Selecting the right IT partner to help you with your Divestiture

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You want to work with an IT partner that has functional knowledge in addition to the technological ability to extract and re-map the data.  This allows a true partnership that looks at the process from a high level and keeps an eye on the details at the same time.

You need to look for a partner that has experience extracting data from Lawson and mapping to the format needed to upload set up and transactional data to any system and taking extracted data from another system and formatting it into what Lawson needs and uploading the data.  A partner who uses a repeatable process that allows for tweaking the process if needed through testing cycles and then having the final version ready when you are ready to go-live.

When considering a divestiture there are many considerations. Some of these are:

How much history needs to remain on the current books?

How much history needs to be extracted for the divested company?

What happens to any un-paid vendor invoices?  Will they remain on the current company or move to the divested company?

What kind of training will be needed for the divested or remaining users?

What interfaces need to be addressed?  Are there any that need to be moved to the divested company or more importantly changed on the current company to ignore the divested company’s data?

Make sure to start with a BRD – Business Requirement Document – so you have a road map of what is expected throughout the process.  This helps you, the divested parties and your partner know what is expected from all parties.

With the right partner, you can have a smooth and successful transition.

6 Reasons Why You Should Update Your ERP System Regularly

When implementing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, everyone is involved and committed to learning the new process. But once implementation ends, the enthusiasm subsides. At this point, many people expect the ERP solution to run in the background. However, that may not be the best idea. Branding expert Peter Navarro shares an article on Business2Community 6 reasons why you should update your ERP system regularly to keep everyone involved.

  1. Keep up with technological advances. “ERP providers are constantly developing their software, eliminating errors and adding new features. Every minor release brings with it optimizations that increasingly support business processes.”
  2. You are better prepared for unplanned events. “Companies that have neglected their ERP system for a long time are faced with a problem in the event of an unplanned event. If you always keep your ERP system up-to-date, you distribute the maintenance effort over time.”
  3. Your ERP solution remains compatible with complementary IT systems. “An ERP system is almost always part of a network of different software solutions. ERP updates often include interface adjustments so that compatibility with third-party systems is maintained.”
  4. Security patches offer hackers less target. “An ERP system stores important business data and forms the technical basis for many business processes. You should always make sure to apply security patches consistently and as quickly as possible.”
  5. You consolidate the ERP competence of your team. “In the course of the ERP implementation, your employees will acquire in-depth knowledge of the ERP software. Regular ERP updates mean that your employees deal with the system on a regular basis.”
  6. Your data quality does not reach a critical low. “Everyone knows master data is the foundation of every ERP system. Consistent data maintenance ensures that the maintenance effort does not reach a critical level.”

 

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Help your distributed team thrive with a cloud ERP

When the pandemic hit, many companies had to force their business dealings to be done online with remote employees. While this isn’t a new concept, the environment and practice isn’t familiar to many companies. Some businesses didn’t have the right tools for an easy or connected workplace. The easiest solution for this is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution. Gadget deals partner Stack commerce shares an article on Engadget explaining that with a cloud solution all departments can easily gain access to their business functions to perform real-time processes, make decisions, and collaborate with their coworkers in real-time – all in a moment’s notice.  A cloud-based ERP system also allows employees to work at their own pace and still stay connected with their peers. The potential for a quick and responsive workforce is the same, making this transition go as smooth as possible.

 

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How your IT department will be affected by a divestiture

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Your IT department will be busy during a divestiture.

The obvious part your IT department will play is data extraction for the data that needs to moved (or copied) from the current company to the divested company. All of your interfaces need to be reviewed to determine which of those need to be turned off or adjusted to prevent data from the divested company coming into your system after the divestiture is complete.

When considering a divestiture there are many considerations. Some of these are:

How much history needs to remain on the current books?

How much history needs to be extracted for the divested company?

Coordination between IT departments (current company, divested organization) on current interfaces and how they will be handled in the divested organization.

Make sure to start with a BRD – Business Requirement Document – so you have a road map of what is expected throughout the process. This helps you, the divested parties and your partner know what is expected from all parties.

Penn Highlands Healthcare selects Infor CloudSuite Healthcare

Pennsylvania based Penn Highlands Healthcare (PHH) has selected Infor CloudSuite Healthcare and Infor Cloverleaf Cloud. With the help of Infor implementation partner Bails, the move to a more modern cloud architecture solution will provide PHH with a clinically-connected healthcare operations platform on which to build its patient-centered network. Per the press release, the six-hospital integrated health system will be able to consolidate information across its network and deliver financial data to decision makers that will improve budget management, cost reduction strategies and forecast accuracy. PPH will be able to reduce the total number of reports, interfaces, conversions, and enhancement components, which will allow their teams to be more productive and more strategic. Additionally, Infor Cloverleaf Cloud will deliver clinical integration technologies that create a foundation to manage, coordinate, and share data across the care continuum to improve quality and care outcomes. PHH will also be able to incorporate Infor HR applications designed specifically for the healthcare industry.

 

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Update LDAP Bind Connection

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Sometime you may have a need to update your LDAP bind connection, such as when the domain controller you are bound to is decommissioned.

To update the LDAP bind connection,

First figure out which service is using ldap bind.  To do that, go to http(s)://<server>:<port>/ssoconfig/SSOCfgInfoServlet.  Make a note of the service name displayed on the page.

Next, log into ssoconfig and export that service:

Now, open the file you just exported.  Update the OVERRIDE attribute to “true”.  Update the “PROVIDER” element to the new server and port.

Next, upload your updated file into ssoconfig.  The syntax is ssoconfig -l <password> <full file path>

For example:

Ssoconfig data is stored in the security cache, so you will need to recycle your system for this change to take effect.

NOTE: If you need to change the credentials for the domain controller, this will be an extra process.  You will need to update the service associated with your LDAP bind.  This is most likely your SSOP_BIND service.  You can look under privileged identities in Lawson Security, check for a “DEFAULT” key associated with your ldap bind user.  That is your LDAP bind service.

To update the credentials for this service, log into ssoconfig and select Manage privileged access to services > Change existing identity.  Enter the service that you noted above.  Enter the correct user DN.  Enter the password.

Recycle Lawson.

 

4 Powerful Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Social CRM

In the digital age today, consumers have access to anything and everything in real time. This proves a powerful took for customers and their expectations are at the highest, putting pressure on the brands they like to better understand and cater to them. The best tool to control customer behavior for a company is a customer relationship management (CRM) system. These systems help companies know their customers through interaction, purchase history, and predictive trends. With social media being an invaluable tool for information. connecting social platforms with CRM should be a priority. Social CRM integrates your brand’s social media presence and campaigns into your existing CRM system. An interesting article on Innovation & Tech Today provides 4 powerful reasons why your business should have a social CRM strategy in place.

Social Media Analytics. “When using CRM, your brand can access comprehensive information about your customers such as demographics, interests, goals, and buying behavior. With this kind of information, your sales and marketing teams will better understand their target market, allowing them to concentrate only on authentic leads, which improves the probability of converting into sales.”

Unified Social Communication. “When you have customers interacting with your brand from different platforms such as emails, social media, chats, and phone calls, keeping track of all these channels can be challenging. With a social CRM, it is possible to stream all the notifications from the various social platforms in one place.”

Damage Control. “With a reliable CRM in place, you can promptly respond to customer complaints before the situation gets out of hand. Keeping track of negative comments and criticism can help your brand make improvements and meet the customer’s expectations.”

Today’s business is all about understanding the customer. With social media being a main platform for consumer behavior, it’s critical to put a social CRM plan in place with your existing system.

 

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Royal Dutch Nedschroef to Save Costs, Reduce Risks and Increase Productivity with the Infor Cloud

Nedschroef has chosen Infor CloudSuite Automotive to help modernize its business operations to save costs and increase efficiency. Founded in 1894, Nedschroef has evolved from a cluster of autonomous organizations to a single entity consisting of various business units. Per the press release, Nedschroef needed a technology partner with standardized solutions and knowledge of the automotive industry, and turned to Infor and partner Merino Consulting Services to rollout the project. The solution has already been implemented and is operational for two Nedschroef sites in Barcelona and Schrozberg, Germany. Rollout for the remaining sites is planned through 2024. With the implementation of Infor CloudSuite Automotive, Nedschroef now has the potential to save costs, reduce risks and greatly increase productivity in quality and quantity.

 

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Finding Duplicate Items in your Item Master

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If you find duplicate items in your item master and want to reduce clutter, here are some tips:

  1. Items can have multiple ways of being identified. Many items are manufactured by different companies and they really are the same inventory item as they are interchangeable in your warehouse.
  2. Use the main manufacturer information on your item master – or the manufacturer information that your main supplier uses for the item.
  3. If different vendors provide different manufacturers items for the same item, then on PO13- Vendor Item, indicate the vendor and their item number and their manufacturer information there. This information will default onto a PO when ordering from one vendor vs. a different vendor.  This allows you to have a single item that could be manufactured or supplied by multiple vendors and manufacturers.
  4. If there are multiple manufacturers or vendors for the item, then having a way to compare those is also important. Lawson does provide the ability to store manufacturer information in multiple ways – on the item master, on the item location record if a particular item for a location was being purchased from a different Vendor , and on the Vendor Item record. That means there are potentially multiple ways to store and find the manufacturer information for a particular item.
  5. POs are another place where manufacturer information for an item is stored so even if you are not storing the manufacturer information on the item master, you might still be able to create a cross reference by looking at your PO line data as well.
  6. Once all the options for manufacturer information are exhausted, then the remaining items will need to be matched item by item by description. This can be very time consuming especially since Lawson has a small description field which often requires considerable abbreviation of words in the description.
  7. Some additional considerations are to use the any of the other ways items might be classified This includes: generic name, Inventory classes, GL Categories, commodity codes and possibly SKUs if any of these are being stored.

 

6 Things To Look For When Choosing An Online Collaboration Tool

The current pandemic has forced many of us to work remotely from home. While we use many online meeting tools to connect with clients on a daily basis, online meeting for collaboration with your team needs a bit more thought put into it. Kat Boogaard at Trello shares an interesting read on how to choose the right online collaboration tool to work remotely with your team. Technology alone won’t solve your team’s remote workspace. Boogaard stresses that you must choose the right tool for your team as one program may not fit all your items on your checklist. You must be mindful of the accessibility, communication channels, transparency, productivity, and accountability of the tool you select. Below are 6 things to look for, according to Boogaard, when choosing an online collaboration tool for easier remote working.

  1. Cost – When it comes to figuring out which tools might be a fit for you, money is important criteria to consider. How much are you willing and able to spend on a collaboration tool? Before you start exploring different platforms, ask yourself: How many people will actively use the tool? What’s your maximum monthly spend for this tool?
  2. Customization – Search for a tool that’s highly customizable so your team can use the tool in a way that works best for them.
  3. Integrations – Your goal is to streamline and centralize your team’s work and conversations. Connect with your team to understand what tools are used on a daily basis. From Slack to Google Drive, there are probably a number of apps that you won’t need or even want to eliminate.
  4. Automations – A collaboration tool that has workflow automations can take repetitive tasks off of your team’s plate. Whether it’s automatically creating a project timeline when somebody fills out a form or triggering a team email when a task is checked off, these types of actions eliminate busy work, reduce the potential for error, and keep your whole team moving forward.
  5. Security – Especially in industries that frequently deal with sensitive information, security needs to be high on your list of must-have features. Even if your team doesn’t work with highly-confidential details, you still want to know that things like your goals, projects, and future plans don’t get hacked, compromised, or leaked into the wrong hands.
  6. Ease Of Use – If you want employees to actually use the tool you put in place, you need to look for one that’s easy for them to get up to speed with. Every new app has a bit of a learning curve, but you can ease that burden by looking for one that’s as intuitive and user-friendly as possible.

Boogaard concludes that having the right technology on your side can increase transparency, centralize communication, and make collaboration a lot less stressful.

 

Original post by Kat Boogaard from Trello.

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