Central Highlands Water Taps Infor for Digital Transformation

Infor today announced that long-time customer Central Highlands Water will deploy Infor CloudSuite Public Sector to transform it into an agile, data-driven digital utility with streamlined budgeting and reporting. Per the press release, this new platform replaces five core legacy on-premise systems, including Infor Public Sector, and covers a wide range of business processes, from financial accounting, budgeting and planning, asset management to procurement and work order management. The benefits of cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) are expected to be far-reaching, the article states, and include improved data governance, enhanced ability to integrate, share, analyze and process data, a more robust security posture, and improvements in user experience. It will also enable Central Highlands Water to handle the increasing complexities of managing assets through partners and third parties. Terry Smagh, senior vice-president and general manager, Infor Asia Pacific and Japan, notes, “Infor has a proven track record of helping organizations digitally transform to meet internal objectives, regulatory requirements and customer needs. Modern utilities require agile, secure, and data-driven, industry-specific Infor CloudSuite systems to deliver customer excellence, maximize financial resources and consistently achieve operational efficiency. As a trusted partner, Infor is pivotal to their success.” Moreover, Infor has been instrumental in the digital transformation journeys at a myriad of public sector entities, including Riverina Water in New South Wales, Australia, six of the 18 water corporations across Victoria, Australia, New Zealand’s largest water authority, Watercare and Waikato Regional Council, and leading U.S.-based water authority Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District.

 

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Lawson Can’t Find lacobrts

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There can be many symptoms when Lawson can’t find lacobrts.  For example, Batch jobs will run and die without failing. When this happens Ladb.log will show the error below (insufficient netexpress licenses).  These all can be red herrings that point to an issue with the LAW_COBRTS_PATH setting in laconfig.  This is either due to the permissions on the directory can be incorrect, or the path itself can be incorrect.

To check the path, open a command line window and set the environment variables.  Then type command “laconfig”.  Choose your environemtn.  Make sure LAW_COBRTS_PATH points to the Micro Focus install directory, subdirectory bin64.

 

 

How Business AI And Cloud ERP Are Reshaping The Business Landscape

With every day more and more innovative technologies like Business AI (BAI) and Cloud ERP are reshaping the business landscape. Lalit Patil, Chief Technology Officer for SAP Enterprise Cloud Services, shares an article on Forbes explaining how the true way to benefit from these emerging technologies is to have them work together. “Think of BAI as a skilled data scientist and Cloud ERP as a meticulously organized information hub,” says Patil. “This powerful combination empowers businesses to transform operations, gain deeper insights, and make data-driven decisions with unprecedented accuracy.” A powerful combination of new technologies is Cloud ERP and Generative AI (GenAI). “Cloud ERP is getting a major boost thanks to Generative AI (GenAI) and powerful models like large language models (LLMs). These AI models, trained on massive datasets, create smart and adaptable Cloud ERP systems that continuously learn and improve,” Patil notes. Another powerful pair, as mentioned earlier, is Cloud ERP and Business AI. “For AI to be truly valuable, it needs to understand your business. To do this, it needs access to your unique data and processes, which are often siloed in on-premise ERP systems,” says Patil. He describes three areas where Cloud ERP becomes critical:

  1. Unified data platform: Cloud ERP centralizes all your business data, creating a clean, organized source for Business AI to make accurate predictions and generate valuable insights.
  2. Pre-trained models: Developing AI solutions can be complex and requires a lot of resources. Cloud ERP platforms offer pre-built AI models, like Lego sets for AI. These models are already made, modular, and can be easily integrated with existing systems, saving businesses time and money.
  3. Democratization of AI development: Traditionally, AI development required technical expertise. Cloud platforms like SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) offer low-code/no-code (LCNC) features, which lets non-technical people like business analysts, build basic AI applications using drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-defined templates. This “democratization” allows a wider range of users to leverage AI to solve specific business challenges.

Patil adds that Cloud ERP provides the foundation for AI to flourish, and Business AI takes this a step further by creating dynamic and intelligent ERP systems.

 

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8 data protection challenges and how to prevent them

Data is arguably the most valuable asset in your business, and data protection is a necessity. Kathleen Richards, information security industry veteran and former features editor for TechTarget’s Information Security magazine, shares an article highlighting the many data protection challenges there are exposed in our business systems and how to prevent them. Richards refers to two industry experts and their input in data protection and its challenges. “‘Many organizations focus on technical controls and protections,’ said Rebecca Herold, founder and CEO of consultancy Rebecca Herold & Associates, ‘but they’re not addressing the administration protections, such as documented policies and procedures to make employees aware, or sufficiently monitoring the physical aspects.’ Everyone rightly focuses on the regulated data, including personal, card holder and healthcare information. But there’s a lot more that needs attention. “It’s expanded,” said Heidi Shey, analyst at Forrester Research. ‘It’s not just the source code that people have historically been worried about or secret formulas.'” Below are 8 data protection challenges that a business may or have already (or currently) going through. 

 

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AP150 Not Picking Up Invoices

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ISSUE:

When running the AP cycle, finding invoices are not getting picked up but are matched invoices and are sitting in a released status.

 

Resolution:

Check the following:

  • Cash Code and Payment Code on the invoices align with what is being used on AP150.
  • The dates on AP150 encompass the due dates on the invoices.
  • Drill around on the invoices to see if “Message Exists”. If so, check MA64 (possibly by Buyer Code) to make sure the invoice messages are cleared. If the message is not listed, check MA66.2; this will show you messages created by MA60.3. Also check MA66.3; this will show you messages created by MA43 when there is a cost discrepancy between the receiver and the invoice. Make sure the status of the message is Closed; otherwise, the message may still need to be addressed. Click Previous and Next to make sure there are not more than one message for the invoice.

8 Cloud Migration Challenges

Cloud technology is the biggest platform and many business systems are moving over to cloud-based platforms. While hosting your business systems on the cloud can prove many benefits, likewise there are also challenges in hosting on the cloud. Lisa Morgan, big data and BI expert, shares an article on InformationWeek highlighting the biggest cloud migration challenges. Morgan states that in the beginning, cloud migration was about storage, followed by applications and compute. With all the cloud services available now, businesses can achieve new levels of efficiency and take advantage of a growing set of capabilities, though cost remains front and center. The following are some more cloud migration challenges organizations face that Morgan gathered from IT experts in the industry.

  1. Application dependencies
  2. Data security and regulatory compliance
  3. Old thinking patterns
  4. Faulty assumptions
  5. Not thinking critically enough
  6. Moving operational technology to the cloud 
  7. Legacy system knowledge and technical debt
  8. Talent and change management

 

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End of Supplementary Maintenance on Infor OS

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As of December 31, 2024, Infor is set to transition all versions of the products mentioned below to the next stage of support, following the Product Lifecycle Policy for Infor OS On-Premises (Infor OS OP) products.

The affected products moving from Supplementary Update Maintenance to Sustaining Maintenance are:

  1. Infor OS
  2. Infor OS Lite

Reasons for the Change

This transition is prompted by the retirement of several underlying prerequisite components that Infor OS OP relies on, including Amazon Corretto® 8 (Java®), as well as versions of Microsoft Windows®, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft .NET, and other prerequisite technologies.

Impact on Users

Supplementary Update Maintenance for these products will continue until December 31, 2024. After this date, they will enter Sustaining Maintenance. During this phase, users will retain access to existing patches, documentation, and Knowledge Base articles. However, no new updates or fixes will be provided for these products.

It’s crucial to note that the third-party products required for Infor OS OP are also approaching the end of their support cycles. Infor strongly advises careful consideration of the use of these products, as continuing to use Infor OS OP beyond 2025 may expose your environment to security risks.

Available Alternatives

Infor is offering two alternatives for customers with any version of the affected Infor OS OP products:

  1. For customers active on support/maintenance: A no-cost license exchange to a new on-premises (OP) product called Local Technology Runtime (LTR).
  2. For all customers: Purchase access rights to a new multi-tenant (MT) Infor OS tier, which includes a coterminous OP license to the LTR product available in option 1.

Introduction to Infor LTR

Infor LTR will replicate the critical core services of the current Infor OS OP product, including Security, Ming.le, ION, Infor Document Management (IDM), and API Gateway. This will be achieved using new technical prerequisites committed to support until the end of the decade. The hybrid LTR option allows connection to MT Infor OS, extending the multi-tenant world to on-premises customers.

Installing LTR involves a straightforward technical upgrade, akin to applying the latest version of Infor OS OP. This means no major rip-and-replace—just a simple, in-place upgrade. The transition from old Infor OS OP to new LTR OP will be seamless for end-users and administrators, requiring no retraining.

While LTR OP will be updated to maintain compatibility and resolve defects, new innovations and updates will only occur in Infor OS MT.

Infor’s Commitment to Business Requirements

For customers seeking to exchange their current Infor OS OP for a new OP-only solution, Infor LTR provides the same core functionality with planned support until the end of the decade.

For those aiming to leverage the latest technologies for digital transformation alongside existing on-premises applications—a hybrid solution:

  1. Infor OS MT offers a more extensive and feature-rich set of services and capabilities.
  2. Infor LTR OP is included, opening the door to unique hybrid deployment options.
  3. Combining MT and LTR unlocks new functionality and possibilities, growing over time with Infor OS MT releases.
  4. The Infor OS MT license option serves as a launchpad for digital transformation services such as Augmented Intelligence with Machine Learning (AI/ML), Enterprise Automation with Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and other add-on technology services exclusive to the MT world.

These options grant flexibility to run core technology services on-premises, in the multi-tenant cloud, or a mix of both, according to your requirements.

Next Steps

Infor strongly recommends initiating the transition planning process by reaching out to your Infor representative or submitting a support ticket. Regardless of the chosen path, Infor is committed to assisting you in developing the most effective strategy, ensuring you have the necessary products, capabilities, capacity, and licenses to meet your requirements.

 

What Generative AI Means For Enterprise Resource Planning

These days, many enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms have found in one way or another to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) in their business systems. AI could assist in analyzing patterns and forecast with great accuracy both customer demand and optimal business efficiency. Scott Hebert Forbes Council Member and Americas Chief Revenue Officer for SYSPRO, shares an article on what AI really means to ERP and the effects of generative AI being thrown in the mix. He states,

For ERP, generative AI can enable end users to communicate with the platform using ordinary language, either typed or spoken, and the software will reply in a similar fashion. Let’s say you want to get a report on which key raw materials the company is in danger of running short in the next three months. Simply ask, “Produce a report on the key raw materials of which we are at the highest risk of running short in the next three months.” You could follow up by asking the platform to email you a new report on the first of each month. It can be that simple. In the future, I see decision-makers being able to directly ask ERP for recommendations on what actions to take. If the generative AI-powered ERP says that the company will likely run out of component X in two months because their key supplier is experiencing difficulties due to labor shortages, the user could ask, “What actions do you recommend the company take to prevent this shortage?” In this way, the ERP becomes a key advisor to help solve business challenges.

Herbert also notes that generative AI has the ability to organize, summarize and index enormous volumes of unstructured data, cutting the time and costs it would usually take a team to do the same task. He states that for ERP users, this capability could come in handy when attempting to understand long, complex purchase orders for, say, a shipyard that needs highly specialized fabricated metal for a new boat.

 

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Infor launches first major ERP update for 2024

Infor recently unveiled its first major update for 2024 and Steve Brooks, joint Editor at Enterprise Times and Senior analyst at Synonym Advisory, shares an article highlighting the latest from the tech giant.

Infor Gen AI. “Another big announcement with this release is the emergence of generative AI capabilities. Eamonn Ida, Head of Solution Marketing, Infor OS Platform, said, ‘We’re very excited to announce Infor Gen AI, all new generative AI capabilities that are being developed across Infor CloudSuites that will further enhance our industry AI solutions.’ These new developments are underpinned by three tenets: A hyperfocus on industry value creation, The democratization of AI benefits throughout organizations, and Maintaining data privacy and security.”

Infor ESG Reporting. “ESG reporting will initially be available for customers in process, distribution, fashion, and discrete manufacturing. The new reporting solution includes dashboards and built-in templates to support common ESG reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The templates are automatically populated using data held within Infor ERP, spreadsheets, and other applications. The solution will enable organizations to deliver improved accuracy, transparency, and consistency in their ESG reporting. It simplifies data collection and enables users to identify the root causes of omissions or anomalies.”

Infor Value+. “Infor Value+ accelerators are broken down into three categories: 1) Value+ Automation Flow: These aim to automate common processes across organizations that are current pain points. 2) Value+ Insights: AI analyses data to surface insights and actions that will help organizations highlight revenue opportunities and improve business KPI. 3) Value+ Advanced Workspaces: These surface business intelligence and key information that people need to do their jobs within their function and industry.

Additional industry updates were announced among Infor’s current platforms, including Infor M3, Infor LN, Infor Syteline, Infor Financials, Infor HCM, Infor Workforce Management, and Infor MES.

 

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Release Schedule for Infor Lawson V10 Products for On-Premises and Single-Tenant Customers

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In 2024, the release schedule for Infor Lawson V10 products deployed on-premises and on single-tenant cloud platforms will undergo a change. Instead of the March and September releases observed in 2023, these products will now follow a schedule with releases in April and October.

 

Additionally, Lawson Enterprise Applications Maintenance Service Packages (MSP) will be provided annually, synchronizing with the October release.

 

Critical bug fixes for products will still be promptly delivered as needed, encompassing security patches and updates addressing date-sensitive statutory and regulatory compliance requirements.

 

If you have any questions about the new update schedule, reach out to your managed service provider, or your Infor Account Team.

 

Great news!  Nogalis provides Managed Services for all your Infor Lawson products.  Find out more here!