Infor recently announced that COVAP (Comptoir Vendéen des Artisans Plombiers), a plumbers’ purchasing cooperative based in the Vendée region of France, has opted for Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise, a multi-tenant cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform that includes functionalities specifically designed for the distribution sector. Per the press release, the project which launched in 2022, aims to provide COVAP members with better service and greater responsiveness while at the same time aiming to improve the autonomy, productivity, and satisfaction of COVAP’s teams on a day-to-day basis. The solution is cloud-based, benefiting COVAP from automatic updates (eliminating the need for major migration projects that can be costly, time-consuming, and risky), enabling it to focus on its core business, with processes standardized on best practices in the trading industry. Moreover, Infor’s solution will replace several interconnected software packages to standardize and simplify systems to provide a single source of truth. It will cover virtually all operations, including reporting and enterprise data management (EDM), and will interface with other third-party solutions, such as the web portal dedicated to members.
Infor recently announced that Saint-Gobain Distribution Norway AS, a leading distributor of building materials in Norway, plans to deploy Infor CloudSuite Distribution Enterprise. This cloud solution is designed specifically for distribution companies to replace multiple on-premises legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Per the press release, the contract with Saint-Gobain Distribution Norway is for 10 years, and the scope is expected to include several countries in the Nordic region. With the responsibility for providing support services in management, HR, finance, sustainability, business development and IT across all its companies, Saint-Gobain Distribution Norway expects the new ERP platform will be the foundation for tomorrow’s solutions that will allow it to give its customers the best service possible. Moreover, being a cloud solution, Saint Gobain Distribution Norway is looking forward to heightened levels of security against cybercriminals. “At the same time, functionality is at the forefront because the solution is developed with customers in the distribution industry worldwide by solving ever-new needs and requirements for relevant functionality, such as volume-based pricing. Our cloud solutions also provide unrivalled reliability, security and stability. This combination is one of our most substantial competitive advantages,” says Erlend Skaar-Olsen, country manager of Infor Norway.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are a complex infrastructure for your business. Your important data is housed in these systems, thus they need to be secure. With the latest trend of moving to cloud ERP coupled with the rise of cyberattacks, it is now more than ever important to ensure proper security to your ERP systems from any potential threats. Juan Pablo Perez-Etchegoyen, chief technology officer of cybersecurity company Onapsis, shares an article on WaterWorld.com highlighting four simple steps for water utilities – and to the extent every industry – to protect their ERP systems from cyberattacks.
- Gain visibility into ERP landscapes. “Organizations need comprehensive visibility into their cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments to identify, assess and prioritize risks while eliminating system blind spots. Security teams require tools for real-time monitoring of business-critical applications to preemptively detect threats and vulnerabilities, even before vendor patches are available. ERP applications’ complexity demands inclusion in business continuity and incident response plans.”
- Utilize actionable threat intelligence. “In addition to collaborating with government agencies, utility organizations should explore solutions that offer a comprehensive perspective on threats affecting their operational systems. Timely and impactful threat intelligence can provide valuable insights into malicious actors’ tactics, techniques and procedures. Such intelligence can also offer early warnings about emerging ransomware campaigns, while delivering actionable information to the security teams entrusted with crafting and enacting security measures.”
- Streamline patch management, cloud migration. “Effective management of ERP applications, particularly regarding patching, is paramount for minimizing vulnerabilities. Given the rapid exploitation threats, especially for SAP systems, a streamlined patch management process is crucial. A dedicated vulnerability management solution focusing on the application layer helps identify missing patches, validates proper application and facilitates prioritization based on severity.”
- Harmonize security and compliance functions. “Ensuring the security and compliance of ERP business applications is crucial as they handle sensitive data, including financial, customer, employee and intellectual property information. However, identifying risks to these systems is often challenging and manual. Utilities organizations, responsible for delivering critical services and adhering to numerous industry regulations, face legal and financial penalties for non-compliance. Regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) impose strict requirements, and non-compliance can result in severe consequences, including substantial fines, data breaches and damage to public trust.”
Addressing threats in ERP applications as early and often as possible is essential to mitigate the risk of data manipulation and financial turmoil as well as ensuring adherence to regulatory standards.
There are times when you may encounter the following error message, “Fld Error: Key Number Does Not Exist”. This can appear when attempting to compile a 4GL program in Lawson, it is possible that the key needs to be added to kndef.
Note that this error message will likely present itself in the XXXX.scr.err file.
To resolve this error, simply follow the steps outlined below:
- Login to LID
- Run command kndef to define the missing key
- cd LAWDIR/(productline)/sdlib
- rm *
- srgen (productline) (source)
- qcompile (productline) (source) (program)
- recompile any other invoked programs
Your error message should now disappear and the program should run normal.
Make UK and Infor recently published a survey of 135 companies (conducted between June and July 2023), that results in manufacturers seeing a surge in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning as they push for greater automation and improvements in productivity, efficiency and quality. Per the press release, the survey shows that companies are increasing their investment in automation across a broad range of technologies and functions from manufacturing processes to product design and development. These investments are set to accelerate in the next two years, leading to an increase in higher levels of skills and a fall in lower skilled roles. However, this still translates in the majority of manufacturers believing that the UK is failing to keep up with competitors. In response to this feedback, Make UK is urging the UK government to roll out the successful Made Smarter scheme nationwide to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt digital technologies, and work with companies to address the continued shortfall of technical skills in the workforce and reform of the Apprentice Levy. Below are key survey findings from the press release.
Key survey findings:
- More than half of companies are investing in artificial intelligence, machine learning and augmented reality
- Almost two in five companies are planning to adopt generative AI
- More than three-quarters of companies have invested, or are planning to invest, in automation
- But majority of companies believe UK is failing to match competitors
- Barriers to automation remain, including lack of technical skills, cost and workplace culture
To help address these barriers and boost further automation, Make UK has made the following recommendations:
- Roll out the successful Made Smarter scheme nationwide. This is a proven scheme to help with the adoption of new technology in manufacturing businesses. It should also extend the remit of Made Smarter to include industrial decarbonization to aid energy efficiency and transition to net zero.
- Make full expensing capital allowances permanent to enable businesses to plan investment over long leads.
- Expand the R&D tax credit to include capital expenditure to spur further digitalized R&D.
- Government should work with business organizations and sector -specific bodies to help SME engagement with the successful Catapult Centres. This is especially important given the geographic distribution of the centeres and would help more SMEs take advantage of their world-leading facilities.
Lawson Expense Management can occasionally lead to a duplicate invoice or another issue. If you’re running the EX542 and it goes into status 1 or 2 (in process or error) in EX20.1 and EX20.2 for your expense report. Then you’ll likely see an error saying “Invoice Already Exists”.
To resolve this, you may need elevated privileges. If you believe you have the access, follow the steps below.
- Go to EX20.1, inquire on your ER number.
- Change the status to 9 and click Change.
- Go to EX20.2, inquire on your ER number (locate the ER with the error field “Invoice Already Exists”
- Change the status to 9 and then remove the error field. Click Change.
- Re-run EX542 and see if it completes properly.
That it! If you’re still having issues and Infor is not able to assist, it might be worth looking into Lawson Managed Services (MSP). Reach out to a Nogalis representative to see if they can assist and or to provide your organization 24/7 Lawson support from an entire team of consultants at a fixed rate instead of having to hire a full-time position.
Your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is the vehicle that integrates all your business processes across your organization. When CIOs first selected their ERP platforms, t hey saw immediate impact. But that implementation happened many decades ago, and ERP has since evolved. More specifically, cloud-based ERPs look like the way to go. Moving your on-premise ERP systems to the cloud not only makes it more accessible and secure, but it can be a cost-saving solution if you plan it out well. Spiceworks.com of several ways having a Cloud-based ERP can not only help your business run smoother, but can also cut operational costs significantly.
- Best Cost-Saving Practices. “Best practice translates into best cost efficiency. If you maintain your automobile according to the manufacturer’s best practices, you can, on average, extend the car’s life, save money through optimal fuel efficiency, and enjoy better driving performance. It is no different with your business because following best practices means business tasks and operations are accomplished more efficiently using fewer resources. It also provides other benefits that lead to added cost savings. A cloud ERP solution, such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud, can ensure that your organization has the ready-to-go, preconfigured processes it needs to better perform on day one.”
- Energy and Space Savings. “Companies are increasingly adopting sustainability and green initiatives driven by ethical, economic, regulatory, and reputational motivations. Opting for a cloud ERP solution not only negates the need for hefty hardware investments and their upkeep but also eliminates cooling requirements. This shift can lead to significant reductions in energy costs. The space previously used for servers can be reallocated for other revenue-generating activities or reduced.”
- Grow Without Limits. “A cloud ERP solution provides the scalability that businesses need to quickly adapt to acquisitions, reorganizations, and new business unit creation with flexible organizational structures and reports that can analyze the company across any dimension. When implementing a cloud-based ERP solution, savings are realized from the very beginning as the ramp-up for a cloud ERP system is much faster than on-prem deployment. Additionally, Cloud ERP continually introduces new capabilities that support business best practices without incurring additional costs or undergoing complex upgrade processes. This gives companies the chance to leverage innovation as soon as it is introduced. Cloud ERP fosters both scalability and innovative growth.”
- Enhanced Collaboration and Mobility. “In a hybrid workforce, your location managers, mobile sales teams and remote workers need to be able to access necessary information without needing to be at the company’s primary location, reducing travel and associated costs. Mobile capabilities are built into SaaS ERP products rather than added on as an afterthought. Cloud ERP systems also allow for real-time data updates. This means that when one department makes changes or updates data, other departments can immediately see and act upon those changes, ensuring everyone is working from the most current information. Whether accessing Cloud ERP from a desktop in the corporate office or a mobile device at home or on the road, users encounter the same unified experience thanks to the same universal interface.”
- No Effort Patching. “It has become a constant mantra among IT departments — keep your systems fully patched with the latest updates. While patching certainly helps with cybersecurity and system performance, it is also a mundane, costly process for the IT department. By removing patching and updating from their plate, you could instantly free up considerable time and expense for them. With automated patching in cloud ERP systems, security updates are applied as soon as they’re available. This swift action extends to zero-day vulnerabilities, which are prime targets for hackers. Given today’s heightened emphasis on security, cloud ERP emerges as a decidedly more secure option.”