Benefits of Infor’s Multi-Tenant Cloud

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With Microsoft’s end-of-life for Windows 2012, and Lawson’s end-of-life coming up in 2026, many organizations are considering a move to a cloud solution.  And Infor’s Multi-Tenant cloud is a true contender.  Here are just a few of the benefits of choosing to move into the Infor Cloud.

Flexibility

Once per year, customers have the ability to request a swap in Infor products.  Swappable Infor products include any multi-tenant products that the customer has subscribed to for at least one year.  Talk about flexible!

If you are already in the cloud, and looking for a technology swap, contact your Infor Account Executive today!  Your AE’s contact information can be found in the Contact widget on your Concierge home page.

Transparency

Pricing for storage, additional non-production environments, and programmatic access can always be found on Infor’s web page.  Non-production environments can be used temporarily as-needed (a minimum of 6 months) to save on costs.  Storage can be requested subject to a minimum amount and time.  Programmatic access, or the interaction between Infor products and third-party programs, will use the Infor OS service and is priced separately.  Again, this pricing is always available on the Infor Docs website.

Support

Severity 1 issues are covered by customer support 24x7x365.  Response times are within 30 minutes from Infor’s receipt of the logged request, and they are working to decrease that SLA all the time.  They are currently working toward a goal of increasing support for Severity 2 issues to 24×7.  And they are improving their response templates to make sure customers are receiving the most accurate and detailed information possible on each ticket.

Availability

Infor offers credits if the Multi-Tenant cloud availability dips below a specified threshold.  This credit would be calculated by the month.

Infor refers to these ideals as the customer’s “Bill of Rights”.  And as great as they are, Infor is constantly working toward improving on these “rights”.  Stay tuned!  More good news is coming!

 

How Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Will Reshape Enterprise Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are a universal staple in many in consumers’ lives, from streaming service suggestions of what to watch next to GPS route options based on your past behavior. AI can emulate human decision-making from the algorithm-driven foundation of ML that enables the former. We see automation as something that would better our lives by limiting our choices. Whereas in a larger sense, these automation technologies can be used by companies in many aspects of the business – from transporting products to warehouse workers for packing, processing invoices, to assisting with many other repetitive business tasks. It’s clear that AI and ML has made a huge impact in enterprise technology. Tech-driven solutions from these automation tools have helped companies reduce costs, create a more efficient logistics chain, and free up employees to add value to their organizations in other positions. Nate Farshchi, media and telecommunications senior analyst with RSM US LLP, shares an article on BuiltIn – the online community for startups and tech companies – indicating that plenty of strong signals indicate that AI, ML, and automation will play an important role in the future of business. Accenture notes that, currently, “only 12 percent of enterprise applications are utilizing AI and ML at a maturity level which results in a significant competitive advantage.” IDC has also estimated that “90 percent of enterprise applications will be supplemented by artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI & ML) by the year 2025.” Farshchi notes that adopting AI and ML applications is also becoming less expensive and faster because of lower training costs and quicker training periods for their employees. The future of AI, ML, and automation, Farshchi concludes, appears to be bright and has a very high ceiling. Businesses should act now to get ahead with this enterprise technology.

 

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5 ways ERP can minimize the massive cost of power outages

Power outages can happen any time. Depending on your environment, they can be predictable. However, in any power outage, any business is at risk. Productivity comes to a standstill and you have the horror of losing any unsaved on-premise data. One of the easiest solutions to the latter problem is to have your business information on the cloud, especially your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Cloud ERP can be accessible over the internet anywhere and in times like sudden power outages, almost everything is stored safely in the cloud for you to recover. BusinessTech, the largest business news website in South Africa, knows that their area is no stranger to power outages. While you may not experience as many power outages where you live, they can still happen and at any time. Experts at BusinessTech share 5 ways that an ERP can help minimize risks and costs when you are in a power outage situation.

  1. Reduced risk of data loss. “When ERP data is in the cloud, this mitigates the risk of data loss, downtime from hardware failure, and malware attacks.”
  2. High availability. “Public cloud offers high availability, which is one of the key goals of moving to the cloud.”
  3. A secure platform for business. “Cloud providers tend to have high-level security technology and practices in place. These should include access-and identity management, multi-factor authentication, and Intrusion Detection.”
  4. Secure access to important data. “Among the major advantages of ERP software is the customizable dashboards that provide an understanding of business operations. With drag-and-drop visual elements, users can quickly interpret data to make informed decisions.”
  5. Business continuity compliance. “Backing up data is the first step to any successful business continuity plan, and this is certainly made easier – and more dependable – with the cloud. In addition, one of the key advantages of using the cloud for business continuity is that applications can be accessed from anywhere.”

If you’re not already in the Cloud ERP space, now may be a good time to look into it instead of later on when it may be too late.

 

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Changes with MSCM v11

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There are some important changes to MSCM v11 that will impact the way handhelds and admins interact with it.

First, the handheld URL has changed.  To connect to MSCM, the handheld should connect to mscm_server/mscm.  Note that the “mscm” appended to the end of the URL is new.

The configuration has also been moved off the file system and into the database.  The configuration can be edited at this URL: http(s)://mscmserver:port/mscm/service/app/login.jsp

Finally, if you are having trouble printing labels, go to the administrator and check for the flag “Use Printer Agent For Printing Documents And Labels”.  This should be unchecked.

 

 

Regloplas Lifts its Pioneering Spirit to the Cloud

Infor recently announced that Switzerland-based Regloplas AG has migrated to the cloud and has gone live with Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise as well as Infor CPQ in the multi-tenant cloud. The temperature control solutions market leader deployed a future-proof ERP (enterprise resource planning) infrastructure to enable scalable, digitized manufacturing processes. Implementation and support was headed by Infor partners AS infotrack AG and AZTEKA Consulting GmbH. Per the press release, Regloplas has achieved strong business growth in recent years, which led to a host of completely new requirements for production and the value chain in order to adapt to the new market environment. New ERP infrastructure was needed that could meet the new challenges and provide Regloplas with easy-to-scale, digital manufacturing. Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise is specifically tailored to the needs of manufacturers and offers a complete solution package for ERP in the multi-tenant cloud. Additionally, Infor CPQ configure price quote has become a critical business solution for Regloplas, with the capability to enable Regloplas to offer its customers highly customizable products.

 

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8 Advantages of Using Managed Services with the Infor Cloud (Supporting Article)

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More and more organizations are moving their ERP services into the Infor Cloud each day. Join us for a discussion about how a managed service provider can be an invaluable resource when you move to the cloud.

Functional Assistance

A good Managed Service Provider will not only understand the “back-end” of Infor products, but they will also offer strong resources who can provide “front-end” functional assistance.  Infor’s Cloud Suite applications are quite robust, and as a result they can be quite complex.  Having an MSP on your team can give your users the comfort of knowing that answers to their functional questions are just a phone call away.  Additionally, Nogalis makes it our business to know your business.  We take the time to understand all your organization processes, and we will even make process improvement recommendations.  We have deep knowledge of the Infor applications in addition to knowledge of the business needs, so we are in a unique position to make these recommendations.

Front-line Support (break-fix)

Infor’s support service is quite responsive and knowledgeable about the Infor products.  However, it is still good to have someone who can bridge the gap between the applications and your organization.  A Managed Service Provider should make it their business to know your business.  That way, if an issue arises, they can be the one to initiate and assist with support calls to Infor.  They will be in the best position to explain the issues and work with Infor toward a solution.

Security

Infor delivers basic security roles with all of their Cloud Suite products.  The setup for these roles is maintained in the Landmark Configuration Console, which uses Infor’s proprietary language called “Landmark Pattern Language” (lpl).  It can be cumbersome to have your in-house IT learn this new language.  On top of learning the new language, they would also need to learn the ins and outs of each application in order to be able to properly create/modify security classes.  The security setup can get very granular, down to the field level.  An Infor Partner will already have the expertise available to create an maintain custom security.  They will also be able to better interpret the delivered security rules so that they can work with you to ensure that users are only seeing what they need to see.  An MSP should also offer robust security reporting, and assist you with keeping your security rules in line with your Infor licensing.

Monitoring & Proactive Maintenance

A Managed Service Provider can monitor your system, even in the cloud.  There are monitoring tools provided by Infor, plus there are diagnostic tests that can be run against every system.  This helps to make sure that your applications don’t undergo any unexpected downtime.  Also, a Managed Service Provider can monitor patch releases and make recommendations on when to request patches for your applications.  They can also monitor things like disk space and database health to hopefully catch any issues, and work with Infor to mitigate them, before they bring down your system.  Nogalis offers monthly health checks that bring all of these diagnostics into one place for your review.  For our customers, these health checks have resulted in a 98% reduction in downtime, and an 80% reduction in critical issues.

Patch Testing

Infor releases patch bundles regularly, and these bundles can touch every piece of each application.  It is important to be able to interpret what the bundles are changing so that users will know how to test.  It is almost always necessary to perform full regression testing.  An Infor MSP will be able to interpret the patch notes to assist your organization with a test plan.  They will also have generic test scripts to give you a jumping off point, and they can even help you to organize the testing effort (which should take about 4-6 weeks).  And once the bundle is complete, the MSP will be available to assist with any interfaces or custom work that might need to be done as a result of changes from the patch.

Configuration Console

There are countless ways to customize the experience in Infor’s Cloud Suite.  In addition to third-party interfaces using IPA or ION, and custom security rules, the applications themselves can be customized.  Configuration Console can be used to do something as small as add a user field, or something as large as adding a whole new business class to facilitate a brand-new custom application.  These types of customizations have a tendency to be under-documented, and often the knowledge of the changes leaves when the originator leaves the organization.  It is far safer to leave this type of work in the capable hands of a Managed Service Provider.  Once they create the new custom work, or review and document the existing, they can take on the responsibility for break-fix or minor tweaks going forward.

Process Automation & Reporting

Infor offers their ION engine for translating and loading data, and Infor Process Automation is available for more complex interfaces.  There is always going to be a need for automating processes, or interfacing with other applications.  These types of activities will inevitably run into some sort of issue, and it is important to have someone on the team who understands the tools as well as the applications they are tying together.  A managed service provider should be able to jump right in to troubleshoot issues, and also to make minor tweaks as the needs arise.

In addition to automating processes, custom reporting is very important to most organizations.  Configuration Console can be used to generate many custom reports, and if you need something even more complex, or if you need to bring data in from outside systems, Infor also offers Birst as an option.  A Managed Service Provider will already have a good handle on some basic useful reports, and they should be able to hit the ground running on any new reporting needs that may arise.  An MSP should readily know and understand Infor data and how the pieces fit together, so creating and maintaining reports will be a fast, efficient, and painless process.

Cost Savings

There is no way around it.  When you move to Cloud Suite, you will still need someone “on the ground” to assist with issues, customizations, and functional questions.  The most cost-effective option is to hire a Managed Service Provider.  You can see up to a 33% reduction in operational costs in the first year over trying to manage the system in-house.  Your MSP should also be able to provide statistical reports demonstrating turnaround on incidents, as well as compliance with SLAs.  And, having a managed service provider will allow your analysts and functional users to focus on their daily tasks and process improvement, where they can really contribute to the effectiveness of the organization.  It is a true win-win scenario.

The 5 Biggest Business Trends In 2023 Everyone Must Get Ready For Now

Ever since the global pandemic of 2020, every business in every industry was flipped. Businesses faced huge challenges they didn’t think they needed to face for a while – forced to work remotely, forced to close doors, forced to lay off more than half of their workforce – and until now, they still are scrambling from these changes.  Yet from these changes, businesses have found methods that work and could still work long after the COVID-19 pandemic becomes just a memory. Technology advisor Bernard Marr shares an article on Forbes his insights of the biggest tech trends heading our way in 2023.

  1. Accelerated digital transformation. “In 2023, we see the continuation of innovations and developments in transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), cloud computing, blockchain, and super-fast network protocols like 5G. New solutions for augmented working, hybrid and remote working, business decision-making, and automation of manual, routine, and creative workloads combine these technologies in ways that enable them to enhance each other.”
  2. Inflation and supply chain security. “Many industries are still plagued by supply chain issues that emerged during the global shutdowns caused by Covid-19 and have only got worse due to the war in Ukraine. To combat this and stay afloat, companies need to improve their resilience in any way that they can. This means reducing exposure to volatile market pricing of commodities, as well as building protective measures into supply chains to deal with shortages and rising logistical costs.”
  3. Sustainability. “In 2023, companies need to make sure that their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) processes are moved to the center of their strategy. This should start with measuring the impact any business is having on society and the environment and then move to increasing transparency, reporting, and accountability.”
  4. Immersive customer experience. “The role that technology plays here, traditionally, has been to streamline processes and remove hassle from the life of the consumer. Think recommendation engines that help us choose what to buy or online customer service portals that deal with problems and after-sales support. These will still play a key role in 2023, but the game has evolved, with this year’s keywords being immersion and interactivity.”
  5. The talent challenge. “Over the past year, we have seen huge movements of talented people as workers reassessed the impact of work and what they want to get out of their lives. This has put pressure on employers to ensure they are providing attractive careers, the flexibility of hybrid work, and an enticing work environment and company culture. Offering people fulfilling work, ongoing opportunities to grow and learn, flexibility and diverse, value-oriented workplaces will all be essential in 2023.”

While the new year is still a few months away, Marr recommends businesses jump on these trends now and be prepared for a more competitive landscape in 2023.

 

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6 Tech Trends in the Hospitality Industry in 2022

The hospitality and the travel and tourism industry in general has seen a major facelift with technology each decade. Today, many digital integrations are an everyday offering in hotels and venues. Mobile booking and check-ins, mobile-apps or mobile friendly websites for agendas, and concierge instant messaging to name a few have become an industry standard. Mary Wadland, publisher and editor in chief of The Zebra Press, offers 6 tech trends in the hospitality industry that have been more and more in demand in 2022, and most likely for years to come.
  1. Virtual Reality, AI, and Augmented Reality. “These three elements are connected to a degree, but it’s interesting to see how they are being embraced by the hospitality industry in 2022, in many cases for the first time. Each of these adds a layer of value and convenience for the customer while also freeing up staff to concentrate on other tasks and functions.”
  2. Energy Saving Technology and the Internet of Things. “Due to the war in Ukraine, every business in 2022 is increasingly focusing on saving on the energy costs. Options include state-of-the-art sensors and detectors that can monitor whether rooms or areas are occupied and cut power to those that aren’t. At the same time, the IOT (Internet of Things) allows connectivity to a range of ‘smart’ devices and appliances that collect data and interact via the internet. This can be used to monitor and adjust thermostats and lighting and it helps to save energy costs too.”
  3. Cybersecurity. “Investing in stronger cybersecurity protection has clearly become a trend in 2022. To safeguard your valuable data as a hospitality manager/owner you should, protect your devices and those of your customers by using a VPN that encrypts data, use a guest network to keep their and your staff’s activities separate, provide cyber awareness training to your staff, and use the cloud and backup data.”
  4. Voice Search and Control. “Many of us use voice search via our smartphones or personal assistants such as Siri. We have become so accustomed to using voice for a range of features that many people now expect this when away from home too. It also helps to reduce touch technology in many areas of business, which may impact the spread of COVID-19.”
  5. Contactless Payments. “The use of contactless payment methods has been growing in popularity with consumers and providers alike. However, the health concerns generated by COVID-19 gave further impetus to a hands-free, automated payment system. Contactless payments are also beneficial for hospitality vendors too as they are quick and compatible with loyalty programs.”
  6. Mobile Check-In and Guest Communication via Messenger. “Mobile check-in reduces or eliminates the need for face-to-face interactions. It also allows customers a greater degree of freedom and flexibility about when they arrive and gain access to their rooms. At the same time, it prevents queuing at reception desks and other delays and – during a time of health concerns – limits human exposure.”

This isn’t to say that every hotel or venue will have all these technologies implemented right now, but in order to stay competitive, Wadland sees these technologies as a must have for people who travel these days.

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City of Calgary Simplifies Asset Management with Infor

Infor recently announced the successful upgrade of Infor Public Sector (IPS) asset and work management software at The City of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, to the latest iteration. Per the press release, this upgrade will allow the city’s mobility business unit to capitalize on newer functionalities, including mobile applications, GIS data integration, overhauled user interface and enhanced performance. Implemented by Infor Consulting Services (ICS), this upgrade will assist the city to mitigate risk on its critical assets, leading to improved outcomes for the citizens of Calgary. With the newer versions of the Infor Solutions software suite, this will provide the public sector-specific functionality needed to ensure efficient business operations. Additionally, with this software, the city can potentially make faster, better-informed decisions related to asset tracking and valuation, work management, preventive maintenance scheduling, work order management, and advanced asset analysis.

 

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MSCM Handheld CAB Files

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In a previous article, we taught you how to bypass an error message “Internet Explorer cannot download file” on a Mobile Supply Chain Management, or MSCM, handheld. Today, we’re going to show you the simple way to to file share on MSCM handheld.

Occasionally you may need to copy the handheld CAB files to a file share so they can be loaded on the handhelds.

The local file path for MSCM up to version 11 is:

WAS_HOME\profiles\server\installedApps\cell\mscm.ear\hh.war

The local file path for MSCM starting with version 11.2 is:

WAS_HOME\profiles\server\installedApps\cell\mscm.ear\mscmwar.war\hh\installer