Infor Partners with Foresight Retail to Improve Merchandise and Assortment Planning to Reduce Waste

Infor recently announced a new partnership with Foresight Retail, a leader in delivering merchandise and assortment planning to help fashion brands and retailers improve inventory management and better balance supply to demand. Gary Lalli, Foresight Retail SVP global sales, says of the collaboration, “Working with the team at Infor enables us to offer a solution that supports the needs of fashion businesses, and our combined knowledge and experience will mean that we can provide fashion brands and private brand retailers with not only a quality solution, but also a team that can deliver real business insight and support.” Per the press release, the pain point for fashion brands is that this process is often managed outside the ERP system, making it prone to error and time consuming to manage. The major risk is that the overall planning mechanism is not accurate, leading to inventory excess or shortages. This partnership provides Foresight Retail a more robust fashion offering, with support on merchandise and assortment planning that includes financial planning, range planning for different sales channels, forecasting, inventory allocation and replenishment. Moreover, Foresight Retail’s modern solution offers preconfigured accelerators to cover standard planning needs and help speed deployment.

 

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Gartner Identifies Four Myths Obscuring Cybersecurity’s Full Value

There are common myths that speculate the value of cybersecurity in the enterprise level, which inhibits security program effectiveness, according to Gartner, Inc. “Many CISOs are burnt out and feel they have little control over their stressors or work-life balance,” said Henrique Teixeira, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. “Cybersecurity leaders and their teams are putting in the maximum effort, but it’s not having maximum impact.” To combat this, a “minimum effective” mindset is suggested. “A Minimum Effective mindset is a deliberate, ROI-driven approach to leading cybersecurity into the future,” added Leigh McMullen, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. “While the idea of ‘minimum’ may seem uncomfortable, it refers to the inputs, not the outcomes. This approach will enable cybersecurity functions to go beyond merely ‘defending the fort’ to unlocking their true potential to create tangible value.” In the opening keynote of the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit, Teixeira and McMullen debunked four common security myths and explained how security leaders can create new value across business engagement, technology and talent. They are:

Myth #1: More Data Equals Better Protection
“It’s commonly believed that the best way to drive action from executive decision makers on cybersecurity initiatives is through sophisticated data analysis, such as calculating the likelihood of a cyber event occurring. This approach does not deliver shared accountability between cybersecurity and enterprise decision makers necessary for materially reducing business risk. Gartner research has found that just one-third of CISOs report success driving action through cyber risk quantification. CISOs should use an outcome-driven metrics (ODM) approach to action Minimum Effective Insight. ODMs link security and risk operational metrics to the business outcomes they support by explaining the levels of protection currently in place and the alternative protection levels available based on spend.”

Myth #2: More Technology Equals Better Protection
“Worldwide spending on information security and risk management products and services is forecast to grow 12.7% to reach $189.8 billion in 2023. Yet even as organizations spend more on cybersecurity tools and technologies, security leaders still feel they are not properly protected. Organizations can begin the journey to a Minimum Effective Toolset by taking a human-cost view, keeping the overhead on cyber professionals managing cybersecurity tools lower than the benefit of the tool in mitigating risks. In parallel, take an architectural view to measure whether any given tool is additive to, or subtractive of, the ability to protect the enterprise.”

Myth #3: More Cybersecurity Professionals Equals Better Protection
“Gartner predicts that by 2027, 75% of employees will acquire, modify or create technology outside IT’s visibility, up from 41% in 2022. CISOs can reduce the burden on their teams by helping these business technologists build Minimum Effective Expertise, or cyber judgment. A recent Gartner survey found that business technologists with high cyber judgment are 2.5 times more likely to consider cybersecurity risks when developing analytics or technology capabilities.”

Myth #4: More Controls Equals Better Protection
“A recent Gartner survey found that 69% of employees have bypassed their organization’s cybersecurity guidance in the past 12 months, and 74% of employees would be willing to bypass cybersecurity guidance if it helped them or their team achieve a business objective. ‘Cybersecurity organizations are well-aware of the pervasive non-secure behavior of the workforce, but the typical response of adding more controls is backfiring,’ said Henrique Teixeira, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. ‘Employees report a huge amount of friction involved with secure behavior, which is driving unsecure behavior. Controls that are circumvented are worse than no controls at all.'”

 

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ISS: Server Communication Failed when trying to add a user

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Problem:

You may come across this issue in Infor Security Services (ISS): “Server communication failed when trying to add a user.” This usually means that ISS did not respond to your command. Any attempts to add a user yield the following error message: “Server Communication Failed.”

 

Resolution:
There is a simple solution to this command error. Since it is seemingly a minor technical error, all you need to do is Reboot the LMK server. This will re-establish the connection between Lawson System Foundation (LSF) and LMK. The ISS should respond to your command now and you can proceed to add a new user.

Japan’s NTN Streamlines Operations Across All 52 Warehouses and Plants with Infor

Infor Japan K.K., the Japanese subsidiary of Infor, recently announced that NTN Corp., a manufacturer and seller of bearings, driveshafts and precision equipment, has rolled out its Infor WMS warehouse management system. Per the press release, NTN will use Infor WMS as its supply chain execution solution to combine warehouse management, labor management, transportation management and third-party logistics (3PL) billing management into a single integrated and rational business process for the entire supply chain. Additionally, NTN adopted three Infor WMS modules for inbound, outbound, and logistics cost management at 52 sites across Japan including 17 regular warehouses, 3 automated warehouses and 32 plant shipping facilities. Simultaneous operation of all 52 sites was a prerequisite for the project because a range of departments would need to access all warehouses at the same time. The successful rollout was able to avoid initial concerns that adopting the new system would cause confusion in the workplace, leading to delays in receiving and shipping at the warehouses and issues with inventory accuracy. Anticipated results were achieved, including the standardization of warehouse operations and finished product shipping processes, management of logistics costs, and connection between logistics costs and receiving/shipping transactions.

 

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Advantages to Hosting ERP in the Cloud

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In recent years, the popularity of cloud computing has grown exponentially. With businesses moving their applications and data to the cloud, there has been a significant shift from on-premise deployment to cloud-based deployment. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are no exception to this trend. More and more businesses are moving their ERP systems to the cloud. In this blog post, we will discuss the advantages of hosting your ERP in a cloud environment over an on-premise environment.

 

Scalability

One of the biggest advantages of hosting your ERP system in the cloud is scalability. With cloud-based ERP, you can easily scale up or down based on your changing business needs. Whether you need to add more resources, users, or functionality, cloud-based ERP systems make it easy to scale up or down without any disruption to your business operations. This scalability feature is particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses that are experiencing rapid growth.

 

Cost-effective

Another significant advantage of hosting your ERP in the cloud is cost-effectiveness. Cloud-based ERP eliminates the need for significant upfront investment in hardware, software, and infrastructure. With cloud-based ERP, you only pay for what you use, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes. Additionally, cloud-based ERP systems require less maintenance and support, reducing the overall cost of ownership.

 

Improved Security

Security is always a concern when it comes to hosting sensitive business data. Cloud-based ERP systems typically provide better security features than on-premise systems. Cloud providers often have dedicated teams of security experts who work to ensure that their infrastructure is secure. They also provide regular software updates and patches, ensuring that your ERP system is always up-to-date and protected against the latest threats.

 

Accessibility

Cloud-based ERP systems provide users with the flexibility to access the system from anywhere, anytime, using any device with an internet connection. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses with remote teams or employees working from different locations. With cloud-based ERP, users can access the system from anywhere, making it easy to collaborate and stay connected.

 

Better Disaster Recovery

Disaster recovery is another area where cloud-based ERP systems outperform on-premise systems. Cloud providers typically have redundant systems and data centers, ensuring that your ERP system is always available, even in the event of a disaster. Cloud-based ERP systems also provide automatic backup and recovery, reducing the risk of data loss.

 

In conclusion, hosting your ERP in a cloud environment offers several advantages over an on-premise environment. Scalability, cost-effectiveness, improved security, accessibility, and better disaster recovery are just a few of the many benefits of moving your ERP system to the cloud. If you’re considering moving your ERP system to the cloud, make sure to choose a reputable cloud provider and consult with an experienced ERP consultant to ensure a successful migration.

How AI Will Impact The Next Generation Workforce

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for a long time, but only in the current environment are we noticing its real impact in our personal and professional lives. As AI continues to become more progressive, the World Economic Forum notes, a predicted 85 million jobs globally will be replaced by AI by 2025, and AI can potentially generate 97 million new roles. Tech expert Kalina Bryant shares an article on Forbes depicting how AI has impacted and will continue to impact the current and next generation workforce. Most importantly, Bryant shows how we can embrace the changes that AI will bring so we can properly utilize these AI-driven tools in the workplace.

Breaking Barriers Through Adaptive Work Environments. “By adapting to employees’ unique requirements, AI promotes inclusivity and accessibility. We see data that shows AI is promoting inclusivity and accessibility in many ways that impact workers. According to Accenture, 84% of C-suite executives feel they must leverage AI to accomplish their growth objectives, but most still need to put AI to work to advance growth through inclusion.”

Advanced Inclusive Hiring Practices through AI. “Though we still have a long way to go, AI has played an impactful role in dismantling some of the bias and discrimination within the hiring process, making it possible for companies to achieve greater diversity and inclusion in hiring. Also, according to recent reports, recruiters can use AI tools to discover high-potential candidates outside job boards and other traditional sources. This is how employers can find more diverse candidates that may have yet to be noticed.”

Bridging The Skills Gap. “AI-powered learning platforms offer personalized training and up-skilling opportunities, irrespective of one’s background or location. By considering individual learning styles and preferences, AI fosters equitable access to educational resources. Individuals from underrepresented groups can acquire relevant skills, empowering them to pursue new job opportunities.”

AI Tools can also assist minorities and recent graduates in securing new job opportunities. AI-driven capabilities such as resume optimization, job matching, skill development, bias detection mitigation and accessibility accommodations can help the job search become easier. Additionally, interview preparation and network and mentorships can help prepare the candidates for better interview and hiring instances.

 

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Resolving Batch release or delete in progress when trying to release a batch in Lawson

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Problem:  “Batch release or delete in progress” indicates that a process is attempting to maintain the batch in question.

 

Potential cause: Portal program AP25 or AP26 was previously aborted or if an AP125 or AP126 job went into needs recovery.

 

Resolution:

If there isn’t a batch process currently running and there isn’t a job in recovery (AP125 or AP126), then the database record associated to the batch being maintained needs to be deleted from the APMONITOR (DBAPMON) table.

 

The record will have a Run Prog value of “APREL”. If there are multiple records where “APREL” exists in the Run Prog value, then the other fields (Pay Group, Company, Auth Code, Batch Num, etc.) could be used to identify which record needs to be deleted.

 

Alternately, all records may be removed where the Run Prog value is “APREL” as no records with that data should exist if AP125, AP126, AP25, AP26 are not currently active (or in needs recovery if a batch process).

 

Important Note: While maintaining the APMONITOR data for “APREL” related records, other records (ones where the Run Prog value is not “APREL”) should not be removed as those control other aspects of the pay cycle processing and doing so may result in corrupt data.

 

To maintain the data, inquire on the desired records via Infor application AP94 ‘Apmonitor’ and delete the record(s) where Run Program value equals ‘APREL’.

 

Make sure you check with Infor or your Lawson MSP consultants to see if this is required based on the environment version you’re running.  Good luck!

 

4Processes Joins Infor Partner Network

4Processes, a consulting company specializing in the manufacturing industry in Peru, recently joined the Infor Partner Network (IPN), a global ecosystem of people, services and systems designed to provide partners with world-class solutions to sell, and the highest quality of training, support and enablement in the industry. Per the press release, as an Infor partner, 4Processes has a deep knowledge of Infor CloudSuites focused on manufacturing industries sectors such as MTS (make-to-stock), MTO (make-to-order), ATO (assemble-to-order) and ETO (engineer-to-order) to help companies develop competitiveness by adopting new methodologies, processes and IT solutions. The main reasons for the consulting firm’s decision to join the Infor Partner Network are the quality of Infor solutions, the know-how in the industry, and the unique offering in the local market. Adriana Gutierrez, Infor Latin America channel director, says, “Peru’s dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and very traditional sectors. It has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, and is increasingly driven by its industry and service sectors. A strong local Infor channel partner such as 4Processes helps local companies manage all their resources, so they are able to meet both local and global challenges, reduce costs and increase revenue.”

 

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How to dump Lawson recurring jobs from a user or system user

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Dumping Lawson jobs can often be confusing with the many different flags. Recuring jobs get a little more confusing but don’t be discouraged! There is an easy wat to know how to dump your Lawson recurring jobs from a user or system user. Follow the simple steps below:

 

First, log in to Lawson Interface Desktop and switch the to the directory you wish to dump the job file

 

Let’s say I want to dump all recurring jobs from user joesmoe.

 

Type the below command into LID:

jobdump -d -o RecurJob -v UserName joesmoe joesmoe _recjobs.txt

 

Locate the joesmoe _recjobs.txt file and that’s it! Good luck!

MP Hygiene Transforms its Supply Chain

Infor recently announced that MP hygiene, the largest French manufacturer of pure wadding paper with the Origine France Garantie® label, has just completed a migration project by opting for the latest version of its supply chain management solution. The Infor WMS warehouse management solution enables companies to manage the operations of their distribution centers globally. It combines advanced warehousing functionality with highly configurable options, integrated workforce, production, task and inventory management, and 3D visualization in a single, intuitive solution that reduces process complexity and improves operational execution. Supply chain director Emeric Guillermain notes that MP Hygiene has been an Infor customer since 2016, and because of the Covid-19 pandemic widespread in 2020, the migration project spawned from it and considered a new project with a new set of goals to achieve. “We called on the logistics expert SNS France, which has been with us from the outset in all stages of implementation and development of our supply chain system,” says Guillermain. Richard Thomas, associate director at SNS France and responsible for the project, says, “MP Hygiene had acquired a good knowledge of Infor’s solution and a certain dexterity in terms of best practices. The migration to a more recent version of the solution was therefore a natural choice, which however required a review of their processes, both in terms of manufacturing and storage.” Since the migration, MP Hygiences activity continues to grow, citing a significantly reduced error rate in terms of data entry and references (from 2.5% to 0.23% of lines in preparation) and gains in reliability and speed when preparing orders and delivery. Batch management has been refined, thanks to the automatic integration of use-by dates and mandatory product specifications. Additionally, a module for managing the SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code), an international standard for identifying parcels and pallets, has been implemented for better management of goods flows and automation of logistics operations. Lastly, the workforce management functionality of the Infor WMS solution has been deployed for better management of warehouse resources.

 

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