The impact of artificial intelligence on ERP systems

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a buzzword in the tech industry for quite some time now. However, recently, the whole world saw significant developments, such as the mass adoption of the powerful language bot ChatGPT. According to expert speculations, the technology is still at its early stages, meaning that we are about to witness radical changes across multiple industries. 

In fact, we are introduced with new AI-powered tools on a daily basis, covering a wide range of use cases. It is already capable of writing human-like copy, creating extensive designs, providing financial data analysis and even generating programming codes. Many of its possibilities are extremely beneficial for businesses so, naturally, the next question is - how will AI impact ERP systems? Will it further enhance their capabilities or replace them all together? Let’s explore. 

What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence is the ability of a computer to perform tasks that require intelligence. Whether that’s learning, problem-solving, decision-making or perception, AI is capable of doing the things that previously were not possible without human interference. This technology includes a number of different components and applications, namely: deep learning, machine learning, cognitive computing, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics and so on..

Yes, businesses and individuals have already been using AI for quite a few years, primarily in manufacturing, healthcare, finance and security sectors. Virtual assistants, such as Alexa or Siri, are also examples of AI in action, in many people’s homes. However, the launch of Open AI’s ChatGPT platform has been more transformative than ever. It is by far the largest and most advanced AI tool to date, which can carry out a huge number of tasks by using simple word prompts. Users are also developing integrated ChatGPT apps and extensions which cater to even more specific use-cases (e.g. a tool for developing trading strategies). 

How does artificial intelligence impact ERP systems?

The use of AI tools or software, otherwise referred to as AI in ERP, is an existing phenomenon in many well-known ERP solutions, such as Odoo, SAP, Microsoft and NetSuite. Such tools as interactive chatbots, process automation modules and automated financial reporting are all examples of how artificial intelligence is utilised in business management software. There are a multitude of company functions and processes that benefit from AI-powered solutions.

The ability to automate repetitive and time-consuming processes is by far the most beneficial use case of AI in ERP. By automating their operations, businesses are able to increase their efficiency, while also minimising costs. Not only that, the use of AI significantly reduces the likelihood of errors and inaccuracies in various tasks. Artificial intelligence is not subject to any emotions or biases, which is why its decisions are made solely based on the data it’s been provided. 

Moreover, AI enables enhanced data processing and analytics. AI algorithms can analyse large amounts of data, detect patterns and anomalies, and identify trends. This can help companies optimise their supply chain, manage inventory more efficiently, and streamline their production processes. As such, AI can also be beneficial in enhancing customer experience, by providing personalised recommendations, predicting customer needs, and improving response times.

All in all, ERP systems that use AI tools and algorithms can become more intelligent, responsive and adaptable, helping businesses gain a strong competitive advantage in increasingly complex markets. 

Examples of AI in Odoo ERP

Odoo is one of the fastest-growing ERP systems on the market, challenging many of the well-established competitors with its open-source nature, user-friendly interface and a competitive pricing model. Let’s look at some of the key ways Odoo ERP system is already using AI-powered tools in practice. 

• Smart Automation: Odoo offers a smart “automated actions” feature that enables businesses to automate a number of their routine tasks by creating a set of rules, triggered by specific criteria. This feature is most often used in data entry and report generation, however, it is also a brilliant tool for detecting mistakes or duplications in data. 
• Email Marketing: Odoo’s Marketing Automation module uses AI-powered algorithms to enable effective and automated email campaigns. For example, personalised emails to new leads can be fully automated with follow-up server actions based on the customer’s behaviour (e.g. if clicked, convert to opportunity). The tool is also able to create in-depth reports, further helping marketing teams improve the effectiveness of their campaigns. 
• Expense Management: Odoo’s Expense Automation tools are able to extract the relevant information from a picture of a receipt, categorise the expense based on your previous preferences and automate approval / reimbursement processes. This significantly reduces the administrative workload of a business, while improving their expense tracking and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Predictive Inventory Management: The inventory management module in Odoo ERP uses AI-powered algorithms to analyse historical sales data, identify trends and forecast future demand. This can help businesses optimise their inventory levels, reduce stockouts and improve their order fulfilment rates.
• Helpdesk Automation: The Odoo Helpdesk module can automatically create customer support tasks, such as ticket routing and response generation. It allows businesses to reduce workload and improve response times, overall providing a better customer support service. 

These are only a few examples of how Odoo ERP system already uses AI to help businesses save costs, streamline their processes and increase productivity. 

What are the challenges of AI integration into BMS?

The integration of AI into business management systems will only become more common and desired, due to the latest developments in this area. However, as with all novel technology, the roll-out of AI tools in ERP systems will present some considerable challenges too. 

One of the biggest challenges is the lack of standardised data formats. Since different data sources often have different structures and formats, this can make it difficult for AI algorithms to analyse and learn from the data. Similarly, the algorithms need high-quality data in order to perform accurate and complete analysis. Providing AI with poor or limited data may, therefore, lead to inconsistent, biassed or incorrect results. This could be potentially damaging to a business which, for example, is looking to make important data-driven business decisions and projections. 

Additionally, the complexity of AI algorithms can, too, cause difficulties for businesses when trying to understand how they make certain decisions and recommendations. This could become particularly problematic in industries with strict regulations or ethical considerations. For instance, if artificial intelligence is used to make hiring or firing decisions based on the presented employee data, it is crucial to understand how such decisions have been made in order to avoid issues like discrimination, for example. 

As such, integration of AI into ERP systems can become an expensive process for businesses, who will require trained staff, specialised in data science. As it currently stands, the technology requires regular monitoring and maintenance, while the critical business decisions it produces should be thoroughly analysed and understood by human judgement. Despite these challenges, however, the benefits of AI in ERP can be transformative to businesses, making it an area of ongoing interest and investment for companies across various industries.

The future of AI and ERP

The future of AI and ERP systems is highly exciting and will bring substantial changes in the way businesses operate. As AI-powered solutions continue to develop, its integration into ERP systems will become increasingly sophisticated, enabling businesses to automate more complex tasks, improve decision-making and enhance their overall operational efficiency even further. AI-powered ERP systems will be able to analyse data in real-time and optimise operations in ways that were previously impossible. 

Moreover, the combination of AI and ERP will allow businesses to be more agile and responsive to changing market conditions, enabling them to gain a strong competitive edge. As more businesses adopt AI-powered solutions, we can expect to see significant improvements in productivity and customer satisfaction across the board.

Will AI replace ERP systems?

Finally, as the technology is getting smarter, businesses may start wondering if AI-powered platforms could replace ERP systems altogether... So, instead of speculating, why don’t we ask ChatGPT itself?