Infor attempts buy out of Lawson

It was announced on March 11th that Infor is attempting a takeover of Lawson. Quite a bid it is at 1.84B.

It sounds like Lawson would benefit from a shareholders perspective and that Infor would benefit from new markets. But where does this leave Lawson’s customers? In a difficult spot. On the surface, it appears that Lawson is doing this for shareholder value and not to directly gain anything on behalf of the customers.

On the other hand, being under Infor’s umbrella of a multitude of products may hurt them in the short term, but as with other products such as Syteline, they may see significant product improvements a few years out.

To date though, we are not sure what Infor’s end goal is with so many varied products. They seem to have a complex mass of varying solutions, and none of them have been a real standout in the market since being purchased by Infor. Yes, they are still selling licenses, but in our eyes none of the acquisitions have the buzz and excitement they once had as independent companies. It will be interesting to see how Lawson fares if this takeover goes through and they are “assimilated”.

You can read the details here:

Infor Makes Unsolicited $1.84B Bid for ERP Vendor Lawson
By Chris Kanaracus, IDG News

Video: How does Microsoft Dynamics Marketing Automation and CRM fit together?

Microsoft Dynamics Marketing Automation

Don Fornes, CEO of our partner Software Advice, sat down with Brad Wilson, General Manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, to discuss the state of the CRM software market and specifically in this video the Microsoft Dynami. This is the sixth in a series of 7 videos we are publishing, each centered on one question about the Microsoft offerings.

Marketing automation is a hot market right now. Marketo, Eloqua and Pardot are getting a lot of buzz. How important is this market to Microsoft?

Brad discusses the role of Customer Relationship Management and Marketing Automation. He distinguishes where partner products fit into a client’s roll-out planning vs. Microsoft’s marketing component of the Dynamics CRM product. Further he makes an interesting observation about how marketing, sales, and service all fit together, especially within their pricing model. He goes on to discuss when partner products play a part in a customer’s CRM purchase.

After watching the video, we would be interested in your feedback on what you think with regards to Microsoft Dynamics marketing automation strategy. Do you concur with Brad?

Where does Microsoft Dynamics marketing automation fit?

Microsoft Dynamics Marketing Automation

Getting More Microsoft Dynamics CRM Information

If you are interested in exploring Microsoft Dynamics CRM or Microsoft Dynamics Marketing Automation for your company, please select one of the two links below:

For information on other CRM or ERP software products, please see our ERP Software Directory for many more vendors.

Microsoft Dynamics Marketing Automation

Your 7 Step Guide to ERP Failure

So you want an ERP failure and you want it to be of epic proportions? Okay, here are your top ways to assure you go down in flames in the most spectacular way.

Key things to ensure ERP Failure

1. Select the Software at face value based on the Vendor’s Promises. In fact, the best thing you can do is to buy the software right there at the trade show.

2. Don’t even consider the business processes. Fully adopt the software the way it works out of the box. Process ERP Failure.

3. Only include the users at the last minute and then for minimal training. Use Mushroom Management to keep the users at bay. People ERP Failure.

4. Pick an ERP Software on an operating platform to which IT has no knowledge. For example select an ERP running on Unix and put it into a Windows environment. Technical ERP Failure.

5. Keep executive level management out of the process and out of the project. Use upward mushroom management** with executives about the status of the project. Avoid their support at all costs.

6. Avoid data cleanup. In fact, push the data over to the new system with no review. Forget any field type changes or consideration of system differences.

7. Only use the standard reports. Those are good enough for your users.

**Mushroom management: noun, a method of “keeping them in the dark and feeding them lots of Sh!&”

Congratulations you are now on a path to ERP Hell! Enjoy the ride.

Avoiding ERP Failure

In all seriousness, here are some resources to help you in you avoid ERP Failure:

Why New Systems Fail: An Insider’s Guide to Successful IT Projects

ERP Software Selection Tools

ERP Project Management Articles

Project Manager Templates

ERP Implementation Articles

ERP Failure

Video: Microsoft vs. SAP and Oracle’s mid-market offerings

How can Microsoft ERP compete with SAP and Oracle’s mid-market offerings?

Don Fornes, CEO of our partner Software Advice, interviewed the Microsoft Director of Marketing for ERP, Guy Weismantel, about the latest updates to the Microsoft ERP product line. In this video he talks about where and how Microsoft competes in the Enterprise with SAP and Oracle.

Often a corporate headquarters runs SAP or Oracle for the financials and the various plants, divisions and subsidiaries are running differing software, including Microsoft. Guy discusses the competitive advantages that Microsoft brings the these corporations at the divisional or plant level. There are some distinct advantages for these smaller segments of a large business to running Microsoft Dynamics. Find out more in this interesting video.

This is the fifth in a series of 7 videos that we will be posting.

Microsoft vs. SAP and Oracle’s mid-market offerings

Getting More Microsoft ERP Information

If you are interested in exploring Microsoft ERP for your company, please select one of the two links below:

For information on other ERP software products, please see our ERP Software Directory for many more vendors.

Microsoft ERP Channel Partners

For information on the Microsoft ERP Channel Partner Program, please see http://partner.microsoft.com
Insight into the Microsoft ERP Mix

Video: Insight into the Microsoft ERP Mix

Where does Microsoft Dynamics AX stand in the Microsoft ERP Mix?

Don Fornes, CEO of our partner Software Advice, interviewed the Microsoft ERP Director of Marketing, Guy Weismantel, about the latest updates to the Microsoft ERP product line. In this segment he provides some clues to release dates of Microsoft products and their fit to the market place.

Providing some interesting insight into the Microsoft Dynamics product line, Mr. Weismantel discusses the release plan for the various MS Dynamics products. Interestingly enough, he talks about how they go to market with the different products based on geography and customer buying behaviors. In the video, he talks about the following:

Dynamics AX and its niche for high end, multi-channel, multi-country/language strengths
Dynamics GP and how they play to its strengths (and even mentions a few weaknesses)
Dynamics NV which is a highly customizable solution for vertical markets
Dynamics SL which provides a good fit for project accounting clients

This is the fourth in a series of 7 videos that we will be posting.

Is Microsoft ERP Dynamics AX the Favorite Child?

Getting More Microsoft ERP Information

If you are interested in exploring Microsoft ERP for your company, please select one of the two links below:

For information on other ERP software products, please see our ERP Software Directory for many more vendors.

Microsoft ERP Channel Partners

For information on the Microsoft ERP Channel Partner Program, please see http://partner.microsoft.com
Insight into the Microsoft ERP Mix