25 Business-Technology Trends You Can Expect In 10 Years

We live in the digital age and technology impacts almost every aspect of our personal and professional lives. But the technology we have now doesn’t end there. Steve Andriole, Technology expert and Professor of Business Technology at Villanova University School of Business, shares an article on Forbes of the business-technology trends we should expect and be prepared for in the next decade.

  1. In ten years there will be self-driving cars and trucks everywhere.
  2. Pizzas will appear at your door – without any human participation.
  3. Dead entertainers will tour the country; “concerts” will be physical and virtual.
  4. No one will prepare a tax return.
  5. No one will stand in line to vote.
  6. No one will go anywhere to buy anything.
  7. Healthcare will be “universal,” not because the powers-that-be ordained it (because they won’t), but because smart-phones (and implanted devices) will monitor everyone’s health and telemedicine is what everyone just does – with real or especially digital doctors.
  8. Many of us will only travel virtually.
  9. Commuting – and traffic wars – will be optional. More than half of us will work from home.
  10. Climate change will be more obvious than it is today – far more obvious since global restraints on fossil fuel will have failed by 2033.
  11. Students will learn from wherever, whenever.
  12. Higher education will change fundamentally and more than any other educational level.
  13. Training will be virtual.
  14. Assault weapons will be illegal, though some will still be produced with 3D manufacturing.
  15. Sensors (everywhere) will know what we need and want, and execute fulfilling transactions automatically.
  16. It’s impossible to forget a birthday or anniversary – or wonder what gifts to buy.
  17. Our homes and offices will be very smart and get smarter by watching us do everything we do – all the time.
  18. We’ll browse digital catalogs from headsets (and eventually contact lenses) as small and as fashionable as the sunglasses everyone wants.
  19. In spite of what banks tells us today, “money” will be gone by 2033. All transactions will be digital.
  20. 3D manufacturing will power tiny home factories where we produce a lot of what we need around the house.
  21. Unless “information” is regulated, misinformation and disinformation will wreak social, economic and political havoc on even the most stable governments.
  22. How about immersion into old, current and future sporting events? Full immersion will forever change the way we watch – and experience – sports.
  23. Online sports gambling will be highly regulated. Maybe.
  24. Media with be two-tiered: some will be “free” of advertising and other diversions and some will be surrounded by nothing but advertising.
  25. Many of us will be “chipped” by 2033. We’ll be able to buy things, access currency, enter our homes and start our cars without keys, cards or smart-phones. Small chips will reside between our thumbs and index fingers.

This is only a small sample of the changes coming to our personal and professional lives. Technological advancement is a double-edged sword, and whether or not we are ready, the digital age will continue to move forward. All that we can do is get ready for it.

 

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Old Edwards Inn and Spa Partners with Infor to Provide Superior Guest Experiences

Old Edwards Inn and Spa recently selected Infor to simplify its hotel management and revenue management functions. Per the press release, Infor EzRMS, the tech giant’s powerful hotel revenue management software solution, was implemented across all three of Old Edwards Hospitality Group’s properties. Infor’s cloud-based hospitality-specific applications will deliver faster turnover, higher profit margins and a more tailored guest experience. This will allow Old Edwards to reduce manual processes, obtain a clearer picture of who guests are via integrated guest profiles to inform better communications, and provide real-time visibility and intuitive processes to support staff and the guest experience. In addition, Old Edwards will have Infor Hospitality Management Solution (HMS), a hotel property management system (PMS) built in the cloud, to consistently meet and exceed modern guest expectations as well as better manage operations, deliver exceptional guest services, and provide a rich experience for all. Lastly, the solution provides scalability that can help meet present needs, along with whatever the future brings.

 

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Migrating Infor Lawson v10 Applications to Windows Server 2019 (Supporting Article)

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Why Migrate?

Windows Server 2012 R2 extended support ends in October of 2023.  Infor recently announced that the Lawson S3 end of support has been schedule for 12/31/2030, and extended support should go a couple of years beyond that.  So, Lawson customers now have just under 10 years left to use Lawson.  Staying in Windows Server 2012 is very high risk, not only due to potentially missing important Microsoft updates, but also due to Lawson regulatory updates.  Occasionally, Infor makes updates to their patch installer, as they did a few years ago.  Often, these updates require an update to the core technology.  So, if customers are forced to update the core technology to a version that isn’t compatible with Windows 2012, that is going to be a very painful year end process.  It is imperative for organizations on Windows 2012 to migrate ASAP, but this is also an excellent opportunity to migrate from another OS, such as Linux or AS400.

 

Tips For a Successful Migration

A server migration of the Infor application looks very much like any other major project.  There should be a planning/requirements gathering phase, a preparation phase, the execution phase, testing, and finally, deployment.

Plan & Decide

This step in the process will probably take a couple of weeks.  This is where you will choose an installer for your project, and you will have them answer some questions for you and work with you on the basic requirements for the install.

FAQ

These are some of the questions that we most often receive when beginning a migration project.

Q: Can we upgrade in place?

A: No.  Infor does not support, nor recommend trying to upgrade Windows in place.  There are many pieces involved with Lawson application installs, and often one of the underlying pieces will be corrupted by an update in place, which will cause more hours to fix than just a fresh install.

 

Q: Can we migrate to Windows Server 2022?

A: Not at this time.  At the time of the writing of this article, Infor is supporting only Windows Server 2019.  Make sure you always check the compatibility matrix before you begin any work in your Lawson environment.

 

Q: Do we need to upgrade our applications?

A: No.  While we do recommend that you upgrade your applications on a regular basis, to take advantage of the latest fixes, and to stay on a well-supported environment, it is not necessary to do so as part of this project.  In fact, we recommend separating out those activities into two different projects.  Separating the activities makes testing much easier for your users, but also significantly decreases the downtime during cutover.

 

Authentication Decisions

Migrating Lawson to new servers provides a good opportunity to take a look at your current authentication methods for Lawson, and determine if you’d like to make any changes.  If you haven’t already made the move to AD FS, now would be a good time to do so.  Also, you have the option of using Infor OS as STS, which opens you up to more identity providers if needed.  If you take that route, you will want to consider giving your Infor OS server more resources, as it would become your entry point into Lawson, and it does take up quite a lot of resources.  It is also important to note that, if you have or will have any IPA process that connection to Lawson (file access, DME, etc), then Lawson MUST be bound to Active Directory for that authentication.  This means that you must retain at least one domain controller with an instance of Active Directory.  Azure AD is not supported for this configuration at this time.

Cloud Options

You do have the option of creating your own cloud environment in AWS or Azure.  There are just a couple of things to note.  Currently, Infor does not support database as a service.  This means that your database engine must be installed on a server instance, even in the cloud.  Additionally, as mentioned above, you will still need to keep at least one domain controller with an instance of Microsoft Active Directory.

Other Decisions

Before getting started on your migration, it is important to make a few more decisions and communicate them to your installer.  For instance, do you want to bring over print files or other types of files such as interface, etc.?  This decision can affect the server sizing, as well as the scope of the project, so it is important to have the discussion early.  We always recommend keeping the new server as clean as possible, but we are also sensitive to the needs of each organization.  Another decision would be whether to switch to Portal 10.1.  Portal 10.1 is simply a different look & feel to Portal 10.0.  This project is going to be a huge technological change, so it might make more sense to stick with 10.0 and move to 10.1 later.

Prepare

The next step in the process is preparation for the migration.  These things will need to be done before your installer begins their work, and some of it can be done in parallel with the planning phase.

Licenses

!!! MicroFocus Visual COBOL licenses are required before the install can begin. You must reach out to your Infor account rep ASAP to get the process started. This process can take several weeks, and your installer cannot begin without them. This is important!!

Infor OS Lite is not automatically available in Product Downloads on Infor Concierge.  If you haven’t installed it already, you will need to reach out to your account rep to start that process as well.  They will likely want to have a discussion with you about your Lawson roadmap, and they will also need for you to sign a $0 order to open up the downloads.  Infor OS Lite is included in your S3 licensing.

Compatibility

Always check the Infor Lawson compatibility matrix before beginning any work in your Lawson environment.  Below are our minimum recommended versions of software and components, but we usually do like to take the latest versions of Lawson and Landmark, and match up the component versions from there.

  • LSFCT 10.0.11.10+
  • MicroFocus Visual COBOL 7
  • JDK 1.8 or Amazon Corretto JDK 8
  • MSSQL Server 2019/Oracle 21c
  • ADFS 5.0 or Infor OS as STS
  • Landmark 11.0.1.13+

Server Specs

Below are our minimum recommendations for server sizing.  You will want to discuss these things with your installer ahead of time, and take into account the size and needs of your organization, as well as your current Lawson sizing.

  • 32 GB RAM
  • 4 virtual CPUs
  • Recommend 150% above current disk size

Customizations

It is very important to at least list out all your customizations for your installer, but even better if you can document each one.  The installer will bring them into the new environment and compile and system test them, so it is very good if they have a list to work from, and a little bit of an understanding of how they should work.  These customizations include, reports, IPA processes, Design Studio forms, 4GL custom COBOL, or any 3rd party interfaces.

Execute

Now it is time for your installer to…install!  This phase of your project should be relatively hands off for your organization.  Once the installer has everything they need, they will spend the next several weeks heads down, doing the work.

Resources for a Successful Implementation

While the installer should be mostly working on their own during the implementation, there are times when they will need support for your team.  It is usually optimal for them to have one person (point of contact) whom they can reach out to for assistance, or to be pointed in the right direction.  Additionally, these projects tend to work really well if there is a project manager on one or both sides, and some kind of project management tool for task tracking and visibility.  It is also important to have user buy-in on the project.  Their UAT should be relatively light compared to an application upgrade, but it is still important that they are aware of the project, and especially aware that there will be a downtime involved during cutover.

Testing

For this migration, provided you DO NOT upgrade applications, we recommend high-level forms testing from the users.  They should make sure they can inquire on all the forms they use on a normal basis.  They can test making a couple of updates, and run some batch jobs.  The most important thing is that they test their security.  While the applications can be copied over exactly in one swoop, the security is migrated in several steps, and this is where we tend to see issues.  The other side of the testing will have to be interfaces.  Anything that interfaces into or out of Lawson, including moving files, will need to be tested end-to-end.  Because the servers are changing, and directories could be changing, this is where we find the most issues during a mitraion.

Timeline

This is a basic sample of a timeline for a migration project.  Yours will vary based on the complexity of your environment.

Get Started Today!

Don’t wait!  Scan this QR code to get a quote on your server migration now!!

 

 

DHR Health Selects Infor to Connect Critical Operations in the Cloud

DHR Health and Infor recently partnered up to implement modern, cloud-based financial, supply chain, human capital, and workforce management applications. The tech giant’s Infor Human Capital Management platform provides a talent-focused solution that will help DHR Health strategically align people and talent to specific jobs to reduce turnover. Additionally, Infor Workforce Management solution will provide tools to accurately schedule employees, particularly nursing resources, based on workload and clinical need, then capture all worked hours and seamlessly deliver those hours to payroll. Per the press release, Texas-based DHR Health wanted to partner with Infor to better connect and automate the employee lifecycle. DHR Health CIO David Moreno says of the partnership, “The team at Infor was one of the most collaborative partners we spoke with, and they will be able to help us consolidate data and disparate sources, increase visibility and keep critical talent engaged and motivated. By moving daily operations to the cloud, we can more easily link people with business strategy, and better arrange and analyze key HR functions.” Further, DHR Health will also leverage Infor Clinical Bridge to connect to its electronic health records in support of streamlined patient care. Powered by the Infor Cloverleaf Integration engine, Clinical Bridge links clinical, financial, and operational systems to provide visibility across the continuum of care.

 

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Selected Dist. List Does Not Match To User Group

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You may come across an issue in LSA such as the following, “Selected Dist. List Does Not Match To User Group.” This issue occurs when you don’t have your user assigned to the proper group (and also trying to assign dist. list group via LSA vs ISS). Here is how to fix it:

 

  1. Confirm the user is assigned to the group in grpdef:
  2. Add the group you created with users in dstlstgrpdef
  3. Lawson Security Administrator (LSA) may have an issue adding this user in their environment info
  1. Login to Infor Security Service (ISS) and assign the distribution group their to the user.

That’s it!

Tech-Driven Education: Six Solutions For More Effective And Engaging Teaching

The ever-changing economic climate, thanks to technological advancements, has changed the way we teach our students. No longer is the traditional classroom with pencil and paper and dated textbooks the “norm”. There are more innovative approaches to teaching and learning thanks to the modern technologies we have to offer. From remote learning to technological teaching aids, today’s tech solutions have the potential to curate effective learning experiences. Slava Podmurnyi, Forbes Councils Member and CEO and co-founder of Visartech Inc. shares an article that delves deep into the ways technology is transforming the education sector, changing the ways of the modern classroom.

  1. AI-Generated Teachers. “With the integration of AI technology into the education industry, a new learning assistant has emerged. The AI-generated teacher is a technology solution that seamlessly takes over a lesson or course from a human teacher. This technology offers students personalized instruction and feedback based on their unique learning needs and styles. With this type of technology solution, students could build their confidence in speaking and then apply their skills in a real classroom setting with classmates.”
  2. Web-Based Conferencing Tools. “This technology offers fully synchronous and web-based teaching, which has the potential to be more effective than hybrid or dual-mode teaching. With enhanced visibility, interactivity, and breakout rooms, educators can deliver virtual sessions with ease and students can participate in real time.”
  3. 360-Degree Student Analytics. “360-degree student analytics provides a full view of students’ academic, social and behavioral interactions. Educators get data from various sources to understand their students’ needs and challenges better. With this view, educational institutions and online learning platforms can offer personalized study plans that are more effective than traditional teaching methods.”
  4. Zero-Trust Security. “With sensitive data such as student records and financial information at risk, it is essential to implement effective security measures. Cyberattacks in the education sector rose by 44% in 2022, likely due to the transition toward remote learning and the increased use of online education platforms. As a result, the education industry has become a prime target for cybercriminals. However, implementing zero-trust security measures could significantly minimize the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks. The zero-trust security model works on the idea that we should never automatically trust anyone or anything, and always check to make sure they are safe.”
  5. 3D-Powered Brain Breaks. “Studies have shown that it is nearly impossible to study for extended periods without taking breaks. In fact, a recent survey found that 91% of teachers believed that incorporating Brain Break video segments improved their students’ focus and concentration. To make these breaks more engaging and effective, 3-D technology can be helpful. For example, 3-D puzzle games or 3-D break journeys might offer an enjoyable and immersive experience for students.”
  6. Smart Campus. “A smart campus refers to an advanced technological infrastructure that leverages the internet of things (IoT) and other digital technologies to improve the operational efficiency of educational institutions. The technology solution is designed to automate processes, enhance communication and connectivity, and optimize energy management. In recent years, a growing number of universities and colleges have started to adopt smart campus solutions.”

The next generation and beyond will adapt a more digitized learning environment, and Podmurnyi insists we stay ahead of the curve right now. Communicating and speaking with the language of today’s students is essential for a more engaged and motivated classroom. However, he notes, we must understand that technology only enhances learning. Great educators provide the great teaching and motivation to their students in their classroom. We need to combine technology and excellent teaching to inspire students in their learning experience.

 

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American Exchange Group Chooses Infor for ERP Modernization

Infor recently announced that American Exchange Group (AXNY) has selected Infor CloudSuite Fashion, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution specifically designed for apparel, footwear, textile, and fashion accessories companies, to standardize all divisions across the organization and support future growth. American Exchange Group recently acquired two footwear brands, AEROSOLES and White Mountain Footwear Group, making it a priority to consolidate to a single ERP solution. Per the press release, by consolidating to one ERP solution, American Exchange Group will have better integration between systems, standardization across all business units, and more modern capabilities. This new end-to-end solution includes Infor CloudSuite Fashion, Fashion PLM (product lifecycle management), Factory Track, and Infor Birst analytics & reporting. Further, the multi-tenant cloud solution is powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and deployed by Infor partner Fortude, a leading global enterprise and digital services company with a strong focus in the fashion industry.

 

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Lawson user is not able to add or see bookmark they have access to

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If a user is having issues seeing a bookmark in Lawson, it may be because the bookmark is a parent of itself which can cause the bookmark to not appear for users even though they have access to it.

 

This issue can also create an infinite child bug in the Bookmark Manager as seen below:

In the database under the table “LOBKMARK”, we see that this BOOK_MARK 272 is the parent of itself (PARENT_BKMARK is also 272).

IMPORTANT: Always be cautious when making updates to the database.

To fix BOOK_MARK 272, we need to update its PARENT_BKMARK and set it to 0.

Here is the code to do this:

UPDATE LOBKMARK SET PARENT_BKMARK = 0 where BOOK_MARK = 272 and OBJ_ID = 285

We add the OBJ_ID in there as an extra check. It’s always recommended to build and update query with a select query first so you don’t change more than what you need.

Infor and HARMAN Announce Strategic Partnership on Healthcare Delivery

Recently, Infor and HARMAN International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., announced a global strategic partnership. This partnership will allow healthcare and life sciences organizations to modernize their data platforms, strategies, and roadmaps through customer-centric services and solutions. Per the press release, HARMAN and Infor will deliver a jointly developed integrated healthcare platform — built on the cloud — that will help industry clients seamlessly transform data, analytics, intelligence, and governance functions in a secure, cost-effective, and privacy preserving manner. Additionally, through the Infor Cloverleaf Integration Suite, HARMAN artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) algorithms securely process both structured and unstructured data extracted from databases, interface engines, and CDA XML (clinical document architecture extensible markup language) documents. The HARMAN IHP output is then integrated back into existing provider systems (e.g., electronic health records (EHRs), etc.) to offer a host of benefits including predicting readmission or attrition risks, providing transparency into payer systems to help predict and detect claims fraud, and assisting with intelligent document processing. Further, the integration also enables enhanced video monitoring, allowing one nurse to monitor multiple patients beyond vitals; this includes unusual movements (i.e., spasms post-surgery).

 

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Lawson RQC Requisition user not able to see Service Tab

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The “Lawson RQC Requisition user not able to see Service Tab” issue can crop up from time to time for select users, but it is a simple fix (see below).

 

After verifying the user has adequate access for requisitions and the RQ04 record is created.

Have the user clear browser cache go to Requisition Center >> Shopping >> and Press NEW.

Have the user logout and back in, check to see if the Service Tab is now there.

 

Also, in RQ04, you can set a value for Special/Service Items in one of the tab options to see if that resolves the issue as well.

 

Good luck!