Can ERP implementation happen remotely?

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has flipped the script for almost every industry. Common across many fields, remote work has become the ‘new normal’ for many (and still is). In the ERP (enterprise resource planning) business, remote implemantation and its effectiveness is proving its worth in this climate. Gone are onsite implementations when the new normal is remote setup. However, yet how effective is remote ERP implementation? Sean Fowles of Seidor Africa, a leading SAP Business One Reseller in Africa and a top technology integrator, shares an interesting read on ITWEB Africa of certain prerequisites one must consider before relying on remote ERP implementation.

  1. Analysis. “Successful ERP implementations begin with education. It requires organizations to develop an understanding of their business processes and to map those. This allows the team to define the business entity, who is responsible, to what standard a business process should be completed, and how the success of a business process can be determined.”
  2. Design. “Large ERP projects often have a dedicated meeting room with timelines and status updates displayed. With a remote team, this practice is still extremely useful, but it needs to be done virtually. Interactive whiteboard applications offer real-time collaboration for remote workers, enabling visualisation and promoting engagement between those involved. Similarly, HD video-conferencing units allow for face-to-face connections and create an environment where people are more likely to share innovative ideas.”
  3. Build. “Building in phases requires workflow templates, security templates, mapping templates and comprehensive reports. Collaboration and connection with the team will ensure that all members are properly enabled to complete their tasks. It’s also important to address all the ‘how-to’s’ separately with individual team members.”
  4. Test and deploy. “Consistent testing will help to keep project stakeholders engaged and interested. Plan the testing phases and create test scripts to facilitate the process.”

Should these four requirements be met, Fowler’s believes remote ERP implementation should be successful.

 

For Full Article, Click Here

Lawson MSCM Handheld Unable to Download PlatformDLL File

, ,

Infor recently updated handhelds and MSCM for a cloud environment. The test user was able to download the Infor CAB files to the handheld but was unable to download the PlatformDLL file. The error message kept coming back with “Internet Explorer cannot download file”

 

After ensuring all permissions were set for the user and running several tests, rechecking the configuration setup. We finally located the issue from the update and it turns out a port was reset to a default value and we had to change the Service Type to LHC. Below are the steps you can take to resolve this if you’re experiencing a similar issue.

 

  1. Login into MSCM with Server Administration group rights.
  2. Select MSCM Configuration >> Additional Settings
  3. Select Service Type LHC and under Handheld Service Properties, ensure you’re using the correct port. For us we had to update it to 1447

  1. We updated both LSF and handheld ports to 1447 and the user was now able to download the file.

Hope this was helpful!

STAY Builds for Growth with Infor

Luxury apartment service brand STAY recently deployed Infor HMS property management system for its 169 apartment properties in Camden, London. Infor WMS will help deliver even better customer service and provide a platform for new processes including flexible, contactless check-in. Per the press release, Infor was chosen based on specific invoicing capabilities for the extended stay sector, deep domain expertise within the hospitality industry as well as the ease of integration with other systems. Calum McIndoe at Infor Hospitality says of the deployment, “The serviced apartment and extended stay market has bucked the downward trend of the hospitality industry under COVID. Our proven ability to deliver large projects remotely has allowed STAY to capitalize on this ongoing demand and deliver a premium accommodation experience in the heart of London.”

 

For Full Article, Click Here

Lawson System Foundation Older Addins Attributes

, ,

If you have suddenly noticed in Lawson Security Administrator that certain users have different attributes in their addins field other than ALLOW or DENY, don’t worry as this was setup by design back before LSF version 9.

These values were removed in version 9+ because Lawson User Security (LAUA) and Lawson System (LS) security can now secure these actions on specific tables and records.

If you want to convert the old Addins Attributes like to Allow or Deny, simply edit the users RM info and change the Addins field to Allow or Deny.

 

If you prefer to stay on the older attributes, see the table below for in-depth access descriptions:

Attribute ID Description
Dxxxx The user does not have access to the Query Wizard, but has full access to the Upload Wizard.
DDxxx The user does not have access to any Addins functionality.  Same as the current Addins attribute = DENY.
ADxxx The user has access to full QueryWizard functionality, but is blocked from using any part of the UploadWizard.
AADDD The user has access to both the QueryWizard and the UploadWizard, but is blocked from adding, changing, and deleting records.
AAADD The user can use the QueryWizard and UploadWizard to add records only.
AADAD The user can use the QueryWizard and the UploadWizard to change records only.
AAAAD The user can use the QueryWizard and the UploadWizard to both add and change records, but is blocked from deleting records.
AADDA The user can use the QueryWizard and the UploadWizard todelete records only, but is blocked from adding or changing any records.
AAADA The user can use the QueryWizard and the UploadWizard to add and delete records, but is blocked from changing any records.

 

Stellar Value Chain Solutions Takes Tech-Driven Operations to Next Level, Rolls Out Infor Cloud-Based Supply Chain Solution

One of India’s largest tech-driven consumer supply chain companies Stellar Value Chain Solutions has selected Infor WMS warehouse management systems to launch a minimally-configurable, digitalized supply chain service as part of the company’s plan to streamline its warehouse management. Infor WMS is purpose-built for industry, and combines advanced warehousing with highly configurable rules, built-in labor and inventory management, automated third-party logistics (3PL) billing and warehouse planning within a single, synchronized solution. Per the press release, the digitalized supply chain service will offer clients enhanced transparency, visibility, cost efficiency, accelerate go-to-market strategy and leverage data analytics to identify new market opportunities. Infor will help Stellar Value Chain Solutions build a centralized system to manage infrastructure, equipment and labor efficiently.

 

For Full Article, Click Here

The Six P’s Of Medicine: How Healthcare Technology Will Transform Access To Care And Enable Better Patient Outcomes

The digital revolution made an impact in almost every industry. In medicine, med-tech, virtual appointments and online data tracking are some advancements to name a few. Forbes Councils Member Eliott Jones, CEO and co-founder of Biospectal, a remote patient monitoring and biosensing software company, wrote an article revising the “5P Medicine” model – preventive, predictive, participatory, personalized and pertinent. Jones explains with the rapid move toward telehealth during the coronavirus pandemic accelerating these shifts on a seismic scale, we have added a sixth “P” to the mix: platforms. Here’s how the six P’s of medicine work to provide better data, healthcare and patient outcomes, according to Jones:

Personalized – “Previously, medicine often had a cookie-cutter approach to health. Technology will allow patients and doctors to better understand each patient’s health by accumulating a volume of data that is unique to them, including blood pressure, average heart rates, blood sugars, oxygen saturation and more. Doctors will be able to view a patient’s overall health over the course of a year instead of a snapshot of a patient’s health in a single office visit.”

Precision – “We’ve come a long way from simple monitoring devices like blood pressure devices accessed at the local grocery or drugstore or glucose testing strips sold in local pharmacies. Many of today’s med-tech devices are just as accurate as monitoring devices used in hospitals and healthcare facilities.”

Predictive – “No one can predict the future. Though with the resources we have today, a patient can collect hundreds of blood pressure readings or multiple EKGs, it’s much easier to make informed conclusions about potential outcomes. Using this information, doctors can make informed predictions about where the patient’s blood sugar readings will be in a few months and adjust care and medication as needed.”

Preventive – “Having months and years of data about a patient’s health or a chronic condition is a powerful asset. Robust data will allow doctors to recommend interventions, change medications, or enlist other specialists if needed. An informed view of what could happen in the future could lead patients to make changes where they matter most: the present.”

Patient Participatory Medicine – “The advent of new devices, apps and platforms allows patients to participate much more in their own healthcare. The new model of healthcare fundamentally shifts from something static to a paradigm where each patient is a stakeholder in their care. Active investment in an individual’s health leads to better outcomes across the board.”

Platform – “Health monitoring technologies add a sixth “P” by combining robust data into a platform. While devices like smartwatches and wearables have helped people participate in their own healthcare and fitness for years, apps are poised to help democratize access to health monitoring by enabling instant, global scale distribution to existing smartphones and data integration with clinical patient management protocols. Almost everyone is equipped with a smartphone, meaning the platform for some of these technologies is ubiquitous if the health monitoring technology is delivered via an app.”

Ultimately, Jones concludes, technology and platforms will allow patients to participate at the highest possible level in the management of their health.

 

For Full Article, Click Here

Levoni Group Chooses Infor for Digital Transformation

Gruppo Levoni, a historic Italian company specializing in cured meats production, has chosen to implement Infor CloudSuite Food & Beverage, an enterprise software solution designed specifically for the food sector. Managed by Infor Gold partner Atlantic Technologies, This project will be based on Infor M3 enterprise resource planning and Infor OS operating system to create a digital transformation path for Levoni. For over 100 years Levoni has distributed its 100% Italian products to more than 10,000 delicatessens in Italy and to 50 countries around the world. Per the press release, the strong evolution and competitiveness of the market and the need to satisfy consumers who are increasingly attentive to quality, transparency and sustainability, accentuated even more by the pandemic, have led Levoni to digitize production processes. With Infor CloudSuite Food & Beverage, Levoni will be able to manage both the slaughterhouse and the cured meat production, which are very different processes, with a single tool that provides full traceability from farm to fork. Additionally, the Infor Implementation Accelerator will allow Levoni to create new processes and modify existing ones, starting from worldwide proven industry best practices, providing the agility to respond immediately to the increasingly frequent changes in the market. Furthermore, the implementation will allow Levoni to embrace the logic of an integrated ecosystem connected with employees, suppliers and collaborators, capable of managing the various aspects of demand from an increasingly aware and demanding consumer. The solution will be used by about 230 users and will allow the company to rely on a single system to manage all the group’s activities and provide a holistic view of the business.

 

For Full Article, Click Here

How to uninstall a CTP in Lawson using lawappinstall

, ,

You’ve applied a patch to your system and it caused more problems than it fixed or it was not the solution to your problem and there is no point in pushing it to PROD. Today we are going over simple steps to uninstall a CTP which is similar to how you install a patch via lawappinstall.

  1. Ensure security is turned off and it is typical to bring down websphere before starting so no user can login during this process.
  2. In LID, start with the uninstall command:
    • perl %GENDIR%\bin\lawappinstall uninstall <productline> <patchxxxxx>
  3. Run lawappinstall STAGE (optional but recommended)
    • perl %GENDIR%\bin\lawappinstall stage <productline>
  4. Verify stage compilation complete:
    • qstatus | wc -l (this command will return the number 4 when compiling is complete)
  5. Check for compiling errors:
    • ls %LAWDIR%\<productline>\*\*.err
      • If any errors found, recompile failed programs with this command:
        • qcompile productline SystemCode ProgramCode
  6. Run lawappinstall VALIDATE:
    • perl %GENDIR%\bin\lawappinstall validate <productline>
  7. Run stgcmp
    • stgcmp list <productline>
      • If the program’s status is FAILED or RECOMPILE REQUIRED, submit the program to the compile queue using the -A option.
  8. Finally, Activate
    • perl %GENDIR%\bin\lawappinstall activate <productline>
      • You should see the patch(es) you ran the initial uninstall for, confirm, verify any other prompts.
  9. Verify Non-stage compilation (if you didn’t run stage):
    • qstatus | wc -l
  10. Turn security on, turn websphere on, run your typical post smoke tests as if you were applying a patch.

 

Hope this was helpful!

Three Ways To Take Cloud-Based ERP To The Next Level

A year into this ‘new normal’ of working in a remote setting, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are a critical technology to have for your business. ERP platforms are meeting the demands of today’s virtual workplace, providing the highest level of security, secure access to data and the opportunity to gain a competitive edge. Forbes Council Member and VAI CIO Kevin Beasly shares an article describing three ways to take cloud-based ERP to the next level.

Automate Security Functions. “To protect your organization from evolving cyberthreats, it’s essential for your cloud-based ERP services to offer automated security functions. Automated security saves time and resources so you can focus on measures like cybersecurity training your employees. Other recommended safety measures include the required use of strong password policies, multifactor authentication and biometrics — all of which can be automated.”

Integrate Third-Party Applications. “The ability to integrate third-party applications and APIs with your ERP systems expands your ability to apply advanced functions like forecasting and predictive analytics to decision making. When connecting to third-party applications and APIs, security is paramount.”

Use Predictive Analysis. “Predictive analytics use historical data, statistical algorithms and AI technology to predict future patterns. The right analytics strategy can help improve inventory management and production planning, detect fraud, optimize marketing strategies, manage risk and improve operations.”

Leverage Your ERP For Cost-Saving Results. “Investing in ERP optimization strategies can reap benefits for years to come. A 2018 study showed that the top three areas in which ERP produced ROI were reduced IT costs, inventory levels and cycle time.”

 

For Full Article, Click Here

Infor Alliance with Midport Scandinavia to Bring Best-in-Class Capabilities to Nordic Project-Centric Enterprises

Infor  recently formed a strategic alliance with Midport Scandinavia, a leading software and services company in the Nordics. Infor’s industry-specific cloud capabilities and Midport’s local service delivery will come together to help make digitalization a reality for project-centric enterprises in the Nordics. A long-term partner of Infor, Midport will focus on Infor CloudSuites (based on Infor LN) for discrete manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industries. Per the press release, the partnership will extend Infor’s commitment to the Nordic market, bringing its enterprise applications to manufacturers, project industries and MRO companies across the region. Niels Mejer, CEO at Midport, says of the alliance, “We are helping our customers through the whole lifecycle of digitalization projects from evaluation, activation and continuous support for Infor LN-based CloudSuite solutions. Infor is providing the industry-specific solutions, and we at Midport have capabilities and expertise to activate the processes to our customers’ purposes.”

 

For Full Article, Click Here