This blog is going against the saying, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. I am sharing what happened in Vegas – all the valuable insights, connections, and innovations I learned attending Acumatica Summit 2025. As your trusted Acumatica partner, here are my top 10 takeaways from this year’s event.
1. The Power of Hallway Conversations
Some of the most valuable exchanges happened between scheduled sessions. These impromptu conversations with peers, experts, and Acumatica team members provided insights you simply can’t get from a presentation slide. Whether discussing implementation challenges over coffee or exchanging tips on customization during lunch, these unstructured moments often yielded the most practical advice.
Many attendees mentioned that a five-minute conversation in the hallway solved problems they’d been grappling with for months. These networking opportunities highlight the importance of community in the Acumatica ecosystem—a reminder that we’re not just implementing software but also building a network of knowledge and support.
2. Direct Customer Perspectives
Summit offers a unique opportunity to hear unfiltered feedback directly from users across diverse industries. These real and down to earth conversations about challenges and successes provide a level of insight that isn’t available through case studies or testimonials alone.
What struck me most was the consistency in how businesses are using Acumatica to solve similar problems across different sectors. From manufacturing to retail to services, users consistently praised the platform’s flexibility while sharing creative workarounds for industry-specific challenges. These honest perspectives help to better understand what’s working, what could be improved, and how to tailor our implementation approaches for different client needs.
3. Building Stronger ISV Partnerships
As an Acumatica VAR, the face-to-face interactions with Independent Software Vendors (ISV) were invaluable. Understanding their company culture, partnership approach, and team energy helped cement relationships that will benefit our clients throughout the year. Meeting the ISV teams behind the add-ons and integrations revealed much about their commitment to customer success. You can learn more from a 15-minute booth conversation than from weeks of emails and demo calls.
GFC isn’t looking to partner with every ISV, but instead, to build a portfolio of products bringing you the best add-ons available. We are bringing you an end-to-end system with Acumatica including payroll / certified payroll, time tracking, benefits administration, and 2-way messaging.
4. AI-Powered Release Summaries
This year summit was all about showcasing AI Innovations:
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- Intelligent Advisors: Tools like Anomaly Detection, introduced in Acumatica 2024 R2, proactively identify issues and recommend solutions.
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- AI Automation: Automating repetitive tasks, including Invoice Categorization and Case Resolution Summary Generation, enhances efficiency.
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- Interactive Assistants: Upcoming AI-powered assistants will support users through natural, human-like interactions.
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- AI Studio: This future platform will enable businesses to automate workflows, analyze data in depth, and create custom AI models.
The one that stood out for me the most was the new AI “upgrade release summary” feature. This impressive AI tool will save significant time during upgrades by automatically highlighting the most relevant changes for your specific industry and needs.
Rather than sifting through comprehensive release notes, the AI analyzes your Acumatica configuration and surfaces only the updates that impact your modules and customizations. This targeted approach streamlines the upgrade planning process, allowing both our consultants and clients to focus on high-impact changes. It’s a perfect example of how Acumatica is leveraging AI not just as a buzzword, but as a practical enhancement that addresses a real pain point in the upgrade cycle.
5. Leadership Transformation Stories
I really enjoyed hearing the stories. Stories from executives as to why they decided to choose Acumatica provided valuable context. These stories resonated because the challenges they overcame are common across many businesses considering a digital transformation.
Leaders candidly discussed their initial concerns about disruption, investment justification, and organizational readiness. They shared how they built internal consensus, managed the change process, and ultimately measured success. These narratives offered a blueprint for effective ERP transitions that focus not just on technical implementation but on the human and organizational factors that determine success. Most importantly, they highlighted how Acumatica became a catalyst for broader business improvements beyond just replacing legacy systems.
6. Seattle Bound in 2026!
There was palpable excitement about next year’s Summit location change. After, I don’t remember how many, years in Las Vegas, the community is looking forward to experiencing Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
Beyond just a change of scenery, attendees expressed enthusiasm about visiting Acumatica’s home territory and connecting more directly with the company’s roots and headquarters team. The Seattle location may also attract different regional businesses and partners who haven’t previously attended, potentially expanding the community and bringing fresh perspectives. The anticipation for this location change reflects the community’s desire for new experiences and connections within the Acumatica ecosystem.
7. Construction Industry’s Digital Opportunity
One particularly striking statistic: the Construction industry ranks second-to-last in technology adoption nationwide (only ahead of Agriculture). With $2 trillion in spending and only 8.5% of projects finishing on time or on budget, there’s enormous potential for improvement through better systems and processes. Acumatica is invested in construction and with each new release there are features to help your business. In the latest version of Acumatica, 2024 R2, construction billing processes have been simplified enabling instant cost transfers to the schedule of values.
This highlights a massive opportunity for construction companies to gain a competitive advantage through digital transformation. The gap between current practices and potential efficiency represents billions in potential savings and revenue. For construction businesses using Acumatica, the platform’s ability to integrate project management, inventory, field service, and financials positions them ahead of industry peers who are still struggling with disconnected systems or manual processes. This lag in industry-wide adoption actually creates a significant competitive opportunity for early adopters.
8. Customer Panel Revelations
My favorite session featured customers from three different industries discussing their transition to Acumatica. One memorable quote: “The 80th user crashed our Sage system and that was it.” These real-world migration stories highlighted common challenges with internal buy-in, system adoption, and cost management.
The panel provided transparent insights into how different organizations managed the transition process. Participants discussed how they overcame initial resistance, what they would do differently if starting over, and the unexpected benefits they discovered after implementation. They shared specific metrics on efficiency gains, cost savings, and improved decision-making capabilities. Perhaps most valuable were their candid assessments of implementation timelines versus expectations, providing realistic benchmarks for businesses planning their own transitions.
9. AcuConnect Community Growth
Left to Right: Amiee Keenan – AcuConnect Norman Wohlschlaeger – Alpha Water Proofing, Alayne “Laynie” Itzen Kohlman – Netstock, Taeya Ngo – GFC Consulting.
Participating in the AcuConnect panel was a highlight of my Summit experience. The most frequent feedback from customers was how valuable it is to have a resource for information that feels less intimidating than direct contact with VARs or product teams.
The growing AcuConnect community demonstrates the importance of peer-to-peer support and knowledge sharing. Users appreciate having a space where they can ask questions, share tips, and discuss challenges without feeling pressured to make immediate purchasing decisions. This community-driven approach to support complements the more formal channels and creates multiple pathways for users to get the help they need. The enthusiasm around AcuConnect shows how Acumatica is evolving beyond software into a true business community with shared interests and challenges.
10. Operations vs. Sales Bowling Showdown
On a lighter note, our GFC team bowling competition revealed an interesting correlation: Operations team members demonstrated significantly better bowling skills than their Sales and Marketing counterparts! Here’s Gary and Eric showing off their bowling skills.
While hardly scientific, this friendly competition highlighted the diverse talents within our organization and the importance of team-building activities. It reminded us that sometimes the best professional relationships are built during moments of casual interaction and friendly competition. Our Operations team may have bowling bragging rights for the year, but the real winner was the strengthened camaraderie across departments that will translate into better collaboration for our clients.
These takeaways only scratch the surface of the knowledge and connections gained at Summit 2025. If you’d like to discuss how any of these insights could benefit your business, or if you’re interested in more detailed notes from specific sessions, please reach out.
As your Acumatica partner, we’re excited to help you leverage these innovations and insights to drive your business forward in 2025 and beyond.
What aspects of Acumatica’s development are you most excited about for the coming year?
