https://www.activantcapital.com/research Deep dives on commerce, fintech, supply chain, AI and automation from Activant Capital's research desk. en-us Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-digital-payrollhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-digital-payrollThu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTAI vendors are moving away from per-seat pricing toward consumption and outcome-based models, competing directly with payroll. Explore the pricing innovations, failures, and infrastructure needed for this shift.Steve Sarracino, Scott Watson, Emma RowandAIOffice of the CFO https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-orchestration-layers-ballmer-problemhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-orchestration-layers-ballmer-problemTue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow Higgsfield's unlimited free access trial advances the playbook for AI orchestration platforms: converting workflow leadership into data advantages and proprietary models.Emma RowandAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/agentic-commerce-part-3https://www.activantcapital.com/research/agentic-commerce-part-3Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTAgentic commerce is here, and the brand playbook isn't uniform. See how discovery, evaluation, and conversion shift, and which strategy wins in each quadrant.Torben Wiesbach, Scott Watson, Steve SarracinoAICommerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/agentic-commerce-part-2https://www.activantcapital.com/research/agentic-commerce-part-2Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTAgentic commerce's enablement layer is really four problems: access, identity, settlement, and governance. Who gets to transact—and where value accrues.Torben Wiesbach, Scott Watson, Steve SarracinoAICommerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/two-ways-to-break-a-robothttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/two-ways-to-break-a-robotMon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe two ingredients powering general-purpose robotics are also its two attack surfaces. Why provable security is becoming the fifth bottleneck in physical AI.Ross NaylerRoboticsCybersecurity https://www.activantcapital.com/research/legal-aihttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/legal-aiMon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe Moat, Not the ModelScott Watson, Avi GulatiAILEGAL TECH https://www.activantcapital.com/research/agentic-commerce-part-1https://www.activantcapital.com/research/agentic-commerce-part-1Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhere agents will dominate, where they won't, and why the dividing line isn't technology.Steve Sarracino, Torben Wiesbach, Scott WatsonAICommerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/cerebras-paths-the-way-for-the-asic-wavehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/cerebras-paths-the-way-for-the-asic-waveTue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTCerebras paves the way for the ASIC waveJono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/is-video-ai-having-its-gpt-3-momenthttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/is-video-ai-having-its-gpt-3-momentFri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTInside the Models, the Economics, and What Comes NextSteve Sarracino, Emma Rowand, Jono VickeryAIAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/forward-deployed-lock-inhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/forward-deployed-lock-inTue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhy the labs are moving into servicesEmma RowandAIAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/robotshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/robotsMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMTAre We There Yet?Steve Sarracino, Ross Nayler, Jono VickeryAutomationAIRobotics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/long-live-software-2-of-2https://www.activantcapital.com/research/long-live-software-2-of-2Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow incumbency creates the right to challengeSteve Sarracino, Jono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/software-is-dead-1-of-2https://www.activantcapital.com/research/software-is-dead-1-of-2Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTDeath by a thousand cutsSteve Sarracino, Jono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/where-systems-of-intelligence-beginhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/where-systems-of-intelligence-beginTue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMTAccounts Receivable Goes FirstEmma RowandAIAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ar-operations-todayhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ar-operations-todayTue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTSatisfied But Stuck–And Ready for AgentsScott Watson, Emma RowandAIAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/cognitive-bihttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/cognitive-biTue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMTFrom Dashboards to Autonomous AnalyticsScott WatsonAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/conversational-analyticshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/conversational-analyticsWed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe Illusion of Chatting with your DataScott WatsonAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/global-mega-trends-2026https://www.activantcapital.com/research/global-mega-trends-2026Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrowth in the age of constraintRoss Nayler, Jono Vickery https://www.activantcapital.com/research/stablecoins-enabling-direct-flightshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/stablecoins-enabling-direct-flightsTue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow stablecoins are cutting payment’s layovers and streamline treasury operationsRichard Benson-Armer, Torben WiesbachB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/selling-ai-native-service-nowhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/selling-ai-native-service-nowTue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe Playbook for Selling Autonomous IT to Enterprise BuyersEmma Rowand, Jono VickeryAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-infrastructure-compute-4-4https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-infrastructure-compute-4-4Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTThe inference opportunity: will software rule the infra layer?Steve Sarracino, Jono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-infra-compute-3https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-infra-compute-3Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTNeoclouds and the new economics of AI ComputeSteve Sarracino, Torben Wiesbach, Jono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-infra-compute-2https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-infra-compute-2Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTCan new entrants break Hyperscale lock in?Steve Sarracino, Jono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-infra-computehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-infra-computeMon, 05 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMTSizing the market for AI ComputeSteve Sarracino, Jono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-agent-control-planehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-agent-control-planeTue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMTBuild & Buy in One Governed StackScott Watson, Emma RowandAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ideology-vs-infrastructure-realityhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ideology-vs-infrastructure-realityTue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMTThe Fleet Electrification Experiment Playing Out in Real TimeRebecca RodsethSupply Chain & Logistics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-blueprint-for-a-smarter-futurehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-blueprint-for-a-smarter-futureTue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMTAI's Role in ConstructionRebecca RodsethAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-bubble-signals-intensifyinghttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-bubble-signals-intensifyingFri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTor one company’s strategic gambit? Our view on circular transactionsJono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-end-of-and-num-100-is-google-fortifying-its-ecosystemhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-end-of-and-num-100-is-google-fortifying-its-ecosystemWed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTA Pre-Remedy Move to Fortify its Ecosystem?Emma RowandAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/voice-agents-2-0https://www.activantcapital.com/research/voice-agents-2-0Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMTFrom “Sounds Human” to “Thinks Human”Emma Rowand, Scott WatsonAIAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/open-source-generative-aihttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/open-source-generative-aiTue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTFrom OpenAI to open source AI: how it unbundles the AI stack Jono VickeryAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/enterprise-search-is-entering-a-new-erahttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/enterprise-search-is-entering-a-new-eraTue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMTA shift to systems of intelligenceRebecca Rodseth, Marc Wu, Teddy CohenAutomationAI https://www.activantcapital.com/research/a-five-part-series-the-playbook-for-winning-in-market-consolidationhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/a-five-part-series-the-playbook-for-winning-in-market-consolidationThu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMTInsights from our Research Desk: A Five-Part SeriesScott Watson https://www.activantcapital.com/research/accelerating-the-shift-to-stablecoinshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/accelerating-the-shift-to-stablecoinsWed, 06 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMTThe potentially unintended impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill ActRebecca RodsethB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/click-buy-drivehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/click-buy-driveMon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTNavigating the Next Era of Vehicle CommerceScott Watson, Emma RowandAutomotive https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-long-road-to-automating-the-sochttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-long-road-to-automating-the-socTue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMTWhy it’s time to shift the focus to acceleration Jono VickeryCybersecurity https://www.activantcapital.com/research/systems-of-intelligencehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/systems-of-intelligenceFri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMTThe Replatforming of Enterprise SoftwareAndrew SteeleAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-is-rewriting-the-rules-of-supply-chainhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-is-rewriting-the-rules-of-supply-chainTue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMTUnlocking a $65 billion opportunityRebecca RodsethSupply Chain & LogisticsAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/insights-from-our-research-desk-salesforce-s-usd8b-wake-up-callhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/insights-from-our-research-desk-salesforce-s-usd8b-wake-up-callTue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMTInsights from our research deskJono VickeryAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-ai-pricing-cliff-no-one-wants-to-talk-abouthttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-ai-pricing-cliff-no-one-wants-to-talk-aboutMon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMTInsights from our research deskScott WatsonAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-in-procurementhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-in-procurementTue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTTable stakes capability rather than a competitive advantageSimphiwe Msibi, Rebecca Rodseth, Malek DeBrabanderSupply Chain & Logistics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/regtechhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/regtechMon, 14 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTRegulation Technology In The Age Of Constant ChangeScott Watson, Tim VetterOffice of the CFO https://www.activantcapital.com/research/breaking-groundhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/breaking-groundTue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMTAddressing Construction's Productivity ChallengeRebecca RodsethAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/authenticating-ai-agentshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/authenticating-ai-agentsTue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMTThe Next Big Identity Crisis in CybersecurityJono Vickery, Gregory Rawbone-ViljoenCybersecurity https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-s-undervalued-assethttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-s-undervalued-assetTue, 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMTData’s pivotal role in the next era of Gen AI deploymentNina Matthews, Jono VickeryAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/vertical-software-is-having-a-momenthttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/vertical-software-is-having-a-momentThu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTWhy vertical SaaS is causing industries to rethink softwareRebecca Rodseth, Richard Benson-ArmerAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-future-of-transfer-pricinghttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-future-of-transfer-pricingTue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMTA Call To Action For CFOsScott Watson, Joshua Rothkugel, Jack CollinsOffice of the CFO https://www.activantcapital.com/research/identity-securityhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/identity-securityThu, 23 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTLocking down security's last mileJono Vickery, Cael BergCybersecurity https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-next-wave-of-ithttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-next-wave-of-itTue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMTFrom Outsourced to AutonomousJono VickeryAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-dataops-playbookhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/the-dataops-playbookTue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMTLessons from the DevOps success story Nina Matthews, Jono VickeryAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-agents-rewiring-organizationshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-agents-rewiring-organizationsTue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTRewiring OrganizationsScott Watson, Maximiliane MainuschOffice of the CFOAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/towards-the-ai-agent-ecosystemhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/towards-the-ai-agent-ecosystemTue, 12 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMTAn informational guide for users exploring the spaceAndrew Steele, Marc Wu, Teddy CohenAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/supplier-intelligence-https://www.activantcapital.com/research/supplier-intelligence-Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTCost efficiency and resiliency through insightsRebecca Rodseth, Joshua Rothkugel, Maximilian MayerSupply Chain & Logistics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/dataopshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/dataopsMon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMTAnd time to 10x your data platformJono Vickery, Nina MatthewsAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/usage-based-billinghttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/usage-based-billingTue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMTNot new, but likely never more importantRichard Benson-Armer, Andrew SteeleB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/building-revops-capabilitieshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/building-revops-capabilitiesMon, 16 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMTAcquisitions are inevitableScott Watson, Aiden Benson-ArmerB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/revopshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/revopsThu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMTRevOps Intelligence ToolsScott Watson, Aiden Benson-ArmerAutomationOffice of the CFO https://www.activantcapital.com/research/iiot-at-a-tipping-pointhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/iiot-at-a-tipping-pointTue, 13 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMTWhat needs to change for it to deliver real value and why we think now is the timeRebecca Rodseth, Maximilian Mayer, Joshua RothkugelAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/data-securityhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/data-securityMon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMTShifting data left: How this minor piece of the cybersecurity stack could be the most fundamentalJono Vickery, Nina MatthewsAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/energy-storage-solutionshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/energy-storage-solutionsFri, 24 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTEnergy Storage SolutionsJoshua Rothkugel, Rebecca Rodseth, Maximilian Mayer https://www.activantcapital.com/research/unstructured-data-pipelineshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/unstructured-data-pipelinesTue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 GMTCapitalizing on the "junk" of the data worldJono Vickery, Nina MatthewsAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/real-time-paymentshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/real-time-paymentsTue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTReal-time PaymentsMatilde Cascella, Richard Benson-ArmerB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/fuel-cardshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/fuel-cardsFri, 12 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTOpportunities to innovate with fuel cardsRebecca Rodseth, Julius StenerSupply Chain & Logistics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/food-traceabilityhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/food-traceabilityWed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMTA field of opportunityRobert LamprechtSupply Chain & Logistics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-hardwarehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-hardwareTue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTAI hardware in data centers and on the edgeSimphiwe Msibi, Marc WuAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/conversational-aihttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/conversational-aiThu, 15 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMTA shift in the customer support landscapeSimphiwe Msibi, Joshua RothkugelAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/unified-apishttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/unified-apisTue, 06 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMTBuilding connectionsJulius StenerB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/demand-forecasting-softwarehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/demand-forecasting-softwareWed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMTA balancing act between innovation and market realitiesRebecca RodsethSupply Chain & Logistics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/industrial-intelligencehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/industrial-intelligenceMon, 11 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMTWhy manufacturing needs software now more than everMatilde Cascella, Joshua Rothkugel, Jono Vickery, Maximilian MayerAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/3rd-generation-fp-and-a-toolshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/3rd-generation-fp-and-a-toolsMon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMTA new wave of tools revolutionizing a dated CFO tech stackJono Vickery, Joshua Rothkugel, Simphiwe Msibi, Robert LamprechtAutomationOffice of the CFO https://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-agentshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/ai-agentsWed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMTA Technical Guide for Founders & Operators Building AgentsMarc Wu, John Matheson, Julius Stener, Andrew SteeleAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/embedded-financehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/embedded-financeWed, 09 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMTA Guide for How and Where to Play - to WinAndrew SteeleB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/tmshttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/tmsTue, 18 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMTWhy the next generation TMS won't be a TMS at allJulius Stener, Robert LamprechtSupply Chain & Logistics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/no-code-and-low-codehttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/no-code-and-low-codeThu, 16 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMTNo-Code and Low-Code Jono Vickery, Rebecca RodsethAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/hyperautomationhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/hyperautomationThu, 02 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMTOur deep dive report on the race to control corporate chaosJono Vickery, Maximilian MayerAutomation https://www.activantcapital.com/research/logistics-overviewhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/logistics-overviewThu, 15 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTA key lesson from the last few years of pandemic life is that every company needs to start thinking like a logistics company, even become one themselvesRobert Lamprecht, Rebecca RodsethSupply Chain & Logistics https://www.activantcapital.com/research/b2b-checkout-2https://www.activantcapital.com/research/b2b-checkout-2Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMTA Deep Dive on Checkout ChallengersAndrew SteeleB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/b2b-checkouthttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/b2b-checkoutMon, 21 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMTThere’s never been a truly digital checkout experience in B2B commerce, but that’s changingAndrew SteeleB2B Commerce https://www.activantcapital.com/research/b2b-commerce-overviewhttps://www.activantcapital.com/research/b2b-commerce-overviewWed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMTWhy B2B Commerce is the $100 Trillion Market Technology Hasn’t been Able to Crack – Until NowAndrew SteeleB2B Commerce