Wolf&Grayson EditorialToday’s digital landscape is constantly changing, requiring innovators like Christophe Derdeyn to find creative ways to leverage technology for competitive advantage. As an expert in IT consulting and enterprise resource planning Derdeyn understands that the key to success isn’t just about adopting the latest technology. It’s about how businesses apply it.
Innovation Beyond AI: A Strategic Approach
With AI dominating tech discussions, it’s easy to overlook other transformative innovations. However, Derdeyn emphasizes that AI is just one of many tools available and believes that the most successful companies have achieved their status not merely by using new technology but by pioneering innovative business models. “Look at the Airbnbs and the Ubers,” Derdeyn explains. “In principle, it’s just another flavor of hotels and another flavor of taxis. Yet they became incredibly successful because they developed a model which was different from what was available in the market.”
Companies like Amazon have also capitalized on this principle. “No one ever asked for next-day delivery,” Derdeyn notes, “but everyone loves it now.” The lesson here in each of these examples is that success lies not in the technology itself, but in how it’s used to address real-world problems efficiently.
The Role of IT in Business Transformation
Derdeyn has decades of experience in enterprise resource planning (ERP) consulting. As a leader at Icon Consulting, he focuses on equipping consultants with a fresh approach to enterprise solutions. “The whole world of ERP consulting has been doing pretty much the same thing for years,” he observes. “But because of Cloud and AI, the way we need to do things is different now.”
This shift has prompted industry leaders to rethink traditional ERP implementation strategies. “SAP, for example, now advocates a process-led ERP implementation,” says Derdeyn. “Whereas before, consultants would act like order takers, building whatever the client wanted. Today’s approach focuses on leading the process and improving workflows before implementing the system.” This modernized approach ensures that ERP solutions not only integrate business functions but also optimize them for efficiency and scalability.
AI as an Enabler, Not the Sole Differentiator
While AI is often hailed as a game-changer, Derdeyn offers a more grounded perspective on its real-world impact. “AI is an accelerator or an enabler for the business model you’re pushing,” Derdeyn states. However, he points out that while tools like ChatGPT have gained massive attention, they are still in the process of finding their most effective applications. “They’re unique, yes, but are they solving a major business problem right now? Arguably.”
This doesn’t mean AI lacks value. It’s that its greatest strength lies in integration. “When AI is embedded into applications, providing contextualized insights, then it becomes meaningful,” says Derdeyn. “For instance, if an ERP system can automatically prompt users with relevant information instead of requiring manual collation, that’s where AI truly shines.”
Context is King in IT Innovation
Derdeyn repeatedly underscores that technology alone doesn’t give a business a competitive edge, context does. “Technology individually, without context, doesn’t bring us anything,” he asserts. This belief is reflected in his approach to IT consulting, where he emphasizes a strategic, problem-solving mindset over the blind embrace of technical implementation.
He firmly believes that the potential of AI and other technologies won’t be fully realized until businesses use them to address specific challenges. “We’re seeing exciting developments, like AI-powered robots and automation,” Derdeyn says, referencing a recent Nvidia demonstration. “Again, it needs to be contextual. Otherwise, it doesn’t bring us anything.”
The Future of IT Innovation: Moving Beyond the Hype
In an era where businesses rush to adopt the latest trends out of fear of being left behind, Derdeyn offers a refreshing dose of pragmatism. “You have to have AI because if you don’t, others do,” he acknowledges. “But to say it has turned the world upside down? Not immediately. That transformation will come through meaningful applications.” Derdeyn’s perspective serves as a guiding principle for companies looking to gain a competitive edge. Instead of focusing solely on the technology itself, he advises businesses to rethink their models, improve their processes, and use IT as a powerful enabler.
To learn more about how technology can give your business a competitive advantage, you can follow Christophe Derdeyn on LinkedIn.
