Join us in Denver for a three-day, executive-level event designed to help organizations maximize value from digital transformation, AI adoption, ERP modernization, and enterprise change.
The Event will begin with registration on Wednesday at 3pm and a happy hour from 5-7pm. The event will conclude on Friday at 2:30 pm.
Stay tuned for speaker announcements, session topics, and this year’s conference theme.
Welcome to The Machine: A leader’s guide to navigating the business technology landscape.
Connecting ERP with Agentic AI Driven Microservices: Explore how agentic, AI-driven microservices are reshaping the role of ERP in the modern enterprise.
Above the Storm: A Practitioner’s Evidence-Based Guide to Where Enterprise AI Actually Delivers: Enterprise AI’s promise is real, yet much of it stalls before production — not because the technology failed, but because it accelerated information without accelerating decisions. Drawing on a career across the ERP and AI world, Eric Thorsen offers an independent field guide to where industrial AI actually moves from pilot to production. Using a simple “altitude” model to cut through the hype, he’ll cover real cases that delivered, ones that stalled, and what separated them, plus the retirement-driven experience gap AI can either widen or close.
The AI Strategy Gap: The organizations getting real results from AI are not the ones moving the fastest. They’re the ones leading with the most intention. Drawing on insights from original research, this session will explore the missing piece in most implementations: the people strategy. Audiences will leave with a clear framework for building their AI strategy, bringing people along through genuine change, and turning adoption mandates into actual results.
The Rise of Consumption-Based Licensing: Understanding AI Tokenomics Before You Buy: Tokenomics for the Enterprise unpacks why AI bills are rising even as per-token prices fall, and what finance and IT leaders must do about it. Together, they equip procurement and FinOps practitioners with the frameworks to govern AI spend at scale.
The Seven Signs of Misalignment: Even the best transformation strategies can fail when leadership teams aren’t aligned. This interactive session explores the seven warning signs of misalignment, how they impact transformation efforts, and practical techniques you can use to improve alignment and drive better organizational outcomes.
“20% of Your Day Is a Lie” : How to Resource an ERP Project Without Breaking the Business: Every ERP project plan assumes your best people can give 20% of their week to the implementation. In practice, they give whatever is left after their day job — and the project absorbs the gap as rework, deferred design decisions, and a go-live nobody is really ready for as they are trying to keep the daily business running.
Modern Data Strategy: The Missing Link Between ERP, AI, and Business Advantage: Too often, data lives a narrow and lonely life. Yet across customer interactions, supplier relationships, ERP applications, spreadsheets, documents, and digital platforms lie data assets that can improve decisions, create differentiated capabilities, and unlock new revenue streams in an AI-enabled world. Khalid connects enterprise data to strategic goals, revealing how organizations can realize its often-hidden value.
From Silos to Signal: Converging IT, OT, and ERP for the Cloud-Native Factory: Manufacturers digitized the plant floor and the back office separately and ended up with two versions of the truth, a gap that becomes a liability once agentic AI starts making decisions. Drawing on real implementations, Craig lays out a practical path to IT/OT/ERP convergence: architecture, governance, and change management that link MES, sensor data, and ERP into one source of operational truth.
Selecting and Implementing ERP in the Age of AI: AI introduces risks that traditional ERP systems were never designed to handle, but these risks must now be considered when selecting an ERP solution. While AI is probabilistic, predictive, and generative, the ERP must remain deterministic, transactional, and control-focused at its core. The presentation will also examine how AI enhancements should be considered as part of the ERP selection process. A thorough evaluation and review of the contracts will form the foundation for a successful implementation.
Why Successful ERP Transformations Are About Business Strategy, Not Just Software: Successful ERP transformations begin before software selection. Organizations must understand what is driving change, define their future operating model, and identify the gaps between today and where they need to go. Only then can they select technology that enables the strategy, rather than allowing software to define it.
The Contract Outlasts the Implementation: How to Lock In Flexibility and Control Before Go-Live
Beyond the ERP: Navigating Transformation Challenges in Emerging Markets: Digital transformation in emerging markets rarely succeeds on technology alone. Organizations can move too quickly into software before aligning on business strategy. In this conversational panel, Third Stage’s Africa and Middle East Team shares lessons from the field on where transformations can lose direction, how leaders can stay in control, and what it takes to ensure technology serves the business, not the other way around.
Attendees will receive a discounted hotel rate.
1475 California St, Denver, CO 80202
Elevate your experience at Digital Stratosphere 2026 conference with our exclusive VIP Experience. This premium pass offers unparalleled access, personalized experiences, and enhanced networking opportunities for industry leaders like Eric Kimberling and digital transformation visionaries.
As a VIP ticket holder, you’ll have access to 3 intimate VIP-only sessions where you get private speaking sessions with Eric Kimberling to engage in in-depth discussions, ask questions, and gain exclusive insights from the speakers.
Throughout the conference, you’ll receive personalized concierge service, ensuring your experience is seamless and tailored to your needs. From assistance with scheduling one-on-one meetings to guidance on maximizing your time at the event, our dedicated VIP support team is at your disposal. These stakeholders will have personalized discussions with the entire Third Stage Executive team.
Please note that the number of VIP tickets is limited to maintain an intimate and exclusive atmosphere. Secure your VIP Ticket now to secure your place among the industry elite at Digital Stratosphere 2026.
A 3 Day pass grants you access to 2 full days of cutting-edge insights, networking opportunities, and knowledge sharing on the forefront of digital transformation. With your 3 Day Pass, you’ll gain entry to engaging keynote presentations delivered by industry leaders, panel discussions addressing the latest trends and challenges in digital transformation, and a range of interactive workshops that will equip you with practical strategies and tools for driving successful transformations in your organization.
Connect with top professionals, thought leaders, and innovators during networking breaks, fostering valuable relationships and collaborations that can shape the future of your digital journey.
Whether you’re an executive, a business leader, or an aspiring professional looking to expand your knowledge and network, the 3 Day Pass offers a dynamic and condensed experience, delivering impactful insights and connections to propel your digital transformation initiatives forward.
The Stratosphere Virtual Pass (Thursday and Friday only) offers a unique digital experience for the 2026 Digital Stratosphere. Calling all industry professionals, knowledge seekers, and anyone looking to elevate their digital expertise, network with a global community dedicated to independent and technology-agnostic advice.