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Unlocking Potential: Why Connecting Outside Systems to Your Baan or Infor LN System is Crucial for Business Success

Kathy Barthelt 0 729 Article rating: 5.0

In an era of rapid digital transformation, having a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) system like Baan or Infor LN is a solid foundation. These systems are powerful data repositories and transaction engines. However, their true power is often limited when they operate in isolation.

Connecting your core ERP system to other, specialized applications—whether a customer relationship management (CRM) platform, an e-commerce site, a warehouse management system (WMS), or even a specialized QMS—is no longer a luxury; it's a strategic necessity. This integration transforms your ERP from a single source of truth into the central nervous system of your entire operation, enabling seamless data flow, improved decision-making, and enhanced efficiency.

Here’s a breakdown of the advantages, potential disadvantages, and what your business stands to gain.

The Major Advantages of System Integration

Connecting disparate systems offers a wealth of benefits that can fundamentally change how you operate:

1. Enhanced Data Accuracy and Real-Time Visibility...

CASE STUDY: Navigating an ERP Upgrade with Outdated Knowledge

Kathy Barthelt 0 1388 Article rating: 5.0

The Problem: Knowledge Gaps in a Legacy ERP Environment

For organizations running long-established global ERP systems such as Infor Baan or LN, upgrades can be daunting. Over the years, employee turnover, internal role changes, and evolving business structures often erode institutional knowledge of the original ERP setup.

When the time comes to upgrade, teams frequently lack a clear understanding of how the system is currently being used. This knowledge gap leads to inefficient planning, costly rework, and missed opportunities for process optimization.


The Solution: A Blueprint-Based Assessment and Optimization Strategy

To address this challenge for one of our LN customers, we implemented a blueprint-driven assessment designed to provide a clear, data-backed foundation for their ERP upgrade.

Our strategic approach focused on objective comparison and actionable insight, using a step-by-step methodology:

  1. Benchmarking Against a Standard Blueprint
    We created a standard LN functionality blueprint representing the ideal model of available processes and best practices.

  2. Site-by-Site Analysis
    Each customer site’s configuration and usage were compared to the standard blueprint, identifying gaps, customizations, and inefficiencies.

  3. Efficiency and Optimization Reporting
    The comparison highlighted workflow inconsistencies and process variations across sites, enabling targeted optimization and standardization.

  4. Budgeting and Roadmap Development
    The results provided a data-driven foundation for budgeting, along with a clear, prioritized roadmap for the upcoming upgrade.


How the Solution Was Implemented...

Webinar Invitation: JumpStart for WebTop Decorators for Infor LX

September 18, 2025 | 12pm CT / 1pm ET

George Moroses 0 625 Article rating: 5.0

Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM CT | 1:00 PM ET

Infor LX users already understand the value of WebTop for simplifying navigation and extending capabilities. In this webinar, we’ll take it a step further and show you how WebTop Decorators can help you customize and streamline your Infor LX experience.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to enable WebTop Designer Mode
  • How to assign Web Administrators
  • How to enable a Grid Decorator
  • …and much more!


Speaker: Nick Olson, Crossroads RMC

Register: https://ibmi.workoutloud.com/Event/-decoratorswebtop/Register/0

👉 Can’t attend live on Thursday? Register for free and we’ll send you the recording after the session.


Additional Opportunity at inPOWER

We’ll also present JumpStart for WebTop Decorators for Infor LX at inPOWER:

The Far-Reaching Impact of Disconnected Data

Kathy Barthelt 0 3711 Article rating: 5.0

Disconnected data doesn’t just slow you down—it creates bottlenecks across your entire business. When your ERP isn’t connected to the systems you rely on, every department feels it.

How Disconnected Data Hurts Your Organization

  • Operations: Spreadsheets and manual order entry waste valuable time.

  • Finance: Budgets, POs, and invoices stuck in silos cause delays and errors.

  • Technology: Teams burn hours exporting data to stay “up to date.”

  • Executives: No single source of truth makes it hard to see the big picture.

A recent study found that 61% of companies face project delays from slow data integration, while employees waste the equivalent of 19 workdays per year moving data between systems. That’s lost productivity you can’t afford.

Why ERP Integration Matters
Your ERP is the heart of your operations. Connecting it to the rest of your business tools unlocks:

  • Real-time data access → no more outdated spreadsheets.

  • Improved communication → one source of truth for every team.

  • Higher productivity → eliminate duplicate entry and manual reporting.

  • Smarter supply chains → better visibility, fewer delays.

  • Sales enablement → reps get live pricing, inventory, and customer data.


Simplify Integration with Infor ION...

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