Every day a host of new products emerge, enticing buyers to abandon old technologies and embrace the new. Sometimes the choice to upgrade is compelling, as older products become difficult (or impossible) to support. A great example is the recent change in TV broadcast standards. Given a choice between adapting their old television sets or buying new high-definition equipment (or cable or satellite television service), many consumers opted for the latter, and for good reasons.

But new isn’t always better, especially when there’s a community of like-minded individuals committed to staying the course with a product or technology that’s simple, effective, and, well, just right. In the 1980s, angry customers demanded that Coca-Cola return their favorite beverage to its original formula. Soon thereafter, their drink of choice, renamed “Coca-Cola Classic,” reappeared on store shelves.

Another customer movement to retain a favorite product is afoot now, this one focused on adapting a proven technology for the future. This global initiative—i-Manifest—is intended to reinvigorate the System i platform. Composed of ERP and software vendors that support the System i platform, i-Manifest is making it clear to IBM that these vendors—and, more importantly, their customers—intend to stay with System i for the foreseeable future. And why not?

Tens of thousands of organizations confidently run their businesses based on the System i platform. They don’t need or want to rip and replace their existing system for costly and risky new technology. The i-Manifest initiative began in Japan, and is rapidly gaining support among companies in Europe and North America. Seventy-one founding members developed the initial manifest in support of System i, declaring: “We do not know of any machine other than IBM i which has resolutely protected user assets for 20 years and would continue to protect them in the future. We think we have a mission to convey its excellence and superiority. We can justifiably describe IBM i as ‘the miracle in computer history,’ especially when we speak to enterprise management, thought leaders in the business world, and all those engaged in information system departments.” [IBM i Manifest, Joint Declaration by 71 IBM i Partners in Japan, in Response to the Market Expectation for Management & Business Innovation]

So how can i-Manifest and the effort to reinvigorate System i reinvigorate your company, and how is Infor making it easier to stick with the platform?

• Infor Flex Upgrade and Flex Exchange allow users to get to the latest technology and stay current by cost-effectively upgrading their System i-based ERP systems.
  
  
• A host of Infor applications—performance management (PM), customer relationship management (CRM), supply-chain management (SCM), and others—enable manufacturers to cost-effectively extend their System i ERP with state-of-art capabilities.
  
  
• Infor Evolve components add functionality and value, in many cases as part of regular maintenance investments, allowing businesses to quickly connect to new components, such as MyDay role-based home pages, instead of building new components every time they upgrade.

 For more and more Infor customers and i-Manifest supporters, it’s time to put a hold on investment in new technology for technology’s sake, while they enjoy “classic” returns in their existing System i platforms. Maybe you should go classic, too, and start leveraging proven old-school savings as well.

Posted by Kevin Piotrowski, Director of Solutions Management, System i

One thing’s for sure: The mood out there—on the street, in offices, even on telecons—is much different. It’s a hundred times better than it was just a year ago. While the economy is still uncertain and anxiety-provoking, we no longer live under the cloud of a deepening recession. Instead of “How bad will it get?” we ask, “How fast will it recover?” More to the point, however, manufacturers everywhere should now be asking themselves: “Are we ready for what’s next?”

Countless companies battened down the hatches last year to keep their ships afloat and save as many crew and passengers as possible. And not surprisingly, if an activity or investment didn’t boost a company’s immediate ability to sustain cash flow and margin, it got shoved overboard. But now the seas are calmer and the sky is clearing. And after a moment’s relief at surviving the storm, a realization quickly hits most executives: “We should have been preparing for new business, new markets, and a new economy!”

That’s not to say that navigating 2010’s economy will be any easier; in fact, it may be more difficult and complex. Inventories across multiple organizations will be managed far more tightly as executives vow to never again suffer the product-clogged warehouses of 2009. Total cost of procurement will finally—finally—be more than an idea as manufacturers evaluate all the dollars associated with their purchases, both direct (shipping charges, customs duties) and hidden (cost of warehouse space, lost cash flow, inflexibility of bulk orders). Everyone will continue to do more with less, in part because they’ve now seen that they can, but, more importantly, because they know that they must. Eliminating wastes of time and resources is a strategic imperative now.

In short, manufacturers have taken their ships off of autopilot and are now seriously trying to assess every facet of their operations—every project, purchase, initiative, action, and opportunity. I say “trying” because many are stymied by the fact that their enterprise IT backbones just don’t support, enable, or streamline the kind of sophisticated analysis required for survival in 2010. That’s the bad news. The good news is this: If these manufacturers do bring their System i ERPs and solutions into the new decade, they’re pleasantly surprised to find that they can have leading-edge analysis and processes—without the heartache, problems, and costs associated with an ERP implementation.

What does this mean to you? With Infor’s Flex Upgrade and Flex Exchange programs you can cost-effectively upgrade your ERP system. Like many executives, you look at an emerging new economy and an organization that is vastly different than a year or two ago. Maybe you need a more robust system to accommodate your acquisition of a failing competitor (congratulations on that wise move). Maybe you need functionality specific for a new industry you hope to pursue. Or, as is often the case, maybe it’s well past time to bring software innovations to your firm—innovations that might have made the recession less stressful. Flex Upgrade allows users to upgrade a solution for a small license fee (if any) and implement quickly and cheaply, and Flex Exchange allows users to do just as it sounds: Exchange a solution for a comparable solution for just a small transaction fee and competitive service rate.

There’s still time to prepare for all the growth that a revving 2010 economy will offer. Take account of your System i, and ask:

• How have my markets, suppliers, and customers changed, and what will those changes require of my enterprise system?
  
  
• What business functions need to be added to System i to reduce the happy strain of renewed revenue growth?
  
  
• What tired applications are well past their “use-by-date,” and how much longer will you force your executives and staff to manage with these archaic tools?

Preparing for the new economy presents promise and opportunity, especially considering the state of business just a year ago. But you’ve got to be ready to Flex. Are you?

Posted by Kevin Piotrowski, Director of Solution Marketing, System i

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This website content, in whole or part, does not constitute an offer of any kind and may not be incorporated into any contractual agreement with Infor or its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Infor Flex program is available for a limited period and subject to change at any time, with or without notice to you. Restrictions apply.

Ever catch a ride with a friend who drives a high-end car—but not the latest model? Ever tempted to ask when he or she might trade it in for this year’s sexy new thing? Go ahead—but prepare to be surprised. Because often the answer—at least among successful, affluent drivers—will be “Newer than what?” Why? Because auto aftermarket options such as Bluetooth, navigation systems, and DVD players are frequently superior in quality and price to manufacturer-installed components, meaning that a well-maintained, high-performance vehicle can actually outperform newer rivals—without the pain of instant depreciation and monthly car payments.

I’ve been thinking that more CIOs ought to ride in one of those high-performance, no-monthly-payment cars. Because thousands of executives today run their companies based on the high-performance, low-cost System i platform. These leaders and their IT departments are being enticed by vendors large and small to move to newer platforms. My hope is that, like the successful, affluent drivers above, these CEOs and CIOs will thoroughly consider whether such an expensive new purchase is necessary, especially compared to what they can do now—and in the future—with System i.

• Programs such as Infor’s Flex Upgrade and Flex Exchange allow users to stay current and cost-effectively upgrade their System i-based ERP systems. If, for example, a merger or acquisition stresses your current ERP system, the Flex programs offer the ability to jump to a more robust system, adding both functionality and access to software innovations.
  
  
• Other manufacturers extend their existing System i ERP, adding capabilities such as performance management (PM), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM), etc. Infor solutions can keep your company’s System i current while minimizing IT spend. For example, Infor PM allows System i manufacturers to break free of outdated, spreadsheet-based performance management. I’ve got nothing against spreadsheets, but why not get real-time reporting and analysis of operational and financial data? Or the ability to more rapidly use that data to streamline processes and improve productivity?

• With service-oriented architecture (SOA) for System i ERP by Infor, many manufacturers will extend the life of System i for years to come. How? By using Infor Evolve components that add functionality and value for each maintenance dollar, allowing them to quickly connect additional components instead of building a new component each time they upgrade. Ray Wang, vice president, Forrester Research Inc., wrote that Infor’s Evolve components “allow new and old Infor clients to leap frog old code. Overall very impressive.” [Infor’s Evolve Strategy Fits Their Customer, ZDnet, March 16, 2009] Not surprisingly, many manufacturers feel the same way.

Manufacturers getting more from their System i platforms are like those savvy drivers with their up-to-date “classic” cars. Their operating costs continue to fall as they extend the life of their platforms even as timely additions address new needs. Employees, customers, suppliers, and shareholders are all happy with a comfortable, safe, technologically advanced ride—and grateful for the fact that there’s no debt hanging over their investment. In fact, the only thing they might miss is that new car smell—or the five seconds of fun that comes with tearing open the shrink-wrap on a complicated new piece of software.

But not much.

Posted by Mark Wright, Senior VP and General Manager, System i

Infor Flex Program: Clearing the Path Forward? by Cindy Jutras , Aberdeen Group, June 2009

What is a leading industry analyst saying about our Flex program—the painless, fast, and inexpensive way for customers to move forward?

In its June 2009 market alert, Aberdeen Group views our program as an “opportunity for both its customers and for Infor itself…. Infor has removed some of the obstacles from moving forward by offering financial incentives.”

The alert mentions Infor’s eight different upgrade packages that “allow customers to take advantage of all the features and functions it has invested over the past several years …, lowering risk and cost to those running these go-forward products.”

And for those customers currently running on a solution that is not the best choice for the future, there are 11 “landing strips” for the exchange program that directs each customer to the most suitable destination to conform to regulatory requirements or be compatible with current hardware, operating systems, or databases.

Aberdeen points out a big difference: There is no forced march, and there are financial incentives for customers who want to move forward. Incentives include discounts for additional products, and a simple, all-inclusive program supporting license, maintenance, and service costs. Most important, Infor is offering its own 0% financing.

Stokes Seeds is one customer that was tested for the Flex program. Wayne Gales, CEO at Stokes Seeds, comments: “Infor Flex takes the risk out and gives us an idea of how much it will cost to upgrade.”

Posted by Ross Freeman, Senior Director, Product Management
 
This announcement, in whole or part, does not constitute an offer of any kind and may not be incorporated into any contractual agreement with Infor or its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Infor Flex and Infor Financing programs are available for a limited period and subject to change at any time, with or without notice to you. Restrictions apply. This announcement reflects the direction Infor may take with regard to the specific product(s) described herein, all of which is subject to change by Infor in its sole discretion, with or without notice to you.

If you haven’t already heard, Infor is providing an opportunity for you to take advantage of its latest product innovations quickly and easily. The program is called Infor Flex because it’s a flexible way for you to meet your changing business needs by upgrading or exchanging your current software with a path that is clear, fast, and cost-effective.

You decide what’s right for you. If you’re happy with your current software, then you needn’t change anything. But if you’re ready to make a change, we can help you advance your capabilities without disrupting your business or ripping out your current investments.

Through special price incentives on software, services, and financing, Infor Flex provides you with low-risk options to upgrade to the latest version of your existing Infor products or exchange for another like-for-like Infor product.

The Flex program is being called a “game-changer” and has generated plenty of buzz among Infor customers, industry experts, and the media (Can the paparazzi be far behind?):

This announcement, in whole or part, does not constitute an offer of any kind and may not be incorporated into any contractual agreement with Infor or its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Infor Flex and Infor Financing programs are available for a limited period and subject to change at any time, with or without notice to you. Restrictions apply. This announcement reflects the direction Infor may take with regard to the specific product(s) described herein, all of which is subject to change by Infor in its sole discretion, with or without notice to you.

To introduce Infor Flex and the who, what, why, and how of upgrading or exchanging your current software applications, our CEO, Jim Schaper, filmed this short video to highlight the special offers that are part of this unique program.

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