Columbus, Infor extend M3 CloudSuites push in UK

Columbus has agreed an expanded partnership with Infor that will see the consultancy roll out Infor's M3 CloudSuites across key industries in the UK, backed by a three-year hiring plan and a target to double its regional customer base by 2027.

The Danish-headquartered consultancy is Infor's largest independent M3 partner globally. It plans to replicate its established M3 operations in the US and Nordics in the UK market, with a focus on food and beverage, retail and distribution, and manufacturing customers.

Under the expansion, Columbus will combine its consulting services with Infor's M3 CloudSuites product. The partners will target organisations that run either cloud-based or on-premise systems.

The roadmap includes a structured engagement that spans audit, assessment, system selection, implementation, integration and ongoing support. Columbus plans to pitch this approach at UK companies that are reviewing their existing ERP estates and data processes.

"We're incredibly excited to deepen our partnership with Infor and expand our joint capabilities into the UK market. This collaboration strengthens our ability to deliver industry-leading solutions that drive real value for our customers. Together with Infor, we're ready to bring innovative, scalable and future-ready technologies to even more organisations across the UK," said Chris Mean, CEO for Columbus UK & US.

UK growth push

Columbus stated that it would hire an additional 10 to 15 M3 consultants each year in the UK over the next three years. The company said this will support its ambition to increase the number of local customers using Infor M3 CloudSuites by 2027.

The consultancy already employs more than 300 certified M3 consultants worldwide. These staff support clients in 10 languages and work across multiple regions, including North America and Europe.

Columbus said its existing M3 operations in the US and Europe contributed to a strong financial performance in 2025. The firm sees the UK as the next major growth market for its Infor-focused practice.

The UK move aligns with Columbus' wider sector approach. The consultancy has long targeted manufacturing, retail and distribution, and food-related businesses with ERP, cloud, data and AI, and cybersecurity services.

Industry-specific focus

Infor M3 CloudSuites is aimed at sector-specific deployments in areas such as food and beverage, fashion, distribution and industrial manufacturing. The product sits within Infor's broader portfolio of industry-focused cloud software and mission-critical enterprise applications.

The partnership extension concentrates on customers that want industry-specific processes embedded in their ERP systems. It also targets firms that require integration across supply chains, production, warehousing and finance.

Infor has positioned M3 CloudSuites as a central platform for customers that want consistent data across operations and real-time visibility into inventory, production and customer orders. Columbus intends to build consulting services around these functions for UK clients.

The expansion also reflects Infor's strategy of working with established regional consultancies. Columbus brings local delivery in the UK and an existing client base in the targeted sectors.

AI and automation

Infor is also incorporating more automation and data-driven tools into its products. The vendor recently introduced role-based "industry AI agents" that sit on top of its cloud software portfolio.

These AI agents are designed for specific sectors such as dairy and automotive. They focus on automating recurring workflows and surfacing real-time data insights for users in operational roles.

"Infor's expanded partnership with Columbus into a key market for us - the United Kingdom - is testament to the strong foundation and relationship already forged in Germany, the Nordics, Benelux and the US. Our focus on delivering industry-specific cloud solutions that provide real-time data insights aligns well with Columbus' customer-centric goals to avail clients to leading-edge, sector-specific expertise. The recent launch of Infor's role-based industry AI agents can help automate workflows in niche sectors from dairy to automotive - Infor's goal is to continuously innovate to provide the tools necessary for our partners to achieve strategic objectives and improve customer outcomes," said Wolfgang Kobek, Executive Vice President & General Manager, International Business for Infor.

More than 60,000 organisations globally use Infor software, including its cloud suites and on-premise products. The company operates in over 175 countries.

Columbus employs more than 1,500 staff worldwide and advises on ERP, cloud services, data and AI, digital commerce, business process automation, enterprise information management and cybersecurity. The consultancy plans to use its existing international M3 experience as the basis for its expanded UK practice.

The two companies expect the UK initiative to increase the number of joint projects in food and beverage, retail and distribution, and manufacturing over the next three years, supported by the planned intake of M3 consultants and the continued development of Infor's industry-specific software.