Digital Stratosphere: Digital Transformation, ERP, HCM, and CRM Implementation Best Practices
Third Stage Consulting Group
Digital Stratosphere: Digital Transformation, ERP, HCM, and CRM Implementation Best Practices is a podcast hosted by top industry thought leaders, Eric Kimberling and Kyler Cheatham. In each episode, they discuss the best practices for implementing digital transformation, ERP, HCM, and CRM solutions in businesses of all sizes.
Whether you’re a CIO, CTO, or IT manager, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone responsible for digital transformation in their organization. The podcast features interviews with the industry‘s leading experts on topics ranging from digital strategy, software selection, implementation project management, and organizational change management.
In each episode, Eric and Kyler discuss a different digital transformation topic and share their insights and expertise on how businesses can successfully navigate the challenges of implementing these solutions. They also interview leading experts in the field to get their insights on specific topics.
If you’re looking for actionable advice on how to successfully implement a digital transformation, ERP, HCM, and CRM solutions in your business, this is the podcast for you. Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode!
Whether you’re a CIO, CTO, or IT manager, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone responsible for digital transformation in their organization. The podcast features interviews with the industry‘s leading experts on topics ranging from digital strategy, software selection, implementation project management, and organizational change management.
In each episode, Eric and Kyler discuss a different digital transformation topic and share their insights and expertise on how businesses can successfully navigate the challenges of implementing these solutions. They also interview leading experts in the field to get their insights on specific topics.
If you’re looking for actionable advice on how to successfully implement a digital transformation, ERP, HCM, and CRM solutions in your business, this is the podcast for you. Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 19, 2026 • 12min
SAP Case Study
🔗 Explore Our Latest Resources:
ORDER MY NEW BOOK: Welcome to the Jungle: https://a.co/d/hAFI7cN
2026 Digital Transformation Report, pre-register: https://resource.thirdstage-consulting.com/2026-digital-transformation-report
2025 Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/2025-digital-transformation-report/
ERP Project Recovery Guide: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/erp-project-recovery-guide/
20 Lessons from 1,000 Digital Transformations: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/ebook-20-lessons-from-1000-erp-implementations/
2025 Guide to AI Strategy & Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/guide-to-ai-strategy/
Executive Guide to Digital Strategy and Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/executives-guide-to-digital-transformation/
Business Transformation Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/transformation-playbook/
Software Buyer's Guide: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/independentsoftwareselection/
Guide to Organizational Change Management: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/change-management-success/
Supply Chain Management Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/supply-chain-management/
2025 Manufacturing & Distribution Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/manufacturing-distribution-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Government Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/the-government-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Free Transformation Assessments: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/free-transformation-assessments/
Private Equity Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/erpduediligenceprivateequity/
TSC Resource Center: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/thought-leadership/
Feb 16, 2026 • 16min
Employees Don't Want Change
A concise look at why people push back against AI, from job anxiety and change fatigue to career uncertainty. The conversation spotlights why prioritizing tools over trust backfires and why vision matters. It explores treating AI as organizational change, engaging front-line teams in pilots, and measuring success by adoption and impact rather than technology alone.
Feb 12, 2026 • 15min
The Industry is Broken
🔗 Explore Our Latest Resources:
ORDER MY NEW BOOK: Welcome to the Jungle: https://a.co/d/hAFI7cN
2026 Digital Transformation Report, pre-register: https://resource.thirdstage-consulting.com/2026-digital-transformation-report
2025 Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/2025-digital-transformation-report/
ERP Project Recovery Guide: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/erp-project-recovery-guide/
20 Lessons from 1,000 Digital Transformations: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/ebook-20-lessons-from-1000-erp-implementations/
2025 Guide to AI Strategy & Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/guide-to-ai-strategy/
Executive Guide to Digital Strategy and Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/executives-guide-to-digital-transformation/
Business Transformation Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/transformation-playbook/
Software Buyer's Guide: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/independentsoftwareselection/
Guide to Organizational Change Management: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/change-management-success/
Supply Chain Management Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/supply-chain-management/
2025 Manufacturing & Distribution Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/manufacturing-distribution-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Government Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/the-government-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Free Transformation Assessments: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/free-transformation-assessments/
Private Equity Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/erpduediligenceprivateequity/
TSC Resource Center: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/thought-leadership/
Feb 9, 2026 • 14min
SAP RISE
A clear breakdown of SAP RISE and what the packaged S/4HANA offering actually includes. A debate on who controls infrastructure and how that affects long term flexibility. A look at SAP-hosted versus hyperscaler deployments and the tradeoffs for performance and negotiating leverage. Practical guidance on when RISE makes sense based on skills, speed, and strategic priorities.
Feb 5, 2026 • 15min
Business vs IT
🔗 Explore Our Latest Resources:
ORDER MY NEW BOOK: Welcome to the Jungle: https://a.co/d/hAFI7cN
2026 Digital Transformation Report, pre-register: https://resource.thirdstage-consulting.com/2026-digital-transformation-report
2025 Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/2025-digital-transformation-report/
20 Lessons from 1,000 Digital Transformations: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/ebook-20-lessons-from-1000-erp-implementations/
2025 Guide to AI Strategy & Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/guide-to-ai-strategy/
Executive Guide to Digital Strategy and Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/executives-guide-to-digital-transformation/
Business Transformation Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/transformation-playbook/
Software Buyer's Guide: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/independentsoftwareselection/
Guide to Organizational Change Management: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/change-management-success/
Supply Chain Management Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/supply-chain-management/
2025 Manufacturing & Distribution Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/manufacturing-distribution-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Government Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/the-government-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Free Transformation Assessments: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/free-transformation-assessments/
Private Equity Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/erpduediligenceprivateequity/
TSC Resource Center: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/thought-leadership/
Feb 2, 2026 • 17min
Change Management Traps
Leaders need to visibly drive change and not delegate critical decisions. Resistance is framed as a signal to diagnose underlying problems and clarify future roles. Avoid overloaded tech rollouts by prioritizing people and process. Training should build role-specific competency rather than transactional how-tos. Treat go-live as a beginning and focus on continuous optimization afterward.
Jan 29, 2026 • 16min
AI in CRM
🔗 Explore Our Latest Resources:
ORDER MY NEW BOOK: Welcome to the Jungle: https://a.co/d/hAFI7cN
2026 Digital Transformation Report, pre-register: https://resource.thirdstage-consulting.com/2026-digital-transformation-report
2025 Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/2025-digital-transformation-report/
20 Lessons from 1,000 Digital Transformations: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/ebook-20-lessons-from-1000-erp-implementations/
2025 Guide to AI Strategy & Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/guide-to-ai-strategy/
Executive Guide to Digital Strategy and Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/executives-guide-to-digital-transformation/
Business Transformation Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/transformation-playbook/
Software Buyer's Guide: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/independentsoftwareselection/
Guide to Organizational Change Management: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/change-management-success/
Supply Chain Management Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/supply-chain-management/
2025 Manufacturing & Distribution Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/manufacturing-distribution-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Government Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/the-government-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Free Transformation Assessments: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/free-transformation-assessments/
Private Equity Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/erpduediligenceprivateequity/
TSC Resource Center: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/thought-leadership/
Jan 26, 2026 • 16min
Best Practices
🔗 Explore Our Latest Resources:
ORDER MY NEW BOOK: Welcome to the Jungle: https://a.co/d/hAFI7cN
2026 Digital Transformation Report, pre-register: https://resource.thirdstage-consulting.com/2026-digital-transformation-report
2025 Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/2025-digital-transformation-report/
20 Lessons from 1,000 Digital Transformations: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/ebook-20-lessons-from-1000-erp-implementations/
2025 Guide to AI Strategy & Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/guide-to-ai-strategy/
Executive Guide to Digital Strategy and Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/executives-guide-to-digital-transformation/
Business Transformation Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/transformation-playbook/
Software Buyer's Guide: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/independentsoftwareselection/
Guide to Organizational Change Management: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/change-management-success/
Supply Chain Management Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/supply-chain-management/
2025 Manufacturing & Distribution Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/manufacturing-distribution-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Government Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/the-government-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Free Transformation Assessments: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/free-transformation-assessments/
Private Equity Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/erpduediligenceprivateequity/
TSC Resource Center: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/thought-leadership/
Jan 22, 2026 • 20min
Top 10 Lessons from 200 Experts
AI-sifted takeaways from 200+ interviews reveal top priorities for digital transformation. Highlights include why organizational change management should lead, the need for active executive sponsorship, and building the right internal and external teams. Other topics cover data and integration early, vendor and contract control, rigorous planning, and cautious use of emerging technologies.
Jan 19, 2026 • 32min
AI is Killing the Consulting Industry
Our most-listened-to episode of 2025, if you’re only going to catch one, make it this one.
🔗 Explore Our Latest Resources:
ORDER MY NEW BOOK: Welcome to the Jungle: https://a.co/d/hAFI7cN
2026 Digital Transformation Report, pre-register: https://resource.thirdstage-consulting.com/2026-digital-transformation-report
2025 Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/2025-digital-transformation-report/
20 Lessons from 1,000 Digital Transformations: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/ebook-20-lessons-from-1000-erp-implementations/
2025 Guide to AI Strategy & Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/guide-to-ai-strategy/
Executive Guide to Digital Strategy and Implementation: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/executives-guide-to-digital-transformation/
Business Transformation Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/transformation-playbook/
Software Buyer's Guide: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/independentsoftwareselection/
Guide to Organizational Change Management: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/change-management-success/
Supply Chain Management Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/supply-chain-management/
2025 Manufacturing & Distribution Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/manufacturing-distribution-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Government Digital Transformation Report: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/the-government-digital-transformation-report-2025/
Free Transformation Assessments: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/free-transformation-assessments/
Private Equity Playbook: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/reports/erpduediligenceprivateequity/
TSC Resource Center: https://www.thirdstage-consulting.com/thought-leadership/
