Søren Friis Alexandersen | Building AI into modern ERPs and business suites | Episode #39

In this episode of The Only Constant, Lasse Rindom speaks with Søren Friis Alexandersen, Principal Product Owner for Business Central at Microsoft. Their discussion discusses the evolving relationship between AI and enterprise software, uncovering both the practical demands and the philosophical questions posed by the AI shift. Key topics include:The mandate to integrate AI into product backlogs and the pressure it creates Striking a balance between human oversight and AI-driven automation The philosophical challenges of building trust in systems with "machines that have opinions" Why modern ERP systems must be flexible yet deterministic to meet diverse customer needs How the pursuit of productivity enables humanity to tackle greater complexities Do you want to know more about Søren Friis Alexandersen? Søren Friis Alexandersen is a renowned thought leader in the ERP space, known for his deep expertise and collaborative approach. He's 28 years into his career, and currently a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft in the Dynamics 365 Business Central engineering team, working on Microsoft's core business solution for SMBs, where his mandate is to rethink Finance through the lens of AI. With a distinguished standing in the community, Søren Friis Alexandersen is celebrated not only for his technical acumen but also for his unwavering commitment to openness and continuous learning, always bringing in the human factor into technology. Søren Friis Alexandersen is a strategist at heart, and his leadership is characterized by his ability to bridge the gap between complex technological concepts and practical, human-centered applications. As a lifelong learner, Søren Friis Alexandersen continuously seeks new knowledge and perspectives, fostering a culture of growth and adaptability within his professional circles. He shares the broadly held view that technology can and should improve human lives through increased productivity, though he thinks a lot about what we will do with the productivity gain long term, and how we ensure AI in particular is fair, transparent, and accessible to all.