10 most powerful ERP vendors today

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is no doubt becoming a necessity for any business. With its strategic importance for organizations who seek to digitize and automate business processes, modernize their application stack, migrate to the cloud, and accelerate the speed of business, having the right ERP system is critical for business success. Selecting the right ERP system is an important decisions, and knowing everything the vendor has to offer is a must for your organization’s personal checklist. Tech expert Neal Weinberg shares an article on CIO highlighting the most powerful ERP vendors who dominate the space and why they rightfully earn their place at the top. “In terms of market share,” says Weinberg, “there’s a clear demarcation between the Big 3 — SAP, Oracle, Microsoft — and everyone else. The Big 3 strive to offer the broadest suites of ERP offerings, whereas smaller competitors try to differentiate themselves with deep insight into business processes for specific vertical industries.”

  1. SAP: Restructuring to target AI. “Pure-play powerhouse SAP is the runaway market share leader with a vast installed base of large enterprise customers. Through deep discounts and other incentives, SAP is successfully moving customers from its rigid on-premises ERP platform to the S/4 HANA Cloud, a fully managed SaaS solution with modules that cover all of the ERP bases.”
  2. Microsoft: Powerful integration of genAI features. “Gartner puts Microsoft in the visionary category in its latest Magic Quadrant for ERP systems for service-centric organizations. Dynamics 365 is primarily a SaaS solution hosted as a managed service. The advantage Microsoft has is that it has integrated its ERP capabilities with the rest of the Microsoft ecosystem, including the Azure cloud and applications such as Power BI, Power Apps, and Dataverse. In addition, Dynamics 365 is both an ERP and a CRM, which creates integrations across sales, marketing, and customer service.”
  3. Oracle: Two-headed ERP monster. “Oracle’s one-two punch of Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP for the largest of enterprises and Oracle NetSuite for smaller companies gives the company a unique market position. Gartner puts Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP in the Leader category for its modular and configurable ERP offerings that can run in Oracle data centers, in the Oracle cloud, or at customer sites.”
  4. Infor: Industry-specific solutions. “Infor doesn’t shy away from competing against the top players for the biggest accounts. Infor’s differentiator is its industry-specific ERP solutions that combine technology with invaluable knowledge of how business processes work in industries ranging from healthcare to aerospace. Says Forrester analyst Liz Herbert, ‘Companies that are on the larger side generally get attracted to Infor because they find it to be a good solution that is more affordable, and also a vendor that is easier to do business with than SAP or Oracle but still has credibility and proof points in large and global enterprises.'”
  5. Workday: Managing human capital. “Workday is a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for service-centric ERP with its focus on HR (Workday Human Capital Management) and financial management (Workday Accounting Center). The Workday Enterprise Management Cloud is aimed at upper-midmarket, large and global organizations, but also has many customers with annual revenue of less than $150 million, says Gartner.”
  6. Epicor Software: Focusing on ‘cognitive ERP’. “Epicor’s Industry ERP Cloud provides industry-specific packages: Kinetic for manufacturers; Prophet 21 for distributors; Eagle and Propello for retailers. Most of Epicor’s customers are midsize companies in automotive, building supply, distribution, manufacturing, and retail verticals. Epicor’s roadmap focuses on AI-enabled supply chain data and analytics, including the use of genAI and sustainability capabilities.”
  7. IFS: Manufacturing innovation. “The IFS Cloud is a powerful ERP system targeted at manufacturing, aerospace, defense, construction, engineering, energy, utilities, food and beverage, and chemical industries. Customers are primarily midsize, but IFS also competes for business from the largest enterprises as well. Listed as a visionary in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for product-centric ERP, IFS invests heavily in manufacturing-centric features such as digital twin, smart factory capabilities, and shop floor integrations for real-time planning and execution.”
  8. Sage: Accounting and finance for SMBs. “Sage is a leader in ERP systems focusing on accounting, finance, HR, and payroll for small and midsize businesses with its two product lines, Sage Intacct and Sage X3. Sage’s ERP is cloud-based and the company offers services to help organizations migrate their apps to the cloud.”
  9. Acumatica: A modular approach to cloud ERP. “Acumatica is a leader in the SMB market, with its industry-specific modules for manufacturing, construction, distribution, retail, and general business. Acumatica is cloud-only, and its strength is the modular nature of its architecture, which enables customer to select only the capabilities it needs.”
  10. QAD: Manufacturing and supply chain innovation. “QAD is a visionary in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for its Adaptive ERP product suite that provides administrative and operational ERP capabilities on a single platform. QAD primarily targets six manufacturing sectors: automotive, consumer products, food and beverage, high tech, industrial, and life sciences.”

 

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How AI in ERP will drive smarter cloud cost control

One of the biggest game-changing fields that artificial intelligence (AI) is dipping its feet is its integration with enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms. Technology editor and expert Adrian Bridgwater shares an article on ERP Today depicting how AI in ERP is the driver to better and smarter cloud cost control. “With the rapid developments currently being seen in generative Artificial Intelligence (gen-AI),” notes Bridgwater,”existing ERP systems can be enhanced and augmented in new ways to extend, enhance and augment their core functionalities. But as important as front-line functionality always is, we can now elevate our use of AI to point towards cloud cost control in the FinOps space at a higher-level platform tier.” CEO of smartR AI Oliver King-Smith adds, “By integrating AI with ERP systems and cloud-based data sources, FinOps will experience significant advancements. AI’s capacity to correct and update real-time information in an ERP system through third-party source integration paves the way for heightened efficiency. Moreover, its predictive analytics capabilities enable a more intricate analysis of the enterprise, anticipating seasonal, marketing-based and channel-centric fluctuations that drive higher profitability and top-line growth.” Bridgwater explains that the fusion of AI with FinOps could enhance legacy system integration, amalgamating incompatible systems into the ERP framework from a holistic perspective. “As AI accelerates information flow across cloud data sources, it empowers FinOps teams with what many agree are swift and profound insights into the enterprise’s competitive position. By demonstrating quantifiable efficiencies in maintaining the FinOps environment while amplifying profitability and growth potential, those embracing AI will undoubtedly yield substantial value increases for all stakeholders,” he states. In addition, King-Smith has said that GPT models could complement ERP systems by providing Natural Language Interfaces where GPT helps create more intuitive ways for users to interact with ERP systems, using natural language queries instead of complex navigations. “Report Generation as GPT can assist in generating summaries and reports from the data within an ERP, making information easier to understand,” he explains, “Intelligent Assistance where GPT-like models might provide suggestions or insights based on the data within an ERP, acting as a smart assistant for users.”

 

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Check the WAS Server status

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There is a simple way to check the WAS Server status. First, open the command (cmd) prompt. The command to check which servers are running in WAS is in WAS_HOME/profiles/<profile>/bin.  To check all the servers, supply the switch “-all”.  Otherwise, provide a server name. See the screenshot below for a visual reference for checking the status of your WAS Server.

 

 

Explainer: Time to introduce Digital Product Passports in fashion? Infor expert weighs in

As the requirement for textile products sold in the EU to have Digital Product Passports (DPPs) approaches, Helene Behrenfeldt, industry solution director – fashion at software provider Infor, tells Just Style that it is ‘time for action’. Science, Education and beauty editorial expert Rachel Lawler shares an article on Just-Style.com highlighting Behrenfeldt’s professional takes on DDP and its impact in the fashion sector. By 2030, notes Lawler, every fashion and textile product sold within the EU will require a Digital Product Passport (DPP) – scannable QR codes or other tags added to products to provide information about the product’s material composition, supply chain and how it can be recycled or disposed of safely. The scheme should make it easier to share information about a garment’s supply chain and other useful data as well as aiming to provide consumers with better information to allow them to make informed choices, helping move society towards more sustainable choices and eventually circularity.

How will the fashion sector use DPPs? “With such complex supply chains, many businesses in the fashion sector are likely to find implementing DPPs a challenge,” says Lawler. Behrenfeldt said that sourcing this type of information can be “difficult” for many fashion brands. She added that the sourcing of this data will be “the easy part” for many brands and that finding a way to share and store the information will be trickier. “There’s a lot of work that can be done, but the common denominator is the data and you’ll need to have a solid plan in place,” says Behrenfeldt.

Are any companies already using DPPs? Lawler found the following, “In September 2023, clothing brand Nobody’s Child added DPPs, in the form of unique QR codes, to each of its product’s care labels. Clothing with the DPPs is already available through UK retailers M&S, ASOS and John Lewis. This offers consumers the possibility to trace their garments through incentivized gifts, and a unique NFT offered in collaboration with Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange platform. The partnership enables Nobody’s Child to connect to their customers using Web3 technology. Users will be able to store the Nobody’s Child DPPs NFT within a Coinbase digital wallet.”

How will fashion consumers use DPPs? With information on how products can be recycled, repaired and reused, Lawler notes that DPPs could help fashion consumers make more informed choices and move toward circular models. Behrenfeldt explained that there are likely to be two broad groups of consumers – those who are not particularly interested in the information provided via DPPs and those who use the detail to shape their purchasing choices. “The information provided by DPPs could be hugely beneficial to the growing resale fashion market, giving consumers information about a garment – including how to care for it, how to dispose of it – even after it has changed hands several times,” says Lawler.

Will countries outside of the EU adopt DPPs? “Fashion is a global industry,” Behrenfeldt explained. “It’s not like food and beverages, which is quite local – fashion is the opposite.” Lawler says that even if other countries do not adopt DPPs, it’s likely that the requirement for them in the EU will impact the global sector and consumers outside the EU will find the codes or tags on their clothing – and expect to be able to use them too.

Are there any benefits to adopting DPPs? Behrenfeldt explained that DPPs offer fashion brands another chance to connect with their consumers “on an emotional level”. “Consumers have so many options. You want to make sure they are loyal.” She added that DPPs could be a way to inspire this, sharing detailed information about a product’s origins – even including pictures of where the materials were grown or the products made.

What should fashion brands do now to ensure they are on track for Digital Product Passport rollout? Behrenfeldt believes that it is now time for the apparel sector to take action to ensure they have the right tools in place. Lawler notes that brands will need to decide how they plan to share their DPPs with consumers – such as through a QR code or website link – and how they plan to present the data to users. “It all comes down to one thing – data,” said Behrenfeldt. “And you need to have a plan for that.”

 

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Update Infor OS Certificate

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Follow these steps to update the server certificate in Infor OS.

  1. Log into the Infor OS server as an admin
  2. Mount the InforOS iso installer file. You’ll need the iso for the version that you are currently on.  If you don’t have it already, download it from the Infor Concierge archives.
  3. Open command line as admin
  4. Navigate to the drive that was created when you mounted the ios
  5. Run command exe -v”CERTIFICATEUPDATE=true”

  6. Wait for installer to load
  7. Select “Modify”
  8. Enter the location of the new certificate, and the password. This should be a pfx file with a password.
  9. Click install, and wait for a successful completion.

 

How to choose an MIS or ERP system

Despite the headaches, time, costs, and risks it comes with, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are a savvy business investment. It has the power to streamline your business, boost efficiency, and gives you the data you need to make smart decisions. An article on Bizcommunity.com shares how to choose the right ERP system and provide guidance through important decision factors for your business to get the most out of your investment.

Businesses benefit with an ERP because it boots your bottom line and allows you to dominate dales and optimize costs. So, how do you choose an ERP? Experts from QuickEasy Software suggests asking yourself these questions for a more clear checklist needed to find the right system:

  • What frustrations and challenges do we currently have?
  • Do we want a modular system or a full-suite ERP?
  • Does the ERP we want to upgrade to have what we need?
  • Can we host it locally or in the cloud?
  • Does it help us reach our business goals?
  • We need to find out “How painful will the implementation be?”
  • Is it a good fit for us?
  • Is it value for money?
  • Will we actually use it?

The answer to these questions will help tailor the right features needed for the ERP that best fits your needs. The bottom line, according to the software company, is choosing an ERP system takes careful planning. You need to partner with key stakeholders across your business, do your research, and consider all your options.

 

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Embracing Industry 4.0? Don’t overlook Cloud ERP

With the connectivity among devices from front officers to factory floors continuing to grow, Industry 4.0 is here – the fourth revolution in manufacturing and promises a more connected era where advanced technologies will drive greater efficiencies, innovation, and growth. McKinsey and the World Economic Forum predict that the fourth industrial revolution may deliver an estimated USD $3.7 trillion in value for the global economy by 2025, through new products and services. Tech Expert senior vice president for applications at Oracle UK and Ireland Guy Armstrong shares an article on Computer Weekly covering Industry 4.0’s advantage and the importance of keeping Cloud ERP (enterprise resource planning) in mind. “When thinking about how to gain a competitive advantage in this era of smart manufacturing,” Armstrong notes,  “business leaders cannot overlook the importance of a cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) environment. In addition to finance capabilities, leading cloud ERP systems deliver a full suite of capabilities including HR, procurement, supply chain planning, logistics, and more.”

The fourth industrial revolution requires cloud software. “As the fourth industrial revolution gains steam, cloud ERP and SaaS applications will be critical to enabling more efficient workflows, particularly when compared to traditional on-premises systems. For example, leading SaaS applications allow manufacturing leaders to make quick decisions using machine-generated data and coordinate production processes with broader business goals.”

Enhanced connectivity requires robust data security. “In a smart factory, countless sensors collect data from machines, vehicles, and workers in the facility. The growing number of connected IoT devices, and the data flowing between them, can create a larger attack surface for cyber incidents. This poses significant risk as a single vulnerable point in production can end up exposing an entire plant or company to a potential cyberattack. SaaS like cloud ERP can help prevent these scenarios and support cyber resilience with automated updates to ensure organizations are running the latest software and providing insights into potential vulnerabilities.”

Cloud computing and scalability. “Many smart manufacturing projects get stuck in the pilot stage, primarily because their IT systems and key data are siloed across various factories and facilities. Cloud-based enterprise software offers a clear advantage. Well-designed cloud-based SaaS can address these issues by providing organizations with a single set of data that can be used in managing manufacturing processes, the supply chain, finance, and other functions.”

Real-time decision-making and workflow optimization. “By selecting a leading SaaS applications vendor that has integrated cloud ERP and supply chain management (SCM) software, manufacturers can use the insights produced by these systems to make more strategic decisions, allowing for increased visibility and improved workflow optimization.”

Embracing the future of manufacturing. “The first Industrial Revolution was powered by steam, and today the fourth is fueled by data. However, it’s cloud ERP that act as a lynchpin, connecting critical streams of data from connected devices, and turning them into real-time actionable insights for organizations. The adaptability, accessibility, and resilience of cloud-based business applications make them the natural foundation for any organization looking to reap the benefits of Industry 4.0.”

 

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Troubleshooting IPA Schedules

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Sometimes you may find that your scheduled flows have not run, seemingly with no explanation.  When this happens, there is a good possibility that there was an error in the scheduler that needs to be resolved.  To check the scheduler, log into Rich Client or your IPA Web Administrator as the user who owns the schedule.  Search for “My Scheduled Actions”.

 

Find the schedule of the flow that didn’t run, and verify if there is an error.  Double-click on the failed instance at the bottom of the screen to get more detail on the error.

Once you have resolved the issue that caused the error, right-click on the instance and select “Requeue”.  Note that this will cause your schedule to run immediately.

After the schedule has run successfully, there will not be any more items in the “Action Instances” tab.

 

Navigating ERP Upgrades in Manufacturing

These days the competitive landscape of the manufacturing industry demands operational efficiency and innovation that smart factories promise. To empower manufacturers, these factories use cutting-edge technologies and digital processes, which rely on robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for streamlining production, improving development, logistics efficiency, and optimizing supply chains and planning. Emmanuelle Hose, Global Vice President, Industry Solutions at Rimini Street, shares an article on Manufacturing.net on how manufacturers are navigating such needed ERP upgrades in their business processes. A significant challenge that hinders businesses’ scalability, Hose mentions, is the issue of pressured ERP system migrations. “Manufacturers have found themselves entangled in vendor-dictated roadmaps and pressured by major software providers to integrate disruptive and costly migrations to cloud-based systems. These migrations are not simple upgrades, but constitute significant shifts that can jeopardize years of customization and integration. These are critical factors affecting the operational DNA of manufacturing organizations,” says Hose. One of the main priorities manufacturers are looking for in an ERP upgrade is the flexibility, control and cost-effectiveness, leading them to explore alternatives to pressured, vendor-driven modernization roadmaps. “To navigate an era of vendor-imposed upgrades and migrations, a strategic shift in mindset is required,” notes Hose. “Manufacturing leaders must recognize that ERP systems are mission-critical to operations, and the path forward must avoid disruptive migrations.”

 

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Accessing Rich Client directly with the local Lawson user

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If you’re an On-Premise Lawson client and your Windows user profiles were wiped and you you’re your shortcuts to Rich Client. You can still access Rich Client directly with the local Lawson user account.

 

First, find out the local lawson account in services on the Landmark server:

 

Use Windows Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to login into the Landmark server with the .\lawson local account which should show the domain as the Virtual or Physical machine name:

 

 

Find and run the the Command Window for Lawson Landmark as Administrator.

Type canvas64 gen and press enter

 

This brings up Rich Client with full access