Start with the work
Technology programmes often begin with a platform shortlist. I prefer starting with the decisions people struggle to make: what to build, what to buy, what to expedite, what inventory to hold, where capacity is really constrained.
Then design the information
Once the decision is clear, the data requirement becomes much easier to define. That is when ERP, MES/MOM, APS, WMS, BI, automation or an application can be chosen for a reason rather than because they are on a roadmap.
Integration beats accumulation
Adding more systems does not automatically make an operation more digital. The useful architecture is the one that connects transactions, execution, planning, analytics and management routines.
AI belongs in the same logic
AI should enter where uncertainty, repetitive analysis or unstructured information makes a decision slow or inconsistent. It is another capability in the operating model, not a separate theatre project.
Once the decision is clear, the data requirement becomes much easier to define. That is when ERP, MES/MOM, APS, WMS, BI, automation or an application can be chosen for a reason rather than because they are on a roadmap.