I can highlight a couple of other scenarios regarding my main use case or how I've implemented Infor CloudSuite. One is Infor Document Management, which I've seen in the past with other ERP systems that haven't involved as much, but Infor CloudSuite does give you an extra edge when it comes to managing customer invoicing, purchase orders, or customer order acknowledgements. Infor Document can be configured by your IT or super key users, so whenever you produce these documents, they automatically get attached to the actual orders. If it's a customer order verification, as soon as you produce that document, it is attached to that particular customer order, and anybody who wants to retrieve that document can easily access it from the customer order form. It is easily configured and appears as a widget. That's a great feature to have.

Another great feature in Infor CloudSuite is the in-built workflows, which can produce user alerts. For instance, if there is a purchase order that needs workflows, they can be set in place and configured to send alerts to the approvers. These are a couple of examples that I can highlight, which enhance the user experience in my opinion.

Infor CloudSuite is a kind of ERP that is suitable for a medium or small discrete manufacturer, especially in the health sector, life sciences, and biotechnologies. My experience with Infor CloudSuite is that it provides the basic features for any manufacturer who is looking into implementing an ERP solution out of the box and has a system that works. There are no defects or bugs, and it comes with implementation accelerators. So, if any company is interested in getting a good investment, Infor CloudSuite with implementation accelerator could be a better option. Any organization that is a discrete manufacturer finds Infor CloudSuite to be a good fit for the requirements that manufacturers usually have.

Infor CloudSuite made a difference for a manufacturer I worked with through an end-to-end implementation. One example is that once there is a customer order on SyteLine, that customer order gets picked up by advanced planning and scheduling. This is a firm demand, and there can also be soft demand based on parameters such as safety stock and reorder point. Infor CloudSuite has a smart, advanced planning and scheduling system that takes into account both types of demand, processes those demands, and comes up with supply suggestions. These suggestions are reviewed by the planners, and once they are happy, they release the plan for production or the shop. Then, once the plan is released, the job order at the shop floor gets completed, and if we have established a link with the customer order, the customer order gets automatically updated with the status to be shipped, eligible for shipping. By integrating the upstream processes with the downstream, that has really helped one of the organizations I implemented this process in their overall process efficiencies. That's a great example of an end-to-end integrated solution.

I have seen specific improvements after implementing Infor CloudSuite, such as reduced processing time and better visibility. In terms of the previous legacy system, it did not have the modern technology that the latest ERP system provides. The processes were clunky, requiring downloading and sending documents to customers or suppliers. With Infor CloudSuite, you can manage and maintain document profiles. With this feature, you can automate the dispatch of your documents either to customers or suppliers, significantly cutting down the admin time for your order processing team or procurement team. Previously, they would spend ages retrieving documents from emails and trying to find the relevant third party to send them to. But now, this is completely automated, enhancing the overall processing time and user experience.

I can provide rough estimates on time saved after implementing Infor CloudSuite. Users can generate documents in a matter of seconds now, compared to the previous minutes they took. If we imagine creating ten orders, and previously the legacy system required spending five minutes per order, that totals fifty minutes. However, in the new system, with properly automated document management, it only takes about one minute for each order. Therefore, you end up saving around forty minutes for ten orders raised.

There are areas where Infor CloudSuite can improve. I have touched on the pros and key strengths of Infor CloudSuite, but end-user feedback indicates that there are several areas where the user experience can improve. For instance, when it comes to reporting, it comes with a very limited number of reports, and the standard reports are clunky, requiring a technical resource or developer to enhance or make them presentable. Another area is user experience; it takes several clicks to get to the information, and the user interface isn't that intuitive. Compared to other solutions, such as top-tier options such as Oracle or SAP, this stands out as an area needing improvement.

When it comes to integration, Infor CloudSuite does offer a great deal of flexibility. It comes with APIs, so you can integrate with any third-party systems you may use. On that front, it's sufficient; however, it does require some specialized resources, as it's not a layman's job, and developers need to help with the integration. This is generally the case for any ERP.

The user interface could indeed be better, and there is a steep learning curve for users; it takes time for them to get accustomed to Infor CloudSuite's interface and forms. However, once users adapt, it becomes easier and smoother to navigate. There are great features associated with Infor CloudSuite, such as DataViews and Birst as a business intelligence tool, which can be integrated with the basic product. Implementing Birst isn't plug-and-play; it requires a team of technical resources to execute. Additionally, there is a feature that allows integration with Excel, which can be installed by your IT team.

As a part of Infor CloudSuite implementation, I think at the end of the day, it is a tool, but it gives the best results if we have robust processes implemented. For instance, if we are talking about planning, then the results or outcomes we get from APS or production are totally dependent on how accurately we maintain data in CloudSuite. It's data-hungry, and we have to have robust and rigorous processes in place to support master data management because this feeds into your planning and processes since it's a highly integrated solution. One wrong data point can jeopardize the outcome, and users can spend hours trying to fix that. In my opinion, it's a great tool, but any organization looking to implement Infor CloudSuite or any other ERP needs to ensure they have defined roles, responsibilities, and processes around master data to feed good, accurate, and quality data into the system. When I implement Infor CloudSuite as a project manager, I overemphasize this and reiterate to the main sponsors and stakeholders that this is paramount to getting the best results out of Infor CloudSuite implementation.

It's difficult to rate Infor CloudSuite precisely; it depends on each organization's requirements. If you are a mid-size or small to medium-sized manufacturer with discrete processes to implement, I would rate it a six out of ten. It provides out-of-the-box, ready-to-use processes.

The main reason I give a six out of ten rating is primarily due to the strengths we've discussed earlier. The implementation accelerators provide an easier and faster way to implement Infor CloudSuite and obtain a quick return on investment for organizations. It has a depth of features for discrete manufacturing. However, if you are looking for complex scenarios or processes, Infor CloudSuite might require some customization, which can become expensive. While it caters well for out-of-the-box solutions with foundational processes, it may necessitate exploring other Infor products if you need to automate factories or warehouses.

My advice for anyone considering Infor CloudSuite is to focus on a few key areas during their implementation. This is a solid and robust product, but it's essential to look closely at the design phase. Ensure you have your SMEs identified and dedicated, documenting the blueprint properly to understand what works out of the box and what the gaps are. Set the right expectations; you should enter the construction phase of the solution with a clear understanding of what is standard and what requires customization. It's also crucial to conduct thorough research when selecting the right partner, as not everyone in the market has full knowledge of how Infor CloudSuite works. I would rate Infor CloudSuite a six out of ten overall.

In terms of Supply Chain Management support, we're still exploring its capabilities since we're relatively new to using ERP systems.

As for its impact on manufacturing efficiency, we're still in the development stage, but we expect it to improve our factory operations, especially with features like factory tracking, which helps monitor production orders and manage warehouse stocks.

Some valuable features include improved transparency in sales processes, which has been vital for our operations. Regarding analytics and reporting, we do monthly reporting for our shareholders, but we're still testing the analytics capabilities to extract valuable insights.

While there are many advantages to using Infor CloudSuite Industrial, there are some drawbacks that could be addressed. Specifically, I believe there should be better clarity and agreement on all interfaces and requirements before signing a contract. This would avoid unexpected costs and complications later on.

We expected more flexibility in customization.

We've been working with this solution for about 2 years now.

I haven't had the opportunity to assess the stability or technical support of Infor CloudSuite Industrial.

In terms of scalability, I believe the solution is flexible enough to adapt to different organizational needs, although there's room for improvement in terms of flexibility.

While I haven't directly worked with similar ERP solutions, I have experience with local IT vendors and have found them to be challenging to work with in the past. In terms of drawbacks, I find other ERP solutions too complex and cumbersome to handle due to excessive procedures and evaluations.

As for deployment complexity and maintenance, I can't provide a rating as I haven't been involved in those aspects yet.

As for pricing, I secured a favorable deal at around $80,000 yearly for 5 years, but it was a one-time opportunity.

Compared to SAP, Infor CloudSuite Industrial is reportedly easier to use with better interfaces, making it more reliable and flexible.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate Infor CloudSuite Industrial between 6.5 and 7.

Before buying Infor, I recommend companies thoroughly understand their own processes and spend time analyzing if the ERP fits their needs. Taking a couple of months for investigation and comparison with other ERPs is advisable.