How AI Is Changing the Way A&E Firms Use ERP Data

ERP systems have long been the system of record for architecture and engineering (A&E) firms. But for many teams, getting timely, actionable answers from that data is still a challenge.

In a recent LinkedIn Live, leaders from Unanet, Wyatt, and AE Works explored a bigger question: what changes when artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how people interact with ERP data?

As part of that conversation, they introduced Champ for ERP, powered by Wyatt—not as a replacement for ERP, but as a new way to access, explore, and act on the data firms already rely on.

The focus was less on the technology itself and more on what it enables: faster answers, deeper insight, and better decisions across the firm.

Why ERP still creates friction today

ERP holds critical project, financial, and operational data. But accessing it often depends on a small group of power users who can build reports or navigate system limitations.

That creates friction across the firm.

Project managers wait for data. Finance teams spend time pulling reports. Leaders make decisions based on outdated information. Many teams fall back on spreadsheets—adding manual work and reducing confidence in the numbers.

The question raised in the session: what if more people could access and use ERP data without those bottlenecks?

What changes when AI becomes the interface

A key theme from the discussion was that AI represents a shift in the user experience, not just another feature.

ERP still matters. What changes is how people interact with it.

With Champ for ERP, powered by Wyatt, users can ask questions in plain language instead of navigating menus or building reports.

That matters because the need is rarely just a report—it is the insight behind it.

Leaders want to understand which clients are becoming riskier. Project managers want to know what actions could improve outcomes over the next 90 days. AI helps close the gap between data and decision

Why faster answers change decision-making

Speed was another major theme.

Mark Bertsch shared that even strong dashboards can fall short when new questions emerge. Answering them often means rebuilding queries or creating new views.

With Champ for ERP, powered by Wyatt, users can ask, refine, and explore questions in real time.

That flexibility matters because decision-making is iterative. One answer leads to the next question. The faster that cycle happens, the faster teams can act.

What this looks like inside real firms

The session highlighted how this plays out in practice.

On project visibility, Mark noted how hard it is to catch issues early enough to change outcomes. By the time data reaches leadership, profitability problems may already be forming.

Using Champ for ERP, powered by Wyatt, he could assess performance, validate the data, and immediately ask for a 90-day turnaround plan.

That’s a shift—from reporting on what happened to deciding what to do next.

Another example focused on timesheet comments. By analyzing unstructured data, teams can better understand what work is happening, who is doing it, and why resourcing is changing.

Combined with financial data, this gives project leaders a more complete view of project health.

The same approach extends to client reporting, helping teams generate more tailored, relevant updates with less manual effort.

Why dashboards are no longer enough

The value of AI in ERP goes beyond chat.

Insights from conversations can be turned into reusable dashboards, or roundups, so teams don’t have to recreate the same analysis repeatedly.

This solves a common problem: answering a question once is useful—answering it repeatedly is inefficient.

The platform can even generate dashboards from simple prompts, making it easier for non-technical users to build what they need.

Where automation actually makes a difference

The conversation also introduced a more automated layer.

Users are not just asking questions—they are assigning ongoing work.

For example, a finance leader can have Champ for ERP, powered by Wyatt monitor accounts receivable and send alerts when risk increases. Instead of manual checks, the system tracks changes and notifies the team when action is needed.

This approach can extend across workflows, reducing manual effort while maintaining control.

Who benefits—and why it’s not just finance

The impact extends across the firm.

Finance teams can move faster on analysis and monitoring. Project leaders can act earlier on performance issues. Operations teams can reduce reporting friction. Executives can get answers without multiple handoffs.

The bigger shift is not just efficiency for a few—it’s broader access to better information across the organization.

The hidden upside: better data hygiene

Another benefit is improved data quality.

As teams interact with the system, gaps and inconsistencies become more visible—missing details, outdated timelines, incomplete records.

Catching these earlier improves the quality of reporting and the confidence behind decisions.

What this means for A&E firms

ERP has always been about more than storing data—it’s about managing projects, protecting margins, and making better decisions.

Champ for ERP, powered by Wyatt builds on that by making ERP easier to use in the flow of work.

It helps teams:

• Get answers faster
• Explore follow-up questions without bottlenecks
• Combine structured and unstructured data
• Turn insights into repeatable workflows
• Automate routine monitoring
• Spend less time chasing information and more time acting

Final thoughts

ERP is still essential—but the experience around it is changing.

Firms no longer need to rely on a small group of experts to unlock value from their systems. With the right AI experience, more people can ask better questions, get clearer answers, and move faster with confidence.

That’s what makes Champ for ERP, powered by Wyatt meaningful. It’s not about adding complexity—it’s about helping teams get more from the systems they already use every day.