AI in ERP: The future of intelligent business operations

Despite years of innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), many workflows remain stubbornly manual. Even with major investments in business management software, 54% of businesses say their current systems still depend on repetitive, error-prone tasks—a gap that slows decision-making and drives up operational costs.

AI-powered enterprise resource planning (ERP) software offers a turning point. By applying machine learning to forecasting, reporting, and process automation, these systems help leaders work faster and make more accurate, data-driven decisions.

Below, we’ll examine how leading vendors are embedding AI into ERP systems—and what these advances mean for the future of intelligent business operations.

Jump to:

• What is the role of AI in enterprise software?
• The state of AI in ERP in 2026
• Popular ERP systems with AI capabilities
• ERP AI features roundup
• Future of AI in ERP
• Boost productivity and enhance profitability

What is the role of AI in enterprise software?

Recent generative AI breakthroughs have caused a surge in interest and adoption, with ERP systems being a particularly natural home for this technology. In addition to being one of the largest segments of the enterprise software market, ERP systems help organize and analyze data from virtually every aspect of an operation.

As a result, they stand to gain tremendously from AI features, which can help automate workflows, generate predictive insights, and offer strategic recommendations.

The state of AI in ERP in 2026

AI is already causing significant changes to the ERP landscape. To help you understand the market’s trajectory, let’s look at which technologies companies are adopting and how that’s affecting the industry.

More businesses are using AI assistants and bots

Chatbots are already one of the more widely adopted AI tools, and they’re rapidly becoming even more popular.

These conversational tools are becoming increasingly integrated into ERP solutions, helping to automate workflows and provide interactive assistance. For example, you can simply ask a chatbot to check your inventory levels, and it’ll respond using real-time ERP data.

Cloud systems make AI more accessible

AI isn’t just for enterprises with large IT budgets anymore. Cloud ERP systems are democratizing access to AI capabilities. They let companies of all sizes access the technology without investing thousands in infrastructure.

For example, solutions like Intuit Enterprise Suite allow you to unlock the power of AI without purchasing expensive servers, hiring IT staff, or covering hefty energy bills.

Not all ERP vendors are up to speed

While some ERP vendors are rapidly innovating with AI features, others are struggling to keep pace. This growing capability gap may encourage lagging vendors to make strategic acquisitions that could accelerate their AI integration efforts.

For example, legacy ERP platforms may partner with AI startups rather than try to catch up with market leaders on their own. These startups will likely be better equipped to incorporate AI into their enterprise resource planning software.

AI adoption in manufacturing ERP

Manufacturers benefit the most from AI adoption in their ERP solutions. Features like real-time materials monitoring, predictive maintenance, and intelligent quality controls are becoming standard, helping to reduce equipment downtime and waste.

AI agents: The new digital workers

AI agents are still an emerging concept in the ERP landscape, but they have the potential to transform the industry’s automation capabilities.

Unlike simple chatbots, these digital workers can understand the broader context of an ERP system’s various aspects, enabling them to handle multi-step and cross-functional business tasks.

For example, some of the potential applications for AI agents in ERP systems include:

• Monitoring cash flow and sending payment reminders to overdue customers
• Monitoring inventory levels in real time and reordering materials when stock runs low
• Analyzing work schedules and optimizing shift assignments to minimize overtime costs

Popular ERP systems with AI capabilities

Now that we’ve addressed how AI is used in ERP, let’s review some of the specific ERP systems that have begun incorporating AI into their platforms.

Oracle

Oracle is one of the companies in charge of integrating AI capabilities into enterprise software. Over the past several years, it’s steadily expanded its suite of AI-powered offerings.

For example, here are some of the most notable:

• Applications: Oracle has embedded predictive AI, generative AI, and AI agents in each of its cloud applications, including its ERP solution.
• OCI Generative AI: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Generative AI is a service that lets you access pretrained large language models (LLMs) and customize them to meet your needs.
• Other OCI AI services: Oracle offers additional AI services, including an AI agent platform, prebuilt chatbots, speech-to-text, and deep-learning-based image analysis.
• Machine learning: Oracle’s machine learning services let you build, manage, and deploy machine learning models in combination with LLMs and your own proprietary data to improve your generative AI results.

Together, these AI tools and services have made Oracle’s entire platform more powerful, efficient, and user-friendly, including its ERP system.

Acumatica

Acumatica is a cloud ERP system designed for small and midmarket organizations across various industries, including construction, retail, manufacturing, and agriculture.

The company has taken a strong stance on AI, integrating the technology into many aspects of its software to streamline processes and improve overall efficiency. Each of its AI features revolves around three pillars:

• AI Advisors: Acumatica includes intelligent AI agents designed to improve decision-making. They can handle various complex tasks, including real-time data extraction, precise anomaly detection, and demand forecasting.
• AI Automation: Acumatica has built AI automation into its workflows, unlocking capabilities like code-free customization, accounts payable (AP) document recognition, and warehouse optimization.
• AI Assistant: Separate from its AI agents, Acumatica’s AI chatbots are designed to enhance daily productivity. They provide an interactive user interface, supporting functions like natural language search and help desk self-support.

Microsoft

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based suite of modular applications that businesses can combine to create a custom, integrated tech stack. Like Oracle and Acumatica, Microsoft has leaned into the AI trend, incorporating the technology across its platform, including its ERP app.

The platform also features a powerful, built-in AI assistant called Copilot. For finance professionals, Copilot acts as a decision-support tool by summarizing large datasets and analyzing trends.

A controller or CFO could simply ask a natural-language question like, "Show me our overdue receivables for the past 60 days by region," and get an instant, actionable answer. This dual-pronged approach helps CFOs and their teams streamline operations and gain real-time insights.

Intuit Enterprise Suite

Intuit Enterprise Suite (IES) is a customizable AI-powered business platform that combines financial, payroll, HR, marketing, and cash flow tools, making it a great alternative to traditional ERP systems.

Here are some of its key features:

• Advanced multi-dimensional reporting: IES users can generate detailed financial reports with customizable categories, making it easier to organize data and uncover key insights.
• Granular access controls: These grant administrators precise control over user roles and permissions, enhancing security and supporting compliance.
• Automated revenue recognition: IES can automatically record and recognize revenue according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which is crucial for compliance and accuracy for those with complex finances.
• AI-powered financial planning and analysis (FP&A): Our platform leverages AI tools to enhance its FP&A capabilities and automate processes like forecasting and budgeting.
• Multi-entity management and consolidated reporting: This allows businesses to manage multiple subsidiaries and locations from a single platform, with automated intercompany transactions and streamlined consolidation of financial reporting.

ERP AI features roundup

Now that we’ve covered some of the leading ERP systems currently utilizing artificial intelligence, let’s explain how some of their most common AI features work.

Predictive analytics

AI-powered predictive analytics tools study vast amounts of historical data from your ERP system to identify patterns that humans often miss. These insights are then used to forecast future outcomes for a variety of business functions. The core value lies in making operations more proactive and data-driven.

For example, predictive analytics software might analyze your historical sales data to accurately estimate future demand, allowing you to optimize inventory levels and avoid waste or stockouts.

Natural language processing

Natural language processing (NLP) is an AI technology that allows computers to make sense of human language. It’s what allows you to streamline your engagement with ERP software by chatting with bots and virtual assistants.

For example, instead of having to navigate through various dropdown menus to get answers to your questions, NLP lets you message a chatbot and get an instant response based on ERP data.

Planning and scheduling optimization

AI-powered ERP systems often use algorithms to analyze historical data and inform planning and scheduling decisions, such as when to order more materials or which workers to assign to a project.

These algorithms can balance competing priorities, such as budget constraints and outcome goals, to optimize resource allocation.

Intelligent process automation

AI agent adoption is spreading, and they’re getting better at mimicking human intelligence. This allows them to automate increasingly dynamic and complex workflows, driving efficiency and improving consistency.

For example, beyond simply capturing invoice details, they can now automatically detect and resolve invoice discrepancies, such as duplicates and inflated charges.

Anomaly detection

AI-powered anomaly detection features can monitor ERP data and identify abnormal patterns that might signal potential problems. This empowers you to take preventive measures before the identified issues become disruptive.

For example, AI might flag a sudden increase in a supplier’s lead times, signaling a supply chain disruption. That gives you the opportunity to contact back-up vendors before your operation feels the effects.

Sentiment analysis

AI sentiment analysis features can analyze text and extract insights into the author’s attitudes and emotions. When you apply it to customer reviews, communications, or survey results, you can unlock valuable insights.

For example, these tools can help you gauge overall customer satisfaction and identify common pain points to inform improvements to your product or service offerings.

Predictive maintenance

Predictive maintenance tools apply AI algorithms to Internet of Things (IoT) sensor data. This allows them to estimate when equipment is likely to fail or need repairs. Not only does this help minimize costly downtime, but it can also extend the useful life of machinery.

Forecasting

Similar to predictive analytics, AI-powered financial forecasting tools can apply algorithms to various data sources—such as financial records, seasonal trends, or real-time market information—to project outcomes and inform decisions. The core benefit of AI-powered forecasting tools is projecting specific financial outcomes.

For example, you might forecast demand to help optimize your inventory management. Alternatively, you could forecast future cash flows to identify and prevent potential cash shortfalls.

Reporting and financial statements

AI financial reporting tools are another common feature of ERP systems, capable of automating the generation of financial statements and supporting documentation.

This streamlines financial management by reducing time spent on routine data manipulation. It can also reduce the risk of manual errors, improving accuracy.

Future of AI in ERP

AI has already transformed many leading ERP systems, with major tech players and a growing number of innovative startups driving the changes.

As a result, we could see acquisition waves in the coming years. Legacy ERP vendors may partner with AI startups to integrate the technology more efficiently into their platforms.

At the same time, AI is likely to become increasingly democratized through user-friendly and industry-specific solutions becoming more common. New ethical frameworks and regulations will probably also emerge to promote responsible use of these tools.

However, these trends could take years to manifest fully, while others may come into focus much sooner, such as:

• Explainable AI (XAI) could help users better understand the reasoning behind AI decisions
• Hyperautomation capabilities might deepen AI integration with various business process
• Augmented intelligence tools will likely help facilitate closer collaboration between humans and AI
• Cross-platform AI capabilities could streamline workflows between disparate tools, unifying operations

Boost productivity and enhance profitability

AI in ERP systems can make these platforms more powerful, efficient, and user-friendly. Since the landscape is still evolving rapidly, the future will no doubt bring more impressive advancements.

For example, financial management software, like Intuit Enterprise Suite, leverages AI to bring you better insights and more integrated operations. Schedule a call today to learn more about how our AI agents can help you reclaim your time.