Sustainable innovation: IBM, BlueIT and Formula are revolutionizing ERP in Italian SMEs

The integration between artificial intelligence (AI) and ERP systems represents a crucial frontier for modern companies. But how can we make sure that this integration is effective and not lost in technological complexity?

The recent event we organized “Artificial Intelligence and ERP: BlueIT and Formula design the future”, held at IBM Studios in Milan, offered a concrete answer to this question. Three protagonists of technological innovation in Italy — IBM, BlueIT and Formula — discussed how to transform digital complexity into a competitive advantage.

‍

The Netflix paradox and abundance paralysis

‍We live in an era where AI is revolutionizing entire industries and cloud platforms promise infinite agility. However, the more technologies advance, the more difficult it becomes to understand where to start. That's what the moderator Francesco Marino He called the Netflix paradox: too many options, too much complexity, and often you end up choosing nothing.

Italian SMEs are often in a sort of Abundance paralysis: too many tools, too many promises, and maybe even an AS/400 system that works silently under the desk. The question is not whether to innovate, but How to innovate without losing the soul of its operations.

Three principles for sustainable innovation

‍The event revolved around three fundamental principles:

1. Innovation starts from listening, not from technology. Formula and BlueIT propose a method based on the understanding of business processes and on the construction of tailor-made paths.
2. Innovation is layered, not revolutionary. There's no need to upset everything: just build progressive layers of evolution, integrating ERP, infrastructure and AI into existing processes.
3. Innovation is an ecosystem, not a product. When infrastructure, applications, and governance talk to each other, companies can innovate without losing stability and continuity.

‍

The concrete solutions presented

• IBM illustrated how its Power platform can become the engine of innovation, offering scalability, security and integration.
• BlueIT emphasized the importance of a gradual and sustainable approach to infrastructure innovation, with a focus on automation and security.
• Formula He presented TWO, the ERP evolved on IBM Power, and shown how AI can be integrated into business processes to improve productivity and decisions.

The event demonstrated that innovation is not a speed race, but a strategic transformation path which involves people, processes and technology.

Thanks to IBM and Formula for sharing this vision with us at BlueIT.

We will continue to follow and support sustainable innovation in Italian SMEs.

‍

‍