02
Sat, Nov
2 New Articles

The Times They Are A-Changin' for Lawson

Analysis of News Events
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Since 1988, the IBM System i has undergone several marketing transformations, yet from a technology standpoint, the System i has quietly adapted to any and all new and emerging technologies—just as its DNA was programmed to do over 30 years ago. Addressed by many monikers and pundit slogans—such as "the little server that wouldn't quit," "IBM's best-kept secret," and "the server for which customers would rather fight than switch"—the System i (a.k.a. the AS/400) has diligently and consistently been about delivering integrated business solutions to customers and lowering total cost of ownership.

Meanwhile, Lawson, a once exclusively IBM AS/400 ISV, and an ISV that has thus far escaped the jaws of acquisition, has instead completed the merger begun about a year ago with Intentia to create the New Lawson. Recently, Lawson and IBM once again renewed their Business Partner vows and are now set to focus on delivering solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

OK, So What's New?

Lawson's acquisition of Intentia was possibly one of the most strategic and savvy moves Lawson could make. Intentia offers Lawson complementary product lines, industry verticals, and geographies, enabling Lawson to enter new markets and to serve customers across the product-service-geographic continuum. The acquisition of Intentia also strengthens Lawson's presence in a marketplace rife with takeovers and provides a bulwark against other application vendors' potential hostile intentions. Moreover, the Intentia acquisition has increased Lawson's appeal as a competitive option in the dwindling pool of enterprise application vendors.

Is It the Marketing?

During its 31-year incumbency, Lawson, much like the IBM System i, has undergone various transformations and has executed several marketing legerdemains. Recent history attests to this. For example, at the Lawson annual Conference and User Exchange (CUE) in 2004, the company drew a line in the sand and proposed its 1,000-day odyssey of accountability to customers, improved and simplified products, and return on value and quality.

By CUE 2005, the 1,000-days milestone had been superseded by the announcement of Lawson's new standards-based application platform and toolset, codenamed Landmark, which the company said, at that time, had been under development for three years and would support key standards such as SOAP and XML. According to Lawson's Web site, "Landmark is designed to enable customers to quickly and easily modify and customize business processes for rapidly changing specific business or technology needs."

In essence, Lawson's erstwhile Business Component Integrator (BCI), which for many years had enabled customers to link non-Lawson applications with Lawson applications, was morphing into the company's service-oriented architecture (SOA) offering, which this analyst believes is Lawson's official entrée into the SOA movement designed to compete with the likes of Oracle Fusion and SAP NetWeaver.

At CUE 2005, Lawson also renewed its Business Partner vows with IBM and announced that IBM's WebSphere would be the foundation for Landmark and that Lawson intended to deliver its application suites embedded with other IBM technologies, such as IBM DB2, Rational, and Tivoli.

Fast-forward to April and CUE 2006, during which "Lawson introduced its first Landmark-developed application, Lawson Strategic Sourcing, to help customers improve the way they develop and manage supplier relationships" on the heels of the company's release of Lawson 9, the controversial new release of Lawson's existing product line, which has had mixed reviews by Lawson customers.

A new day has, however, dawned for Lawson and also for the enterprise application market as this "tier 2" enterprise application vendor has once again dug in its heels and demonstrated an ability and agility to adapt to changing market forces and adopt new strategies. Moreover, Lawson's acquisition of Intentia and its new marketing strategy of "Simplicity by Design" is the ISV's response to customer laments of "Where have all the application vendors gone?"

Lawson is also refocusing on its own System i roots and re-joining forces with IBM to penetrate the ever-elusive SMB marketplace. In a recent joint IBM-Lawson teleconference, Dean Hager, Senior Vice President of Product Management for Lawson, who began his career at IBM working with the AS/400, discussed the Lawson-Intenia bifurcated product line—S3 and M3 Products—and the importance of IBM System i to Lawson and its customers.

In order to reduce confusion, Lawson designated its own product line as the S3 line of products, which are designed to help customers "staff, source, and serve." These products include Enterprise Financial Management, Human Capital Management, Supply Chain Management, and Business Intelligence. In keeping with Lawson's traditional vertical market concentrations, the S3 products are designed for industries including healthcare, retail, state and local government, K-12 education, etc. Note here that Lawson Version 9 is the newest release of the S3 product line.

The M3 line of products, derived from Intentia's Movex product line, provides solutions for customers that "make, move, and maintain" products or equipment. These products target asset-intensive industries with products such as Manufacturing Resource Planning, Enterprise Asset Management, and Customer/Supplier Relationship Management. The primary M3 vertical industries include fashion, food and beverage, wholesale distribution, etc.

A Tale of Two Products

Lawson's product line and the IBM System i have a remarkably similar history that spans over 25 years. Lawson software was at one time exclusive to the System i. Later, Lawson and System i became estranged as Lawson began to deliver its products on other hardware platforms. The acquisition of Intentia, a System i ISV, has brought the two companies back together, not to mention the fact that Lawson is, according to IBM, fourth in rank among IBM System i partners in revenue and third in number of customers. It is likely that Oracle and SAP supersede Lawson in both number of System i customers and revenue, but this is speculation on the part of this pundit.

Microsoft Move Over?

The renewed Lawson alliance with IBM seems to be a double-edged sword. While it is good news to System i customers, it does present a conundrum to Microsoft customers. One of the sticking points of Lawson Version 9 is the fact that it includes IBM's WebSphere Application Server, Tivoli Directory Server, and DB2 technology. This raises critical questions for customers with Windows-based Lawson implementations. Computerworld reports mixed feeling about upgrading to Lawson 9 in an article entitled, "Lawson Users Aren't Sure About Upgrading," arguing that for many companies, upgrading to Lawson 9 will entail major technology changes and consume inordinate resources. Lawson, however, reports that it sees gathering momentum with Lawson Foundation System 9.

Making the Business Case

IT decision-makers, especially those running Lawson applications on Windows platforms and those running earlier versions of Lawson, must determine precisely what the benefits and risks of upgrading are likely to be. For example, those running in heavily customized environments must determine whether the Lawson 9 applications will deliver enhanced and improved features and functions or it will be necessary to re-program all the modifications. For others, it will be necessary to determine whether additional talent will be required to not only perform the upgrade, but re-train IT staff and users. IT decision-makers should perform a cost/benefit analysis spanning at least five years and including yearly licensing and support fees as well as maintenance and staffing costs.

The Times They Are A-Changin'

The timeless Bob Dylan song is apropos to this article about the reinvigorated IBM System i and Lawson relationship. In this industry, friends can become foes and then friends again, companies can engage in competition or coopetition, the first can become the last or be acquired in a hostile takeover. Lawson represents a viable option for those companies that eschew Oracle and/or SAP, and the company is working to remain an option by rekindling old relationships, making strategic acquisitions, and competing in a volatile market. System i has had sustained growth for a number of quarters, and its value seems to have been rediscovered.

In closing, this analyst believes that IT decisions-makers must not only have a solid grasp on their internal topology, but also be business savvy and have their finger on the pulse of this market because it is a-changin'.

Maria A. DeGiglio is President of, and Principal Analyst for, Maria A. DeGiglio & Associates, an advisory firm that provides clients with accurate and actionable information on business and technology initiatives. You can reach Ms. DeGiglio at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MARIA DEGIGLIO

Maria DeGiglio is president and principal analyst of Maria A. DeGiglio & Associates. Current clients of Maria A. DeGiglio & Associates include the Visiting Nurse Service of New York ; Experture, LLC; and MC Press. Ms. DeGiglio has more than 20 years of experience as an IT consultant, industry analyst, and executive. From 1997 to 2005, she worked for Andrews Consulting Group and the Robert Frances Group.

 

Ms. DeGiglio received her Masters Degree in Health Advocacy from Sarah Lawrence College and graduated Cum Laude from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.

 

 

Ms. DeGiglio has worked with IT and C-level executives to enable IT alignment with business goals and to implement best practices. She has experience and expertise in both large enterprises and in small- and medium-sized business. Ms. DeGiglio has authored over one hundred articles, reports, and white papers.

 

 

Since 2004, she has worked in the healthcare industry and in health IT investigating the legal, ethical, and regulatory aspects of creating, implementing, and exchanging electronic health records (EHRs). Ms. DeGiglio is an expert in security, privacy, and HIPAA regulatory compliance.

 

 

Ms. DeGiglio may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: