ERP modernisation: The sleepwalker paradox
Why many Benelux organisations modernise ERP but gain limited competitive advantage
Overview
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) modernisation often looks like progress—until you measure the outcome. Cloud adoption is rising, systems are newer and investment continues to grow. Yet measurable business value remains elusive.
Research by Radar Group and Infor™, covering 150 organisations across Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux), reveals a critical disconnect between perceived progress and actual performance. Developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services® (AWS®), the study exposes the “sleepwalking” paradox: organisations that appear modern but lack the governance and strategic intent to turn ERP investment into tangible business impact. Sleepwalkers are cloud ERP users without a defined cloud strategy.
Where Benelux organisations fall short:
- ERP systems stuck in mid-life: Average system age is 6.3 years, with many organisations extending current platforms rather than modernising
- Cloud adoption lags global peers: Only 41% run cloud-based ERP systems, compared with around 70% globally
- Strategy gaps undermine progress: More than one-third of organisations lack a clearly defined cloud strategy
- Technology spending is misaligned: Overall technology budgets are rising while investment in core ERP platforms often stalls
Break out of the sleepwalker trap. Learn why “modern” is not the same as “ready”, and how to regain strategic control with governance guardrails, clearer key performance indicators (KPIs), and an ERP roadmap that drives measurable value