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Infor LX Tips, Infor LN Tips, BPCS Tips, Baan Tips, Infor M3 Tips & Infor ERP News

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Infor ERP Tips & News from the Experts

Infor LX | Infor LN | BPCS | Baan | Infor M3

BPCS/LX Tip of the Day: Accounts Payable / Purchasing

Anthony Etzel 0 981 Article rating: No rating

You can integrate Accounts Payable (ACP) with Purchasing. ACP requires more detailed information in the Vendor file than Purchasing requires. Accounts Payable automatically checks for a valid purchase order when you

match invoices to POs and receipts. Enter any outstanding active purchase orders through PO Release, PUR500, before you can match invoices in Accounts Payable.

 

Accounts Payable can also update the Actual Cost fields in the Inventory Master file directly from vendor invoices. You must provide the following information in order for Accounts Payable to complete this update:

▪ Define a type C inventory transaction.

▪ Enter a valid purchase order on the Invoice Entry header screen, ACP500D2-01, or in the Next Purchase Order field on the Invoice Entry: PO Costing screen, ACP500D3-01.

▪ Enter the information for the actual cost transaction on the appropriate lines.

Baan/LN Tip of the Day: Virtualization

Kathy Barthelt 0 49259 Article rating: No rating

The advantages of virtualization include the following:
 

• You get more out of your existing resources. Pool common infrastructure resources and break the legacy “one application to one server” model with server consolidation.

• You can reduce datacenter costs by reducing your physical infrastructure and improving your server to admin ratio. Fewer servers and related IT hardware means reduced real estate and reduced power and cooling requirements. With better management tools, you can improve your server to admin ratio so personnel requirements are reduced.

• You can increase the availability of hardware and applications for improved business continuity.

• Securely back up and migrate entire virtual environments with no service interruptions. Eliminate planned downtime and recover immediately from unplanned issues.

• Gain operational flexibility. Respond to market changes with dynamic resource management, faster server provisioning, and improved application deployment.

 

The disadvantages of virtualization include the following:

 Virtualization adds overhead to the CPU, memory, IO, and network.

 Virtualization adds an additional layer to the hardware and software stack. Therefore, additional complexity is introduced in the following circumstances:

CST Industries Goes Live With LN Ecommerce Site for Dealers

Crossroads RMC 0 30788 Article rating: No rating

Crossroads RMC has partnered with Xenitel Managed Service Solutions and CST Industries to create an online parts ordering site for CST’s dealers. The site is live as of June, 2015. This site was developed largely to simplify the ordering process for CST’s dealers, providing information on available inventory, flexible ordering, fast shipments, and improved dealer support.

 

CST is a global leader in the manufacture and construction of factory coated metal storage tanks, aluminum domes and specialty covers.

Baan/LN Tip of the Day: First Free Numbers

Kathy Barthelt 0 316 Article rating: No rating

In Baan IV, users define series and numbers in the Maintain First Free Numbers (tcmcs0147m000) session. In the Type of Number field, users must select the type of documents for which the series will be used. The generated document numbers are always numeric and can consist of up to six characters.

 

In LN, users must define number groups in the Number Groups (tcmcs0151m000) session and then in the First Free Numbers (tcmcs0150m000) session, define the series and numbers of each number group. Users assign the number groups to various purposes in the corresponding sessions. For example, in the Sales Order Parameters (tdsls0100s400) session, users can select the number group for sales orders and sales schedules. In the Sales Offices (tdsls0512m000) session, users can then select a series of that number group for the sales orders generated by a specific sales office. As the series codes can be alphanumeric, the generated document numbers can be alphanumeric and they can consist of up to nine characters.

BPCS/LX Tip of the Day: Material Requirement Dates and Lead Time Offsets in MRP

Anthony Etzel 0 343 Article rating: No rating

The system automatically performs offsets for requirements dates for components in the MPS/MRP calculations. It also performs offsets for calculation of material need dates at the time that shop orders are released.

To calculate the offset, the system takes the parent lead time from the Item Master and adjusts it by the bill of materials offset (plus or minus) for the component. This gives the lead time days for that specific component. The system starts with the due date of the parent and backs up and skips all non-work days in the shop calendar.

 

Note that the offset calculation uses only calendar records that have a blank work center (the calendar record applies to all work centers). See the information for the Shop Calendar Maintenance program, SFC140, in your Shop Floor Control documentation for shop calendar details.

Baan/LN Tip of the Week: Database Sizing – Moving to LN

Kathy Barthelt 0 219 Article rating: No rating
The Infor LN database must be created with the appropriate size. For example, if at least 150 GB is required for a year, create the database with the required size from the beginning. Do not let the size increase to the required size and cause additional fragmentation in the database and the NTFS volume.  Set the autogrowth to a minimum of 10 percent or 1 GB (for each extent) to avoid fragmentation on file system level. Never use the default extent size of 1 MB.

How Do You Measure Success in Your Business?

Anthony Etzel 0 53323 Article rating: 5.0

Business owners may measure success in different ways – some tangible, some intangible.

In order to establish how you should measure success for your business, you need to first examine how you measure your personal success. If you are a business owner, or a part of the management team of the company you work for, ask yourself these questions to see how you measure up:

Assess personal success.

1.    Am I happy in my job?

2.    Do I have passion for what I’m doing?

3.    Do I get the desired results based on the effort I’m putting in?

4.    Am I putting forth my best effort?

5.    Am I patient and allow for sufficient time to see results?

6.    Do I get respect from my co-workers?

7.    Do I have the endurance to hang in there when things get a bit rough?


Reflect on successes and failures.

After answering these questions, do you need to make any changes? Do you still have the same ambition and drive to achieve the goal? Are you content with your work, or have you come to the conclusion that you have not done your best?

To be successful...

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Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

Tips: LN | Baan

Digital Transformation & Your ERP

70% of global executives said the pandemic will accelerate their digital transformation pace

Transformation: (definition)  A thorough and dramatic change.

We all dream about it….how can we transform ourselves into something better…something more desirable? Maybe it is our appearance that we want to improve, maybe it is our physical strength and stamina, or maybe it is our mental toughness.

Have we thought about transformation when it comes to our businesses? More specifically, our ERP systems that are the lifeblood of our businesses?

When it comes to this type of transformation, we’re talking about a digital transformation. This means taking disconnected business systems and manual processes and transforming or converting those systems into a world where achieving greater efficiencies, collaboration, improved delivery speed, and greater customer satisfaction is not only possible but probable.

As the world becomes more digital, so must organizations large and small, despite the unexpected. One survey found that 70% of global executives said that the pandemic will inevitably accelerate their digital transformation pace. https://dmexco.com/stories/is-the-coronavirus-pandemic-an-engine-for-the-digital-transformation/

ERP has a major impact on digital transformation. When it comes to ERP, transformations are often referred to as ERP Modernization. Here is just a sampling of how ERP modernization can impact your business:

  • Cost Reduction – Supporting legacy software and on-premise servers requires resources, but not just any resources. You must have resources that know the ins and outs of software and hardware that is decades old. Older software and platforms often result in higher maintenance costs and significant limitations to overall data management and system performance. Moving to the cloud, or the latest version of on-premise systems opens many doors that would otherwise be closed to you.
  • Eliminating Data Silos – Separate databases and disconnected systems mean that collaboration and communication are not possible. Missed opportunities abound for increased productivity. What would it mean to your business for all personnel to be operating off the same set of data and getting updates in real-time?
  • One Cohesive System –  Using ERP add-ons is helpful, but unless the systems talk to one another, duplicate data entry is required and real-time updates aren’t possible. How can you truly take advantage of the investment you made in a CRM or inventory management system if it doesn’t communicate with your ERP?
  • Visibility Across the Supply Chain –  No idea when your supplier is going to deliver the parts you need? Are you literally calling or waiting for an email to be sent? If that is how you’re getting updates, you’re likely not getting them timely enough to properly respond to those updates. Customer satisfaction issues can greatly be eliminated with real-time updates and complete visibility up and down the supply chain. With global supply chain issues prevalent in most industry sectors, visibility becomes more important than ever.
  • Scalability Becomes Possible – When your business needs change, your ERP system should be capable of handling the growth or increased functionality requirements to support it. This can be achieved by staying current on the ERP version or at least getting to a version where integrations with complementary systems are possible.

Transformations don’t happen with one act or one giant step. They happen with small steps and interim goals that can and should be celebrated along the way. Need help deciding when or where that first step should take place? Need someone to be your coach for the transformation? Contact Crossroads RMC today for recommendations, best practices, and solutions for this all-important journey for your business. 

800.762.2077 or click here to get a free phone consultation!

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