Future-Proofing Your IT Career: Why Experience, Metrics, and AI Matter More Than Ever
When I talk with executives, candidates, and clients navigating the IT and digital transformation world, I hear a lot of questions about what it really takes to stand out in today’s market. Some wonder if years of experience are actually a disadvantage. Others want to know if certifications are still relevant. And almost everyone is […]
AI in Enterprise Systems: From Choice Overload to Intelligent Guidance
For years, ERP and enterprise systems have asked too much of end users. The interfaces were clunky, the options overwhelming, and the burden of “choosing correctly” fell squarely on the shoulders of employees. Forecasting is a prime example: users were presented with dropdowns of models, asked to select one, run it, then repeat the process […]
Inside the Microsoft Enterprise Ecosystem: What Digital Leaders Should Know in 2025
Microsoft is reshaping how enterprises think about platforms, AI, and ERP. In this week’s Transformation Ground Control conversation, we unpacked three threads leaders keep asking about: how Microsoft approaches enterprise tech, what their AI research and new in-house models mean for your teams, and what to learn from real-world Dynamics 365 failures. Here’s the distilled […]
Welcome to the Jungle: Why Digital Transformations Fail (and How to Avoid It)
At Third Stage Consulting, we’ve spent years studying both the successes and the failures to answer one simple question: why do so many digital transformations go off the rails — and what can leaders do differently? ERP failures are nothing new. For decades, organizations have been sold the dream of best practices, off-the-shelf systems, and […]
2025 Top ERP System
The ERP market is undergoing a rapid transformation as businesses demand more flexible, scalable, and intelligent solutions. Traditional ERP systems are increasingly being replaced by advanced cloud and SaaS ERP platforms that incorporate AI and automation to streamline operations and enhance decision-making. This list highlights the top ERP solutions for 2025 that meet these needs, equipping companies to thrive in a fast-evolving digital landscape while aligning with business goals and sustainable digital transformation strategies.
Big ERP Is Becoming Obsolete — What’s Replacing It
For decades, monolithic ERP suites from vendors like SAP and Oracle promised a single system to run the business. But like Blockbuster ignoring Netflix or BlackBerry underestimating the iPhone, big ERP has missed where the market is headed. The category isn’t disappearing overnight—but its role is shrinking fast, and the operating model that surrounds it […]
When Legacy Knowledge Dies: Why Obsolete Systems Put Your Business at Risk
There’s a hard truth many organizations don’t want to face: some of the legacy systems running their businesses are so old that the people who know how to maintain them are literally disappearing. If you’re still operating on platforms like IBM iSeries, AS/400, or mainframe green-screen systems from the 1980s and 1990s, you’re not just […]
Is ERP Dead? Why Incremental Modernization May Be Smarter Than a Full Replacement
Most companies today are running ERP systems that are 10–20 years old. These systems aren’t always broken — but they aren’t delivering the full technological value modern businesses need either. For years, the default response has been: rip and replace. Spend tens of millions of dollars on a new cloud ERP and get on the […]
Why RFPs “Suck” — And How To Use Them Without Getting Burned
Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are a staple of big technology decisions. They create structure, documentation, and a paper trail that legal and procurement teams appreciate. But they also create blind spots that can tank your transformation long after the bid is awarded. This is your guide to using RFPs as one data point—without letting them […]
The Dark Side of Cloud Computing: 5 Things Transformation Leaders Need to Know
The entire enterprise technology space is moving to the cloud. ERP, CRM, HCM, supply chain, and virtually every category of enterprise software now comes with a cloud-first mandate. But here’s the catch: the cloud isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Yes, there are advantages — scalability, automatic upgrades, and standardized processes. But cloud solutions […]
Cook County’s $250M IT Failures: What Every Transformation Leader Should Learn
When one of the largest counties in the United States sets out to modernize its technology, you’d expect time, budget, and resources to guarantee success. But as Cook County, Illinois shows us, big investments can still lead to massive failures — proving that money alone doesn’t guarantee better outcomes. Over the past decade, Cook County […]
Why SAP’s ROI Problem and AI’s Rise Signal the End of “Business as Usual” in Enterprise Tech
For decades, enterprise software vendors have dictated the rules of the game. They told you when to upgrade, what to pay, and how to align your business strategy with their product roadmap. But in 2025, that dynamic is shifting — and not in the vendors’ favor. Two themes stand out from today’s digital landscape: Let’s […]