in its ERP dispute—placing its $11.4 billion suit in jeopardy—which serves as a reminder that beneath the AI acceleration, legacy implementation failures, legal exposure, and governance breakdowns continue to create material risk for enterprises betting on large transformation programs.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Arr9GjwOBsQuestions for Panelists?
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send a textThis week's enterprise software headlines highlight a market simultaneously accelerating into agentic AI while still wrestling with the structural and legal fallout of past transformation failures. On the innovation front, Genstore's $10M seed round, Tray.ai's launch of the Tray Agent Hub, and new agentic releases from Mendix and OutSystems underscore how aggressively vendors are repositioning around autonomous workflows and AI-first orchestration layers. ServiceNow's unveiling of its AI Experience and Plex's connected worker integration push the same narrative into IT service management and manufacturing operations, signaling that agentic concepts are no longer confined to experimental edges of the stack. At the same time, a parallel storyline of governance and execution risk is playing out, with Zimmer Biomet's $172M ERP lawsuit against Deloitte, Europe's continued delays fixing a troubled Oracle system, Daedong USA's faltering ERP injunction, and the EU Commission's investigation into SAP's practices reinforcing how fragile large-scale enterprise transformations remain. Together, these developments paint a bifurcated 2026 landscape: rapid platform innovation driven by AI ambition on one side, and unresolved accountability, regulatory scrutiny, and implementation risk on the other.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3VmbEsy5uQQuestions for Panelists?
If someone walked into your office today and asked you to build a framework for how to value software development, what would you think about it? SHOW: 1000SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #1000 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET NEW TO CLOUD? CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS" SHOW NOTES:Chainguard introduces Factory 2.0On running a startup of Claude Code agentsAgentic Product Development and the Theory of ConstraintsSoftware AbundanceHOW SHOULD SOMEONE THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF SW DEV IN 2026?If someone walked into your office today and asked you to build a framework for how to value software development, how would you think about it? FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netBluesky: @cloudcastpod.bsky.socialTwitter/X: @cloudcastpodInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod
WBSRocks: Business Growth with ERP and Digital Transformation
Send us a textThis week's enterprise software news highlights a widening gap between glossy innovation narratives and the hard operational and governance realities shaping buyer risk. On the innovation side, BlackLine's launch of Verity for the Office of the CFO, Tray.ai's Agent Hub, Genstore's $10M seed round, and Blue Yonder's new TMS features underscore the accelerating push toward AI-enabled automation and orchestration layers across finance, integration, and supply chain. Versori's partnership with Fluent Commerce and Acumatica's 2025 R2 update further signal growing emphasis on ecosystem connectivity and incremental platform modernization. At the same time, the darker counterpoint is impossible to ignore: Zimmer Biomet's $172M ERP lawsuit against Deloitte, a major European city council's continued delays in fixing a failed Oracle system, and the EU Commission's investigation into SAP's practices reinforce how execution risk, vendor governance, and regulatory scrutiny are now front-and-center issues for enterprise buyers. Taken together, these developments reflect a market bifurcating between rapid AI-driven experimentation and escalating consequences for large-scale ERP missteps—raising the strategic stakes for both technology selection and transformation leadership.In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendors. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tFlYu6W_iwQuestions for Panelists?