In a strong signal of how enterprise technology priorities are evolving, Protiviti Member Firm for India on 30 April 2026 released its “AI Meets ERP Industry Survey Report”, capturing insights from over 600 enterprise leaders across the country. The report highlights a decisive shift in how organisations are viewing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, which is not merely as operational tools, but as strategic, AI-enabled platforms driving enterprise-wide transformation.
Ambition high, execution lagging A key takeaway from the study is the widening gap between ambition and execution. While intent to adopt AI-enabled ERP is strong, organisations continue to grapple with foundational challenges such as data readiness, governance, and enterprise-wide adoption.
Commenting on the findings, Sandeep Gupta, Managing Director, Protiviti Member Firm for India, said, “AI-enabled ERP is no longer an experimental initiative. Instead, it has become a strategic priority for organisations. The focus must now shift from intent to execution, with clearly defined use cases and measurable outcomes driving transformation.”
Echoing similar views, Ankit Gupta, Managing Director, Protiviti Member Firm for India, said, “ERP is evolving beyond a passive system of record into an intelligent system of innovation, where AI continuously drives decisions, actions, and enterprise reinvention in real time. Organizations that invest in strong data foundations and governance will be better positioned to unlock long-term competitive advantage.”
AI-ERP gains strategic importance
According to the findings, 64 per cent of organisations now classify AI-enabled ERP as a critical or high strategic priority. A significant 88 per cent believe ERP is transitioning from an efficiency-driven system to a core engine of intelligence and innovation, while 92 per cent see it as a source of competitive advantage beyond cost optimisation. Further, 75 per cent of respondents expect measurable return on investment within 12 to 24 months, signalling growing confidence in the business value of AI-led ERP deployments.
Despite rising investments, preparedness remains uneven. Only 64 per cent of organisations believe their data and technology infrastructure is ready for AI-ERP adoption. Just 14 per cent report strong enterprise-wide data visibility, and while 59 per cent have established governance frameworks, the report highlights significant room for maturity.
In addition to these findings, the survey notes that 85 per cent of organisations are making moderate to large investments in AI-enabled ERP. Importantly, the focus is moving away from pilot programmes towards outcome-driven initiatives with clearly defined ROI expectations.
Changing enterprise priorities The report also highlights a shift in business outcomes, with speed of decision-making and time-to-insight emerging as the top priority for 37 per cent of organisations. Cost reduction and revenue growth are now secondary considerations, reflecting ERP’s evolving role as a real-time decision support system rather than a back-office tool.
Emerging use cases
Among the top use cases gaining traction are predictive supply chain resilience, conversational AI for enterprise-wide access, risk and anomaly detection, and finance close automation, seemingly pointing to a future where ERP systems are deeply embedded into intelligent, real-time enterprise operations. Overall, the report positions AI-enabled ERP as a defining lever for competitive differentiation, while cautioning that sustained value will depend on how effectively organisations bridge the gap between strategy and execution.
