WBSRocks: Business Growth with Enterprise Software and Digital Transformation - podcast cover

WBSRocks: Business Growth with Enterprise Software and Digital Transformation

Sam Guptapodcast.wbs.rocks

WBSRocks podcast features in-depth conversations on customer experience, digital transformation, supply chain, eCommerce, industry 4.0, and enterprise software categories such as CRM, ERP, or analytics suites. The purpose of the show is to help CFOs, COOs, CEOs, and business owners with their daily commercial, operational, or financial challenges by taking a deep dive into business cases and processes, technology strategy and architecture, transformation initiatives, and business models. The show also offers an independent analysis of technology trends, various enterprise software vendors and solutions, and their mergers and acquisitions. Subscribe today to stay on top of digital transformation trends!

Episodes

WBSP691: Grow Your Business by Understanding Klaviyo’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text Marketing automation is a highly competitive space, with numerous tools designed for different industries and platforms. Within the Shopify ecosystem alone, businesses can choose from at least a dozen options, including Shopify's own built-in solutions, all offering similar core functionalities. However, the differences lie in their specialized capabilities—some platforms emphasize eCommerce-driven workflows like product recommendations and push notifications, while others ca...

Mar 11, 202558 minEp. 691

WBSP690: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 ERP Systems for Small Business in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text When assessing ERP solutions for small businesses, it’s essential to recognize that these companies have distinct operational needs and constraints. While revenue can be a useful benchmark, factors such as industry type, business model complexity, and growth trajectory play an equally crucial role in determining ERP adoption. For many product-based businesses, reaching $30 million in revenue often signals the need for a more robust system to manage inefficiencies, whereas service-...

Mar 10, 202526 minEp. 690

WBSP689: Grow Your Business by Understanding Celonis’ Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text ERP systems have long struggled with visibility, making learning, adoption, and process optimization difficult for organizations. Traditional methods of visualizing business processes relied on stakeholder interviews, often leading to incomplete or biased representations. Process mining technology revolutionizes this approach by leveraging event logs and AI-driven analytics to map real process flows with accuracy and depth. Celonis, a leader in this space, offers powerful insights...

Mar 05, 20251 hr 3 minEp. 689

WBSP688: Grow Your Business by Learning SAP S/4 HANA Best Practices for High Volume Industries w/ Steele Arbeeny

Send us a text Ensuring near-zero downtime for Fortune 100 companies handling millions of transactions requires a strategic approach that blends high-availability architectures, real-time failover mechanisms, and robust disaster recovery planning. Navigating the intricate ecosystem of SAP S/4HANA—where interconnected systems drive mission-critical operations—demands a deep understanding of integration patterns, middleware, and cloud optimizations. While SAP S/4HANA offers powerful in-memory comp...

Mar 04, 20251 hr 2 minEp. 688

WBSP687: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 ERP Systems for Startups in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text When selecting an ERP system, startups must balance affordability and ease of implementation. With lean teams and revenue typically under $10 million, these businesses require solutions that allow basic transaction processing without complex implementation layers. Unlike larger enterprises, startups can initially function with more isolated systems, reducing the urgency for deep integrations. However, as they grow, the ability to consolidate becomes crucial. The best ERP solutions...

Mar 03, 202533 minEp. 687

WBSP686: Grow Your Business by Understanding MailChimp’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text Marketing automation has come a long way, evolving from basic email campaigns into sophisticated, multi-channel ecosystems that integrate SMS, ads, and websites. However, not all platforms cater equally to businesses of different sizes. Enterprise-grade solutions offer advanced workflow security and unified customer insights, while many SMB-focused tools, like MailChimp, often fall short in these areas. Without robust data traceability, smaller businesses struggle to manage divers...

Feb 26, 20251 hr 1 minEp. 686

WBSP685: Grow Your Business by Learning Tech Trends for 2025 w/ Brian Jackson

Send us a text With 2025 shrouded in uncertainty, one thing remains certain: executives must craft IT budgets that strike the right balance between innovation and financial discipline. Rapid technological advancements present a double-edged sword—overspending on ineffective solutions can drain resources, while underinvestment risks falling behind the competition. To navigate this landscape, leaders must align IT spending with long-term business objectives, ensuring flexibility to adapt to emergi...

Feb 25, 20251 hr 1 minEp. 685

WBSP684: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Construction ERP Systems in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text Selecting the right construction ERP system in 2025 requires a deep understanding of a company’s unique operational needs, as no single solution fits all. While smaller firms may struggle with overly complex platforms, larger enterprises often demand robust functionalities that extend beyond core construction workflows. The integration of real estate management, field services, and subcontractor coordination adds layers of complexity, making it critical to evaluate whether an ERP ...

Feb 24, 202525 minEp. 684

WBSP683: Grow Your Business by Understanding Smartsheet’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text Collaborative project management is experiencing rapid growth, with several vendors now exceeding $1 billion in ARR, yet challenges around security, pricing, and usability persist. While these platforms promise seamless coordination, customers often find implementation more complex and costly than expected, with steep licensing fees and unpredictable deployment expenses. Despite these hurdles, certain industries and use cases demand the flexibility and scalability that only specia...

Feb 19, 20251 hr 3 minEp. 683

WBSP682: Grow Your Business by Learning Why Understanding Software BOMs is Critical w/ Matt Van Itallie

Send us a text The CrowdStrike incident has shed light on the hidden risks within software supply chains, prompting companies to reevaluate their security posture and the role of software bills of materials (SBOMs). While some may view this as an isolated event, the reality is that vulnerabilities within supply chains are often deeper and more complex than they initially appear—especially as AI-driven advancements introduce even greater dependencies and potential attack surfaces. Despite this gr...

Feb 18, 202556 minEp. 682

WBSP681: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Distribution ERP Systems in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text When evaluating the top 10 distribution ERP systems in 2025, businesses must consider solutions tailored to their specific industry, operational model, and technological needs. Our rankings account for a diverse range of ERP products, recognizing that distribution-centric businesses—whether in industrial supply, FMCG, or e-commerce—require different features for optimal performance. Some ERPs focus exclusively on distribution, while others integrate manufacturing, field services, ...

Feb 17, 202542 minEp. 681

WBSP680: Grow Your Business by Understanding Airtable’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text The media and entertainment industry has long resisted traditional ERP and project management software, favoring the flexibility of spreadsheets to accommodate its dynamic workflows. Standard enterprise solutions often felt too rigid, stifling the creative process rather than supporting it. This resistance made change management particularly challenging, as creative teams prioritized fluidity over structure. However, platforms like Airtable have transformed the landscape by introd...

Feb 12, 202558 minEp. 680

WBSP679: Grow Your Business by Learning Digital Adoption Platform Trends and Their Evolution w/ Krishna Dunthoori

Send us a text The challenge of implementing complex enterprise systems has persisted for years, with early solutions like BPM struggling to reach full maturity. However, the rapid evolution of AI and the increasing availability of data are reshaping this landscape. The once-elusive goal of achieving end-to-end traceability—from business capabilities to technical execution—has remained largely unfulfilled, but AI-driven automation and intelligent workflows may finally bridge the gap. As a result...

Feb 11, 20251 hrEp. 679

WBSP678: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 Manufacturing ERP Systems in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text Selecting the right manufacturing ERP system requires more than just reviewing rankings—it demands a careful assessment of how well a system aligns with your specific operational needs and long-term business strategy. While some ERP solutions excel in single-mode manufacturing, such as make-to-stock or batch production, others cater to mixed-mode environments, providing the flexibility necessary for future growth. Additionally, comprehensive ERP suites with built-in PLM and CAD in...

Feb 10, 202534 minEp. 678

WBSP677: Grow Your Business by Understanding Monday.com’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text Monday.com has carved out a strong position in the adaptive project management space, leveraging intuitive UI, flexible database structures, and seamless integrations to meet the evolving needs of modern teams. Unlike traditional project management tools, which often separate transactional workflows from form-based data collection, Monday.com unifies these elements, making it a powerful solution for dynamic work environments. The platform’s emphasis on automation, cross-functional...

Feb 05, 202557 minEp. 677

WBSP676: Grow Your Business by Understanding Pipedrive CRM’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text With free-tier offerings mask hidden costs and complex pricing structures, Pipedrive positions itself as a streamlined, value-driven alternative. Unlike HubSpot, which often surprises users with significant upcharges, or Zoho, which nudges customers toward bundled solutions, Pipedrive maintains transparent pricing with a strong focus on sales pipeline management. While many CRMs require costly external add-ons for essential features like CPQ, AI-driven workflows, and document inte...

Feb 04, 202554 minEp. 676

WBSP675: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 WMS Systems in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text Selecting the right WMS requires a deep understanding of both business needs and the diverse capabilities of available solutions. Some WMS platforms are purpose-built, offering specialized functionalities as standalone systems, while others operate as integrated modules within broader ERP ecosystems. This distinction is critical, as generic solutions may lack the advanced features necessary to address unique operational challenges. Businesses must assess WMS solutions beyond ranki...

Feb 03, 202532 minEp. 675

WBSP674: Grow Your Business by Understanding Zoho CRM’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text For businesses with complex sales processes, CRM platforms often require customization to meet specific needs, despite claims of high flexibility. Even market leaders like Salesforce encounter challenges in handling industry-specific demands, such as the intricate workflows of real estate. These limitations arise from the simplified data models that prioritize ease of use but lack the sophistication of ERP systems for managing complex custom workflows. Zoho CRM offers a compelling...

Jan 29, 202557 minEp. 674

WBSP673: Grow Your Business by Understanding Zendesk Sell’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text Many SaaS vendors start by mastering a specific capability, often tailored to a particular department, before expanding their offerings to cover broader functionalities. While this strategy allows them to excel in their core area, the additional features they introduce often lack the same depth or seamless integration, potentially creating gaps in usability and performance. Zendesk, known for its strong foundation in customer support, has expanded its portfolio to include capabili...

Jan 28, 202557 minEp. 673

WBSP672: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 TMS Systems in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text Are you searching for the perfect TMS solution to streamline your transportation operations? In this exploration of the top 10 TMS systems of 2025, we focus exclusively on best-of-breed platforms that stand independently of ERP, WMS, or other add-on systems. These solutions cater to businesses of all sizes, from small enterprises to global corporations, by offering industry-specific capabilities such as fleet management, driver compliance, scheduling, and multi-modal transportatio...

Jan 27, 202523 minEp. 672

WBSP671: Grow Your Business by Understanding Oracle CX Cloud’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text As AI drives personalization and customer traceability, enterprise CX solutions must offer robust integrations across all customer touchpoints, including sales, marketing, service, and beyond. Oracle Cloud CX has navigated a unique trajectory, initially making substantial investments in advertising and commerce solutions but later pivoting by decommissioning those products and acquiring a leading EHR platform. This strategic shift reflects Oracle’s focus on aligning its CX offerin...

Jan 22, 202555 minEp. 671

WBSP670: Grow Your Business by Understanding SAP C/4 HANA Cloud’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text The race to dominate the CRM space has seen enterprise software vendors adopting varied strategies, from launching proprietary solutions to acquiring niche players. While smaller vendors often excel in offering intuitive, specialized tools, their ability to scale and master omnichannel capabilities—particularly under evolving privacy regulations like GDPR—remains a significant hurdle. This competitive landscape underscores the importance of robust, compliant, and scalable solution...

Jan 21, 202556 minEp. 670

WBSP669: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 eCommerce Platforms in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text Selecting the right eCommerce platform requires careful consideration of diverse variables, especially when navigating between B2B and B2C needs. For B2B businesses, must-have features include account-specific tools, dynamic pricing capabilities, and seamless ERP integrations that streamline inventory control and order management. Meanwhile, B2C platforms shine in personalization, offering AI-driven product recommendations, smooth checkout experiences, and flexible payment solutio...

Jan 20, 202533 minEp. 669

WBSP668: Grow Your Business by Understanding MS Dynamics 365 CRM/CE’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text The line between ERP and CRM systems can be difficult to define, as ERP vendors often claim to offer CRM solutions, while CRM vendors argue that ERP systems are outdated. The fundamental difference lies in their data models and database structures, with ERP systems focusing on enterprise-wide resource management and CRM systems dedicated to customer relationship management. Microsoft takes a distinctive approach by connecting all of its apps through a common data model across vari...

Jan 15, 202559 minEp. 668

WBSP667: Grow Your Business by Understanding SupplyOn’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text Industries such as automotive and aerospace require seamless interoperability across their value chains, given the highly interconnected nature of their supply chains. This demands not only the sharing of data at a macro level but also the ability to manage exceptions as plans evolve and adjustments are required. Global supply chain challenges add another layer of complexity, with constraints like sovereign data exchange and geopolitical factors complicating the process. These cha...

Jan 14, 202554 minEp. 667

WBSP666: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 CRM Systems in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text If you’re in the market for CRM systems or MarTech suites, identifying the top solutions is essential but can quickly become overwhelming. Many CRM products look alike in their marketing claims, yet they differ widely in functionality and fit for specific business needs. This guide zeroes in on best-of-breed CRM systems—standalone platforms with independent data models designed to support a full range of customer-facing operations. These systems excel in managing sales, marketing,...

Jan 13, 202543 minEp. 666

WBSP665: Grow Your Business by Understanding OMP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text In industries such as metal, chemical, and paper manufacturing, supply chain planning requires highly specialized capabilities to address the complexities of their operations. These sectors rely on advanced features like variable routings, multi-level pegging, coupled routings, and intricate changeovers to ensure efficiency and adaptability. While many supply chain solutions provide basic functionalities like available-to-promise or capable-to-promise, the critical challenge lies ...

Jan 08, 202558 minEp. 665

WBSP664: Grow Your Business by Understanding Logility’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text Constraints-based supply chain planning is already a complex undertaking, and the addition of retail-specific challenges, such as matrix inventory, adds another layer of difficulty. Logility stands out in this space thanks to its patented capabilities designed specifically for handling complex product types. Compared to other supply chain suite solutions, Logility shines with its robust planning tools that effectively address both traditional supply chain constraints and the uniqu...

Jan 07, 202558 minEp. 664

WBSP663: Grow Your Business by Learning the Top 10 HCM Systems in 2025 w/ Sam Gupta

Send us a text If you’re exploring options for an HCM or HRIS suite, navigating the crowded market can be daunting. This guide narrows the focus to best-of-breed HCM suites—standalone systems with independent data models and operational capabilities, separate from ERP-embedded HR modules. These robust solutions are purpose-built to handle a broad spectrum of HR functions, extending well beyond payroll and financials. From recruiting and benefits management to learning management, compliance, and...

Jan 06, 202540 minEp. 663

WBSP662: Grow Your Business by Understanding SAP IBP’s Capabilities, an Objective Panel Discussion

Send us a text Many ERP vendors, including SAP, have incorporated S&OP capabilities into their platforms, but questions remain about how SAP IBP compares to other leading S&OP or connected planning solutions. While modern planning platforms often tout Excel-like interfaces and connectivity, ERP-integrated tools frequently fall short of delivering the same level of seamlessness and usability. Additionally, the planning capabilities offered by major ERP vendors, such as global planning lay...

Jan 01, 202556 minEp. 662