It’s not just a tech refresh—it’s a bid to future-proof the company against industry upheaval and redefine what enterprise IT can deliver across a 6,000-user, 140-location footprint.

Semler’s legacy infrastructure included 45-year-old systems built on mainframes, Lotus Notes, and custom code. Reliable? Sure. Agile and scalable? Not so much.

“The system worked, but our customers demanded more,” says Christensen. “Volkswagen Group, our key OEM partner, expects digital innovation. Internally, our teams needed smarter workflows and real-time data. We couldn’t deliver that with old tech.”

Enter: a cloud-based ERP overhaul using Microsoft Dynamics 365, enhanced with Icelandic ISV Anetta’s automotive layer. With rollout scheduled for September 2026, Semler is staging a “big bang” go-live across 4,000 users in a single day. That means not just migrating data—but transforming processes, retraining staff, and building an entirely new operating model.—

Embracing Generative AI and Azure Innovation

Semler didn’t stop at Dynamics. The company has embedded Azure OpenAI into its ecosystem with a custom-built language model called “Semler GPT.” Originally a proof-of-concept Power App in 2023, the assistant has matured into a full enterprise AI companion.

“One use case is for our used-car sales advisors,” Christensen says. “They enter a registration number, and the AI pulls data from factory systems and our databases to generate a listing. It writes the ad with the right tone of voice—Audi luxury feels different than a Volkswagen Golf.”

Even more impressive? The tool also estimates optimal pricing by analyzing market dynamics and historical sales data.

But Christensen is clear: this isn’t about cutting jobs. “It’s about quality. Freeing up people’s time for more meaningful tasks. We’re not reducing FTEs—we’re raising the bar.”

Digital Adoption: Where Whatfix Fits In

Semler’s definition of transformation success isn’t just about deployment—it’s about adoption. “We talk about the J-curve,” Christensen explains. “Productivity drops right after go-live. But the faster we get our people climbing the curve again, the faster we unlock business value.”

That’s where Whatfix, a digital adoption platform, comes into play. “We’re integrating Whatfix with Semler GPT. So when users ask how to do something—like ‘create a sales order for a new car’—they’re not just shown a document. The AI starts the process for them. Eventually, agents may do the entire task.”

This “one interface to rule them all” vision is foundational to Semler’s user experience strategy. From booking time off to checking lunch menus, the enterprise interface is being simplified and reimagined through AI.

Data Readiness and Integration: Not Just a Checkbox

With AI, everything hinges on data readiness—and Christensen knows it.

“GDPR forced us to start cleaning customer data back in 2018,” he says. “Since then, every automation project has pushed us to mature our data governance.”

Even so, some use cases—especially customer-facing AI—are still out of reach. “We have high internal usage, like call-center assistants. But until data quality improves, exposing these tools externally isn’t feasible.”

To unify its systems, Semler built an integration platform in Azure. Over 200 integrations—ranging from OEM factory systems to tire partners—run through this layer. It’s not a traditional enterprise service bus, but rather a loosely coupled microservices model. “It gives us full control, auditability, and scalability,” Christensen says.

Industry Matters

Why Microsoft? The availability of a complete platform—ERP, cloud, AI, Power Platform, and Office 365—played a role, but Christensen says the ISV offering was the clincher.

“We needed a full-scale automotive solution,” he notes. “When we found out Anetta was building that on Dynamics, and that we already used Microsoft heavily, it made sense. That said, CE and Finance and Operations aren’t fully integrated. It’s not quite plug-and-play.”

Semler’s also helping shape the Anetta solution, providing requirements and helping the ISV meet Volkswagen certification standards. “It’s a co-build, not just an implementation,” Christensen says.

Looking Ahead: From AI to In-Car Commerce

Christensen sees the future filled with agentic AI, embedded services, and predictive analytics.

“We’re starting to support in-car commerce—apps people can buy directly from their car’s interface. That has to connect back to our ERP,” he explains. “We’re also investing in predictive inventory management. When you hold a car, you’re tying up a lot of capital. Forecasting demand more precisely will be crucial.”

As compute power increases and models evolve, Christensen expects more business decisions to be AI-assisted. But first? “Still a lot of data governance to do,” he admits with a smile.

What this means for ERP Insiders

ERP is now an ecosystem, not just a system. Semler’s transformation illustrates a broader market shift: ERP is no longer a monolith. It’s a foundation that’s only valuable when paired with cloud-native integration, AI augmentation, and continuous user enablement. Microsoft’s platform strategy—combining Dynamics 365 with Azure, Power Platform, and copilots—lets companies design modular, adaptive ecosystems. ERP leaders should not only focus on core functionality, but also on how AI agents, digital assistants, and self-healing data architectures amplify value across the entire process landscape.

AI is real, but readiness is everything. Semler GPT shows that even mid-sized companies can build custom AI assistants if they have the right cloud infrastructure, data models, and culture of experimentation. But most ERP customers are still in “data denial”—overestimating the cleanliness and usability of their information. Tech leaders must prioritize metadata enrichment, master data consolidation, and data governance policies now, or risk failing to operationalize AI even when tools like Whatfix or Microsoft Copilot become turnkey.

Digital adoption platforms could be the missing link. The biggest ROI blocker for ERP investments isn’t architecture—it’s behavior. Semler’s pairing of Whatfix with AI assistants provides a compelling blueprint for how to accelerate user adoption and shorten the post-go-live productivity dip. By embedding training, guidance, and automated workflows directly into the user interface, companies can shift from “train the user” to “empower the user.” For Microsoft Dynamics customers especially, combining Whatfix’s contextual guidance with Azure-native AI could be a game-changer for long-term ERP success.

The post From Mainframe to Microsoft: Semler’s Epic ERP Overhaul to Drive a Data-Powered, AI-Enabled Automotive Empire appeared first on ERP Today.

After assessing their legacy platforms like NetSuite, Workday, and Salesforce, Fluence determined that they wouldn’t scale to $10 billion in revenue. The team initiated a 13-month SAP implementation covering finance, supply chain, analytics, and sustainability. The result? A 99.7% clean core SAP deployment on Google Cloud via RISE with SAP. “We couldn’t afford custom processes,” Crounse said. “Clean core and standardization were essential to scale at this velocity.”

Speed, in fact, has been a strategic mantra for Crounse. “Speed over perfection,” he says. “In hypergrowth, an MVP mindset is critical. You can’t wait for perfect—you iterate, pivot, and move.”

Listen to this podcast from SAP Sapphire 2025, where Crounse speaks with ERP Today’s Mark Vigoroso on Fluence’s SAP journey and how its large SAP footprint is the result of an “end-to-end orchestration—from project inception to delivery and long-term asset maintenance.”

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While fans see high-speed thrills on the track, behind the scenes, a sophisticated digital infrastructure powers the team’s operations. SYSPRO’s ERP system provides RFK Racing with the precision and agility needed to thrive in one of the world’s most demanding sporting environments.

High-Performance Integration and Compliance

Motorsports teams operate under strict regulations governing safety, component specifications, and performance standards. Failure to comply can lead to disqualification, hefty fines, or worse—safety hazards for drivers and crews.

With SYSPRO’s tools, RFK Racing ensures that every part purchased for its cars meets NASCAR’s rigorous requirements. Moreover, SYSPRO provides robust integrations to specific ERP data needed by the race systems to build and manage racing day performance and compliance. For example, if there is a critical question about a part during a pre- or after-race inspection, the information used by the race day systems can show compliance and sourcing information managed in SYSPRO and other systems. This data can then be combined into real-time data if needed.

This level of oversight not only keeps RFK Racing compliant but also enhances overall vehicle reliability, a critical factor in racing events.

Mastering Inventory Complexity

Managing inventory in motorsports presents a unique challenge. Unlike traditional manufacturing where parts may remain in warehouses for months, racing teams’ cycle through components or the warehouse and inspection processes at an astonishing rate. A new car is built for every race and knowing that all parts procured have complete rigorous inspection and certification prior to going out on the track is essential. Not just for safety but also compliance.

Managing inventory in motor sports presents a unique challenge.

As RFK Racing’s trusted back-office application managing purchasing, parts and finance, SYSPRO helps maintain a meticulous oversight of RFK Racing’s procurement and inventory. The system enables:

• Automated tracking of parts using lot and serial traceability.
• Improved cost efficiency, reduced overstock while preventing critical shortages.

This approach allows the team to maintain peak performance while keeping operational expenses in check.

ERP and the Future of Motorsports

RFK Racing’s integration of ERP technology with SYSPRO is part of a broader shift in motorsports. As racing organizations become more data-driven, teams are investing heavily in automation, predictive analytics, and AI-enhanced decision-making. Thus, ERP systems will continue to play a pivotal role in streamlining operations, ensuring compliance, and maximizing performance both on and off the racetrack.

For industries beyond motorsports, RFK Racing’s adoption of SYSPRO demonstrates how tailored ERP solutions can support highly specialized manufacturing and operational environments. Whether in aerospace, healthcare, or industrial equipment, businesses that require rapid component turnover, stringent inventory tracking, and data insights can benefit from ERP-driven efficiencies.

SYSPRO provides robust integrations to specific ERP data needed by the race systems.

What This Means for ERP Insiders

Robust integration is a must for accurate data. SYSPRO’s capability of providing robust integrations to specific ERP data enables immediate access to critical data on purchasing, parts and finance, empowering users to make swift, informed decisions. This is particularly valuable in dynamic environments where responsiveness is crucial, as demonstrated by its application in RFK Racing’s pre- or after-race inspection.

Complex assemblies require robust inventory and traceability. SYSPRO’s detailed inventory management and lot/serial traceability features are essential for managing complex assemblies. This capability is critical for industries with stringent quality and safety standards, providing granular control over components from procurement to installation.

Tailored solutions for specialized manufacturing. SYSPRO demonstrates an ability to adapt its ERP solutions to the unique demands of specialized manufacturing environments, such as high-performance automotive. This highlights the importance of selecting an ERP system that can be customized to address specific industry challenges and operational complexities.

The post Behind the Pit Wall: How RFK Racing leverages SYSPRO ERP appeared first on ERP Today.

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The recent implementation of a 25% tariff on imported automobiles, effective April 3, 2025, and a similar tariff on auto parts scheduled to take effect on May 3, 2025, presents significant challenges for auto parts manufacturers across the U.S. and Canada. The pressure to maintain profitability amid rising costs is real, and the ability to pivot quickly has never been more critical.

But with the right tools and strategies, manufacturers can not only survive auto tariffs, but thrive. Here’s how adopting the right ERP system—like SYSPRO ERP—can help you remain resilient and competitive.

Understanding the Challenge

New auto tariffs mean higher costs. Whether you’re producing components for heavy-duty vehicles or precision parts for passenger cars, your profitability is at risk. The implications are broad and impactful:

• Increased Production Costs: Materials imported from overseas now come with a steep surcharge, squeezing profit margins and making it harder to stay competitive.
• Supply Chain Disruptions: Tariffs can force manufacturers to seek alternative suppliers or adjust their sourcing strategies, leading to delays and increased expenses.
• Compliance and Quality Control Risks: As manufacturers try to cut costs, maintaining strict quality standards and adherence to regulations becomes a tougher balancing act.

These challenges call for a solution that offers visibility, flexibility, and efficiency across your entire operation. Enter: SYSPRO ERP.

How SYSPRO ERP Can Help Auto Parts Manufacturers Stay Resilient

SYSPRO ERP is designed to address the unique pain points of auto parts manufacturers. From enhanced supply chain visibility to improved inventory management, SYSPRO ERP provides the tools you need to adapt and excel.

1. Complete Visibility from Shop Floor to OEM Door

With auto tariffs driving up costs, having full visibility over your operations is more critical than ever. SYSPRO ERP provides real-time insights into every stage of your manufacturing process—from raw material acquisition to OEM delivery.

• Track Inventory: Monitor stock levels and avoid costly overstocking or stockouts.
• Streamline Production: Optimize workflows and improve efficiency across the board.
• Monitor Supplier Performance: Identify reliable suppliers and pivot quickly when disruptions occur.

Case Study: Active Exhaust Corp. leveraged SYSPRO ERP to automate handoffs between systems, achieving complete enterprise-wide visibility. This automation reduced waste, decreased errors, and improved accuracy from quoting through design to shipping.

2. Optimized Inventory Management

Effective inventory management is essential when dealing with rising costs. SYSPRO ERP offers robust inventory optimization tools that help you maintain the perfect balance—minimizing costs while ensuring availability.

• Automated Replenishment: Avoid overstocking and reduce holding costs.
• Predictive Analytics: Use historical data to forecast demand accurately.
• Centralized Control: Manage inventory across multiple locations seamlessly.

Case Study: Performance Machine implemented SYSPRO ERP to gain better control over inventory and production processes, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced operational costs.

3. Proactive Quality Management

Quality control has never been more important. As costs rise, the margin for error shrinks. SYSPRO’s Quality Management module ensures your products meet stringent regulatory standards and customer expectations.

• Enhanced Traceability: Track materials from receipt to delivery, ensuring compliance and building trust with OEM partners.
• Automated Quality Checks: Detect errors early to minimize costly recalls or rework.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay compliant with North American standards and avoid penalties.

Case Study: Toyota Racing Development (TRD) utilized SYSPRO ERP to integrate all departments of their business, enhancing visibility and control over their manufacturing processes. This integration led to improved efficiency and streamlined operations.

4. Strengthening Supplier Collaboration

With supply chains under pressure, strong relationships with suppliers are critical. SYSPRO ERP helps manufacturers enhance communication and collaboration, ensuring consistency and reliability even when sourcing strategies shift.

• Supplier Performance Monitoring: Rate and compare suppliers based on delivery times, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Diversified Sourcing: Reduce risk by establishing relationships with multiple suppliers.
• Real-Time Reporting: Make informed decisions with up-to-date supplier performance metrics.

Case Study: Active Exhaust Corp. improved supplier collaboration through SYSPRO ERP’s integrated systems, allowing seamless communication and data exchange, which led to more reliable and efficient supply chain operations.

The Bottom Line: Stay Resilient and Competitive with SYSPRO ERP

The 25% tariff presents undeniable challenges for auto parts manufacturers, but it also offers an opportunity to enhance your operations and emerge stronger. By leveraging the tools and capabilities of SYSPRO ERP, you can improve efficiency, strengthen your supply chain, and maintain profitability—even under pressure.

Note: The case studies mentioned above are based on real-world implementations of SYSPRO ERP in the automotive manufacturing sector, demonstrating tangible benefits in operational efficiency and cost management.

Steve Bassaw

The post Navigating the 25% Tariff: How Auto Parts Manufacturers Can Stay Resilient and Competitive with SYSPRO ERP appeared first on ERP Today.

The new tools, Product Information Management (PIM) and Digital Asset Management (DAM), are part of the company’s broader aftermarket data solutions portfolio. The latest capabilities include:

• Epicor Brand Performance Analytic, which provides deep insight into a brand’s performance in the Epicor catalog versus competing brands through win/loss percentage statistics and graph generation for KPIs like the winning brand’s average percentage compared to competitor brands.
• Epicor MarketPACE Unit Sales Analytic to complement the enterprise software provider’s existing indexed Net Dollar Sales analytic tools with the ability to track and analyze unit sales metrics, rankings, and brand competitive trends. The capability will help users compare dollar sales versus unit sales to assess the possible impact of inflation on parts performance.
• Epicor Demand Curve Analytic, which tracks demand for parts by vehicle age over a five-year period for different part categories. This capability extends to Epicor Catalog Coverage Monitor to help users identify demand based on the vehicle’s year of manufacture.
• Integration of Epicor Catalog for Automotive in Epicor Vision will allow more users to access the Epicor Catalog for Automotive within their existing workflows. The catalog is powered by the company’s aftermarket product content engine, which comprises 12 million unique part numbers and more than 1.6 billion catalog applications from over 4,000 industry suppliers.

Tim Hardin, Senior Vice President of Global Automotive, Data, and Extend Services at Epicor, said that the company’s “most recent innovations and investments provide the entire automotive aftermarket ecosystem—from manufacturers to distributors to service and repair shops—with new capabilities to make, market, move, and sell products more effectively and profitably.”

These solutions will be showcased at AAPEX 2024 in Las Vegas from November 5 to November 7, 2024.

The post Epicor’s new solutions to boost automakers’ performance metrics appeared first on ERP Today.

Steve Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Epicor said in a statement, “The acquisition of Acadia furthers Epicor’s commitment to helping businesses across the make, move, and sell industries move beyond simply telling workers what to do, but showing them how to do it effectively to drive stronger productivity and efficiency.”

Through this acquisition, Epicor will integrate Acadia’s capabilities of providing real-time insights and guidance for frontline workers in the supply chain and manufacturing industries with its current offering.

According to Josh Crone, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Acadia Software, “Joining Epicor gives us an opportunity to connect even more frontline workers to the tools and know-how they need to work independently, while also providing resources and capabilities to better serve our existing Acadia customers.”

This integration will provide Epicor and Acadia users with:

• Real time actionable insights that will integrate seamlessly with existing systems to combine workforce performance data with other operational metrics.
• Skills management and development to help workers swiftly adopt new software, processes, and equipment. This feature will also help to foster employee growth and career progression.
• Driving continuous improvement as the software will be aligned with Epicor’s focus area and enable workers to identify inefficiencies, execute tasks according to best practices and suggest improvements to existing processes.

The news follows this month’s acquisition by Epicor of Solenium Group and its sister company, Visual SKUs which provide Product Information Management (PIM) and Digital Asset Management (DAM) solutions for the automotive aftermarket.

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With this acquisition, the Austin, Texas-based enterprise software provider has strengthened its automotive aftermarket portfolio and its role as an industry standard catalog content provider in North America.

Steve Murphy, chief executive officer of Epicor stated that the deal was part of the company’s strategy of providing digital foundation for the growth of the global “make, move, and sell” economy.

Under the deal, which was for an undisclosed amount, Epcior will offer customers a PIM and DAM suite that is customized for the automotive aftermarket. According to Epicor, it will help suppliers and retailers in this sector to get faster compliant parts content and automate their digital asset management lifecycle.

“The acquisition of Solenium and Visual SKUs strengthens Epicor’s leadership in the automotive aftermarket helping manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and retailers expand revenue opportunities by getting the right parts, to the right place, at the right time,” Murphy said.

Moreover, by sourcing data directly from parts suppliers and converting it into an Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard (ACES) and Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES) format, Epicor can streamline the process and accelerate the integration of compliant vehicle application and product data into the company’s next-generation Epicor Catalog.

These features will help the automotive aftermarket industry, which is fueled by the increasing need for replacement parts and accessories as vehicle components become more complex. They will also assist parts manufacturers, distributors and retailers to get products to market quickly and grow both, their new and existing product lines.

The post Epicor expands automotive aftermarket reach with Solenium acquisition appeared first on ERP Today.

One such company affected by the tornado was Autokiniton, a New Boston, Michigan-headquartered supplier of Body-in-White and vehicle frames for automakers like Toyota, General Motors, Nissan, Ford, BMW, Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Honda. The company has two plants in Eastgate and Lebanon, Tennessee, for this purpose.

The company has expanded to manage all aspects of the customer’s manufacturing and distribution process through vertical integration with its Axis Engineering and Haggerty Logistics divisions. It manages all these operations through an ERP solution provided by QAD, a next-generation manufacturing and supply chain cloud solutions provider and moved from an on-premises operation to QAD Cloud in 2014.

So, when the tornado struck Autokiniton’s Eastgate facility that March, causing significant damages and destroying the plant’s IT Infrastructure, Autokiniton had to work quickly to ensure that the facility was up and running safely so that it could keep its commitments to its customers.

According to Michael Butler, Plant Manager of Autokiniton’s Axis Engineering division, who was the Eastgate facility’s plant manager in March 2020, the company immediately put its disaster recovery plan into action, saving an estimated 70 lives. At that time, the plant had about three days’ worth of supplies on-site and had to find a way to get those to their customers while resuming operations as soon as possible. The task seemed impossible as the site’s IT infrastructure was destroyed. “The facility also experienced a power outage and a total loss of connectivity,” Butler said.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Seven miles down the road from Eastgate is Autokiniton’s Lebanon facility, which had sustained significantly lower damage despite losing power and one carrier. With power restored at Eastgate through a backup generator, it developed a plan to use the Lebanon facility’s remaining carriers and connect to the Tech Center in New Boston through VPN.

Andrew Amstutz, Director of IT for Autokiniton, noted that by doing this, the company could ship and conduct all its normal QAD Cloud business processes for Eastgate once power was restored at the Lebanon facility. “They would print product labels for Eastgate, do shipping paperwork and send advanced shipping notices (ASNs). Teamwork allowed us to do that,” Amstutz said.

At the Eastgate plant, the team turned things around in record time when power was restored by interacting through its Cloud ERP. Amstutz observed that the company had five separate 4G connections through VPN to the cloud ERP system to keep its shipping and operations running. This allowed Autokiniton to use systems much more quickly than if they did not have a cloud ERP system.

Thus, the two facilities, working in tandem, ensured that with the help of QAD Cloud, the Eastgate plant became fully operational within 36 hours of being struck by the tornado.

Making a positive impact through cloud

It also drove home the importance of using a cloud ERP system, especially during a natural disaster. Restoring manufacturing operations alone would not have been enough for the Eastgate plant, which uses the QAD Cloud system to communicate internally and with customers.

“If there is a disaster, you still have your data sitting in the cloud, and it’s always there,” said Butler, adding, “That helps with your connectivity once you bring it back up. You have access to it no matter where you are. No matter when the disaster hits, you can still get to the cloud and your data. That is key.”

Amstutz noted that the system has allowed the company to be agile. “We can bring connectivity to that facility, load in items, bill material and routing and start shipping with Cloud ERP. Being agile and able to move at the speed of business is effective.”

The post Restoring Supply Chains: How Cloud ERP Helped Autokiniton when Disaster Struck appeared first on ERP Today.

SNP offers tailored solutions to address the unique needs of SAP users, their expertise in application lifecycle management (ALM) and innovative software solutions empowers companies to navigate the migration to S/4HANA with confidence and efficiency.

Audi AG, a leading automotive manufacturer known for its commitment to technological advancement, harnessed SNP’s capabilities to streamline its transition to S/4HANA. By leveraging SNP’s expertise, this success story is an example of how transformation services can establish efficient processes in finance and maintenance logistics while ensuring a smooth and secure migration.

Recognizing the importance of embracing state-of-the-art IT architecture, Audi AG embarked on multiple projects simultaneously in 2023 – aimed at implementing SAP S/4HANA Finance for centralized finance operations and migrating maintenance logistics to the cloud.

However, executing such a comprehensive transformation posed challenges, particularly in terms of ensuring real-time insights into financial health and cash flows and mitigating risks during data migration. This is where SNP’s expertise became invaluable.

SNP’s table-based migration approach and proprietary software enabled Audi AG to select data from existing systems and transition smoothly to the cloud, even amidst year-end closing activities.

Effective collaboration and intensive knowledge sharing between Audi AG and SNP were key in overcoming unexpected hurdles and achieving a successful go-live. By early 2023, both finance and maintenance logistics systems had transitioned to S/4HANA almost simultaneously.

This successful integration not only highlights Audi AG’s commitment to innovation but also positions them to tackle future digital challenges effectively. With SNP’s support, Audi AG is well-equipped to drive its comprehensive transformation program forward and maintain its leadership position in the automotive industry.

Audi AG’s experience shows how SAP users can navigate the transition to S/4HANA with the right partner. Through expertise and innovative solutions, SNP empowers companies to embrace the future of ERP seamlessly – unlocking new opportunities for competitiveness.

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