The Greenfield Deception: Why Your ‘Clean Slate’ ERP Strategy Might Be Sabotaging Your Data Legacy

Greenfield ERP (enterprise resource planning) migrations may offer a fresh start, but they often come at the cost of losing critical historical data and institutional knowledge, putting years of business intelligence at risk. In an article by CEO Mark Vigoroso from ERP Today, he challenges the conventional wisdom favoring greenfield ERP migrations, which treat new implementations as entirely fresh starts and often discard valuable legacy data. While greenfield approaches are promoted as a way to eliminate outdated code and modernize systems, they risk erasing decades of business intelligence embedded in legacy systems—such as custom processes, historical performance patterns, and institutional knowledge crucial for informed decision-making. Vigoroso highlights that many organizations, especially those with complex, decentralized operations, rely heavily on historical data to understand market trends, supplier performance, and process efficiencies. Discarding this data in pursuit of a “clean slate” can lead to significant losses in operational insight, as exemplified by companies like a pharmaceutical firm and a manufacturer that lost critical process and supplier data. The article advocates for a more nuanced migration strategy that preserves legacy data and business context. Data Migration International’s JiVS IMP platform exemplifies this approach, enabling organizations to decommission legacy systems while maintaining complete, compliant access to historical information. This hybrid method combines the benefits of modern ERP systems with the retention of valuable institutional knowledge, reducing costs and risk without sacrificing operational agility. Vigoroso urges tech leaders to move beyond binary migration choices and adopt intelligent, data-preserving strategies. He recommends establishing governance frameworks and data archaeology assessments to identify critical historical patterns before system decommissioning. Ultimately, successful ERP transformations will be those that integrate modern capabilities with a strategic preservation of legacy data, viewing it not as technical debt but as a source of competitive advantage.

 

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Using the Field Prefix to Find a Column in SQL

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Below is a useful tip for using the field prefix to search for a column in SQL

Clicking Ctrl+Shift+O in a field on a screen in Lawson is a useful tool to determine what database file that field is populated by.  This can be used in Lawson DME Queries, but it also can be used in SQL queries.  The prefix of the field name (such as VEN) maps to the table name where the value comes from.  If you don’t know how the prefix maps to a table, you can easily find this information in the GEN database.  The table you want to search is FILEDEF on the PREFIX column.  So, your query might look something like this:

SELECT * FROM FILEDEF WHERE PREFIX = ‘VEN’

This will return the record that contains table name and other information about the database file that populates this screen.

Self-Driving Finance: Why Autonomous ERP isn’t a Buzzword Anymore

The move to autonomous ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems is turning finance functions from manual, time-consuming processes into strategic drivers, pushing finance leaders to rethink their tech strategies and invest in smart platforms that automate both day-to-day operations and high-level planning. A recent article by Mark Vigoroso, CEO of ERP Today, highlights the growing importance of autonomous, AI-powered (Artificial intelligence powered) ERP systems for modern finance leaders. As organizations seek greater agility, resilience, and efficiency, the traditional role of ERP systems is evolving from mere transaction recording and compliance support to facilitating strategic decision-making and operational automation.

Key points include:

  • The emergence of self-driving ERP platforms, like Unit4, which embed generative AI, automation, and machine learning to transform finance functions.
  • Automation of routine tasks such as invoice management through AI-enabled workflows, and natural language processing, leading to faster, more accurate processes.
  • The shift in FP&A from static reporting to AI-driven, real-time insights and predictive analytics that generate digestible narratives for decision-makers.
  • The integration of predictive capabilities within core financial processes, avoiding siloed solutions and providing timely insights.
  • The strategic imperative for finance leaders to invest in intelligent platforms that automate strategic processes, support proactive decision-making, and provide a competitive edge.
  • Future market forecasts estimate the autonomous AI and agents industry will reach $70.5 billion by 2030, emphasizing the significance of this technological shift.

Recommendations for ERP insiders include prioritizing platforms with embedded intelligence, automating strategic processes, and investing in technologies that enable real-time, predictive insights to drive growth and operational excellence. Overall, adopting autonomous ERP is portrayed as essential for organizations aiming to stay competitive in an increasingly complex and data-driven landscape.

 

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Harnessing Data With Integrity: Cleaning, Extracting And Unifying Data

Today’s consumer-focused companies rely on teamwork and data-informed decisions to fuel growth, but their main challenge is ensuring that actionable insights come from trustworthy, well-structured, and readily available data sources. Lori Schafer, Forbes Council Member and CEO of Digital Wave Technology, shares an article that emphasizes the importance of robust data governance and efficient processes for modern consumer-facing organizations that rely on data-driven decisions. It highlights the distinction between merely collecting data and being responsible stewards of it—ensuring data is accurate, accessible, and well-organized through smart cleansing, enrichment, and management practices. Key challenges in data management include sourcing high-quality data, overcoming silos and incompatible systems, and reformatting information to fit organizational needs. Traditional extraction methods can be slow and costly, but emerging technologies like Generative AI (GenAI) are transforming data processes. GenAI enhances the ETL (extract, transform, load) workflow by identifying inconsistencies, filling gaps, and verifying data integrity, resulting in cleaner, more reliable datasets. The article underscores the role of AI in securing data access through attribute-based controls and automated classification, enabling granular permissions across departments. It advocates for appointing dedicated data governance leaders to oversee standards, security, and collaboration. Ultimately, organizations must foster a culture that values data integrity, invest in AI-powered tools, and establish clear governance protocols to ensure real-time, accurate data insights—crucial for maintaining competitiveness and operational agility in today’s marketplace.

 

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How to get the EMSS version

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To find out your EMSS (Employee and Manager Self-Service) version, please run the following command in LID (Lawson Interface Desktop):

 rngdbdump logan version | lashow

The command rngdbdump logan version | lashow is used to get the EMSS version. This command is designed for Lawson environments. In a Lawson environment with LID is intended to extract version information from the logan database file, and display the extracted version information.

When you run the command, you will get a screen similar to the one shown below. There, you can look up your EMSS version on your Lawson environment.

How Data Management Tools Can Help Unpack The Unique Link Between Data And Industrial AI

Heiko Claussen, Forbes Council Member and Chief Technologist at Emerson’s Aspen Technology business, share an article explaining the the evolving role of data and AI in industrial sectors. While traditionally, effective AI relies on high-quality, field-collected data, purpose-built industrial AI—especially in industries like oil, gas, and chemicals—can operate effectively using simulation models and first principles without extensive field data. Nonetheless, access to well-managed, contextualized data remains crucial for deriving actionable insights and optimizing operations. The article highlights the explosion of industrial data, citing estimates of up to 130 zettabytes generated in 2023, yet notes that only a small fraction is actively utilized due to data silos and inconsistent formats across systems. To address this, centralized data management tools are increasingly vital for aggregating, contextualizing, and automating the integration of diverse data sources, thereby enabling faster and more effective use of data. In terms of AI applications, purpose-built industrial AI can tackle operational challenges even without initial field data, relying on models and domain expertise. However, incorporating real-time, contextual data enhances AI accuracy and predictive capabilities—particularly for maintenance and operational optimization—thus bridging the gap between simulation and real-world conditions. Claussen concludes by discussing strategies for transitioning to improved data management systems, emphasizing incremental implementation to maintain business continuity. Overall, well-managed, contextualized data combined with advanced AI tools is key for industrial organizations aiming to boost operational excellence and maintain competitive advantage amid an increasingly complex technological landscape.

 

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How to Update Design Studio Forms

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Problem
We need to make a change in TEST to AP10 custom form.

 

Next steps:

Backup the existing AP10 custom file and copy the new version, ap10.1.custom.xml  file to Prod  F:\lawson\law\persistdata\lawson\portal\content\forms
There is no impact to users and no outage required.
After the change is in place, AP10 users will need to clear their browser cache and cookies and an IOSCacheRefresh will need to be run to clear the DS from Portal.

  1. Open DS and Go to the existing tab
  2. Go to UI Designer,

 

  1. click on Find, The top one which is custom is the one we want to view. Select and Open

 

  1. Now go to browser tab and duplicate the tab to open a new window

 

  1. Create a new UI Designer. Select and hit ok

 

  1. Go to Next
  2. Create a new form in the Productline in AP System

 

  1. Click next and give it a second to load. Find AP10 and NEXT
  2. And Finish

 

  1. Go to source at the bottom
  2. Scroll all the way to the top to see if it is different

  1. Shows it is a different version
  2. Go back to design tab
  3. Place browser side by side to work with both

The ap10.1 reviewed is the customization

  1. Go to source on bottom tab and copy that into notepad++ and do the same thing with the other one.

  2. Go to plugins

Look for compare and check it and click install

Then go back to plugins admin/compare and

Compare/compare

  1. If that is not helpful, they may have had something in there that they have since commented out.

Just add the export button to a fresh form and overwrite the old one.

  1. Go to the script on the right had window
  2. Double click on the button label and drag it to position.

  3. Click on Text button

Type export

  1. Click on Action

This tells you want you want it to do, so go to the other screen and copy what that one has

  1. Just add export vendors

Since they have old code, we don’t need the other one

  1. Now go to script to add lines to make it work
  2. Copy the function that is needed
  3. Paste it in the new screen
  4. backup original file in the LAWDIR/persisdata/lawson/portal/content/forms folder

  5. Save the script that was modified

  6. Go to view and preview on tool bar
  7. Validate if it now works.
  8. Migrate to PROD by copying the xml file to PROD.
  9. Clear browser data and Refresh cache so users can now see the updated version.

 

Why Digital Transformation Needs Architecture, Not Milestones

Enterprise finance is shifting from manual, transactional systems to intelligent, real-time platforms, but success requires more than just adopting new software—it demands a strategic and well-structured finance architecture. Forbes Council Member and Cloud Solution Architect Rahul Bhatia shares an article emphasizing that many ERP (enterprise resource planning) implementations focus too much on “going live” rather than building a robust, scalable financial foundation. Common pitfalls in ERP projects include:

  • Inconsistent financial setups across regions
  • Neglected compliance leading to costly fixes
  • Promised AI and automation features that never arrive
  • Poorly scaled integrations with key systems
  • Disconnected ESG and financial reporting

These issues stem from a lack of strategic planning, not from flaws in the technology itself. Without a thoughtful, future-ready finance architecture, organizations struggle to achieve the full value of ERP investments. Successful finance transformation requires alignment across strategy, systems, structure, and people. Using McKinsey’s 7-S Framework, Bhatia suggests, organizations can ensure their finance architecture supports business goals, minimizes fragmentation, and empowers internal teams with the right tools and skills. ESG, compliance, and transparency must be built in from the start—not added later. Many companies fail to scale digital finance initiatives because early efforts lack standardized, repeatable models. Starting with a solid architecture enables scalable, compliant, and lower-risk implementations. While going live may seem like the ultimate goal, in reality that’s just the beginning of true digital finance transformation. To lead innovation, Bhatia concludes, finance teams must focus on creating sustained value through intelligent, compliant systems built with purpose, rather than merely chasing milestones.

 

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Why It’s So Hard to Modernize Your Outdated ERP

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are designed to streamline business operations, but many companies are hindered by outdated versions that create more problems than they solve. In an article shared on Yahoo tech (originally from the Daily Upside), tech writer Nat Rubio-Licht explores why updating outdated ERP systems is so difficult. Key issues include deep system customizations over time, high implementation costs, user resistance, lack of vendor incentives for adoption, and poor change management. Challenges include technical debt, employee resistance to change, and the disruption modernization causes to daily operations. Vendors may support technical transitions but that isn’t enough to ensure a successful adoption. These factors – and much more – make modernization a daunting but increasingly necessary task for businesses. Despite the hurdles, modernizing ERP systems is increasingly necessary to stay competitive.

 

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Downloading Logs for review in a Lawson Cloud Environment

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In Lawson v10, Admin users would have direct access to system logs but in the cloud, you’re access is limited to FTP access.

Problem: Reviewing IOS and LADB logs live is more difficult through FTP since you’re unable to download or view a file that is currently being written to. To get around this you simply use the copy line command or cp.

 

To understand this process, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open LID and connect to the Lawson environment you want to access logs from.

 

Step 2: Go to %LAWDIR%\system directory

 

Step 3: Create a new folder in %LAWDIR%\system directory, command is: mkdir temp_logs (this will create a folder called temp_logs)

 

Step 4: In %LAWDIR%\system type this command (change based on your log names):

cp *ios_lsapp*.log temp_logs

 

Step 5: Go to %LAWDIR%\system\temp_logs and run the ls command to view your copied log files or simply download them from the FTP.

 

Here is a screenshot of my results:

If you found this article helpful, Nogalis offers expert technical resources for managing Lawson Cloud environments. Whether you’re dealing with FTP restrictions or need assistance with accessing logs, our team is here to provide guidance and support. Contact us to learn more about how we can assist with your Lawson system needs.