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Riverina Water Boosts Customer Satisfaction with Infor-led Digital Transformation Program

Riverina Water recently deployed Infor CloudSuite Public Sector Customer and Billing modules as part of its ambitious digital transformation project. The organization has had early, positive signs that will have a flow-on effect on customers set to reap the rewards of real-time transaction capabilities anywhere, anytime and on any device. Per the press release, this was a strategic move to implement Infor’s cloud-based enterprise software platform as it is in line with Riverina Water’s pursuit of customer excellence.  The deployment of Infor CloudSuite Public Sector will be instrumental in helping better manage costs, secure IT investments and improve service delivery to more than 77,000 customers by retiring legacy systems and moving to the cloud. Further, Riverina Water is planning for future rollouts of Infor solutions, including asset management, financials, supply chain management and Infor’s managed service, CareFor.

 

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How to resolve the Lawson Fax Integrator error

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Follow these simple steps on how to resolve the Lawson Fax Integrator error(s):

“There was an error connecting to the server” or “The remote server returned an error: (530) Not logged in” (see screenshot below)

To resolve either of these, first navigate to the Servers >> Lawson tab, then make sure you use valid credentials for the FTP user.

Next, Under the Servers >> Portal tab, make sure that you have valid Lawson user credentials. If not, then enter the correct information.

Finally, click Update after entering your credentials. This will resolve the 530 FTP invalid credentials error. That’s all there is to it!

2024 Tech Trends Businesses Should Start Preparing For Now

In the final quarter of 2023, Members of the Forbes Technology Council examine the tech trends that have and will continue to dominate in 2024. They also explain how and why businesses should prepare for these changes now.
  1. Addressing Potential Power Grid Instability. “Businesses need to start preparing now to be more energy-efficient and self-reliant in 2024. Business continuity plans for 2024 should likely include considerations for power redundancy.” – Robert Martin, Oil City Iron Works, Inc.
  2. Reducing Technical Debt. “Businesses need to adopt newer tech that orchestrates business processes across systems and reduces technical debt by identifying ways to consolidate systems and applications.” – Paul Deur, ReadyWorks
  3. Incorporating AI And ML. “Investing in digital transformation is a technology trend that will still be relevant in 2024. Companies that leverage AI technologies have the potential to experience significant growth over the next few years.” – Igor Rikalo, o9 Solutions
  4. Readying Teams For AI Integration. “Businesses must focus on the human aspect of AI integration. Investments in skills development and reskilling, along with embracing flexibility and honesty, build trust. This approach secures business success by retaining and uplifting talent in a competitive, AI-driven era. – Greg Salvato, TouchPoint One
  5. Ensuring Ethical AI Usage. “As we look to 2024, it’s clear AI will keep revolutionizing how we approach technology and security. Businesses can prepare by educating developers to harness AI responsibly and ethically.” – Chris Wysopal, Veracode
  6. Focusing On Finance As A CIO. “One trend we’ll see in 2024 is CIOs acting more like CFOs. Tech—specifically, software optimization—will become an ongoing initiative.” – Ben Pippenger, Zylo
  7. Prioritizing Repeatability And Scalability. “At the beginning of 2024, a lot of firms will be taking a much closer look at their budgets. The modern firm will prioritize repeatability and scalability of data products over flash and one-off insights. Plan for lean times, and show that you can stay modern without breaking the bank.” – Lewis Wynne-Jones, ThinkData Works
  8. Accelerating Digital Transformation. “In 2024, I expect to see another acceleration in digital transformation. I foresee more innovations that will help organizations meet employee demands and streamline operations to recruit and retain workers amid labor shortages.” – Mike Morini, WorkForce Software
  9. Browsing And Shopping Via Voice Search. “In the coming years, we will see more people use voice search for browsing and shopping. Prepare for the continued emergence of voice-powered tech that allows a user to search with their voice instead of a keyword. I recommend adding schema markup to your site, including frequently asked questions in your blog posts and writing conversationally so your site is more likely to get selected as an answer.” – Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
  10. Blending Customer-Centric Marketing And Privacy. “In 2024, two pivotal trends will intersect: AI-powered, customer-centric marketing and a privacy-first world. A groundbreaking solution will emerge through an innovative “faceless” paradigm in data-driven marketing.” – Kseniia Maiboroda, Elevatix
  11. Adopting DeFi. “With blockchain’s evolution and growing user adoption, DeFi is set to redefine banking, lending and insurance. It’s vital for forward-thinking businesses to grasp DeFi’s intricacies and potential now to stay ahead in 2024’s transformative financial landscape.” – Imane Adel, Paymob
  12. Embedding Financial Workflows In Products. “In 2024, businesses must begin to embed financial workflows natively into their core product offerings. In the vast majority of B2B and B2C businesses, including banks, financial workflows form an absolutely integral part of the system—no business really is a business if it cannot collect, move and disburse money while retaining customers. With regulations catching up, drag-and-drop financial infrastructure is key.” – Prashanth Balasubramanian, Striga
  13. Integrating Brain-Computer Interfaces. “The integration of neurotechnology into various applications via brain-computer interfaces is advancing rapidly, opening doors to new possibilities in healthcare, entertainment and beyond. Companies should begin exploring how BCIs can enhance user experiences, create innovative products and, potentially, revolutionize industries by leveraging brain-wave data for improved insights and interaction.” – Jagadish Gokavarapu, Wissen Infotech
  14. Harnessing Data For Generative AI. “The biggest challenge businesses are facing when it comes to implementing a holistic approach to generative AI is data. While many businesses have piloted generative AI tools, few have begun the data governance and data migration work that will be necessary to achieve their long-term generative AI goals.” – Vivek Jetley, EXL
  15. Achieving Governance And Security Of AI And LLMs. “The governance and security of AI and large language models will be a hot business topic. For example, if an LLM is used to build an HR bot to answer employee questions, there will need to be filters and security that can prevent certain staff members from accessing information a human HR rep would never give them. How can we ensure the bot knows that interns should not be able to ask how much the CEO saves in their 401(k)? This is where we will see innovation in 2024. – James Beecham, ALTR
  16. Protecting Data Access And Privileges. “As we finish up 2023, increasing cybersecurity threats will result in even more action on the smallest level. Businesses must focus on identity management and find new ways to ensure that access to, and the privileges connected with, their proprietary data are proactively protected.” – Jim Barkdoll, Axiomatics
  17. Tapping Into The Power Of 5G. “The expansion of 5G networks will pave the way for the development of a multitude of new technologies and services and the evolution of current ones. Businesses should look into the myriad opportunities in the development of Internet of Things devices, digital twins, and smart cities and communication technologies.” – AJ Abdallat, Beyond Limits
  18. Merging Physical, Generative And Virtual Realities. “In the fourth quarter of 2023, businesses should gear up for the transformative trend of generative AI and metaverse integration. Companies must begin laying foundations for immersive digital environments that merge physical, generative and virtual realities.” – Ranghan Venkatraman, Rezilyens LLC
  19. Leveraging Quantum Computing. “Businesses should get ready for the quantum computing trend of 2024, which has the potential to change industries by resolving challenging issues more quickly. Early research into quantum algorithms and collaborations can give a competitive edge and result in breakthroughs and improvements across a variety of fields.” – Neelima Mangal, Spectrum North
  20. Preparing For Emotional AI. “In the closing months of 2023, businesses should start preparing for the rise of emotional AI in customer interactions. EAI will soon move beyond text and voice recognition to discerning customers’ emotions through subtle cues. Preparing for this means understanding how to ethically implement it—that is, making sure emotional engagement enhances the user experience without causing privacy concerns.” – Marc Rutzen, HelloData.ai

 

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Infor and Made2Flow Launch Dedicated Sustainability Interface for Fashion Industry

Infor announced the availability of a dedicated interface between Made2Flow, a tech company specializing in analysis and validation of environmental data in the fashion industry, and Infor product lifecycle management (PLM). Per the press release, the interface will facilitate processing of data and full visibility for global fashion brands looking to increase transparency of the production supply chain. Most importantly, it will support traceability and impact measurement across tiers one to four. Additionally, the interface between Infor and Made2Flow will automate the necessary data flow and impact calculations. This is done through capturing data from the entire supply chain — from yarn suppliers and fabric companies to garment producers — and Infor’s interface with Made2Flow will facilitate meaningful, real-time insights from which to monitor, measure and analyze key, predefined metrics. Not only will this allow greater visibility of the wider context of the fashion lifecycle, it also will deliver the necessary collaboration to allow continuous measurement to meet targets and communicate effectively and transparently with stakeholders.

 

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Positive Pay File Creation (CB170)

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Positive Pay File Creation (CB170) produces a flat file containing bank required payment information for issued, voided and stop paid payment transactions that have been processed since the last run of the CB170 for the cash code and transaction code.

NOTE: The first time the CB170 is run for a cash code, it will only report on open transactions.

The positive pay file is then sent to the bank to be used to confirm checks presented for payment have not been altered.

Since there are no standard file layouts, you will need to use an external mapping tool to reformat the file into the specific bank format. Use this procedure to define a positive pay file.

  1. Access Positive Pay File Creation (CB170)
  2. Consider the following fields.
    • Cash Code – Enter or select the cash code for which the report is being run. Enter or select one of Cash Code, Cash Code Group, or Cash Code List.
    • Cash Code Group – Enter or select the cash code group for which the report is being run. Enter or select one of Cash Code, Cash Code Group, or Cash Code List.
    • Cash Code List – Enter or select the cash code list for which the report is being run. Enter or select one of Cash Code, Cash Code Group, or Cash Code List.
    • Transaction Code – Enter or select the transaction code for which the report is being run.
    • Report Option – Select Full Detail or Summary print option.
    • Filename – Enter a name for the positive pay file. If this field is left blank, the report creates a file named CB170POSPAY.

Zofri Chooses Infor WMS as its Warehouse Management System

Infor recently announced that Zofri, Zona Franca de Iquique, will implement Infor WMS warehouse management system to improve customer service and supply chain automation. The Infor WMS solution will be deployed in the cloud, which is powered by AWS (Amazon Web Services), and will be implemented by Cerca Technology, Infor’s partner in Latin America.  Per the press release, Zofri is one of the most important centers of commerce and industry in South America and has more than 2,000 companies from various countries operating at its sites. As a leading logistics operator, Zofri needed a software tool that could help it better manage the flow of goods and improve customer service. They selected Infor WMS because it checked off many needs for their new ERP system including scalability, inventory management, and supply chain automation. The first phase of the project will see the company increase efficiency in its processes and improve response times to customers. Additionally, Infor WMS will help the company continue to develop its commercial competitiveness when offering services to companies in the Chilean market.

 

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Bridging the Gap: Synchronizing On-Premises Data Centers and the Cloud with AWS Data Migration Service (DMS)

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Introduction:

In today’s hybrid IT environments, where organizations operate both on-premises data centers and cloud infrastructure, synchronizing data between these environments is critical. AWS Data Migration Service (DMS) offers a powerful solution for bridging the gap between on-premises data centers and the cloud. In this article, we will explore how you can leverage AWS DMS to synchronize changes between your on-premises data center and the cloud, ensuring data consistency and enabling real-time decision-making.

 

Setting Up the Replication:

To synchronize changes between your on-premises data center and the cloud, you need to set up replication using AWS DMS. Begin by deploying an AWS DMS replication instance in your AWS account, which serves as the migration engine. Configure the source endpoint for your on-premises database and the target endpoint for your cloud-based database service. AWS DMS supports various source databases, such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. Ensure that your on-premises database is accessible from the AWS DMS replication instance.

 

Change Data Capture (CDC):

Change Data Capture (CDC) is a crucial feature provided by AWS DMS for real-time data synchronization. By enabling CDC, DMS captures and replicates only the changes made to the source database, ensuring that the target database remains up-to-date with the latest data. CDC can be configured at the table or database level, depending on your requirements. This capability minimizes data transfer and reduces the impact on network bandwidth, allowing near real-time synchronization between the on-premises data center and the cloud.

 

Network Connectivity and Security:

To synchronize changes between the on-premises data center and the cloud, a secure and reliable network connectivity is essential. AWS provides Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and Direct Connect services to establish secure connections between your on-premises network and AWS cloud infrastructure. It is crucial to configure network security groups, firewalls, and routing rules to allow traffic between the on-premises data center and AWS resources. Follow AWS security best practices and ensure encryption of data in transit to maintain data integrity and confidentiality.

 

Monitoring and Managing Replication:

AWS DMS provides monitoring capabilities that allow you to track the progress of replication and detect any issues or delays. Utilize the AWS DMS console or leverage AWS CloudWatch to set up alarms and notifications for critical events. Monitoring replication latency, throughput, and error rates helps you identify potential bottlenecks and take proactive measures to optimize the synchronization process. Regularly review replication logs and metrics to ensure the health and performance of the replication tasks.

 

Handling Data Conflicts:

During the synchronization process, it’s possible to encounter data conflicts between the on-premises data center and the cloud. Conflicts can occur when the same data is modified in both locations simultaneously. AWS DMS provides conflict detection and resolution mechanisms, allowing you to define conflict resolution rules based on your business logic. By establishing clear conflict resolution strategies, you can ensure that data integrity is maintained and conflicts are resolved according to your defined priorities.

 

Disaster Recovery and High Availability:

Synchronizing data between on-premises and the cloud also enhances disaster recovery and high availability capabilities. By replicating data in near real-time, you can maintain a replica of your on-premises database in the cloud, enabling quick failover in case of a disaster. This replication approach ensures business continuity and minimizes data loss. Additionally, the cloud provides scalable and highly available infrastructure, which enhances the overall reliability and resilience of your data architecture.

 

Scalability and Cost-Effectiveness:

AWS DMS offers scalability and cost-effectiveness for synchronizing changes between on-premises data centers and the cloud. The service allows you to scale the replication instances based on your workload requirements, ensuring optimal performance during peak periods. Moreover, AWS offers a pay-as-you-go model, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use. This cost-effective approach eliminates the need for significant upfront investments in infrastructure and provides flexibility as your data synchronization needs evolve.

 

Conclusion:

AWS Data Migration Service (DMS) provides a robust solution for synchronizing changes between on-premises data centers and the cloud. By leveraging the power of DMS, organizations can achieve real-time data synchronization, enabling faster decision-making, enhancing disaster recovery capabilities, and embracing the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the cloud. With proper planning, network connectivity, and monitoring, AWS DMS empowers organizations to bridge the gap between on-premises and the cloud, unlocking the full potential of a hybrid IT environment.

What Is Generative AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no doubt a basic part of our digital world and is changing our lives every day. The big development in AI at the moment is generative AI. But what exactly is it? Bernard Marr, international best-selling author, popular keynote speaker, futurist, and a strategic business & technology advisor, shares an article on Forbes breaking down this sub division of AI and its current and potential applications in almost every aspect of our lives. “Just like it sounds, it’s AI that can create, from words and images to videos, music, computer applications, and even entire virtual worlds,” says Marr. “What makes generative AI different and special is that it puts the power of machine intelligence in the hands of just about anyone… The new generation of generative AI tools gives us the power to build and create in amazing ways. With a little practice, we can even use them to build our own AI-powered apps and tools.”

Below, Marr breaks down the basics of Generative AI and its applications, as well as the current consensus on how this type of technology can help or even harm the way we work.

What makes Generative AI different from the others? “One distinction that’s worth understanding is the difference between generative AI and discriminative (or predictive) AI. Discriminative AI focuses mainly on classification, learning the difference between “things” – cats and dogs, for example. This is what’s used in recommendation engines like those used by Netflix or Amazon to distinguish between things you might want to watch or buy and things you’re unlikely to be interested in. Or in navigation apps to distinguish between good routes from A to B and ones you should probably avoid. Generative AI, instead, focuses on understanding patterns and structure in data and using that to create new data that looks like it.”

So What Can Generative AI Do? The first use cases for generative AI typically involved creating text and images. Since then, it has expanded its offering and can also be used to curate data-specific coding, audio, videos, data augmentation and virtual environments to name a few.

How Does It Work? Marr explains, “Like all of the AI we see today, generative AI grew out of a field of AI study and practice called machine learning (ML). While traditional computer algorithms are coded by a human to tell a machine exactly how to do a particular job, ML algorithms get better at their jobs the more data they are fed. Put a bunch of these algorithms together in a way that allows them to generate new data based on what they’ve learned, and you get a model – essentially an engine tuned to generate a particular type of data. Some examples of models used in generative AI applications include Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Variational Autoencoders, Diffusion models, and Transformer Models.”

Generative AI in Practice. There are already many uses of the application of generative AI such as advertisements for companies like Coca-Cola, a newly written Beatles song, generative designed lighter and stronger seatbelt brackets for General Motors automobiles, and the world’s  first AI-generated immunotherapy cancer treatment. Marr adds, “Generative AI is also the technology behind the recent phenomena of deepfakes, which blur the lines between reality and fiction by making it appear as if real people have done or said fake things.”

The Ethical Questions Around Generative AI. While generative AI is capable of amazing things, Marr does point out the difficulties in this technology. “Perhaps one of the biggest is when we will get to the point where it’s impossible to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s generated by AI. Which leads to the question of what (if anything) we should do about it,” says Marr. “And then there’s the question of how this will affect human jobs – will the livelihoods of creators be threatened if the companies that employ them can create as many images, sounds and videos as they need just by telling a computer to do it?” Lastly, the issue of copyrighting comes to play. Who owns the product created by AI? Of course all of these questions need to be answered. But, as Marr concludes, how we answer them may well play an important role in determining the future of generative AI in society and in our lives.

 

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