5 Pitfalls to Know When Migrating to the Cloud

Migrating to the cloud makes the most sense in this technological driven workplace. Though moving there takes a lot of planning and expert-level execution for the process to run smoothly. Firms will run into hiccups but if you prepare for them, these hiccups can easily be resolved. Accounting and managed services expert Michael Sellai of BPM LLP shares an article on accountingweb.com of certain factors that every company should be aware of and have a plan for when migrating to the cloud.

  1. Downtime. “Temporary loss of access to your data and systems during a migration, while common, can be costly and anxiety-inducing. Back up everything you have. Migrate during the lowest periods of usage. Try to work “locally” as everything is moved over.”
  2. Broken Apps. “Before your migration, do a thorough audit of every piece of software or application that you and your team use on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. It is critically important to implement security controls across the entire cloud platform to protect client information and mitigate staff errors. Ideally, clients will be able to upload their information to this platform via a secure portal since email opens the door for data privacy glitches and other costly mistakes.”
  3. Improper Bandwidth Expectations. “Take inventory of your daily speed-based headaches. Get the most out of this move. Instead of faltering by failing to prepare, you can improve the efficiency of your business from every angle.”
  4. Initial Costs. “Cloud computing often requires the purchase of software licenses, which are usually purchased on an annual basis. Smaller firms may find that moving their most important apps to the cloud will not achieve cost savings. For firms that successfully migrate to the cloud, you may rack up an IT tab that includes, for example, eight different platforms for your entire team for the entire year. But remember: your team will be more productive and profitable. You will save on hardware costs, repair costs, office space rentals and the daunting bill that will eventually come from accruing technical debt.”
  5. Lack of In-House Understanding. “One of the key of benefits to cloud computing is knowing that everything is working the way it should. If your firm does not have a dedicated IT guru or department on standby to manage these functions, there are professionals you can engage who are skilled managed IT service providers. They can also assist you in implementing the important security controls you need around your cloud platform to ensure client information is protected and your staff operates error-free.”

 

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Sutton Tools Hones Precision Delivery with Infor CloudSuite

Australia’s Sutton Tools recently deployed Infor M3 CloudSuite for manufacturing to achieve a timely and accurate understanding of its business to drive product and company expansion both domestically and abroad. The business has successfully implemented Infor OS cloud operating platform, which includes Infor Intelligent Open Network (ION) and Mongoose, to fine-tune internal processes and reduce total cost of ownership. Per the press release, migrating to the cloud from a Movex/Infor M3 on-premises environment has saved Sutton Tools hundreds of thousands of dollars on new computing systems, and improved system integration and supply chain visibility across three manufacturing sites and three distribution centers — under the guidance of Infor global partner Fortude. According to Sutton Tools, upgrading goals were to improve business IT uptime, reduce the effort required to upgrade an on-premises system, take advantage of modern, continually upgraded cloud service features. centralize its growing number of operational sites and existing third-party cloud-based services, and make it easier to integrate with third-party applications. Further, transitioning to the cloud has delivered company-wide benefits beyond cost savings.

 

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Deactivating an IPA Flow

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Here is a quick guide on how to deactivate a scheduled IPA.

 

First, you will need to find the IPA name in IPD

  1. Log into IP Designer
  2. Create a new process
  1. Upload the process to your server by clicking the up arrow icon , or by clicking:
    • Tools > Manage Processes > Select Open Process

 

Remove the Schedule for the Process

  1. Log into Rich Client
  2. From the Start menu, navigate to Applications > My Actions > My Scheduled Actions
  1. Select the Name of the schedule and on the bottom screen it should show all the triggers associated with the schedule.
  2. Drop down on Actions and choose Delete Finished Triggers
  3. Right-mouse click and Click open
  1. Select delete to remove this schedule.

 

Mount Franklin Foods Selects Infor CloudSuite Food & Beverage Solution for Business Growth & Digital Transformation

Mount Franklin Foods, a leading manufacturer of branded, contract and private-label confectionary, nuts, snacks, and food service products, recently chose Infor’s CloudSuite Food & Beverage solution as part of their solution to support their rapidly growing business and help accelerate its digital transformation efforts. The El Paso, Texas emerged from the pandemic of recent years and continued to grow at an exponential rate. Per the press release,  the company recognized that it needed more agility to respond to a rapidly changing market and take advantage of new opportunities. They chose to partner with Infor with the plans to deploy its CloudSuite Food & Beverage solution, supply chain planning, Infor Factory Track, dynamic Enterprise Performance Management (dEPM), and warehouse mobility.  With Infor CloudSuite Food & Beverage, Mount Franklin Foods will integrate its systems into a single-source platform for real-time, reliable data. Further, as the company continues to grow this new solution will minimize the time and costs associated with system integrations. Additionally, Infor’s cloud solution will help the company maintain higher levels of security and risk management.

 

For Full Article, Click Here

How to update certificates in Lawson & Landmark

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IIS

The process to update web certificates in Lawson & Landmark is virtually the same.  First, change the selected certificate in the “Bindings” on the website.  Restart the World Wide Web Publishing service for the change to take effect.

WebSphere

Some sites use the default WebSphere generated certificate, which auto-renews.  In the event that your organization has configured WebSphere to use an organizational server or wildcard certificate, you will also need to replace that certificate in WebSphere.  First make sure that you have a pfx file stored locally on the server, and that you have the private key for that file.

Open the console manager and navigate to Security > SSL certificate and key management

Select the CellDefaultKeyStore

Select Personal Certificates

Import the new certificate first.

Set the path to where you have saved the file locally, and enter the password.  Click “Get Key File Aliases” to get the certificate information.  Enter a meaningful alias for the certificate.

 

Select the old certificate and click “Replace…”.

Select the new certificate as the replacement.  Check the boxes to Delete the old certificate and signers.

Follow these same steps for the NodeDefaultKeyStore

Save the changes to the master configuration.

Validate that the Trust Store certs were updated by going into NodeDefaultTrustStore and CellDefaultTrustStore > Signer certificates

Web Server

Copy the new certificate to the Web server.  In console manager, go to Server Types > Web servers.

Click “Plug-in properties” on the right under Additional Properties.  Select “Copy to Web server key store directory”

Generate and propagate the plugins for the web server.

Run an iisreset command, or restart the WWW publishing service.

Your certificates are updated!  You can validate this by going to the web site and looking at the certificate (click the little lock).  You can compare the thumbprint of the website certificate to the new certificate you just added.

3M Announces Plans to Create Long Term Value Through Spin-Off of Health Care Business

Earlier this week multinational conglomerate 3M announced their plans to spin off its Health care business into a new public company. Per the company’s press release, 3M will continue to be a leading global material science innovator and staying present in diverse end markets, with science and technology, manufacturing, global capabilities, and iconic brands. Their standalone public health care venture will become a global diversified healthcare technology company that will focus on wound care, oral care, healthcare IT and biopharma filtration. 3M chairman and chief executive officer Mike Roman says of the news, “Today’s actions advance our ability to create value for customers and shareholders. Disciplined portfolio management is a hallmark of our growth strategy. Our management team and board continually evaluate the strategic options that will best drive long term sustainable growth and value. The decision to spin off our Health Care business will result in two well-capitalized, world-class companies, well positioned to pursue their respective priorities.”

Additionally, this spin-off intends to be tax-free for for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. Further, 3M will retain responsibility for non-Health Care related litigation, including those related to Combat Arms Earplugs and PFAS. Their financial advisors will come from Goldman Sachs & Co and PJT Partners. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as legal counsel on the spin-off of 3M’s Health Care business.

 

For Full Article/Press Release, Click Here

Starboard Hotels Shines Bright with Infor

Starboard Hotels, one of the UK’s leading independent hotel operators, owners, and developers of franchised and own brand hotels, recently extended its use of Infor EzRMS, a successful start of a project to incorporate in-depth competitor information analysis. This will help deliver an intelligent, responsive revenue management system across nine hotels in the group. Per the press release, Starboard has opted to take advantage of the full functionality of Infor EzRMS and its new capabilities enabling the business to obtain an automated, comprehensive insight into competitive pricing throughout all online channels. In addition to this extra functionality available to the Starboard team, it will see to increase revenue throughout the hotels and improve competitiveness by enabling a data-based, total revenue management approach. Further, the solution provides deep-learning algorithms that dynamically recognize patterns to ensure optimal and accurate business forecasts, pricing and selling strategies.

 

For Full Article, Click Here

How to resolve the problem: LSF submitted processes aren’t triggering on IPA Server

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Problem: Submitted requisitions aren’t triggering on IPA server via reqapproval process and are not showing in Rich Client.

 

  1. Go to LSF application server, start LID and type: pfserv ping all

    Make sure Event Manager is running.
  2. When Event Manager is NOT running:
    Let’s restart it but make sure we can see the java process with –classpath in their command line close.

Now in LID on LSF server, run these stop commands IN THIS ORDER:

Verify the java.exe –classpath processes closed, else manually end them.

 

Now start them up IN THIS ORDER:

Now run a pfserv ping all to see if Event Manager is running.

 

Go to Rich Client and check Live Workunits to verify that hung processes are being picked up:

 

This issue can often be prevented with regular Lawson maintenance and monitoring via monthly health checks. Organizations with a single Lawson professional are sometimes spread thin and overwhelmed.

 

To combat this, organizations often hire a Lawson consultant team who offer managed services at a fixed monthly rate. These Lawson teams have a wider range of expertise and knowledge and are ideal for larger organizations but also are great for smaller ones that don’t need a dedicated Lawson employee on-site.

 

Megafrio Food Distributor Improves Stock Visibility with Infor WMS

Megafrio, a food distribution company in Chile, recently selected and is already gaining benefits with the Infor WMS for warehouse management system. The solution was sold and implemented by Infor Latin America channel partner Cerca Technology. Per the press release, Megafrio selected Infor WMS to help meet needs and achieve goals, which included sustaining business growth, increasing service to customers, reduce operative costs and maximize capacity of distribution centers. Additionally, many of the business operations take place at Megafrio’s distribution centers, and the company has achieved superior product tracking and process agility with the implementation of the Infor solution. Change management being key was achieved through the quick learning process of the team and the ease of use of the new platform. While the project is still ongoing, Megafrio has already seen successful results such as an increase in productivity, improved inventory accuracy and visibility, better customer satisfaction and decision making to name a few. The company hopes to continue with this upward trend as the project continues.

 

For Full Article, Click Here

Lawson MHC Image Express Print Error

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You may have come across this message on Lawson MHC – An error occurred while printing. This problem happens when printing Lawson forms or checks from MHC Image Express, and users may receive the error on their screens while printing.

In MHC, users often print 1099 forms, checks, etc. and may need to re-print a form.

When re-printing they sometimes run into this error and are unable to resolve on their own:

  1. First, you’ll need an MHC or Lawson trained individual who understands the application.
  2. Locate the output files via the print routines in the same account the user previously printed from.
  3. Below is an example of where our print routines point to. Delete or move these files to a backup directory to resolve this error:

MHC Image Express integrates with Lawson and it’s a lot to ask of an individual Lawson employee to maintain when they may be tied up with other daily issues.

To combat this, organizations often bring on Lawson consultants who offer managed service and typically have expertise in maintaining and updating MHC related products (especially around year-end).

 

Good luck!