Sriram Kanuri, CEO of Arteria Technologies, on ERP Innovation and AI Evolution

In this exclusive interview, Anuj Singhal sits down with Sriram Kanuri, CEO of Arteria Technologies, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, the evolution of ERP systems, the integration of AI in business processes, and how Arteria Technologies is empowering enterprises and SMEs with innovative solutions.

Anuj Singhal:

Welcome to itVARnews, Sriram! It’s a pleasure to have you on the show. How are you doing today?

Sriram Kanuri:
I’m doing great, Anuj! Thank you for having me. A warm good morning, good afternoon, and good evening to all the viewers across the globe.

Anuj Singhal:

To start off, Sriram, can you share a little about your journey and what inspired you to venture into the IT solutions space? How did the idea of Arteria Technologies come to life?

Sriram Kanuri:
Sure! From a very young age, I had a dream of building my own company. However, back then, I didn’t have the means or the resources to make it happen. After completing my education and gaining experience working with SAP in Europe, I learned the art of building software products.

The idea for Arteria was born during a casual conversation with a friend in Bangalore. A customer needed a complex product development project delivered, and I saw an opportunity. We approached the customer, convinced them to give us the project, and successfully delivered it after eight months. That was the beginning of Arteria Technologies—a journey fueled by passion and a strong belief in technology-driven solutions.

Anuj Singhal:

That’s an inspiring story! As businesses pivot towards cloud and hybrid environments, how do you see the evolution of ERP systems?

Sriram Kanuri:
ERP systems have evolved significantly over the years. Earlier, ERP solutions were monolithic, with every module embedded in one system. Now, certain modules like HR, extended sales, and procurement operate outside the core ERP framework.

With the rise of AI and automation, we are seeing two major changes:

1. Data Entry Automation: Repetitive tasks are being automated using bots and AI.
2. Predictive Insights: ERP systems are becoming more predictive. For example, they can highlight potential production issues or autocorrect financial entries in real time.

This evolution ensures higher productivity, fewer operational challenges, and continuous innovation to help businesses adapt to ever-changing needs.

Anuj Singhal:

Interesting! How does Arteria Technologies integrate AI into its ERP offerings to enhance business processes?

Sriram Kanuri:
At Arteria, we leverage SAP’s technology platform as our foundation while integrating with Google Cloud, AWS, and other solutions for bespoke AI models.

We focus on both upstream and downstream supply chains. Here are two key use cases:

• Sales Optimization: AI optimizes sales routes and ensures real-time adjustments to retail schemes, maximizing ROI.
• Real-Time Corrections: AI enables course corrections on the fly, ensuring businesses don’t just look back at what went wrong but proactively address challenges in real time.

This approach helps organizations serve customers efficiently, deliver real-time insights, and achieve measurable results.

Anuj Singhal:

That’s truly transformative! With SMEs being the backbone of our economy, how is Arteria catering to their needs, especially given their limited IT infrastructure and cost sensitivity?

Sriram Kanuri:
We understand that SMEs often lack dedicated IT teams and budgets for large-scale ERP deployments. To address this:

1. We use a “What You See Is What You Get” model, which allows quick ERP implementation within two weeks. This frugal approach focuses on simplicity and speed, covering 80% of their operational needs with minimal customization.
2. We pioneered flow-based lending with the support of ICICI Bank. SMEs without financial records can now access credit based on their transactional relationships with large corporates. This model has already benefited over 30,000 SMEs, and the number continues to grow.

By reducing costs through cloud-based hosting and modular solutions, we make ERP accessible and affordable for SMEs, enabling them to scale and digitize efficiently.

Anuj Singhal:

That’s a game-changer for SMEs! Moving ahead, what’s next for Arteria Technologies as we step into 2025?

Sriram Kanuri:
The next 18 months are all about AI integration. Every business function in our ERP solutions will be enhanced with AI capabilities, ensuring better decision-making and operational efficiency.

We are also expanding geographically by collaborating with partners and consultancies, such as the Big Four, to deliver AI-enabled ERP solutions to global customers. Instead of just talking about AI, we are showcasing real, tangible solutions that drive business outcomes.

Anuj Singhal:

Your vision is inspiring! Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make a mark in the IT and technology space?

Sriram Kanuri:
I have three simple words: Persistence, persistence, persistence.
Once you have your product idea and MVP ready, stick to your path. Success doesn’t come overnight, and impatience can derail even the best ideas. Stay focused, and results will follow.

Anuj Singhal:

That’s practical and valuable advice, Sriram. Your journey, vision, and solutions are truly inspiring for enterprises and SMEs alike. Thank you for sharing your insights with itVARnews and our audience today.

Sriram Kanuri:
Thank you, Anuj! It was a pleasure being here.

Conclusion

In this engaging conversation, Sriram Kanuri, CEO of Arteria Technologies, highlighted how AI is transforming ERP systems, empowering SMEs, and driving real-time business insights. His leadership and innovative solutions are shaping the future of ERP and digital transformation.

Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/6Iep1T1Y8rY

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