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Marketing automation and core CRM systems, though often linked, are fundamentally distinct in design and purpose. Marketing automation is tailored for upstream business processes that involve unstructured data and require seamless integration with multiple systems to drive engagement and lead generation. In contrast, core CRM systems are built to support downstream Revenue Operations with highly transactional workflows, necessitating a structured data model capable of capturing complex business hierarchies. However, even the most advanced CRMs often fall short in supporting the intricate, ad-hoc relationships found in industries like real estate or non-profits, where flexibility and nuanced relationship management are critical.

In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of HubSpot’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including where HubSpot might be a fit in the enterprise architecture and where it might be overused. Finally, they analyze many data points to help understand the core strengths and weaknesses of HubSpot.

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The tech and enterprise software landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, marked by a mix of bold acquisitions and cautious public market strategies. While Databricks' CEO candidly states that “it’s dumb to IPO this year,” citing market volatility and strategic timing, major players are making aggressive moves elsewhere. From Thomson Reuters’ $600M acquisition of tax automation firm SafeSend to WWT’s $1.25B blockbuster deal to acquire Softchoice, the momentum is clearly shifting toward consolidation and capability expansion. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella has also sparked debate with his prediction that AI agents could overtake traditional SaaS models by 2025, signaling a fundamental shift in how software is built and consumed. Meanwhile, companies like SPS Commerce, Cass Information Systems, and Later are strengthening their portfolios through targeted acquisitions, reflecting a broader trend of investing in specialized tools and emerging platforms. Together, these developments hint at a future shaped less by IPOs and more by ecosystem dominance and AI-powered disruption.

In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry analysts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to analyze current enterprise software stories. We covered many grounds, including the direction and roadmaps of each enterprise software vendor. Finally, we analyzed future trends and how they might shape the enterprise software industry.

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For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

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This curated list stands apart by spotlighting ERP platforms that were engineered from inception as true cloud-native solutions, intentionally bypassing the limitations of retrofitted legacy systems. These modern ERPs are designed to leverage the full scope of cloud capabilities—delivering streamlined operations, cost efficiencies, and reduced maintenance overhead. While they may not rival the feature depth of long-established systems, their edge lies in agility, intuitive design, and mobile readiness, making them particularly attractive to forward-looking organizations. Our evaluation prioritizes architectural integrity over popularity, favoring vendors that have fully embraced cloud-native frameworks and are actively innovating in this space. The result is a lineup that not only reflects current market needs but also signals where ERP is headed—toward more flexible, scalable, and user-centered experiences.

In this episode, our host, Sam Gupta, discusses the top 10 cloud-native ERP systems in 2025. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these cloud-native ERP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each cloud-native ERP system.

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For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

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Implementing ERP systems in government and non-profit sectors comes with distinct challenges, including tight budget constraints, complex regulatory requirements, and the heightened need for operational transparency. In these environments, the role of enterprise architecture becomes especially critical—it acts as a strategic framework that aligns IT investments with organizational objectives, ensuring that ERP solutions are not only compliant and cost-effective but also sustainable over the long term. By offering a clear roadmap, enterprise architecture helps mitigate implementation risks, optimize resource allocation, and drive greater efficiency, all while reinforcing accountability and public trust in mission-driven operations.

In this episode, Sam Gupta engages in a LinkedIn live session with Douglas Camin, CIO, Coordinated Care Services in a live LinkedIn session and discusses ERP challenges for govt and non-profit organizations and the differences in enterprise architecture for financial services and government spaces.

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For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

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It’s fascinating how quickly the tech landscape evolves—platforms like Salesforce and Workday, once seen as trailblazing disruptors, are now being viewed as legacy systems, navigating the same kind of disruption they once caused. Innovations like object and graph databases have redefined what flexibility, connectivity, and user experience look like, giving rise to a new generation of platforms such as Notion, Attio, ClickUp, Monday.com, Airtable, and Smartsheet. These tools prioritize adaptability, intuitive design, and real-time collaboration, reshaping how businesses manage data and workflows. Within this new wave, Attio stands out as a modern CRM alternative built on a graph-first architecture, offering dynamic relationship tracking and a highly customizable interface. As companies seek lightweight, modular tools over rigid enterprise suites, the question now is not just how Attio compares to its competitors—but whether it represents the future of relationship management altogether.

In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Attio’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including where Attio might be a fit in the enterprise architecture and where it might be overused. Finally, they analyze many data points to help understand the core strengths and weaknesses of Attio.

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For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

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When evaluating the top ERP systems for the pharmaceutical industry, it’s crucial to recognize that this list focuses solely on the ERP solutions themselves—not the vendors behind them—and spans organizations of all sizes, from emerging biotech startups to large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturers. Since ERP needs vary widely across the pharma value chain, the accompanying commentary offers essential guidance on which systems best serve specific market segments. The industry encompasses a wide array of business models, including traditional pharma companies, biotech firms, cannabis producers, nutraceutical manufacturers, CROs, and R&D consultancies—each with distinct regulatory, operational, and supply chain demands. For instance, a contract research organization may require robust data integrity and clinical compliance tools, whereas a nutraceutical producer might prioritize batch traceability and rapid production scalability. These differences underscore the importance of selecting an ERP system that not only supports compliance but also aligns with a company’s core processes and growth trajectory.

In this episode, our host Sam Gupta discusses the top 10 pharma ERP systems in 2025. He also discusses several variables that influence the rankings of these pharma ERP systems. Finally, he shares the pros and cons of each pharma ERP system.

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For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

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ERP Phase 0 is more than just a clever way to cut down on the zeroes in your total cost of ownership—it’s the strategic groundwork that can make or break your entire implementation. This critical phase is where businesses assess their needs, document current processes, and align their objectives with the capabilities of a chosen ERP system. Think of it as building a zero-solid foundation: whether it's a retailer identifying supply chain gaps or a manufacturer validating workflow compatibility, Phase 0 is where hidden inefficiencies surface and alignment begins. Skipping this step often leads to costly delays, scope creep, and mismatched expectations. But embracing it? That’s how you set your ERP project up for real, scalable success.

In this episode, Sam Gupta engages in a LinkedIn live session with Jakob Bent Smed, Founder, JBS Advisory in a live LinkedIn session and discusses ERP Phase 0 stories.

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For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs. rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.

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Many marketing automation platforms tend to overpromise, presenting themselves as all-encompassing solutions capable of delivering seamless, customer-centric workflows across the entire CRM spectrum. In reality, these platforms are typically optimized for specific use cases, and their underlying data models reflect that specialization. B2C-focused systems often emphasize features like order management, subscriptions, and loyalty programs, whereas B2B platforms are built around complex customer hierarchies, account-based marketing, and territory-based permissions. While there is some functional overlap, the structural differences between B2B and B2C solutions are significant, particularly when it comes to integration requirements and workflow design. In this context, evaluating where Brevo fits becomes crucial—understanding whether it leans more toward B2B or B2C use cases, how well it adapts to varying business needs, and how its capabilities compare with other niche and hybrid platforms in the market.

In today's episode, we invited a panel of industry experts for a live discussion on LinkedIn to conduct an independent review of Brevo’s capabilities. We covered many grounds, including where Brevo might be a fit in the enterprise architecture and where it might be overused. Finally, they analyze many data points to help understand the core strengths and weaknesses of Brevo.

Background Soundtrack: Away From You – Mauro Somm

For more information on growth strategies for SMBs using ERP and digital transformation, visit our community at wbs.rocks or elevatiq.com. To ensure that you never miss an episode of the WBS podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform.