Quartess news & information

9 November 2023 Infor Ranked Highest in Four Use Cases in 2023 Gartner Critical Capabilities Gartner ranks Infor highest in ERP for Upper Midsize Enterprises, ERP for Process Manufacturing, ERP for Discrete Manufacturing, and Project/Asset-Intensive Manufacturing Use Cases.Infor®, the industry cloud company, today announced that Gartner® Inc., in its 2023 Critical Capabilities for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises, a companion report to the Gartner Magic Quadrant™, ranked Infor highest in four use cases – including the ERP for Upper Midsize Enterprises Use Case (tied for highest score), the ERP for Process Manufacturing Use Case, the ERP for Discrete Manufacturing Use Case and the Project/Asset-Intensive Manufacturing Use Case.In addition, Infor ranked second in the ERP for Lower Midsize Enterprises (USD 50 Million - USD 250 Million) Use Case.In the report, Gartner states, “ERP vendors’ capabilities are expanding beyond the domain of traditional ERP, so it is important to take a deep, cross-functional approach (across business, IT and customer) to evaluating and selecting solutions. Otherwise, companies risk ineffective evaluation of complex solutions or dilution of the value of their investment by not fully understanding the capabilities offered.”In September, Infor also was positioned as a Leader in 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises. Are you looking for a multi-tenant cloud based ERP for a manufacturing company? Then this Gartner report provides valuable information for you. Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) represented by Quartess -a Dutch Infor gold channel partner - focuses on the (higher) SMB manufacturing market space.Also published on the Quartess Linkedin page Gartner, Critical Capabilities for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises, Dixie John, Robert Anderson, Greg Leiter, Tomas Kienast, David Penny, 31 October 2023.Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Read more

11 April 2023 The advantages for Infor being privately owned by KOCH Industries A very informative read in ERP Today about Infor -the company Quartess partners with for Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) and Infor Visual- about the advantages of being privately owned by Koch Industries.Are you evaluating (Infor)ERP or are you an existing Infor customer? Is continuity, stability and investment in development important in your decision? This is a must read.Also published on the Quartess Linkedin page Read more

2 April 2023 AI & Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) real life example Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) -designed for the manufacturing industry- is deployed in the multi tenant AWS cloud. One of the important standard components of the suite is Infor Operating System (Infor OS). Infor OS brings a lot of functionality, like connectivity, workflow, chat, etc. Probably most important are the Artificial Intelligence capablities of Infor OS, because this really helps users of Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) to increase for instance productivity, sales and customer satisfaction. A recent publication in diginomica tells about the success of Combilift, a manufacturing company using AI to deliver better results. Great example of what modern automation can bring. Interested? Feel welcome to contact us about what Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) can bring for your manufacturing company. Also published on the Quartess Linkedin company page. Read more

9 March 2023 Infor focuses on new cloud wins Quartess can confirm, based on our own experience, that Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) - specifically designed for the manufacturing industry - has winning capabilities. Today we reached an agreement (>450 users) with a new Dutch client in Delft. This ties in perfectly with this diginomica magazine article about Infor focusing not only on bringing existing customers to the cloud, but also on attracting new customers to their Cloud suites. Through experienced partners such as Quartess for Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) for the Benelux and German markets. Are you looking for a modern, future-proof (including AI capabilities) ERP for the manufacturing industry? Join the growing EMEA customer community and get in touch. With coverage in Europe by us, but also by our fellow partner companies from the Infor partner network such as ally Consulting, G4, Inforlogic, Frontstep, ITeuro, BPX, etc.Also published on the Quartess page on Linkedin Read more

24 December 2022 Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2023! What a year it has been for Quartess again! We grew our number of customers, our nr of employees and of course our revenue. We have worked not only in The Netherlands, but also in Belgium, the UK and Germany, providing licenses, services and support for our Infor Products Syteline & Visual as well as for Easy Invoice.On top of that, the best part of the year still might come in and the outlook for 2023 is fantastic. So, reason to be thankful! And we are. On behalf of all at Quartess, a big thank you again to our customers, suppliers and partners for a great 2022.We wish you Merry Christmas & a prosperous 2023! Read more

25 April 2022 Event | SyteLine EMEA Users Spring 2022 Conference SyteLine EMEA Users Spring 2022 ConferenceThe independent Syteline User Group EMEA will host its annual live meeting on May 19, 2022 for all Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) users in Europe who are or are considering joining.Quartess will be present as Bronze sponsor on this day to welcome our Dutch, Belgian and German customers.The venue is the Hogarths Hotel in Dorridge, Solihul UK, quickly accessible from Birmingham Airport.The agenda for this day will include the following topics:Infor Business & Strategy Keynote AddressFinance SessionCybersecurity SessionBank Recs and Cash Flow ForecastingUser StoryAnalysis of Manufacturing STD CostingWhat’s New in Mongoose 10 – APIsSyteLine/CSI Roadmap including What’s New or Coming Soon in version 10More sessions to be confirmed soonWe highly recommend this day. It is a great opportunity to catch up on developments and of course to exchange experiences and ideas with fellow companies.More information is available here .You can register directly here.See you at the SUG EMEA Spring conference 2022! Read more

Infor Cloudsuite Industrial multi tenant cloud voordelen

17 February 2021 ERP in the cloud ‘multi tenant’ or ‘single tenant’ (cq hosting)? The use of software "in the cloud" has now really penetrated the market for business software applications. Not only for financial- and CRM software, but also for ERP software. In fact, nowadays it is even "a must" to be able to offer ERP software in this way. At Quartess we see that almost without exception our new clients want to start using Infor Cloudsuite Industrial in the "multi-tenant" cloud. Fortunately, our partner and supplier Infor Inc started to follow this path years ago, which means there is a lot of experience today.The choice for cloud has a number of well-known advantages:The software has a subscription license model instead of a one-time investment; No investment in own servers (hardware) and supporting operating software required; No more responsibility for the technical side of the ERP application;The application is accessible anywhere, using the internet and a web browser. Yet one cloud is not the other. And the benefits to be achieved are therefore not the same. Basically there are 2 different forms: "multi tenant" or "multi tenancy" and "single tenancy" or "hosting".What is "multi tenant"?Wikipedia describes "software multi tenancy" as: "a software architecture in which a single copy (instance) of the software runs on a server that serves different tenants. A tenant is a group of users who have common access, with specific rights to share the software instance"With a 'multi tenant' architecture, the ERP software application is designed to provide each tenant with a special section of the application, including data, configuration, management of the users, the individual functionality of the tenant and non-functional properties. This makes immediately clear why "multi tenant" sets strict requirements for the technical design of the software and that the architecture determines the possibility of being able to offer software in the "multi tenant" cloud at all.In all cases, the software runs in an external data center, equipped with all physical and software protections.The image shows an apartment building as a metaphor for "multi tenant": 1 building with shared facilities, but also each apartment with its own front door. What is happening in apartment A is not visible in apartment B or C.What is "single tenant"?In the case of "single tenancy" (hosting), the ERP software application is installed on 1 or more specific (possibly virtual) servers for 1 specific company. The servers are placed in an external data center instead of in an own local server room (the so-called "on-premise" installation). All facilities must be realized for this single company. In the image, "single tenancy" is similar to "the house"; all facilities are required, just like in the apartment building, but it is all specifically set up for "that single resident". Think of the central heating installation, the air treatment installation, etc.Advantages of "multi tenant"There are clear advantages for a "multi tenant" ERP system. These become particularly visible when we look at aspects such as costs, performance, the environment, safety and reliability.Hardware and energy usage - In a single tenant environment, a company's physical or virtual server must be individually equipped (processor power, memory, hard disk space, operating system, security) to deliver maximum performance. However, these performances are certainly not demanded all the time, in most cases hardly ever as research has shown. However, the energy consumption is relatively high even when the server is not used to the maximum. A multi-tenant environment serves multiple customers, allowing for "sharing & balancing" to be done. This leads to much more efficient use of the required hardware. As a result, considerably less energy consumption and therefore better for the environmentScalability -. As a company grows and the number of users increases, the specific server capacity must be expanded in a single tenant environment. With all the associated consequences in terms of costs, supporting software, security and, again, energy consumption. In a "multi tenant" environment, growth can be absorbed much more easily. If more server capacity is required, it will most likely be available in any case because "1 of the many neighbours" running on the same server will need slightly less capacity at that time. More efficient use of servers is the result, which translates into lower hardware costs and considerably lower energy consumption.Simple and fast upgrades - If there are thousands of companies working with as many separate ERP systems in single tenant environments, this means thousands of individual updates upgrades with a new software version. Reason why companies, even in a single tenant environment, are lagging behind with updates and use of new versions and possible issues are resolved less quickly. It is simply a huge amount of work. With many customers on a single, "multi-tenant" environment, this is a single upgrade, which is by definition carried out by the supplier and done regularly. In the case of Infor, for example 1x per month. Companies automatically have the most recent version of the software. Without being forced to use the latest functionality. Research from Aberdeen showed that companies which use a recent version of their business software, perform better compared to the ones working with old (er) versions. But safety is also at stake. Finally, a possible security issue can also be solved by means of an update.Back-ups, protection and redundancy - In a multi-tenant environment, all of this is centrally arranged so that it meets the highest requirements and certifications. For example, Infor works with Amazon Webservices (AWS) data centers that comply with ITAR and HIPAA standards. Data is continuously mirrored between 3 "availability zones" within 1 region, resulting in very high and guaranteed availability of the application. With a single-tenant, all of this needs to be set up, monitored and maintained for each individual company (.. the thousands of individual servers). "Multi tenant" thus offers higher reliability and availability.From the end user's point of view, these differences are not necessarily obvious in the day-to-day use of the ERP application. However, he / she will notice that the application remains up-to-date and therefore attractive to work with. For the 'millennium generation' this is an often mentioned and important aspect with regard to 'enjoyment at work'Disadvantage 'Multi tenant'? Having to work with the completely standard application without the possibility to optimize the solution for the specific processes of an organization is often mentioned as a disadvantage of 'multi tenant'. This drawback applies maybe to some ERP applications. However not to Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) ERP. Due to Infor's 'industry focus', the application offers extensive functionality for the specific segment (niches in the manufacturing industry). Customizations are therefore less necessary. But at the same time, the very flexible development framework if desired. And all of this is retained with upgrades.Conclusion: "Multi tenant" is a requirement for modern ERPThere are clear advantages when an ERP application can be used "multi-tenant". When choosing a new ERP system, the technical suitability for "multi tenant" (the application architecture) should therefore be an important criterium. "Multi tenant" offers benefits for the client, for the cloud provider and for the environment. In addition, an application that does not have the correct architecture cannot be made suitable for "multi-tenant" easily or quickly. Also good to be aware of !Sources: Infor, Wikipedia, Salesforce, Quartess Read more

Quartess NBD Biblion Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP Syteline Easy Invoice

1 December 2020 NBD Biblion opts for digitalisation with Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP NBD Biblion Foundation has entered into a partnership with Quartess for the implementation of Infor Cloudsuite Industrial as a new ERP solution. NBD Biblion is the independent, fully-fledged service and advisory partner for many parties in the library and book industry. The choice for Infor Cloudsuite Industrial is in line with the strategic choices of NBD Biblion, which features digitization, expansion of services and even more focus on its core tasks. Quartess is a Gold Channel Partner for the manufacturing industry of Infor, one of the largest suppliers of industry-specific cloud software.The challengeNBD Biblion will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020. It is now an organization with more than 150 employees operating from a modern building in Zoetermeer. They deliver more than 2 million books per year, as well as multimedia products, content and data services. Customers are therefore mainly libraries and schools. In addition, NBD Biblion builds special machines for binders and logistics service providers local and abroad. The internal automation is currently supported by home developed software, which no longer fits the ambitions.Mr. Raymond van Gent, Manager Operations NBD Biblion explains: “We no longer see the maintenance of the custom software nor its development as a task of NBD Biblion. Reason why we have started a project to realize a modern and future-proof IT support for the primary business processes. There are various underlying reasons, such as our ambition to accelerate market and customer-oriented work, increase our innovative power, make relevant management information easier and better available, standardization and automation of business processes and a reduction in the total cost of ownership. It was also clear to us that we were looking for a cloud-based ERP application ”The approachNBD Biblion has carefully prepared the selection and implementation. Mr Pieter Meijndert, Information Manager: “We have already set up a project organization internally that mapped out requirements and wishes. We paid a lot of attention to this so that it was clear what the most important criteria were. We then engaged an external consultancy firm to help us select 3 cloud-based ERP systems. Via extensive demos, additional conversations and the match with NBD Biblion, we opted for Infor Cloudsuite Industrial and Quartess. “The choicePieter Meijndert: “Quartess showed they are very well informed about the current and future possibilities of Infor Cloudsuite Industrial. They quickly saw through the match between our needs and the system. You only make a choice like this once every 15-20 years. This makes it a fundamental decision. We think the system will grow with the market standards, with our needs and we can therefore grow accordingly. The so-called Implementation Accelerators also played a role. These are standard and customizable process flows - part of the scope of delivery - that we apply for the processes at NBD Biblion in order to move towards a market standard and with which we expect to achieve faster results. And then there is the cultural fit between Quartess and NBD Bilbion; transparent, focused on collaboration and result-oriented. We think that Quartess will also be there for us when things get more difficult in the project and with their knowledge, experience and expertise they can ensure that we achieve a good result ”The futurePieter Meijndert: “We are convinced we will build a lasting relationship with Quartess and, above all, have a solution with Infor CSI that contributes to our goals, now and in the future. Together we'll go from realization to optimization, to innovation ”. Mr Jan Muller, Managing Director of Quartess adds: “NBD Biblion is a specialist organization because of its products and market. In essence, it is an organization with manufacturing activities. The strategic choices NBD Biblion has made are particularly well suited to the capabilities of Infor Cloudsuite Industrial. We are delighted they have chosen Infor Cloudsuite Industrial and are convinced with this multi-tenant cloud-based ERP platform, NBD Biblion is well pre-pared for the challenges of the future. As Quartess, we are looking forward to act as their partner in this.About NBD Biblion NBD Bilbion Foundation provides a complete package of products and services that contribute to the success of your library or (school) media library. In this way NBD Biblion contributes with their products and services to an efficient and modern management of your library. NBD ensures you have a varied and up-to-date collection. In addition, NBD Biblion provides you with the materials and services you need to manage your library. NBD Biblion Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary on 7 November 2020! Purchasing, binding, describing, cataloging and preparing books for public libraries centrally for half a century. We have a rich history of which we are proud. With 150 employees, we are ready to serve you from our office in Zoetermeer (the Netherlands) in the coming years with an appropriate range of products and services.About QuartessSince 2002, Quartess has positioned itself as a supplier of business software specifically for the discrete manufacturing industry.We represent:• Infor -as Gold Channel Partner- with Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP & Infor Visual ERP in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and England.• Easy Systems with Easy Invoice for Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP & Infor Visual ERPThe Infor ERP solutions are specially designed for various sectors in the manufacturing industry, such as machine construction, high-tech electronics, aerospace & defense, automotive, metal, printing & packaging, medical, etc.For "our" products we have certified consultants who work with you to deal with the issues at hand. In doing so, we act on the basis of the core values "advice", "result", "creative", "reliable" and "cooperation". The combination of our knowledge of these products and of your industry makes us a valuable partner for your project.About InforInfor is a global leader in corporate, industry-specific cloud software. With more than 68,000 customers worldwide, Infor is changing the way businesses operate through best-in-class technology, expertise and customer focus. For more information, see www.infor.com.Infor customers are:• The top 20 aerospace companies• 9 of the top 10 high-tech companies• 14 of the 25 largest US health networks• 19 of the 20 largest US cities• 18 of the top 20 automotive suppliers• 14 of the top 20 industrial distributors• 13 of the top 20 global retailers• 4 of the top 5 breweries• 17 of the top 20 global banks• 9 of the 10 largest global hotel brands• 7 of the top 10 global luxury brands Read more

Quartess Isotron Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP Syteline Easy Invoice

23 September 2020 Isotron Systems automates business processes with Infor Cloudsuite Industrial Isotron Systems from 's-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) has entered into a partnership with Quartess for the implementation of Infor Cloudsuite Industrial as its new ERP solution for all branches in the Netherlands and Belgium, with the aim of optimizing the business processes and supporting all processes through 1 system. Quartess is Gold Channel Partner of Infor, one of the largest suppliers of industry-specific cloud software.The ChallengeAt Isotron, various systems are in use to support the business processes for commerce (CRM), logistics (ERP) and financial administration. A lot is also done with Excel and Access. Nevertheless, this combination does not cover all desired functionality questions. Many activities are performed outside the systems and there is a lot of double data entry. The old 'ERP' system within Isotron has now been in use for more than 20 years and no longer meets the requirements that are currently imposed on such systems. Reason why a selection process was started for a new ERP system, with a large number of requirements.Mr Egbert Kuijsten, CFO of Isotron, says: “The new system must replace the existing ERP, CRM and financial systems and be a future-proof and scalable platform for current, but also any future companies. Because we are part of a group that is rapidly expanding, it must be possible to easily add companies, but it must also be possible to "disconnect" companies again. In addition, we want to realise harmonization of processes, but there must also be room for specific processes per company. We also want to be able to exchange data easily between companies, which therefore places demands on the multi-site functionality of the ERP system. And finally, registration and maintenance of our extensive product data must be able in the new ERP system, so all this data can also be used for our website and portals. ”The choiceIsotron engaged with IPL Advies B.V. to help them in the selection of the new system. An additional condition was the ERP system should preferably work in the cloud. Egbert Kuijsten continues: “A system in which the supplier takes care of the upgrades, backups, redundancy and scalability seemed ideal to us. Always being up-to-date is nowadays possible. A few systems emerged from the selection process that had adequate coverage for our requirements and wishes. Infor Cloudsuite Industrial was one of them. Ultimately, the functionality and flexibility of Infor Cloudsuite Industrial, the subscription costs affordable for our organization and the collaboration with Quartess as an experienced implementation partner determined the choice. ”The implementationAfter the choice for Infor Cloudsuite Industrial was made, the implementation process started with some delay due to the COVID-19 situation. Egbert Kuijsten: “You can do quite a lot from a distance and Quartess and Isotron are even well equipped for this. For example, Quartess offers a project environment in Teams where we can work together. But it is precisely in such a change process as this, personal contact is very important. The "click" with Quartess was important in our decision for this solution at the time and so far the cooperation with Quartess has indeed been professional and pleasant. "The AdvantagesMr Egbert Kuijsten: "We are convinced we will achieve the defined goals with Infor Cloudsuite Industrial and the support of the implementation by Quartess. The Implementation is in full swing and running smoothly. We have already experienced an advantage of "the cloud": after signing the contract, you have access to the software you simply use via your web browser in no time. In this pandemic time it is very convenient you also have access to the entire system at your home location"Mr Jan Muller, Managing Director of Quartess adds: “Isotron is an excellent example of how also an SME can have high demands for their ERP application in terms of functionality due to its business structure and variety of activities. Infor Cloudsuite Industrial - specifically developed for the manufacturing industry - provides a cloud-based ERP solution that meets these requirements and is also very user-friendly. We are delighted with the choice for Infor Cloudsuite Industrial and are convinced with this multi-tenant ERP platform, Isotron is well prepared for all challenges in the future. We are happy to be their partner in this journey.”About IsotronIsotron Systems is a customer-oriented supplier of a wide range of "best of breed" high-quality industrial automation products. Isotron is active in the Benelux, with offices in 's-Hertogenbosch (NL) and Willebroek (BE) and has approximately 35 employees.Isotron supplies hardware (including associated software), as well as engineering and consultancy services in the following market segments: Image processing (Machine Vision)Control and visualizationDetection and securityElectric heating technologyIdentification and verificationIIoT & Connectivity,Measurement and control technologyMeasuring and positioning, Motion & Drives.They represent specialist suppliers in these areas and add value based on their own experience, knowledge and skills.About QuartessSince 2002, Quartess has positioned itself as a supplier of business software specifically for the discrete manufacturing industry.We represent:• Infor -as Gold Channel Partner- with Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP & Infor Visual ERP in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and England.• Easy Systems with Easy Invoice for Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP & Infor Visual ERPThe Infor ERP solutions are specially designed for various sectors in the manufacturing industry, such as machine construction, high-tech electronics, aerospace & defense, automotive, metal, printing & packaging, medical, etc.For "our" products we have certified consultants who work with you to deal with the issues at hand. In doing so, we act on the basis of the core values "advice", "result", "creative", "reliable" and "cooperation". The combination of our knowledge of these products and of your industry makes us a valuable partner for your project.About InforInfor is a global leader in corporate, industry-specific cloud software. With more than 68,000 customers worldwide, Infor is changing the way businesses operate through best-in-class technology, expertise and customer focus. For more information, see www.infor.com.Infor customers are:• The top 20 aerospace companies• 9 of the top 10 high-tech companies• 14 of the 25 largest US health networks• 19 of the 20 largest US cities• 18 of the top 20 automotive suppliers• 14 of the top 20 industrial distributors• 13 of the top 20 global retailers• 4 of the top 5 breweries• 17 of the top 20 global banks• 9 of the 10 largest global hotel brands• 7 of the top 10 global luxury brands Read more

18 June 2020 Van Halteren Group is switching to automated AP invoice handling The Van Halteren Group, which was founded in 1969, consists of 4 daughter companies namely Van Halteren Metaal, Van Halteren Defence, Van Halteren Special Products and Van Halteren Naval Technology. Van Halteren is a Dutch family business which employs over 350 people and it operates fully independently and autonomously. The Dutch Ministry of Defense, Kraus Maffei Wegman and CERN are some examples of their well-known customers. Van Halteren has office and production locations in Bunschoten and Zwolle in the Netherlands and they are engaged in:Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul of engines, transmissions and armored vehicles Production of wheels for military tracked vehiclesCNC turning, milling, drilling and assembling of metal productsDesigning and building of military simulation systemsSupply of service parts for military related equipmentMaintenance, Repair and Overhaul of Naval technologyVan Halteren has used Infor Visual ERP since 1998. This system is supplied and supported in the Netherlands by Infor gold channel partner Quartess. Van Halteren developed a need to automate the processing of the supplier’s purchase invoices.The ChallengeBefore the AP invoice process was automated, almost every step in handling an invoice was done on paper and manually. This caused some problems. Rens Steijsiger, Business Controller at Van Halteren, explains: “The handling of received invoices was (too) slow and inconvenient. In case of problems with an invoice it was often unclear who blocked it and for what reason.”The SolutionOnce we had decided to automate the AP Invoice process an orientation followed on various suppliers on the market. Rens Steijsiger: “Through relations and our own investigation we have invited several vendors for a presentation. Easy Systems was one of them. A lot of suppliers offer similar solutions however Easy Invoice was able to offer a number of advantages which were especially important for us. Their demonstration was good. Their software seemed logical and it could be sufficiently adapted to our company’s wishes and the implementation could start quickly after signing the contract. We also believed that the product had a competitive price. All these criteria have led to our choice for Easy Invoice. Another very important reason to choose Easy Invoice was the partnership between our ERP supplier Quartess and Easy Systems, because this meant that we could have one source for both our ERP and invoicing system “The implementationRens Steijsiger is satisfied with the cooperation during both the sales and implementation phase of the project. “As usual, the cooperation with Quartess is open and honest. This creates a pleasant work atmosphere. After the usual negotiations we quickly reached an agreement on the contract. The implementation however was more difficult. At first there were some problems getting the interface between Visual and Easy Invoice going, but now we have an API based standard interface which is version independent. The best possible outcome.”The advantages“Easy Invoice is a nice and user-friendly solution which helps to accelerate the AP invoice process and it gives a clear insight into the status of our invoices. The new software is now being used by all our companies and we expect to be using it for a long time to come. We have already upgraded Visual once and that has not caused any problems for the interface with Easy Invoice. We are now investigating if it would be possible to extend the invoice module with the expense module Easy Expense.” Read more

8 June 2020 Nedinsco focuses on automatic invoice processing with Easy Invoice Nedinsco is a Dutch company founded in 1921, located in Venlo. They develop solutions in the field of Optomechatronic Systems for industry, defense and aerospace. As a high-tech organization focused on innovative and future-oriented solutions, Nedinsco felt the need to prepare the finance department for the future as well.Nedinsco has been working with the ERP package Infor Visual since 2003. This package is delivered and supported the Netherlands by Infor gold channel partner Quartess. At Nedinsco, the need arose to automate the processing of purchase invoices. As a partner of purchase to pay specialist Easy Systems, Quartess was able to meet this need by offering the invoice processing software Easy Invoice.The challengeIn the old situation, all purchase invoices were posted in Infor Visual and stored in binders in order of supplier. A distinction was made between unpaid and paid. In Infor Visual, the invoices were matched with the corresponding purchase order (PO) for price and goods receipt.Sandra Verheijen - Jonkers, controller at Nedinsco says: “If the 3-way match was ok then there was not much going on and the invoice went into the 'To be paid' folder. However, if there was no PO, or there was a discrepancy in the price, then a paper copy of the invoice went into the organization. This was also the case with authorization at invoice level. A fairly cumbersome and time-consuming process. ”The SolutionIn the search for a solution to automate invoice processing, Quartess announced that they had entered into a partnership with Easy Systems. Easy Systems is a purchase to pay specialist that offers a software solution with Easy Invoice for the automated processing of purchase invoices. Sandra Verheijen - Jonkers continues: “Let this be exactly what Nedinsco was looking for. After a successful demonstration, we were fairly quickly convinced that this would be a great solution for Nedinsco. The search for another party was then discontinued. Partly because every other party would have to develop special software to be able to realize a link between the two packages. Quartess itself took responsibility for realizing the link between Easy Invoice and our Infor Visual database. In addition, the pricing was also satisfactory, so the choice was made for Easy Invoice.”The ImplementationAfter the choice for the combination Infor Visual and Easy Invoice had been made, the implementation process started, followed by testing. Sandra Verheijen - Jonkers: “Since Nedinsco was the first Easy Systems customer to use an Oracle Database, this phase took longer than usual. The connector was ultimately realized by means of APIs, which resulted in a stable and standard interface that works version independently. "The AdvantagesNedinsco went live in April 2019 and the invoices are now processed automatically. “We can look back after this first year with complete satisfaction. Invoices are processed completely digitally. Employees who need to authorize see a full history of the actions, notes can be made that are also accessible to everyone and the invoices are transparent at all times. The status of invoices is also clear, so no more searching for where which invoice is located. In short, we are very satisfied. Of course some issues emerged after going live, but these have also been resolved to our satisfaction. Read more

20 February 2020 CANCELLED Event | Infor Inspire Londen March 3rd 2020 Due to evolving public health risks related to the global outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), Infor has made the difficult decision to cancel its major European customer conference, Infor Inspire London, and other events scheduled for the week of March 2 in London at the ExCel. The other canceled events are TechEd, User Group and Industry Council meetings, and Partner Summit.“The health and safety of our customers, partners and employees is our number one priority, and with more than 1,000 registered attendees from 48 countries, we feel postponing these events is the best option for all concerned,” said Cormac Watters, Infor GM & head of international. “We sincerely apologize for the disruption and inconvenience.” Infor is considering the feasibility of rescheduling some of the events — either live or virtually — and will share details as they become available. Read more

1 February 2020 Event | Infor Inspire Londen March 3rd 2020 Your company most probably is using an ERP system. Do you remember the last upgrade project your company realized? The start was maybe postponed? And when eventually the project was started, it appeared again to be more difficult, took more time than anticipated and became more costly?Probably you recognize this as well: You need functionality your ERP system does not provide in the standard. A separate other system needs to solve the problem. And when you found such a system, there was the interfacing task. No issue according to the supplier until it had to be realized…. Or you acquired a company and wanted to incorporate this new entity in your ERP system. Which then appeared to be more difficult than expected and localization was not available.Be sure, in today’s era this really can be different! Be invited to Infor Inspire on March 3rd 2020 in London to hear how Infor Cloudsuite applications can change your company. Infor and Infor customers will tell you how. Please subscribe here. Or click Infor Inspire when you would like to have more information on the event.Quartess – as an Infor gold channel partner for the manufacturing industry in the Benelux and Germany- provides ao Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP. Developed for the manufacturing industry, broad and deep last mile functionality, made available in the multi-tenant cloud. And with this you are no longer responsible for updates, upgrades, back-ups, redundancy etc. You can focus on your companies goals, Infor and her partners on what we are good at: ERP systems.We look forward to seeing you in London March 3rd! Read more

21 December 2019 Looking back on 2019 and forward to 2020 The year 2019 is almost done, time for a brief update on our activities this year. Quartess had the most successful year in its history. Our revenue hit an all-time high, with over 30% growth compared to the previous year. New customers, many extensions with existing customers, new employees. Implementations and consultancy in amongst others The Netherlands, Germany, UK, Belgium and Poland. Working very hard, intensive cooperation between Quartess employees and customers and a lot of travel. By car, by plane, but also on a regular basis by train. A big thank you to Quartess employees (and their relatives) who made this possible. A big thank you to our customers, new ones and existing ones for your trust and all the work you have done with us. And a big thank you to our suppliers – Infor, Easy Systems, Portable Intelligence, Tableau, Lillyworks- for your support and cooperation. The sum of all is what makes it possible, I am very aware of that.In less than 2 weeks it is 2020. Already now we can see that Quartess will continue on its succesful path. Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP as multi-tenant cloud application attracts a lot of positive attention in the market place with prospects and independent consultancy firms . New contracts with new customers will be signed in the first month(s) of the year. Cloud is becoming really the ‘new normal’ for manufacturing companies selecting a new ERP. Infor Visual ERP is undiminished popular, growth at existing customers including extension to other subsidiaries is already planned for multiple customers both in The Netherlands and the UK. In addition we see that RFPlus, PFM and Easy Invoice implementations are planned, working together with both the Visual and the CSI product. Quartess will grow further, I have no doubt about that. New employees will start in 2020. We will go live internally with a new P(rofessional) S(ervices) A(utomation) system of Salesforce based KROW. This will help our back-office to cope with the increasing amount of work. On top of this, events are scheduled and planned. Infor Inspire beginning of March 2020 in London and mid 2020 Quartess will bring all our customers from The Netherlands, UK, Germany and Belgium together for the first time in one customer event. We are looking forward therefore meeting you in 2020!For now however, it is time for family and/or friends. I wish you Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy 2020!Jan Muller Read more

20 May 2019 Working @ Quartess |the experiences & motivations of Kah-kin Yau Why did you apply for a position at Quartess? Quartess published a vacancy for an ERP consultant Infor CloudSuite Industrial ERP (Syteline). As Infor Gold Channel partner, they sell and implement this ERP solution for the manufacturing industry. I knew Quartess, since I have worked at Infor for the last 6 years (with great joy) with Infor Syteline. Because I also knew that Infor CloudSuite Industrial is a strategic product for the Cloud strategy of Infor as well as that mainly the Channel Partner organization is selling this product worldwide, I was excited for this opportunity with Quartess. At Quartess I feel being part of a team, an important aspect for me. Also I do have the opportunity to develop the team's knowledge and skills (and my own obviously). This is important, also since we are continuously growing to be able to support our growing number of customers. The team has a common goal: to help our customer use their business software in the best possible way to support their business processes.What Product do you work with and what do you like about? I'm working -as mentioned above- with Infor CloudSuite Industrial ERP (Syteline) and have been doing so for more than 10 years. I've done many implementations, both in the Netherlands and abroad. It's a very complete manufacturing ERP solution which can handle complex processes. But it's also very scalable and flexible. After 10 years, I know the product inside out and that's only possible because it's an open and user friendly ERP system.How quickly did you feel being part of the team? Straight from day 1, and that's fairly special since it's a team with busy consultants that are on the road and at customer sites. I have to be honest, I had to personally adjust to the situation as well (It has been a while since I've made any coffee rounds or ate cake at the office), but I felt at home really quickly. I've received the same feedback from my new colleagues. It's also nice that the average age is much lower in my new team.What about your work-life balance? Having started at Quartess with new and current projects, it took obviously some time to find a new balance. But now, 4 months later, I can say I still spend plenty time with my family and at the same time work on site and be flexible for my customers. I normally try to achieve a 40% home office and 60% at customer site time balance. At Quartess I will also need – and want- to spend time at the office with the team instead of working from home, but I like that and it isn't a requirement. The office is close to my home. On the days that I'm working from home, I can spend more time with my children and take them to school, from school and cook a nice dinner at the end of the day.Do you need to travel a lot? I do enjoy travelling and since the start of this year, I'm also travelling by train, for instance in Germany. It's much better for the environment, very comfortable and you can do some work as well. It's important to make the right agreements with customers. Luckily, it's much easier nowadays to work in virtual teams and use online meetings and tools and I can help most of my customers without being on site all the time.What makes working at Quartess fun? I really love the fact that it's a nice and real Dutch company. Despite the fact that our customers are in the meantime all over the world, our approach is still very Dutch-like. Simply pragmatic, efficient, honest and customer focused. This helps both with working with customers in the Netherlands and Europe and with the atmosphere and teamwork at Quartess. I'm also looking forward to the further growth, and the challenges and opportunities we will therefore soon encounter. It will be fun to be part of that, as well as to see the further development of Infor CloudSuite Industrial because also at Quartess we keep close contact with Infor Product Management. Read more

13 May 2019 Customer meeting Infor Visual ERP June 14th 2019 For our customers on Infor Visual ERP, Quartess organizes a customer event at Infor Barneveld June 14th 2019. This is your chance to be informed first hand by Mr Rich Lagoy (Visual product director) about the future of Infor Visual ERP, the specifically developed ERP system for the discrete SMB manufacturing industry. In addition there will be sessions about possibilities for digitalizing your processes by the use of additional software like RFPlus and Easy Invoice.Please be invited to register here for the event as well as to find more information on the program.You are most welcome to join us at this event and we look forward seeing you in Barneveld! Read more

Infor Factory Track shop floor automation

3 February 2019 Quartess | New customer and new employee The year 2019 has started very successful for Quartess. We reached an agreement for licenses and implementation of InforCloudsuite Industrial ERP with a well known German Engineer-to-Order machine building company. CSI will replace a legacy system and will be deployed on-premise this time, including the German Country pack to be able to comply with German fiscal- and financial rules. The CSI ERP application will be used in the German language.Standardization of company processes, alongside better and more integrated support of these processes with the modern and user friendly Cloudsuite Industrial ERP application, are main drivers for the decision.The implementation will start in February in a joint effort between the customer and Quartess. Quartess also added a new and with CSI very experienced ERP consultant / solution architect to her team to be able to grow the CSI part of the business further. We welcome our new colleague and are looking forward working together with him on many successful projects at existing- and new customers. Read more

22 December 2018 Quartess | Seasonal greetings 2018 Quartess can look back at a great 2018. We have done many projects (Infor Visual ERP, Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP & Tableau) with customers in The Netherlands, the UK and Germany and thank all our relations (both customers and suppliers) for their business and trust.On the edge of 2018-2019 we closed a large deal for a multi-site Infor ERP implementation which was even more a great way to end 2018 and to start -in a few days- 2019. It will be a busy year. Merry Christmas and a prosperous & healthy 2019 on behalf of the Quartess team! Read more

13 December 2018 Customer Event | Infor Inspire Amsterdam 3 April 2019 registration is open Elevating human potential through innovation in science and technology: Register hereTimes change. Software functionalities, upgrades, and roadmaps are also constantly evolving. Keeping up with the latest technology for your industry can be challenging—but can also open up new possibilities for the success of your organisation.Join us on 3 April in Amsterdam for Infor Inspire, to hear practical advice from experts and get the tools to not only survive, but also excel in this ultra-competitive digital age.See how new technologies can help you overcome obstacles and take advantage of growth opportunities.Be inspired and see what’s possible when you add technology that maximises human potential.Get ideas to improve your competitiveness in the market.Let's visualise what’s on the horizon and see how you can make the most of the technological solutions like Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP and/or Infor Visual ERP you work with. Read more

22 November 2018 Customer Event | Infor Inspire Amsterdam 3 April 2019 Join Infor leaders and innovation experts in Amsterdam -the RAI Convention Centre- for Infor Inspire on 3 April 2019—a one-day regional event—to experience how our emerging technologies, cloud deployment, social and mobile capabilities, and beautiful, purpose-built applications are designed for progress and transforming the way people work. Save the date Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (Syteline) & Infor Visual ERP customers for Infor Inspire! More to follow soon. Read more

1 November 2018 Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) intro movie | ERP for manufacturing For more than 25 years already, Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP is the ERP application for the manufacturing industry. Applied world wide. Ongoing extended with additional functionality and technically renewed. Therefore we can say Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP is unique in its sort by combining a wealth of manufacturing experience with availability as modern real multi tenant cloud product at the same time. Watch the 2 minute short video for a first impression. Interested to learn more? We welcome your inquiry! Read more

Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP versie 10

12 September 2018 Infor Cloudsuite Industrial version 10: going for standard! Later this year, Infor will release the new version 10 of Infor Cloudsuite Industial (fka Syteline) . Packed with lots of new functionality, as always with a new release, there will be communications and detailed overviews as soon as this version is generally available for new and existing users. More in general, it is clear that Infor is practicing their credo ‘last mile functionality’, meaning specific functionality for niches and/or countries is built into the standard. This is important for two different reasons: First, Infor Cloudsuite Industrial is a product available as a multi tenant cloud offering and in this ‘set up’ , real customization (changing source code) is just not possible. Therefore the standard functionality of CSI needs to be ‘a fit’ for most targeted industries and countries. The big advantage of course, the user is not locked into a specific version and can make use of new features and functions immediately when they are available without having to go through the burden of upgrading. And this pays of: investigations show companies on latest releases perform better.Second, the more ‘last mile functionality’ is built into the product (now even several localization components are brought into the standard product), the more easy implementations can be realized (compared to risky and costly customization's) and the better the product is usable in an international setting. So, when you are currently a user of Syteline, it is certainly worthwhile to investigate how the new standard product can support your business. With or without the aim to go to the cloud, because although the cloud is becoming ‘the new normal’, there is no necessity from a product standpoint of view to do so. Quartess can assist you with such ‘back to standard’ projects; currently we are bringing a Syteline user to the multi tenant cloud with the latest Infor Cloudsuite Industrial version in a multi country setting. Please contact us if you want to know more about Infor Cloudsuite Industrial, about Quartess or about a migration to the cloud with Infor Cloudsuite Industrial. Read more

9 September 2018 Infor Visual ERP version 9.05 released Development for Infor Visual ERP is at high speed. September 5th 2018 Infor introduced version 9.05, already the 6th version of version 9 which was introduced originally in the spring of 2017. Infor increased the pace of introducing new releases of Visual with the customer in mind, in this way being able to respond quicker to specific customer wishes and at the same time introducing gradually new functionality based on the Infor Visual ERP roadmap.Version 9 offers a lot of additional functionality. Whether it is the enhanced document lifecycle functionality, providing graphical insight in the supply chain as well as methods to standardize and measure performance, or –related to the GDPR legislation- a function to make personal and privacy sensitive information in the system visible. Also the all new web based shop floor module does deliver huge value. And there is many more of courseQuartess sees huge interest with existing customers to migrate to version 9; both in the UK and in the Benelux we have helped already (and are helping) many companies doing so.Are you interested in a full overview of the new functionality? Please contact us, we can provide you with all the information you need as well as help you with the migration. Read more

Manufacturing insights Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP

18 July 2018 Looking forward, looking up: Manufacturing insights 10 Trends to watch as you modernize and optimizeThe future looks bright for manufacturing. In the latest Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), manufacturers’ optimism has risen substantially; almost 95% of respondents say they are positive about their own company’s outlook. This optimism is reflected in the UK, as well, with the EEF forecasting 1.4% growth in UK manufacturing in 2018.What’s driving that growth and what do manufacturers need to be mindful of to keep things moving in the right direction? Here are ten trends to watch:Regulatory reformThe passing of tax reform is expected to have great impact on manufacturing, according to NAM’s Boerstling. The vast majority of NAM’s members (94.6%) expect to increase capital spending, increase wages, and hire more workers with the passing of tax reform. But, there’s still work to be done around trade and immigration, both of which could greatly impact manufacturing.In the UK, Brexit still looms, creating quite a bit of volatility. Lee Hopley, Chief Economist for the EFF, the Voice for Manufacturing and Engineering in the UK, reports that in a recent survey, UK manufacturers expect to see more risks to their business over the next year than they saw in the previous quarter. Hopley attributes this reaction to policy challenges and politics around the Brexit negotiations.Growing global economyRegulatory reform and the current political environment are creating a business climate with a focus on the possible. “I wasn’t confident that we were going to see a big boost in 2017, but the outturn has been better than we anticipated,” says Hopley, during a recent IndustryWeek webinar, sponsored by Infor. She sees stronger growth across manufacturing sectors, particularly those that are investing in new technology. Internationally, she sees continued optimism about global growth prospects, which translates to greater export opportunities for manufacturers.Continuing Skills gapNAM reports that there are close to 400,000 unfilled jobs in manufacturing today, and that number is expected to grow to 2 million by 2025. Infor’s Nick Castellina, Director of Product and Industry Strategy for Discrete Manufacturing, adds that 78 million US employees will retire from manufacturing within the next 10 years, and 82% of manufacturing CEOs say the skills gap will affect their ability to meet customer demands.The solution to this problem needs to be multi-pronged. The government has a part to play, with passing education and technical training legislation, as well as the creation of apprenticeships—5 million over the next 3 years, according to Robyn Boerstling, Vice President of Infrastructure, Innovation, and Human Resources Policy for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).But, manufacturers need to tackle the problem, as well. Manufacturers need to create more work-based learning programs and their own apprenticeships. Technology has a role to play in closing the skills gap, as well. Today’s generation of workers want to work with solutions that are user-friendly and that resemble the technology they use in their everyday lives. Their impression is that they won’t find that sort of technology at manufacturing companies. So, it’s time for manufacturers to make technology a key differentiator.Infor’s Castellina reports that executives at digital leaders say they have 90% of the talent they need; they can find the people they need and keep them working at their companies because they’ve made technology a priority.More connected supply chainRoughly 80% of the data that organizations need to effectively run their global supply chains is stored externally, according to Castellina. To remedy this situation and gain greater visibility into products, better manage demand, and collaborate more effectively with partners, the next generation of supply chain will be digitally connected. It will function as an interconnected network that’s agile, responsive, and efficient. Most of these supply chain interactions will happen across cloud-based commerce networks and be supplemented with analytics to better manage demand, keep costs low, and ensure profits.Tightening of cybersecurityCybercrime is predicted to cost global businesses .1 trillion by 2019. Preventing all cyberattacks isn’t possible, but manufacturers can—and must—continue to tighten their security to safeguard their data and operations.The Cyber Security Information Act of 2015 created a framework for cybersecurity and established the structure for businesses and government to work together on the issue. The US government spent billion on cybersecurity in 2017, and expects to continue to increase spending. Manufacturers need to build collaborative relationships with government on cybersecurity, but they need to work on the issue themselves, as well. Employees need to be educated on the importance of cyber safety and companies need to tighten the reins on what comes in—and goes out—of their operations. There’s much for manufacturers to learn from incidents like the Equifax data breach in terms of best practices and approaches.Manufacturing CFO becomes more strategicWhere in the past, CFOs were part of the back-office operations, that business model is shifting within manufacturing. Today, and moving forward, CFOs are becoming partners to the line of business and driving strategy to enable them to grow the organization and perform their jobs more effectively. Manufacturing CFOs are increasingly becoming involved in technology decisions around cloud, mobility, business intelligence, and overall business and technology strategy. They’re playing a key role in determining the technologies and business processes that can help the organization grow into new markets and fight off competition in existing ones.Mass customization of productsCustomers are demanding products that are more configured and tailored specifically for them. That’s something that’s not going to change. The key for manufacturers is collaboration. They need to work more closely with their customers to find out what exactly they want, and then to communicate clearly what they’ll be getting and how much it will cost. On the back-end, manufacturers need to know if such customization is profitable and how they can deliver on that promise. To make all that work, Castellina sees manufacturers transitioning these processes from their ERP systems to front-office configure-price-quote or business-to-business e-commerce applications. These applications make it easy to manage customization and to collaborate more effectively with customers.Growth of servitizationThis term may be new to many manufacturers, but the concept isn’t. Servitization is a transformation journey that manufacturers are taking as they search for new, incremental revenue streams. It translates to manufacturers changing their business models to one where they don’t just sell products; they also provide support for the products they already sell. To make this transition, manufacturers need the tools to efficiently schedule service technicians and manage the demand for those services, to ensure their interacting with their customers effectively. Technicians will need information at the point of service and to be able to do everything they need to do while at the customer’s site. Finally, the CFO will need analytics tools to ensure the new model is profitable.ERP system as focus of digital transformationDigital transformation is about connecting people, processes, technology, and products, so they’re more connected, you can make better decisions, be more collaborative, and ultimately, create a more effective manufacturing organization. There are many different ways for a manufacturing organization to change the way it operates and promote efficiency. But, the ERP system has always been the heart and soul of every manufacturing organization, and there’s no reason to change. All the information a manufacturer draws from and all the technology that it’s connecting as part of its digital transformation should be connected to its foundation—its ERP system. That ERP system can be implemented in the cloud, which is a core component of digital transformation. And it can (and should) have analytics embedded in it. That’s the way to build a digital transformation on a solid foundation.Continued emphasis on Big Data and Internet of ThingsData is the true currency of manufacturing. The more data manufacturers have, and the more they can use it effectively to make better decisions, the better positioned they are for growth. The Internet of Things (IoT) will continue to be a key driver of innovation. The number of connected IoT devices worldwide will jump 12% on average annually, going from nearly 27 billion in 2017 to 127 billion in 2030. The IoT will create opportunities for manufacturers to build more embedded devices to deliver to customers. From the product design phase, they’ll need to consider what services and revenue an IoT-connected product can generate through its lifetime.There’s also the data side of the IoT to consider. Those devices are going to generate a tremendous amount of data, which is where the importance of Big Data and analytics come in. The IoT is a toolset for connecting data and assets. But it’s going to take powerful analytics to make sense of all that data and make it useful and meaningful for determining what new service models or revenue streams to pursue, as well as how to operate more efficiently.If manufacturers pay careful attention to these 10 trends, they can position themselves for greater operating efficiency and growth in the coming year.Note: Earlier published on www.infor.com , February 27th 2018 Read more

8 June 2018 Industry 4.0: Separating hype from true innovation While definitions for Industry 4.0 are numerous, it’s essentially: “The marriage of physical and digital technologies such as analytics, artificial intelligence, cognitive technologies, and the Internet of Things (IoT). This marriage of the physical with the digital allows for the creation of a digital enterprise that is not only interconnected, but also capable of more holistic, informed decision making,” according to Deloitte. Data collected from the physical world (like machinery) is used to generate insights, which are then reapplied to the physical world. Deloitte says, “These feedback loops generate abundant opportunities for new products and services, better ways to serve customers, new types of jobs and wholly new business models.”The magnitude of changeIs it possible to separate the hype from reality and obtain a true picture of the magnitude of change that has already hit manufacturing and what is yet to come? No. Hype and reality are tightly intertwined. Hyperbole and optimism have combined and evolved into to a new generation of stories that elicit amazement and envy. We’re bombarded with articles describing manufacturing plants performing near-miraculous feats: Robots think, machines communicate, cameras fly, inventory is never out of stock, and orders are always on time; a customer can imagine a product, and in the blink of an eye, the product is produced and delivered.And yet, this isn’t even smoke-and-mirrors or fanciful dreams. For some, these are already realities. Considering science and technologies that already exist, as well as the results of early adopters, experts who live and breathe innovation are projecting that this level of change will certainly get much bigger.In fact, the analysts at Capgemini predict that smart factories could add from 0 billion to .5 trillion in value to the global economy in the next five years.Prognosticating beyond that, however, proves challenging. The subject matter is moving at an alarming rate of change, making it difficult to definitively quantify results. Even timely surveys, like the ones referenced in this paper, might already be outdated by the time their statistics are published—as more factories deploy IoT projects and boost profits.While manufacturers must learn to live with a degree of ambiguity as to what exactly the future has in store, the simple truth is that technology as a driving force in manufacturing is not going away any time soon. We don’t even have consensus as to what we call this “new technology” that’s changing the way we design, make, and deliver products to customers. The German government coined the phrase, “Industry 4.0” as a nod to the “fourth industrial revolution.” Industry 4.0 originally encompassed machine-to-machine (M2M) technology and connected devices. The equipment industry used to call this telematics.Then the sensor market exploded and the IoT was the next big thing. Soon, the “Industrial Internet of Things” (IIoT) came about as result of the need to distinguish industrial applications from more consumer-oriented applications. The UK prefers the term “4IR,” for fourth industrial revolution. There are also smart factories and smart products, as well as smart Millennials who insist on highly intuitive software that behaves like their smart phones.No matter what you want to call this wave of disruptive technology, it’s real and about to drastically change your factory—if it hasn’t already. Now is the time to ramp up technology investments in order to keep pace, seize unfolding opportunities, and enjoy the benefits of Industry 4.0.NOTE: Earlier published on www.infor.com May 17th 2018 Read more

6 May 2018 Smart Customization & the need for Infor CPQ Smart Customization helps manufacturing companies for parts of their business to move from EtO to CtO. Customers demand unique products, with CtO you'll have less risk, less costs and shorter lead times. A configurator like Infor CPQ that integrates seamlessly with ERP (like Infor CSI) & CAD is a prerequisite for CtO. See below for a customer story, originally posted on http://blogs.infor.comHow Infor CPQ opens a window to a better customer experience for Milgard Windows & DoorsMilgard Windows & Doors is an excellent example of how an advanced configure-price-quote (CPQ) solution can do much more than help sales personnel configure orders; it can also drive fundamental transformations in how a company does business.During a recent webinar, Milgard Windows & Doors CIO, Vinod Nair, discussed what the company was looking for in a next-generation CPQ solution and how Infor CPQ delivered capabilities that created a smoother, more intuitive, and productive experience for dealers, customers, and the company’s own sales personnel.Tacoma-based Milgard Windows & Doors offers a full line of vinyl, wood, fiberglass, and aluminum windows and patio doors for builders, dealers, and homeowners. The company has approximately 3,800 dealer locations nationwide, and needed a CPQ tool that would scale to accommodate growth and provide a smoother overall user experience with a faster, more accurate quoting process.Their primary requirement for a CPQ tool was to deploy a solution that made it easier for dealers and customers to do business with the company. Its legacy PC-based CPQ tool was often the barrier to a smooth business engagement. Because it wasn’t integrated with the back-end ERP systems that managed window production, this tool would often create mismatches with the pricing generated by the ERP systems. Dealers could create an order, but too often that order would conflict with the ERP system of record.The tool also created other glitches in the customer experience as well. In many cases, a dealer would begin a quote and find that an order quickly increased in complexity — requiring them to contact a Milgard Windows & Doors salesperson to complete the process. However, the dealers couldn’t share the partially completed order with the salesperson, who had to start the process again from scratch.The lack of integration also complicated new product introductions. When new products came to market, the company had to update all versions of the standalone quoting tool and its back-end systems. This posed an ongoing challenge for IT to keep the two systems in sync.With the launch of Infor CPQ, Milgard Windows & Doors paved the way to a smoother experience for dealers, customers, and their own sales team. Because Infor CPQ integrates with their ERP systems, the company has a seamless quoting and ordering process with no discrepancies between what dealers and customers see and the pricing and production cycles managed by the ERP systems. The generated quote automatically triggers the appropriate bills of material and routings required to fulfill the order. Also, the sales team can log in on behalf of the dealer and customer to collaborate on a partially completed order, rather than starting from scratch. Dealers, end customers, and the sales team all get a single, consistent experience. Where it used to take months to train a new user on the legacy CPQ system, users can now get up to speed within a much shorter timeframe. The solution also provides a 2D visualization of the final product, which helps eliminate any surprises and addresses potential design issues prior to production.The CPQ and ERP integration also reduces IT’s ongoing administrative workload. With one solution to maintain and manage, IT has a more streamlined way to execute system upgrades and new product launches. The solution is also highly scalable, allowing IT to on-board new dealers and locations much more efficiently. In addition to having happier, more productive users, the company is also ready for a more mobile future. With Infor CPQ, the company is positioned to support mobile users who want to gather and input requirements onsite with the customer and generate a quote immediately.The work Milgard Windows & Doors did prior to deployment is one of the reasons that its Infor CPQ solution has had such a meaningful impact on its business. The company invested a lot of time and effort working with dealers to understand what they needed in a quoting solution. The team gathered requirements, proposed designs, and incorporated dealer feedback into its final deployment to ensure that users would have the smooth, seamless customer experience that would help differentiate Milgard Windows & Doors from its competitors. As Nair puts it: “Infor CPQ was easy to use, intuitive, and accurate, which met our goal to make the buying experience as stress-free as possible for our dealers and their customers. The Infor solution also supports a more efficient and effective sales process, which is helping open us up to new opportunities and partnerships.” Read more

27 April 2018 Schuite & Schuite Druckfarben GMBH selects Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP Schuite & Schuite Druckfarben GMBH, a well known German producer and supplier - with Dutch roots- of professional ink for full color printing companies, has selected Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP. The implementation will be realized in the coming months, together with Infor gold channel partner Quartess. Key in the decision is amongst others the fact that Infor Cloudsuite Industrial is a real multi tenant cloud application. “This will save us a lot of hassle”, according to Bauke-Jan Schuite, CEO of Schuite & Schuite. “ICT should be supportive to our business, not the other way around. With Cloud Suite Industrial we will see that happen. It has lots of functionality, which we will start using gradually over time. CSI does comply to German fiscal and financial rules as well and can be used mobile. Also we will always be working with the latest version of the software, an important characteristic of multi tenant cloud. With Infor Cloudsuite ERP we enter the digital future and it will further strengthen our market position. And that fits perfect with our company goals!” Read more

20 April 2018 Cloud as a Foundation for Digital Readiness in Manufacturing Cloud as a Foundation for Digital Readiness in ManufacturingApril 20, 2018Manufacturers are bombarded daily with promises of a digital revolution and system-wide reimagining. The potential is astounding. IT consulting firm, Capgemini, even predicts in a recent report that smart factories could add 0 billion to .5 trillion in value-added service offerings to the global economy in five years.Such impressive numbers and the technologies on offer, like Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence, are capturing the imagination of visionaries. But, pragmatic and results driven manufacturers will be looking for the proven tactics that will bring definable process results and quickly offer a measurable Return on Investment while setting firm foundations for their digital strategy.Manufacturers know they must first go beyond the hype and examine core, foundational issues. These may be process pains that have been a nuisance for years, but didn’t make it to the top of the priority list as personnel devised work-arounds and “made do” with the inefficiencies.For many manufacturers fixing these fundamentals requires updating their ERP solution, the heart of the enterprise, and transitioning to cloud deployment. Cloud deployment provides the enterprise-wide process improvement manufacturers need today. Cloud deployment’s elasticity, and fast implementation are also critical elements of being digital-ready.Why is cloud deployment the logical starting point for a short-term transformation, and long-term digital journey?Keeping pace with fast changing pressures and rapid changeManufacturers face escalating market pressures with endlessly changing trends and evolving customer demands. To respond, manufacturers may need to put in place regional divisions, leverage mergers and acquisitions, form partnerships, add distribution hubs, or build new facilities. These tactics require setting up new systems, hardware and software.With the traditional on-premises approach the IT department is burdened with procuring and managing the hardware, servers, security, and back-up systems. Software solutions can be time-consuming to implement, especially if the ERP is a generic one-size-fits-all which needs to be highly modified to suit an industry. These “old-school” processes are no longer practical. Cloud deployment, in contrast, leaves the system set-up to the cloud provider, meaning the system is ready to go within weeks.Storing vast amounts of dataLegacy solutions deployed on premises seldom offer the storage capacity needed for digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT applications involve sensors embedded in products or equipment to capture and communicate a continuous flow of data about location and conditions. This requires the virtually unlimited storage capacity of the cloud. Trying to manage the massive amounts of sensor-generated data within your own on premises system would require substantial investment in hardware—and people to manage the systems.Visibility and flexibilityDigital manufacturing is all about data, visibility, and access to data. It involves connecting to other systems, solutions, and even other devices, like shipping containers and material handling equipment. In order to be digital-ready the organisation must have a core ERP that is flexible. That means getting rid of the cumbersome modifications that make updates and upgrades difficult. You need a system which can easily integrate and connect with other systems. In the past, ERP providers were concerned about keeping data within the organisation, not in sharing. Today, visibility must extend beyond the four walls of the plant to the supply chain network, colleagues, co-manufacturers, and partners. Turning to a modern ERP solution in the cloud makes this level of enterprise-wide connectivity easier.Fully modern today, fully modern tomorrowA manufacturer with an outdated ERP solution is likely experiencing multiple pain points which are draining profits or making it difficult to keep up with the competition. Some may try to fix these issues, one at a time with add-on solutions. Trying to adapt a digital framework one edge app at a time is slow and inefficient, whilst it may have had its place when early adopters were needing to prove digital concepts with pilot programs, digital concepts are now proven and beyond requiring protected boundaries to limit risk.Now, it makes more sense to deploy system-wide improvements at once, starting with the ERP solution. No other tactic will be so far-reaching and offer the ability to resolve multiple operational roadblocks all at once. Perhaps one of the most substantial benefits of cloud deployment is that manufacturers won’t have to worry about upgrades and keeping the software modern. Cloud solutions are updated on a continual basis so that the software always contains the latest functionality.Consistent customer-centricityAn enterprise-wide approach is also the most practical way to improve multiple customer touchpoints, addressing the entire customer journey, not just order entry or field service dispatch. Customers engage with manufacturers at multiple levels, at many different intersection points in the buying cycle, from early product inquiries to aftermarket service and repeat sales or upgrades. The customer expects a consistent experience throughout the process, not a highly attentive pre-purchase phase that suddenly drops off the moment the status switches from prospect to customer. With a new, advanced ERP solution in place, the customer experience will be consistently modern.Concluding thoughtsManufacturers today are enticed by the exciting dazzle of disruptive technologies which promise big benefits. Also, the pragmatic manufacturer often is concerned about ROI, achieving early wins, and proven methods for solving day-to-day operational pains. Deploying a modern ERP solution in the cloud takes care of both aspects. The cloud deployment offers the starting point for digital activities that are visionary and high impact, like IoT. The enterprise-wide advanced functionality of a modern ERP solution also brings the very practical applications that the manufacturer needs now in order to be competitive and please customers.Want to find out more about this topic?Join Infor’s thought Leadership session: Cloud as a Foundation for Digital Transformation at the CIO Summit Europe in Paris on the 14th of May, 12:05 pm – 12:30 pmNote: Originally published on http://blogs.infor.com/insights/ Read more

20 March 2018 Inforum 2018 Washington DC September 24-27 The Inforum 2018 Infor user event will be organised in the USA, Washington DC, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. As an Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (fka Syteline ERP) and an Infor Visual ERP user you are most welcome to join this event from September 24th- 27th. No better place to get inspired about the possibilities of going digital when you are in the manufacturing industry, to hear about what the future will bring at Infor and to network with your peers. Benefit from the early bird discount till June 26th and register here. Read more

5 March 2018 The role of Infor Business Innovation in GDPR compliance By John Vicari, senior director, Infor Business InnovationThe European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is designed to enable individuals to better control their personal data.“Personal data” is defined in the GDPR as any information relating to a person who can be identified, directly or indirectly, by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, online identifier, or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that person. In other words, any data or processes that can identify the subject comprise that individual’s personal data.Playing a crucial role in supporting the requirements of the GDPR at Infor is Business Innovation, Infor’s enterprise information technology (IT) team. This group is responsible for providing and maintaining an information processing capability that supports Infor’s business globally. With more than 500 employees supporting over 130 locations, the Business Innovation team plans, operates, and supports Infor’s IT business and technical requirements, enabling business users to carry out their roles efficiently, productively, and securely.While IT usually brings to mind computer support, Business Innovation’s responsibilities extend far beyond the help desk. Business Innovation’s major areas of responsibilities are listed below and include managing risk associated with technology information, and ensuring that Infor’s internal infrastructure is secure.Sales, marketing, and “deal” managementFinance & accounting managementHuman capital/talent management consultingInfrastructure (compute, storage, network, telco, messaging, security)Data management (business intelligence, data governance, data warehousing)Technology information riskProduction management, support, and QAArchitecture and applications developmentAlthough many obligations need to be fulfilled to meet the requirements of the GDPR, Business Innovation started with the first step for compliance: mapping the data flow to enable us to assess our privacy risks. This includes understanding and documenting the following:What kind of personal data is collected (e.g., name, email, address)?How is it collected (e.g., form, online, call center)?Where is it stored?How is it processed?Is the data encrypted?Who is accountable for personal data?What is the location of the systems/filing systems containing the data?Who has access to the information?Is the information disclosed/shared with anyone (e.g., suppliers, third parties)?Does the system interface with or transfer information to other systems?How long do we keep it?The delivery of the principles and rights in the GDPR will not be possible if we do not have a complete understanding of personal data and its associated processing.Data management best practiceThe Business Innovation team is assessing other capabilities and components needed to fully address the data management requirements of the GDPR. These components fall under these five categories:ManageCase management: Systems required for managing data subject requests, complaints, and communications related to emergencies and data breachesControls management: Systems to manage the control for all aspects of personal dataPrivacy compliance: Systems that manage data protection assessments, identify risk gaps, demonstrate compliance, and record data purposeTraining: Training solutions/systems that can demonstrate understanding of the GDPR and compliance requirementsActData security: Implement systems that protect data via the use of encryption, pseudonymizing, and other security technologiesData maintenance: Systems to manage data quality, including updates of data throughout the data lifecycle. This includes data deletion and suppression as a required functionBreach response: The deployment of systems that will detect, manage, and resolve breaches (identify breached data, identify impacted users, and notify all relevant parties)SecureNetwork: Deployment of detailed and integrated network and cyber security procedures, systems, and processes to provide enhanced levels of network securityApplication: Deployment of systems to ensure all applications that store, process, and manage personal data are secureInfrastructure: Deployment of systems to protect all IT infrastructure, including cloud solutions, use for data management, processing, storage and archivingIdentifyData discovery: Systems that assess structured and unstructured data across the enterprise identifying personal dataData mapping: Systems that “flag” all data related to an individual and show how all elements are tied togetherConsent: Systems that manage, track, and demonstrate all GDPR consent provisionsAnalyzeActivity monitoring: Identify how data is being accessed and used and by whom and how value can be derived from itOmni-channel management: Systems to manage and coordinate data coming in from multiple channelsArchive management: Systems to ensure archived data is managed and deleted in accordance with retention policesIndividual rightsOne of the key changes brought about by the GDPR is its impact on the rights of individuals with respect to how their data is used. Since the GDPR gives individuals more control over the ways in which Infor processes their personal data, our responsibilities are greater than ever to ensure we’re absolutely clear on our data management.Individual rights under GDPR are the “right of access,” “right to rectification,” “right to erasure” (or the “right to be forgotten”), “right to restriction of processing,” “right to data portability,” and “right to object.” In a functional sense, these rights require Business Innovation to provide the technology and processes to:Connect individuals to their personal dataCategorize personal data by type and processing purposeMap or tract the full lifecycle of personal dataPerform search and retrievalEnable rectification, redaction, erasure, anonymizationEnable freeze and suppressionEnable the transmission of personal data from one technology stack to anotherWith over 16,500 employees and 90,000 customers in more than 170 countries, Infor faces an exciting challenge with implementing the new data protection laws of the GDPR. However, while challenging, there are also a wide range of benefits to be realized because of the GDPR. The technical and process improvements necessary to meet the new GDPR requirements will result in dramatic efficiencies in how Infor manages and secures personal data.Note: Originally pubished on http://blogs.infor.com/insights/ Read more

3 February 2018 Ben Cramer joins Quartess as partner to grow Infor CSI (fka Syteline) practice Starting February 1st 2018, ERP industry veteran Ben Cramer will join Quartess as a partner, with focus –together with Managing Director Jan Muller- on the growth of the Infor Cloudsuite Industrial (CSI) ERP practice. “We are excited and very happy to be able to welcome Ben to our team” says Jan Muller. “Ben has extensive knowledge of the Infor CSI ERP product (fka Syteline ERP) and is an experienced manager. Because of the fast growing market for multi tenant ERP cloud solutions, Quartess decided to add Infor CSI for the manufacturing industry to our product portfolio.Already operating as an Infor gold channel partner in the manufacturing industry with Infor Visual ERP, we now are able to combine almost 2 decades of ERP related manufacturing expertise with more than 2 decades of Infor Syteline ERP / Infor CSI product and manufacturing expertise of Ben. A very promising combination”.“Quartess have many years of experience with Infor Visual ERP and implementing ERP in the manufacturing industry” says Ben Cramer. “ Jan has asked me to join Quartess to accelerate growth with the Infor Cloudsuite Industrial ERP product. It didn’t take long to see that this is the perfect opportunity to work with the product I know very well and like very much, in a role and within an organization where I can add value with my knowledge and expertise. I am looking forward working with Jan, the Quartess team, prospects and customers, to further grow the Infor CSI customer base” Read more

6 October 2017 It’s not that difficult to keep your ERP system alive By Jan Muller, Managing Director & Co-owner QuartessIt has been a while since you implemented your ERP system probably. Maybe 3 years, 5 years, or in many cases I know of, even 10 years or more. In these years, many things have changed in your company. Examples like new products, new markets, new people, even new ownership perhaps.So your organization must have changed because all of this also. And with that, ways of working and procedures.At the same time, in the external world things move fast. New technologies have been introduced and existing ones have matured. Internet of things, big data, smart customization, new production techniques like 3D printing, ‘cloud’, smart customization and big data to name some examples.But what about the effect of all these developments in the in- and outside world, and your ERP system? Do you have a structure in place stimulating people in your organization to think and discuss about the effect of all these changes on your ERP system? Now some of you might say: of course, obviously. Congratulations, you are in the front runners group. In our practice – Quartess focuses on the SMB discrete manufacturing market- I see both. I also see companies that struggle with this, with the negative effects you can think off.So what should you do? Think back about the time you implemented the system. There was a key user group and a project leader that formed your implementation team. This team together with the consultants implemented the system and trained the end-users. Does such a team in your organization still have regular meetings about changes and how they affect your ERP system? They should! Every month, every 2 months, bring them together and have discussions.In addition, talk to your supplier as well when you want to adapt your ERP system. Some changes may have a potential big impact. And be sure you are running the latest version of your ERP software. Take advantage of the new functionality your supplier has put into the system you already have. The effect will be an ERP system that is kept alive and has far more chances to be seen by the users as a tool that supports them in doing their job. And that is what ERP is about after al. Or it will become clear that you'll have to look around for replacement of your current system. Also a valuable conclusion because you know now exactly why. Read more

18 July 2016 Van Halteren Special Products BV selects Infor Visual ERP The Netherlands based Van Halteren Special Products BV, part of the Van Halteren Groep, has decided to implement Infor Visual ERP. Quartess, the Netherlands based Infor partner for the SMB manufacturing industry will work the coming months together with Van Halteren on the successful implementation of the system.Van Halteren Special Products B.V. (VHSP) provides technical services and develops & builds high-tech components and solutions for the Defense market, both Army and Navy, and the Civil (rail) market. VHSP provides technical services from design, realization, operation, maintenance, repair and overhaul to midlife updates. Products and activities range from engines, transmissions, power packs, cooling systems and collective Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection, climate control and chiller units for armored vehicles, to naval applications and rail solutions. VHSP offers its clients solutions during the complete lifecycle of a product. Solutions are customized where necessary.Because of growth of their business, integration of back-office processes including financials, became increasingly important to the board of directors of Van Halteren. The need to replace the existing system became necessary therefore. Since another company within the group uses Infor Visual ERP successful, and Van Halteren has confidence in both the future of the product and the capabilities of Quartess, a thorough evaluation process led to the decision for Infor Visual ERP version 8.00.For more info on the Van Halteren Special Products activities please visit http://www.vanhalteren.com/en/special-products/ Read more

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