June 18, 2021 
7 min to read
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Don’t lose the reports your business runs on. Novacura Flow Connect gives you two ways forward – keep what works, or upgrade to more. Novacura Flow bridges the gap between ERP and operations — with AI-powered workflows, ready-to-deploy industry solutions, and seamless no-touch integrations that connect IFS Cloud to the way your teams actually work. Reporting is just one part of that picture, which is why we’re well placed to help with the change coming to Crystal Reports. What’s Changing? With the release of IFS Cloud 26R2, IFS will no longer support Crystal Reports as its built-in reporting tool. It’s a narrow change — the embedded Crystal Reports plug-in is being retired — not a move away from connected reporting. IFS still exposes report data through its third-party application gateway, which is exactly where solutions like Novacura Flow connect. For most organizations, that’s more than a technical footnote. Crystal Reports sits behind everyday operational documents — invoices, order printouts, delivery schedules — and the ad-hoc reports your teams rely on across finance, operations, and logistics. Those reports need to keep flowing, without disrupting daily business. The good news: you don’t have to start over. Who This Affects? If you’re implementing IFS Cloud now, upgrading from IFS Applications 10, or planning a future move to the Cloud, this change lands on your desk. Teams that have already invested in building Crystal Reports layouts face the prospect of recreating that work — and everyone needs a plan for their existing reports before Crystal Reports is no longer available. Whatever your starting point, the decision comes down to a familiar trade-off: keep what already works, or use the moment to modernise. It’s worth understanding both paths and the trade-offs before you commit. Novacura Flow Connect supports either one. Two Ways Forward Both options run on the same foundation — Novacura Flow Connect, sitting between IFS Cloud and your reports. From there you can go one of two ways. Option 1 — Keep your Crystal Reports Run all your existing Crystal Reports — standard and custom — fully integrated with IFS Cloud through Novacura Flow Connect. Your business data stays in IFS Cloud, Flow Connect initiates and runs the report, Crystal Reports continues to manage the report definitions, and the finished document is returned to IFS Cloud for archiving and printing — or distributed straight from Flow. In practice, it works much like what you have today. Your report layouts don’t need to be rebuilt, so the transition stays low-risk. Reports can be triggered two ways: Manually, from a Flow app — users run any report on demand, on desktop or mobile, or from inside IFS. Automatically, from IFS — an IFS event triggers a Flow Automation that generates the report with live IFS data. On demand for your users, or fully automated in the background. Option 2 — Gradually move to Flow reporting If you’d rather take this moment to modernise, you can gradually replace Crystal Reports with the full reporting toolbox built into Novacura Flow — connected natively to […]
The conversation surrounding enterprise software has fundamentally shifted. For the past several years, corporate agendas have been dominated by theoretical discussions about the potential of artificial intelligence. However, at IFS Connect United Kingdom & Ireland 2026, held on April 29th at the iconic Silverstone Racecourse, the focus took a pragmatic turn. Industry leaders, asset-intensive enterprises, and system experts gathered to transition from broad AI hype to the rigorous execution of Industrial AI—artificial intelligence embedded directly into core, in-process business operations to deliver measurable outcomes. For Novacura, represented onsite by Aksel Jarlbäck and Josh Alexander, the event confirmed a critical market reality: before an enterprise can successfully adopt advanced AI capabilities at scale, it must first establish complete process clarity on the shop floor and in the field. The Blind Spots Threatening Industrial AI Readiness IFS Connect 2026 clearly distinguished generic, conversational AI from true Industrial AI designed for complex asset management and field service operations. IFS has positioned its ecosystem as a real-world enabler of industry transformation, showcasing digital assistants, evolving pricing models, and embedded capabilities within IFS Cloud. Yet, as organizations look to implement these technologies, they face an immediate, systemic obstacle: unresolved operational foundations. Many manufacturing and asset-heavy businesses are still plagued by legacy inefficiencies. Field Service Management (FSM) operations struggle with disconnected technicians, maintenance teams face data-logging bottlenecks, and warehousing teams operate with limited real-time shop floor visibility. Attempting to overlay sophisticated Industrial AI onto fractured, poorly integrated processes is an expensive miscalculation. If your frontline technicians lack a simple, structured method to input clean data from the field, any predictive maintenance model or AI-driven scheduling engine will fail due to poor data quality. To unlock the value of modern ERP upgrades and AI investments, companies must first close the execution gap between their central database and their physical operations. Stabilizing the Core with Novacura Flow This critical integration layer is precisely where Novacura focused its conversations at Silverstone. Acting as a process-optimizing workflow layer, Novacura Flow serves as the vital technical bridge connecting core IFS installations with real-world, frontline execution. At our exhibition booth, our team demonstrated how Novacura Flow insulates the core ERP from unnecessary complexity. Rather than relying on rigid, high-risk code modifications to adapt IFS to unique warehouse or maintenance routines—a practice that complicates or derails future cloud upgrades—organizations can deploy a flexible, low-code workflow layer. By utilizing this architecture, businesses can deliver simple, role-based mobile workflows directly to technicians and operators. Whether executing a complex asset inspection on a remote site or tracking inventory movements across a chaotic shop floor, the frontline worker interacts with an interface tailored exactly to their task. Novacura Flow handles the complex data validation in the background, ensuring that the information routed back into IFS is clean, structured, and instantly actionable. To visually reinforce this philosophy, our booth featured a LEGO giveaway. The concept resonated strongly with attendees: just as complex, high-performance vehicles at Silverstone are built from simple, standardized components, resilient enterprise architecture relies on simple, repeatable building blocks to manage data flow. Direct from Silverstone: […]
The industrial world is no longer debating if change is coming; we are now measuring the pace of that change in real-time. On April 23–24, 2026, the Nordic IFS Community gathered in our home city of Gothenburg for IFS Connect Nordics. The atmosphere at the venue reflected a clear industry mandate: Industrial AI Accelerated. As a Silver Sponsor of this year’s event, Novacura was proud to welcome peers, partners, and customers to our own backyard. The 2026 edition felt particularly significant, not just because of the focus on AI as an engine for value, but because of the deep collaboration with the Scandinavian and Finnish User Groups. This partnership shifted the second day of the event toward what really matters to the people on the ground: practical insights, technical depth, and hands-on learning. When Speed Hits the Coding Bottleneck The theme of “Industrial AI” promises unprecedented opportunities in asset performance and decision-making. However, for many organizations, there is a “Villain” in the story: ERP Complexity. Most industrial companies struggle to get their ERP to match how their people actually work. As IFS noted during the keynote, moving fast is no longer enough; you must be able to scale. Yet, every new requirement often turns into another risky customization or a fragile middleware project. This creates a “coding bottleneck” that prevents AI from ever reaching the shop floor or the warehouse. Unveiling the Flow ERP Fusion AI Engine At the Novacura booth, we demonstrated that the bridge between “Industrial AI” and “Operational Reality” doesn’t have to be built with manual code. We were thrilled to unveil the Flow ERP Fusion AI Engine. This domain-optimized engine is designed specifically for the IFS Cloud API. It allows technical teams to describe complex workflows in plain language, which the engine then instantly converts into functional FlowScripts and OData integrations. By acting as a consultative layer, this engine removes the traditional manual heavy lifting from the development cycle. It allows you to: Keep the IFS Core “Clean”: Replace modifications with low-code apps to make Cloud upgrades smoother. Move at Market Speed: Orchestrate flows instead of coding point-to-point integrations. Empower the “Blue-Collar” Workforce: Build role-based mobile apps for the warehouse and production floor that technicians actually like using. A Local Presence with Global Insight It was a privilege to have our Nordic leadership, including Östen Westman (Sales Director Business Solutions Nordics) and Fredrik Rosendahl (Sales Director), on-site to discuss these strategies. Whether the conversations centered on navigating an IFS Cloud upgrade or optimizing an existing AMS strategy, the consensus was clear: the future of ERP is not just maintenance – it is evolution. For those who stopped by to discuss the future of low-code (and to pick up our signature LEGO gift), we thank you for the insightful dialogue. If you missed us in Gothenburg but are ready to explore how a process-optimizing low-code layer can accelerate your own Industrial AI journey, the door is always open. Let’s bridge the gap between your ERP and your operational reality.
On April 2nd, the Pavillon Cambon in Paris became the epicenter of industrial transformation. IFS Connect France 2026 brought together the brightest minds in the French industrial landscape to explore a singular, pressing theme: how to turn the exponential potential of AI into measurable business value. As a sponsor at Booth 14, the Novacura team – led by Helle Mering, Rayner Bröndrup, and Patrick Defives – joined a community eager to move past theoretical discussions and into the realm of “Industrial AI Accelerated.” Acceleration through Innovation The day opened with a powerful sequence of strategic insights. From Mathieu Daudigny’s regional perspective to the global vision shared by IFS CEO Mark Moffat, the message was clear: 2026 is the year of moving at speed to scale. Presentations from leaders like Vinh Vu, Véronique David, and Jeremy JeanJean underscored that the path to this acceleration lies in specific, industry-focused capabilities. This vision was grounded in reality by impressive customer success stories from organizations such as TotalEnergies, Videlio, and Lynred. The awards presented to SKF, Systra, and Eurofeu served as a reminder that the “Victory” in our industry is always defined by operational excellence and the ability to adapt. The Legacy Customization Trap However, a common thread emerged during our discussions at the booth. For many French industrial organizations, the transition to IFS Cloud is obstructed by a familiar “Villain”: Years of legacy modifications. These rigid code layers stifle agility and create a “coding bottleneck” that makes adopting new AI capabilities feel like a monumental task. Visitors shared specific challenges regarding WADACO and mobile work order management – areas where the gap between standard ERP functionality and operational reality is often widest. Unveiling the Flow ERP Fusion AI Engine At Novacura, we believe the solution isn’t just more technology; it’s a better way to communicate with your ERP. During the dynamic lunch session and throughout the afternoon, we demonstrated the final development phase of our Flow ERP Fusion AI Engine. Designed specifically for the IFS Cloud API, this engine shifts the paradigm of ERP interaction: Natural Language Interaction: Describe a workflow in plain French or English, and the AI understands the business context. Consultative Intelligence: Much like a human consultant, the engine asks clarifying questions to ensure logic alignment. Automated Logic Generation: It instantly drafts the necessary FlowScripts and OData integrations, removing the manual “heavy lifting” from the development cycle. This is the technical bridge that allows companies to keep their IFS core “close to standard” while moving at the speed of the market. Engagement and Agility The day concluded with an inspiring session by former football star Emmanuel Petit, who spoke on the power of engagement. For us, engagement means more than just a presentation; it’s the positive interactions we had with the IFS France team and the commitment to continue these dialogues in Paris. The “Victory” for our customers is clear: ERP agility without the bottleneck. By adding a process-optimizing low-code layer, you no longer have to wait for “coding windows” to improve your business. You can finally align your ERP with your operational intent.
Beyond The Buzzwords: Real-World AI At IFS Connect DACH 2026 IFS Connect DACH 2026 in Munich was more than just a calendar event; it served as a critical launchpad for the future of industrial operations. While the sessions buzzed with the launch of IFS.ai Logistics and the broader vision of Industrial AI across manufacturing and field service, the real value emerged in the spaces between: the face-to-face connections that spark genuine innovation. However, beneath the excitement of new product launches like the Softeon acquisition – which promises to bolster IFS’s logistics capabilities – a familiar challenge remains for many organizations. The Agility Gap: Why Business Intent Stalls In the world of high-stakes ERP management, the primary bottleneck isn’t the software’s capability – it is the technical friction between a business idea and its execution. Traditionally, if a logistics manager identifies a need for a new mobile workflow or a specific data integration, they face a daunting timeline. Translating that intent into a functional IFS Cloud workflow typically requires deep technical expertise and weeks of development. This complexity acts as the ultimate brake on organizational agility. Organizations find themselves waiting for “coding windows” rather than reacting to market shifts in real-time. Introducing The Flow ERP Fusion AI Engine At our booth in Munich, the Novacura team demonstrated a shift in this paradigm. We are currently entering the final development phase of the Flow ERP Fusion AI Engine, a domain-optimized tool designed specifically to bridge the gap between human intent and the IFS Cloud API. This isn’t “AI for the sake of AI.” It is a process-optimizing layer designed to eliminate manual “heavy lifting”: Natural Language Interaction: Users describe the required workflow in plain language. The AI understands the business context, not just the syntax. Consultative Intelligence: Much like a human consultant, the engine asks clarifying questions to ensure the generated logic aligns with specific operational needs. Automated Logic Generation: The engine instantly drafts the necessary FlowScripts and OData integrations, slashing the time required for development. Insights From The Floor: The Changing Ecosystem The landscape of the IFS ecosystem is shifting. A notable observation from our team in Munich was the absence of traditional middleware giants like Dell Boomi. As these legacy platforms move further from the IFS core, the positioning of Novacura Flow as a dedicated integration and process engine becomes even more vital. While IFS continues to expand its product footprint – most notably in reporting and logistics – there remain significant gaps in how users can flexibly extend the system without getting stuck in modifications. By keeping the core “clean” and using a low-code layer for innovation, companies can prepare for future upgrades without losing their competitive edge. From Technical Dependency To Operational Fluidity The goal of the Flow ERP Fusion AI Engine is simple: ERP Agility without the Bottleneck. By removing the requirement for deep manual coding for every new process, we enable a shift from technical dependency to operational fluidity. You no longer need to wait for a developer to catch up with your business requirements. Instead, you orchestrate flows that match how your people actually […]
Novacura participated in the IFS Sales Kick-Off (SaKo) 2026 in Dallas, Texas—one of the key events in the IFS ecosystem. The summit highlighted the shift from traditional ERP to Autonomous Industrial AI and showcased strategic priorities like AI-driven sales, digital workers, and partner-driven growth. Insights from the event reinforce Novacura’s role in helping customers bridge advanced IFS AI capabilities with real-world operational needs using Novacura Flow.
