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...

Magic Quadrant™ for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises and received the highest scores in 3 of 7 Use Cases of 2025 Critical Capabilities for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises

-October 24, 2025, 11:00 AM

Gartner ranks Infor highest in ERP for Lower Midsize ($50 Million - $250 Million), Process Manufacturing, and Project/Asset-Intensive Manufacturing Use Cases

October 24, 2025 – For the fifth year running, Infor is a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises. Infor is one of only three vendors to be recognized for five consecutive years.

Read full article:  https://www.infor.com/news/infor-named-leader-fifth-consecutive-year-2025-gartner-magic-quadrant-critical-capabilities

You can maintain all the master data, such as items, business partners, central purchase contracts, general ledger and related data in one company and share this data with the other companies. This master data company can be one of the operational companies, but you can also assign a separate company only to be used for the master data.

The advantages of having a separate master data company are:

• Clarity: Having a single company as master data company is clear for all users.
• Authorization: In general, only a few people in an enterprise can maintain the master data and, particularly for this maintenance, the authorization is important. If one dedicated master data company exists, you can use the company authorization to maintain this authorization very easily.

After selecting the Manufacturing check box and clicking Generate in the Generate Master Data (tccom0231m000) session, LN generates Manufacturing item data by site in the Items - Production by Site (tiipd0151m000) session.

The data is retrieved from:

• The Items (tcibd0501m000) session
• The Item - Production (tiipd0101m000) session
• The Item - Production Defaults (tiipd0102m000) session, if default data have been specified.

• The value in the Site field is retrieved from the warehouse or the work center listed in these sessions:

  • Bill of Material (tibom1110m000)
  • Generic Bill of Material (tipcf3110m000)
  • Production Orders (tisfc0501m000)
  • Production Schedules (tirpt4101m000)
  • Production Schedule Lines (tirpt4102m000)
  • Routing Operations (tirou1102m000). Sites are not retrieved from subcontracting work centers.

In a multilogistic/single-finance company structure, you can manage the manufacturing and distribution processes in a number of separate companies and perform the financial accounting in one company.

You must create one or more enterprise units in each logistic company and link all the enterprise units to the financial company.

For example, you can use a multilogistic/single-finance structure for an organization that consists of a number of separate production plants in one country that use their own BOM and production process but that form one legal entity. The reason for this is because BOMs, and the item cost prices based on them, are specific for each logistic company.

FINANCE: Multilogistic/Single Finance

OPERATIONS: Generating Manufacturing Item Data by Site

TECHNOLOGY: Table Sharing with a Multi-Company Setup - Using a Master Data Company

INFOR LX Bolt Ons

WEBINAR: Thursday, November 20th, 2025 from 1:00 to 2:00 (US/Eastern)

Register Here

Crossroads RMC is excited to participate in this WorkOutLoud webinar, where we’ll showcase eight bolt-on products that extend the power of Infor ERP LX. Each solution is designed for seamless integration, adding valuable features and functions that improve efficiency, automation, and reporting. 

We’ll provide a brief overview of each product, highlighting how they help organizations maximize the value of their ERP investment.

Join us to see how Crossroads can help you strengthen and streamline your ERP LX system.

Presenters:

• Frank Petrasio, Director IBM i Group
• Anthony Etzel, Solutions Executive
• Nick Olson, Systems Consultant

Present PUR500-07 “folded” Purchase Order Line Entry screen as the default Line Entry screen.

Supply Chain Management Enhancements:

WebTop Grid users can personalize the main Purchase Order Line Entry screen to resequencing columns, sort and filter on data values, change column headings, and other features.

In LX 8.4.2, the PUR500-07 “folded” screen is the default Purchase Order Line Entry screen presented to the user. Users can still access the “unfolded” PUR500-06 screen with limited fields displayed, on request.