Unanet has been recognized with a 2026 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Award for AI Orchestration, reflecting a broader shift in how enterprise software vendors are moving from isolated AI experimentation toward operational, system-level intelligence.
The recognition, awarded by the Business Intelligence Group, comes at a time when organizations are placing greater emphasis on how AI integrates with core ERP and CRM systems — not just as an analytical layer, but as an active component within business workflows. For project-based industries in particular, this shift is reshaping expectations around automation, visibility and decision-making.
Alongside the company recognition, Unanet’s Chief Innovation Officer, Steve Karp, was named an Outstanding AI Professional finalist, highlighting the growing importance of leadership in driving AI strategy within enterprise platforms.
From AI Experiments to Operational Integration
The award highlights Unanet’s work in AI orchestration — an approach focused on coordinating how AI systems interact across data, workflows and applications.
Rather than deploying isolated models, orchestration enables AI to operate within real business processes, automating multi-step tasks and supporting decisions in context. This reflects a broader transition across enterprise software, where the focus is shifting from standalone capabilities to integrated, “agent-driven” systems that can act within defined operational frameworks.
“The winners are now orchestrating AI systems that act, adapt, and deliver at scale,” said Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer at the Business Intelligence Group.
Embedding AI Within ERP Environments
At the center of Unanet’s approach is its AI platform, Champ AI, designed to unify data access, automate workflows and deliver role-based insights across ERP and CRM environments.
The platform supports use cases such as proposal generation, opportunity analysis, financial data queries and workflow automation — all embedded directly within operational systems.
As part of this evolution, Unanet is also advancing industry-specific capabilities through solutions such as Champ for AE ERP, which enables architecture and engineering firms to interact with ERP data using natural language, automate routine processes and generate real-time insights.
This move reflects a broader trend across ERP vendors, where AI is increasingly embedded at the core of systems rather than positioned as an external add-on.
Why This Matters for Project-Based Industries
For sectors such as government contracting, architecture, engineering and construction, the ability to connect financial and operational data is critical.
These organizations typically operate across:
- multiple concurrent projects
- complex compliance requirements
- tightly managed budgets and timelines
In this context, AI orchestration offers a way to reduce manual effort while maintaining control — enabling teams to respond more quickly to changing conditions without increasing operational risk.
Toward AI-First Enterprise Platforms
The recognition also points to a wider shift toward AI-first architectures, where systems are designed from the ground up to incorporate AI into core workflows.
Craig Halliday, CEO of Unanet, emphasized this direction:
“The future belongs to AI-first applications that don’t just build AI workflows, but are architected with secure access to the ERP and CRM system of record.”
As enterprise software continues to evolve, the competitive focus is moving beyond visibility toward execution — enabling systems not only to generate insights, but to act on them.
In this context, AI orchestration is emerging as a foundational capability, shaping how organizations scale operations, manage complexity and drive outcomes across increasingly connected environments.
ERP News Editorial Team
The ERPNews Editorial Team covers global developments in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), enterprise software, cloud platforms, AI, automation, and digital transformation, providing independent news and editorial analysis for senior business and technology leaders. Our reporting focuses on market signals, strategic shifts, and enterprise impact across the ERP and enterprise technology ecosystem.
For editorial inquiries, please contact:
đź“© [email protected]
