Why Amer Sports is all in on IT modernization

Core Insights - Amer Sports is enhancing its technology infrastructure with significant IT investments planned for 2026, focusing on AI integration and employee empowerment [1][2] IT Investments - The company anticipates capital expenditures to rise to $400 million in 2026 from $310 million in 2025, driven by strategic IT infrastructure investments [2] - Key areas of IT investment include enterprise systems modernization, digital commerce infrastructure, and data and planning capabilities [3] AI Integration - AI is a crucial component of Amer Sports' infrastructure investments, with an active AI program running alongside core systems [3] - The relationship between infrastructure and AI investments is described as "deliberately complementary," where foundational systems enable meaningful AI application at scale [3] Enterprise Systems Modernization - Amer Sports is migrating its finance, supply chain, and HR platforms to a modernized, cloud-based infrastructure, with SAP S/4HANA serving as the operational backbone [4] - The company initiated its RISE with SAP journey in May 2025 to accelerate digital transformation [4] Human Resources Modernization - The first phase of a human resources information system implementation is underway to modernize HR data and processes across the group's brands [5] Digital Commerce Infrastructure - The company is transitioning from wholesale-oriented technology stacks to direct-to-consumer architectures, with brands at various stages of this transition [5]