On 6 November, Purple Square Management Partners and The Orchestrate Group hosted another inspiring edition of Food for Thought. It was an afternoon where change management, technology and real-world experiences came together, centred around one key question: how do you create real value within an ERP transformation?
A diverse group and rich exchange of insights
Around 50 professionals from various industries gathered at the historic Kasteel Maurick. Participants found themselves at different stages of their ERP journey: from organisations just beginning to explore their transformation to companies that have already completed a full end-to-end programme. This created a lively and valuable exchange of perspectives, lessons and experiences.
Keynote: the ERP journey of NXP Semiconductors
Keynote speaker Mike Buijze (VP & Digital Transformation IT Lead at NXP Semiconductors) shared an open and insightful story about NXP’s large-scale ERP transformation and their migration to SAP S/4HANA.
He addressed, among other topics:
• the strategic decisions made prior to the transformation,
• the impact on the organisation and governance,
• and most importantly: the tangible value the transformation has delivered for NXP.
His experiences resonated strongly with the audience, many of whom recognised similar challenges in their own organisations.
Themes that sparked active discussion
Throughout and after the keynote, participants engaged in dynamic conversations around several current dilemmas, including:
• Brownfield vs. Greenfield – which approach best aligns with the organisation’s ambitions and maturity?
• Standardisation, harmonisation & “clean the core” – how far should you go, and what does this mean for the business?
• Process adaptation vs. customisation through low-code – where is the balance between flexibility and complexity?
• Implications for IT operations and continuous improvement – how do you organise ownership, capacity and agility?
The open atmosphere encouraged honest sharing of both successes and challenges, leading to valuable insights for everyone involved.
Atmosphere & interaction
The session was highly appreciated by attendees. The interactive setup encouraged active participation and vibrant discussion. Even after the formal programme ended, conversations continued in the informal setting of Kasteel Maurick.
New connections were made, and participants even started exploring opportunities for collaboration on shared ERP topics. Exactly the outcome a Food for Thought event aims to achieve.
An inspiring conclusion
The afternoon concluded with drinks and bites, while discussions carried on enthusiastically. Participants left with plenty of inspiration: from practical takeaways to strategic reflections relevant to their own ERP journeys.
