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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

Embracing Industry 4.0: The Future of Smart Manufacturing is Here

WEBINAR - Join us: Thursday, April 17th, 2025 from 1:00 to 1:30 (US/Eastern)

Anthony Etzel 0 3461 Article rating: 5.0

We’re standing in the middle of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—Industry 4.0—a transformation that’s redefining how products are made, moved, and managed. But many companies are still operating with Industry 3.0 systems: digitized, yes, but not yet intelligent, connected, or adaptive.

So, what makes Industry 4.0 different? And more importantly—where does your company stand in this transformation?

Automation to Intelligence: The Shift from Industry 3.0 to 4.0
Industry 3.0 introduced computers, electronics, and early automation into manufacturing. It marked the beginning of digital systems and the rise of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) as a bridge between planning and the shop floor. Industry 4.0 takes it further: it brings interconnectivity, real-time data, and AI-powered intelligence into every corner of the industrial environment. It’s about smart factories, self-optimizing systems, and predictive capabilities that weren’t possible before.

8 Pillars of Industry 4.0:

1...

Elevate Your Team's Output with Expert LN & Baan Help Desk Services

Kathy Barthelt 0 7796 Article rating: 5.0

In today’s fast-paced business environment, maintaining an efficient and responsive ERP system is crucial for success. However, managing ERP support internally can be resource-intensive and distract from your core business objectives. That’s where Crossroads RMC comes in. With our on-demand ERP Expert Help Desk Service, your organization can enhance efficiency, boost customer satisfaction, and allow your team to focus on key business goals.

Key Advantages

  • Round-the-Clock Support: Access functional and technical support 24/7, 365 days a year—even on weekends and holidays!
  • In-depth Expertise: As an Infor Partner, we offer extensive knowledge across all Infor LN & Baan versions, ensuring you get the best possible support.
  • Multiple Communication Channels: Reach out via phone, text, email, online portals, Microsoft Teams, web meetings, or in-person visits.
  • Transparent Monitoring: Receive transparent monthly reports to keep track of service utilization.
  • Disaster Recovery Solutions: Benefit from comprehensive ERP disaster recovery solutions tailored to safeguard your operations.
  • Specialized ION Support: Get expert assistance with your ION workflows for seamless integration and management.

Why Crossroads RMC - Partnering for Success

  • Cost Savings: Outsourcing your ERP Help Desk with Crossroads RMC can significantly reduce the overhead costs associated with supporting and maintaining your ERP system.

ERP LX / BPCS Expert Help Desk Service

George Moroses 0 8667 Article rating: 5.0

Crossroads RMC has fine-tuned our Technical Help Desk Service to meet specific job requirements. Our service delivers product-level support and development assistance with significant cost savings compared to traditional models. Our Help Desk is a tailored service that provides a dedicated ERP LX/BPCS technical resource ensuring our support precisely aligns with your needs for a more efficient and effective solution. 

Key Features:

  • Flexible Hours: Tailored to fit your budget and requirements.
  • Duration Options: Choose from 3, 6, 9, or 12-month agreements.
  • Remote Accessibility: Primarily remote support with on-site options for comprehensive assistance.
  • Expertise Spectrum: Includes RPG proficiency, robust documentation, design skills, IBMi system knowledge, job scheduling, SQL expertise, CL development, and more.
  • Scope: Focuses on technical support and development, with application support available upon request.


What's NEXT together.
Embrace a streamlined, reliable, and empowered LX/BPCS environment that
aligns our solutions with your business goals and budgetary needs.

Request a consultation  |  800.762.2077

Eliminating ERP Customizations: Key Considerations and Modern Solutions

Kathy Barthelt 0 7631 Article rating: 5.0

Transitioning away from customizations can indeed pose challenges, but it's not insurmountable with the right approach. Here’s a look at the real issues and solutions that can pave the way for a streamlined, up-to-date ERP.


Common Challenges:

  1. Dependency on Custom Processes
    Custom processes become ingrained, and removing them disrupts established workflows. However, business processes often evolve over time, as do best practices incorporated into modern ERP systems.

  2. Cost and Time Constraints
    Testing, retraining, and hiring consultants for an upgrade are valid concerns. Yet, consider the efficiency gains and reduced maintenance costs over time by utilizing standard ERP features.

  3. User Resistance
    Change management is critical, as employees can be skeptical of losing tools they’re familiar with. Effective communication about the benefits of standardized, future-ready tools can help ease the transition.


The Reality Check: Has Your Organization Changed?

Evaluate how much your business needs have shifted, how user expectations have evolved, and if any workarounds or interim solutions are now adding unnecessary complexity. Many companies discover that industry-standard ERP features can replace outdated customizations.


Did You Know?

Harnessing the Power of AI to Help Manufacturers Sell More at the Right Time

George Moroses 0 10581 Article rating: 5.0

AI: Transforming Manufacturing—From Production to Profitability

As AI reshapes industries, manufacturers are asking critical questions: How will customers discover and purchase products in an AI-driven world? And how can companies keep pace with these advancements?

At Crossroads RMC, we address these challenges with our AI Readiness Assessment (AIRA). An AIRA creates a clear, actionable digital roadmap, significantly boosting efficiency, accuracy, and strategic capabilities. This assessment ensures a smooth, swift AI transition.

Our AI Readiness Assessments target key areas:

Tick-Tock... It's time to get more out of your ERP

Crossroads RMC 0 8520 Article rating: 5.0

As crazy as it sounds, we’re about to enter the 2nd half of 2024. How are you doing on your 2024 goals? Planning for 2025 projects?

Maybe it's time to get more out of your Infor ERP system.

⇒⇒ TIME TO UPGRADE?

Is an upgrade to the latest version of your ERP the goal for 2024/2025? If so, Crossroads RMC brings 40 years of industry experience to the table to ensure that your upgrade achieves the results you’re looking for and does so on time and within budget.

Crossroads RMC's team of expert consultants will:

  • Review your custom components to see what can be eliminated
  • Provide an analysis of the specific benefits that your company can achieve by upgrading
  • Train your users on the latest functionality
  • Support your users on the old version while the project team focuses on the upgrade project
  • Handle the entire upgrade project from start to finish
  • Supplement your existing project team with 1-2 key resources
  • Develop the integration to that 3rd party system that is a MUST-HAVE when you upgrade


⇒⇒ NOT UPGRADING?

Reskilling and Upskilling Your Staff – Why You Shouldn’t Ignore This

Kathy Barthelt 0 11351 Article rating: 5.0

According to the World Economic Forum, half of all employees will require significant reskilling or upskilling by 2025.

For many of you, your Infor ERP system was implemented 5, 10, 15, or even 20+ years ago. Now, there are only a handful of people left from that implementation, if any at all. Since most of your "how and why" walked out the door, how much longer can you rely on “tribal knowledge”? While many companies understand the importance of employee training, implementing that training remains a challenge. What’s the best way to proceed, you ask?

Reskill and upskill your staff with your go-to experts at Crossroads RMC!

Crossroads RMC's consultants deliver highly impactful, focused training that shows an immediate benefit. Contact us to discuss a training plan that is right for your business. Call us at 800.762.2077.

Training & Workshops:

Still not convinced? Check out this article which provides several great reasons to make training a priority for your staff: 12 Benefits of Training Employees In the Workplace.

Infor LN & Baan Tip: Outbound Order Lines

Kathy Barthelt 0 16686 Article rating: 5.0

When the originating order or order line of an outbound order line is canceled or changed, this affects the outbound order line and may impact the related outbound advice, shipments, or shipment lines.

For most order origins, warehousing order-type parameters determine whether these actions are allowed:

  1. Update the outbound order line if the originating order is changed.
  2. Cancel the originating order line and the outbound order line.
  3. Delete the canceled outbound order line.

Updating Outbound Order Lines

  • Allowed:

123456789

Tips:  LX | BPCS | M3

Item Facility Master has a new attribute to define the override inspection days lead time CICP.ICINSD.

  • When an item facility has a defined override inspection days lead time, that value will be used instead of the system parameter inspection days lead time.

MRP exception report, MRP200B
Purchase planning report, PUR285B
Purchase order / Requisition maintenance, PUR500D3
Purchase order consolidation / release, PUR640B1
Vendor splits, PUR653B

This enhancement improved the subfile utilized in MRP320D Master Schedule Detail Inquiry -SCR001 by expanding the subfile with data rather than clearing the subfile as user pages. This change provides full support for the WebTop 4.8 Grid decorator.

This enhancement updated the approach used to populate the subfile to allow a deployed Webtop Grid to function correctly. There is no visible or user-impacted change to the way the program functions.

This enhancement provides improved functionality and full support of a Webtop grid applied to the subfile.

Last

Tips: LN | Baan

Users can personalize sessions and apply special formatting to the data displayed in sessions. The personalizations and formatting settings that are specified by the users are stored on the LN server. Administrators can maintain these settings.

  • Session personalizations

    Users can personalize sessions in various ways. users can, for example, hide fields, change labels, customize the toolbar, and move fields to another tab. Administrators can maintain the personalizations defined by the users. For example, an administrator can export personalizations to an XML file, import personalizations from an XML file, and copy personalizations to another user, to a DEM role, or to a company number.

  • Report personalizations

    You can use the Report Designer (ttstppersrep) to personalize the layouts and style of reports, without modifying the standard reports or using an external reporting solution. The changes are stored as personalizations.

    You can also generate new reports that are based on a selection of fields from the application data model. These reports are generated in the extensibility package. You can personalize these reports in the Report Designer (ttstppersrep), or modify them in Infor LN Studio.

    For details, see the Infor LN Report Designer Development Guide
     
  • Conditional formatting

    users can define conditions to apply special formatting to the data displayed in LN sessions. The users can define multiple conditions per session and different types of formatting, such as a specific color for particular fields or rows, and a warning symbol for particular rows. Administrators can maintain the formatting settings specified by the users and can define system-wide formatting settings.

  • If Finances is implemented, we recommend that you do not delete order data in a fiscal year that has not yet been fully closed. This is because the GRINYA process uses information that would be deleted by this action. For best results, check whether the logistical balance for non-invoiced receipts matches the balance of the GRINYA accounts for the periods up to which you want to delete purchase order data.
  • When a purchase order is canceled, you can only delete the purchase order and the related tables. If only a purchase order line is canceled, the line can be deleted and archived.

You cannot delete a purchase order (line) if:

  • The linked warehouse order is closed but cannot be removed.
  • The purchase order is linked to a PCS project that is not yet archived. When the PCS project is archived, the purchase data is also archived and you can delete the purchase order.
  • A consignment replenishment order is not yet consumed completely.
  • The invoice is yet to be completely matched and approved.
  • The invoice amount is not yet inserted as turnover history.
  • The sales order or service order that is linked to the purchase order line, and for which an internal invoice must be sent from the purchase office to the sales office or service office, is not yet invoiced. In this case, you cannot delete the purchase order line before the sales order or service order is invoiced.

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