A forward-looking conversation on how intelligent ERP capabilities are reshaping decisions, resilience and operational performance.
Chad, you’ve had an impressive career spanning IT and retail before leading Pronto Software. How have those experiences influenced the way you guide the company today?
My time in both retail and IT really shaped how I think about leadership and technology. Retail taught me the importance of people, culture and customer experience, no matter how advanced the technology, it only delivers value when people are confident using it. My IT background gave me a strong sense of how innovation can transform operations when applied in a practical and secure way. At Pronto Software, I try to bring those two perspectives together, building a culture where our team thrives, while delivering solutions that help Australian and regional businesses simplify complexity and grow with confidence. To me, everyone is a customer, be it internal or external, and my role is to give them the best experience possible. I have been very privileged to pursue these two great passions (retail and tech), since I was a starry-eyed teenager in the 80’s!
AI is often talked about in broad, futuristic terms, but from your perspective, what are the most tangible ways it is transforming ERP systems right now?
Today, AI is turning ERP from a system of record into a system of insight and action, surfacing anomalies before they escalate, answering natural-language questions, and orchestrating workflows end-to-end so teams move faster with fewer clicks. In Pronto Xi, that shows up as predictive dashboards, intelligent scheduling, and highly secure, trusted assistant-style experiences embedded where people work.
Many organizations rely on ERP as the backbone of their operations. How does embedding AI into ERP platforms enhance decision-making and everyday processes for end users?
Embedding AI inside the ERP experience means staff can ask questions in plain English, get forward-looking answers, and trigger next best actions, without jumping between screens or tools. It elevates the entire workforce, democratising forecasting and troubleshooting while reducing manual effort. We are confident it will allow teams utilising Pronto Xi to “punch above their weight’ and do more than they thought possible, much more easily than they expect.
Supply chains are facing unprecedented complexity. How is AI helping industries such as manufacturing and mining bring more resilience, efficiency, and visibility into their supply chain networks?
AI improves supply chain resilience by detecting bottlenecks (e.g. inventory shortages, supplier delays), forecasting demand with external data, and recommending corrective actions, so planners can rebalance earlier and with confidence. In practice, that includes predictive analytics for inventory and purchasing and assisted analysis that considers seasonality and lead times. With AI moving at such a fast pace, it’s vital that our solutions can adapt quickly to these changes. Pronto Software’s capabilities will continually evolve to maximise efficiency for supply chains.
Security is always a major concern when it comes to AI-driven automation. What steps should businesses take to ensure their adoption of AI remains both safe and responsible?
Prioritise governance from day one: enforce role-based access, keep models and data inside trusted hosting boundaries, and log every interaction for auditability. Use layered controls at the API level and open standards to define what an AI agent can and can’t access, so sensitive information stays protected while teams benefit from AI. Pronto Software has invested heavily in its own AI hardware infrastructure to protect customer data.
Predictive insights are increasingly shaping how companies plan and respond to challenges. How is Pronto Software enabling its customers to leverage data for smarter forecasting?
We are unlocking “dark data” in ERP with predictive dashboards and natural-language analytics, so leaders can see risks early and model scenarios quickly. Our approach also supports augmenting forecasts with external data in IBM Cognos BI to improve accuracy over seasonal or macro shifts. We are making insight and decision making more accessible, with the tools to action them.
Automation is often associated with cost reduction, but it can also unlock new opportunities. How are you seeing businesses use automation to innovate, not just streamline?
Agentic automation lets teams front complex processes with conversational interfaces and then delegate routine tasks to trusted agents, creating time for higher-value work, new service models, and faster customer response. We’re seeing innovation in areas like engineer allocation, long-range financial forecasting, and self-service support.
From your vantage point, what are the biggest misconceptions businesses still hold about AI in enterprise software?
Two stand out: that AI equals a chatbot, and that it’s “nice to have.” In reality, AI spans predictive analytics, anomaly detection and agentic workflows, and customers now expect measurable outcomes in a 2–5 year window, and not just promises of what’s to come sometime in the “future”.
Pronto Software has a strong reputation as an Australian technology leader. How do you balance continuing that legacy while driving forward with innovation in AI and analytics?
We focus on practical, secure innovation that serves real-world use cases embedding AI into Pronto Xi, partnering with IBM watsonx, being at the front of emerging AI tech and delivering capabilities through Pronto Cloud with enterprise-grade controls. The goal is progress without hype: trusted, locally supported solutions that help customers act decisively. This includes what we do internally, not just in the products we provide.
Looking ahead, what do you believe will be the defining role of AI in ERP and supply chain solutions over the next five years?
AI will be the interface and the engine: users will converse with ERP, while agentic systems interpret data, take compliant actions, and continuously optimise operations. Expect fewer traditional screens, more proactive guidance, and supply chains that self-adjust as conditions change.
A quote or advice from the author: “By bringing AI into ERP, we’re moving beyond automation to true empowerment, giving every employee the insights and tools to make faster and smarter decisions that drive growth.”
Chad Gates
Managing Director & CEO of Pronto Software
Chad Gates is the Managing Director & CEO of Pronto Software, a leading Australian provider of ERP and analytics solutions. Chad joined Pronto Software in 2005 (CEO since 2016) and draws on more than three decades of experience in Retail and IT to guide Pronto Software’s growth and innovation. He is committed to building a strong people and customer-centric culture, while championing the responsible use of AI and new technologies to deliver practical value for Australian and APAC region organisations.
