Powering System i

Revolutionize the way users work with software and each other.

Dana Rottman — 2012-01-24T09:48:50-05:00

Using Infor Workspace to create an automatic, customized collaboration process that supports effective and efficient decision-making across the enterprise. by Soma Somasundaram, senior vice president, Global Product Development, Infor Many companies have mastered the mechanical aspects of enterprise applications — deployment, procurement, data collection, etc. But even when they manage to gather the right information, most still lack the ability to leverage information in the right way. It’s no secret: In manufacturing firms everywhere, waves of information swamp productivity efforts. Some employees desperately create their own, undocumented methods to filter the rushing flow of data, while others dive into unconnected...

Quality Service: Standardization, Accessibility, and Monitoring Are Key

Valerie Hayden — 2011-11-16T14:00:09-05:00

Manufacturers have made huge strides internally in customer-focused quality improvement through process control. Advances in monitoring technologies allow manufacturers to now anticipate and prevent potentially costly product failures before they erode output and profitability. Yet most manufacturing companies have yet to apply the same innovations externally to their service and maintenance offerings—despite the fact that these programs offer significant opportunities to diversify revenues and increase profits while building customer loyalty. In fact, “process control” can actually be more important for services than for products, since service activity usually takes place offsite—where problems are harder to see and fix, and where...

Policy: Surface Transportation & Supply Chain

Valerie Hayden — 2011-09-27T13:37:18-04:00

Direct store delivery (DSD) can save consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers significant time, aggravation, and money, as “cutting out the middleman” usually does, boosting bottom lines through: Improved cash flow Reduced transportation and fulfillment costs Increased sales thanks to satisfied customers and optimized point-of-sales (POS) opportunities Yet the velocity of modern business can make something as simple as delivering fresh milk to a local grocery store a complicated transaction. DSD requires shared information throughout the supply chain for split-second decision-making even during routine delivery schedules. When routes are disrupted—a common occurrence due to extreme weather, deteriorating infrastructure, and mounting urban...

Tap Into More Service Revenues with Service Management

Infor — 2011-08-22T11:00:00-04:00

More than three-quarters of the US GDP comes via services, according to The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2010. Smart manufacturers know this, and they’ve been looking for ways to differentiate their new products by adding new services to the value equation. Even now, according to the 2009 Annual Survey of Manufacturers from the US Census Bureau, manufacturers generate about 6% of total value of shipments from services. This includes installation, repair, and training support and services. In sectors such as industrial equipment or computers and electronics, that percentage is even higher. Yet manufacturers searching for service revenues should proceed...

Rave Reviews for Workspace: Coming Soon to System i

Infor — 2011-08-15T10:45:00-04:00

Guest post by Robert Russell, VP, System i development So much ERP functionality is untapped—not because it isn’t useful or applicable, but because it’s literally untapped or, even worse, unknown. Organizations run myriad applications today. Multiple ERP and extension upgrades often leave employees who don’t have access to those tools unaware of powerful (but not readily apparent) information that could improve their decision making. Infor Workspace changes that by extending a helping hand to access hidden enterprise application data through a common, consumer-grade user interface. Workspace rolled out in spring 2011 to rave reviews from IT pundits and—more importantly—Infor customers....

Are you as efficient and productive as you could be?

Infor — 2011-08-10T15:00:00-04:00

In today’s marketplace, you need to constantly look at how you do things, and ensure you do them well. You're off to a great start with a proven ERP system that works with your IBM System i platform, but you need to build automated processes that are carefully mapped to make your business more efficient. When that happens, you'll be able to work better, faster, and smarter than ever before. The key is to have a process mapping and automation tool that lets you quickly identify areas for improvement, reduce the number of tasks your teams have to handle, and...

Are you continuing to be successful and meet market demand expectations?

Infor — 2011-08-10T13:00:00-04:00

As a manufacturer, you know the business environment is getting more complex by the day. It’s tough. Even though you're successfully using Infor ERP for IBM System i, you're still faced with market expectations such as customization and lower costs, as well as changing customer demand. You know that response to demand is critical, yet lengthy batch processing—and the inability to run multiple scenarios—stalls material resource planning (MRP) and other planning feedback, and cripples your ability to meet that demand. To continue competing successfully, you need a visual and graphical planning application designed specifically for your System i platform. It...

It's time to revitalize your System i—and this blog

Infor — 2011-08-10T11:00:00-04:00

We know it’s been awhile since you’ve heard from us—but we think this is a great time to get you connected again so that you’ll have the tools you need to keep your System i platform going for years to come. We’re happy to announce the Infor Development Framework (IDF) technology, a next generation System i technology that ensures the future of your ERP software and allows you to use your reliable System i platform well into the future. With IDF, you can protect your existing investments and gain cutting-edge features without having to go through an application or platform...

System i User Conference 2010 Helps Plan for the Future

Valerie Hayden — 2010-10-11T12:07:32-04:00

Guest post by Jack Bullock, VP and General Manager, Infor System i For those of you who joined us in Phoenix at our inaugural System i User Conference, thank you for making it such a success! We all had a great time, and it was refreshing to meet with nearly 400 customers. Your energy and enthusiasm is inspiring and further proves we really do have the greatest customers. We continue to build off of the momentum from the conference, and we’re working hard to deliver innovative programs and important product enhancements to you. We’re in your corner. Our goal is...

IBM i 7.1 Upgrade

Rebecca Sandrue — 2010-06-24T15:05:14-04:00

Guest post by Dan Sundt, Senior IT Specialist, IBM Your company is one of tens of thousands running IBM i. It’s possible that you’ve been running it for over two decades, from AS/400 to iSeries, System i, and now Power Systems. If so, you’re not unlike many executives around the globe in a variety of industries—you’re comfortable with the strength of the platform, you’re looking forward to continued low operating costs, and you enjoy the high ROI a proven platform delivers. But don’t get too comfortable and secure. Information technology evolves at a blistering pace, and there are now more...