Redefining ERP support for the cloud-first era

Cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) has transformed the way businesses implement, manage, and scale their systems, providing flexibility, real-time updates, and ongoing enhancements. However, as more industries adopt Cloud ERP, many companies face challenges in fully unlocking the value of their investment. Infor’s Senior Solution Marketing Manager Doug Heise, shares an informative blog about discussing the evolving role of ERP support in the cloud era. As businesses increasingly move their enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to the cloud, the traditional support models are becoming outdated. The blog emphasizes the need for a customer-centric approach that integrates modern technologies and practices. Heise highlights the benefits of cloud-based systems, including scalability, flexibility, and improved access to data. The post argues that cloud ERP support must adapt to these new environments, offering real-time assistance and proactive solutions. He also points out the importance of collaboration between vendors and clients to address specific business needs effectively. Additionally, should not only focus on problem resolution but also on enhancing the overall user experience. It advocates for harnessing AI and machine learning to provide smarter, more efficient support solutions. Furthermore, it stresses the significance of continuous training and education for users to maximize the value of their ERP systems. Heise concludes by stating that redefining ERP support in the cloud era is crucial for businesses looking to stay competitive and agile. Embracing these changes can lead to improved operational efficiencies and a stronger partnership between organizations and their ERP providers.

 

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Database Migration: A Cautionary Tale

With many organizations making the move to take their applications to the cloud, data migration has become a pertinent factor. Successful data migration requires a well-defined strategy, including thorough testing and validation. Forbes Council Member and tech expert Rob Versaw shares an article discussing the complexities and challenges associated with database migration, emphasizing that while it can offer significant benefits, it requires careful planning and execution. It highlights the importance of understanding the existing database architecture and the potential pitfalls that can arise during the migration process. Versaw shares personal experiences of encountering issues such as data loss, downtime, and performance degradation when migrating databases without adequate preparation. Key factors to consider include data integrity, security, and ensuring that all stakeholders are involved in the process. The article stresses the need for a comprehensive strategy that includes backup plans, testing phases, and validation steps to ensure a smooth transition. It also recommends using automated tools and techniques to facilitate the migration process, as well as conducting a thorough analysis of the new environment before full-scale implementation. Collaboration among teams, including IT, data management, and business units, is essential for successful migration. Communication plays a crucial role in managing expectations and mitigating risks. Versaw concludes by encouraging organizations to approach database migration as a strategic initiative rather than a mere technical task, underscoring the potential long-term benefits of a well-executed migration.

 

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Managing and Using Tab Groups in Lawson Portal 10.1

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Tab groups in Lawson Portal allow you to organize and manage multiple tabs, enabling you to switch between workflows efficiently. A tab group is a collection of tabs that can be opened all at once, replacing the currently open tabs. This functionality helps streamline your work when managing multiple tasks.

Using Tab Groups

If you have tab groups assigned to you, they are displayed in the Navigation Menu under the Tab Groups category. A lock icon indicates groups assigned by an administrator. You can hover over the tab group items to preview the tabs they contain. When you click a tab group, a dialog will ask if you want to replace your current tabs. You can opt to skip this confirmation in the future by checking a box.

Managing Tab Groups

You can create and customize tab groups for your own use:

  • Create a new tab group: Click the folder icon in the tabs bar to save your current open tabs as a new group. You’ll be prompted to name it.
  • Manage existing groups: Navigate to User Options > Tab Groups to view and manage your saved groups. Here you can rename, add, delete, reorder, share, or import groups. You can also create empty tab groups by specifying a name and adding tabs later.

Within a tab group, you can modify individual tabs:

  • Tabs list management: When selecting a tab group, the associated tabs appear in the Tabs list. You can add, edit, delete, and reorder tabs here. To add a new tab, the Resource Wizard will help you choose from various options, such as a URL, Token, Favorite, Custom Form, Custom Page, or Utility.

Sharing Tab Groups

You can share your tab groups with others by clicking the Share icon in the Tab Groups list toolbar. You can also import tab groups using the Import icon.

When sharing a tab group:

  • You can rename the tab group before sharing it. Renaming does not affect the original items in the sender’s list.
  • The recipient can also rename the tab group after importing it. The shared tab groups will then appear in the recipient’s list of saved tab groups.

Tab groups make it easy to manage multiple workflows in Lawson Portal, providing flexibility and efficiency when handling various tasks. By creating, sharing, and organizing tab groups, you can optimize your workspace for better productivity.

 

Modern ERP Innovations: Transforming Business Connectivity

Cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems offer scalability and flexibility, enabling businesses to adapt to market changes efficiently. Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration enhances data analysis and predictive capabilities, facilitating data-driven decision-making and automating routine tasks. Technology writer Arundhati Kumar shares an article on Analytics Insight that discusses how contemporary ERP systems like AI, machine learning (ML), and Internet of Things (IoT) are enhancing business operations through technological advancements. These innovations facilitate improved data visibility and streamline operations across various departments. Real-time data analytics allows organizations to make informed decisions quickly. Enhanced user interfaces and mobile accessibility are also transforming the user experience by making ERP systems more intuitive. The article mentions the importance of seamless integration with other tools and platforms to enhance functionality. Another key aspect discussed is the role of automation in reducing manual tasks, increasing efficiency, and minimizing human error. Businesses are leveraging these innovations to improve customer relationship management and enhance service delivery. Furthermore, modern ERP systems support remote work, which has become essential in the current business landscape. The need for cybersecurity measures is also emphasized, as increased connectivity raises vulnerabilities. The article highlights the importance of choosing the right ERP solution tailored to specific business needs. It concludes by stating that embracing these modern innovations is crucial for businesses aiming to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market. Overall, the article underscores the transformative impact of modern ERP innovations on business operations and connectivity.

 

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Landmark Grid shows Default Router is LIMITED

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To get the error log, click on the notepad icon in LOG column

You find there is an error showing Address is already in use:

These errors are because two applications are using the same port 50000

 

To resolve this:

Run netstat to find out what other application is using that port.

Here we see it is PID 6152

Open task manager and find what process is using that PID and go to the description to find out what the application is.

You will need to get the other application to use a different port than 50000 and make sure it is open.

 

How ERP Implementation Can Transform Companies’ Day-To-Day Reality

Without integrated systems, companies face inefficiency, with departments working in isolation and data scattered across systems, leading to time-consuming tasks. In manufacturing and retail, this lack of unity results in order delays and difficulties managing inventory, increasing the risk of stockouts and overstocking. Dmitriy Stepanov, Forbes Council Member and Co-founder of Glorium Technologies, shares and article that discusses the transformative impact of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems on companies’ daily operations. It highlights the inefficiencies faced by businesses lacking integrated systems, such as isolated departmental workflows and repetitive data entry tasks, which can lead to order mismanagement and inventory tracking challenges. ERP systems streamline data flow by consolidating processes onto a single platform, enabling employees to focus on improving operations rather than managing data. This technological and strategic tool fosters business transformation, helping companies scale, adapt to market changes, and enhance customer experiences. The article provides examples of successful ERP implementations, such as Quantum Group, which reduced operational costs significantly by improving cross-departmental data sharing and inventory management. Additionally, the article addresses the challenges associated with ERP implementation, including employee resistance to change and the need for a clear implementation roadmap. It emphasizes the importance of employee training and thorough analysis of business needs to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. Ultimately, the article asserts that while ERP implementation can present challenges, the potential benefits in operational clarity and efficiency make it a worthwhile investment for organizations seeking to enhance their performance.

 

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Infor and Kinaxis Launch Enterprise Planning Solution for Discrete Manufacturers

Infor and Kinaxis have announced a new partnership aimed at improving supply chain alignment for midmarket discrete manufacturers. The collaboration introduces Kinaxis Planning One for Infor CloudSuite Industrial Enterprise, CloudSuite Automotive, and CloudSuite Aerospace and Defense, which integrates Infor’s solutions with Kinaxis’ advanced supply chain orchestration platform, Maestro™. This integration allows customers in industries like automotive, industrial, consumer durables, high-tech, and aerospace to connect operational, tactical, and strategic planning processes, creating a single data source for improved decision-making. The solution enables manufacturers to manage demand, inventory, and supply planning in one view, with advanced scenario management to model various demand and supply situations. This helps companies optimize their plans based on factors like revenue, cost, time, and sustainability. The partnership aims to support midmarket manufacturers who face challenges like tariffs and supply chain complexities, helping them become more agile and resilient. The collaboration will also launch a dedicated team in North America and EMEA to deploy the new cloud-native solution.

 

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Setting up Drill Options in Infor Portal 10.1

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The Drill options in Infor Portal 10.1 allow you to specify how many records will be displayed at one time in the drill explorer.  You can also select which features should open in a new window.  Under “Other Options”, select whether the default should be “Find” or “Filter”. “Filter” only displays relevant results, while “Find” moves the first relevant result to the top of the list of records. This can also be manually toggled in the search dialog. See below for screenshots of the drill options in the Portal 10.1 screen.

 

Why smarter ERP data is the key to AI-powered growth

In the article from VentureBeat, Jan Gilg, Chief Revenue Officer, Americas and SAP Global Business Suite, discusses the paradox of technological innovation not translating into increased business productivity, which has declined from 2.6% between 1995-2005 to 1.4% since 2005. This disconnect highlights that simply having innovative technologies is insufficient; effective use of data and AI is crucial. ERP data, characterized by its structured nature and semantic meaning, plays a vital role in this process, providing essential insights into business operations. Gilg emphasizes the value of ERP data, particularly from SAP systems, which can integrate industry-specific data to enhance decision-making. The emergence of AI-driven applications, particularly in the cloud, allows businesses to leverage this data effectively. SAP’s recent innovations, including Joule for Developers and the Business Data Cloud, aim to unify data sources and improve productivity through enhanced user experiences. The article uses the metaphor of an orchestra to illustrate the importance of integrating various data sources harmoniously. An example from KIND, the health and wellness division of Mars, Inc., showcases how implementing SAP S/4HANA Cloud improved their operational efficiency and data utilization. Ultimately, Gilg argues that companies that actively manage their data and embrace AI will lead in the next wave of business productivity.

 

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LSA  Audit Report

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Audit Report shows changes to security in LSA that have been made through Lawson Security to the security setup of selected users (CONFIG option). Also, shows Instances where users have attempted access that has been denied (ACCESS option).

  1. From the Security Administrator main menu, select Reports > Report Maintenance.
  2. Select New Report
  3. Select Audit report

  4. Specify a name for the report. The name can be up to 30 characters.
  5. Select the Report Type, either CONFIG or ACCESS.
  6. Optional. Select start and end date ranges for the report. Click in the From Date and To Date fields and then choose a date from the calendar.

    If you do not select a date, all data that meets the criteria will be included in the report.

  7. Optional. Select Securable Objects to run the report against. If you do not select specific objects, all objects will be included.
    For example, to check access attempts for HR11.1 and AP20.1, type HR11.1 and then click Add. Then type AP20.1 and click Add. Objects that will appear in the report are listed in the second dialog box. You can click Remove to take an object out of the report.

    You must type the name of the object exactly as it appears in the Security Administrator Object Selector. If you specify a form name, such as HR11.1, use all uppercase letters. If you are typing an Environment executable name, such as, jobdef, use all lowercase. The report does not check for object names. If you type an incorrect name, the report will fail or will not locate any records.

  8. You are now ready to select users to run the report against. Click Select Users
  9. Perform a Basic or Advanced query as necessary to locate the users. Click Find Now when you have specified the query criteria
  10. When the list of users that meet the criteria appears, you can click to select a single entry or Ctrl-click to select multiple entries
  11. Click OK twice when you are finished selecting users.

You are now ready to run the report.