Johannesburg, 27 May 1999
Lawson Software, the leading provider of Self-Evident Application (SEA) for the NetGeneration, today announced commercial availability of its enterprise portal solution, LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport, once again reinforcing the company`s reputation as a first-to-market provider of leading-edge Web solutions for the enterprise software market. Deliverable beginning June 1999, the LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport offers a complete solution for creating an integrated, role-based enterprise information portal. Lawson made the announcement at a press conference in Boston.
Representing the next generation of Lawson`s highly-touted Self-Evident Applications (SEA) technology, Lawson`s portal solution creates a fully customised information access environment. Workers gain a single access to information in software files, data warehouses, data marts, databases, e-mail systems, intranets, extranets, the Internet and all Lawson and non-Lawson applications. Collaborative workflow and personal productivity software extend the business value from access to action. All access to enterprise information and applications is maintained in a secure, personalised desktop accessible from any Web browser. The LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport empowers employees with time-saving productivity features: they are freed from time-consuming information searches and can focus on strategic, value-added activities for making faster and more thoroughly informed decisions.
LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport: Integrated Desktop and Design Tool
Full integration with all LAWSON INSIGHT II Business Management System applications allows users to make LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport their primary workspace, whether connected to the company network in the office, or off-site via the Internet or other remote access options. Unlike other recently announced enterprise portal solutions, LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport is not a hosted third-party Web site, but a solution that allows companies to create their own internal corporate portal that meets the specific needs of the enterprise. Portal access to LAWSON INSIGHT II Financials, Human Resources, Procurement, Supply Chain and Enterprise Budgeting application suites is seamless and immediate. Further value is added through tight integration with LAWSON INSIGHT II Financial Performance Management and Analytic Suite, allowing LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport to automatically deliver the critical business information and metrics executives, managers and knowledge workers need to maintain a competitive advantage.
Close integration with the LAWSON INSIGHT II Collaborative Commerce Suite extends the value of LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport, giving organizations increased agility in their business environment and an enriched business transaction processing experience. This facilitates more thorough tracking of collaborative work processes and prevents processing delays caused by incompatibilities between software systems. The Collaborate Commerce Suite includes:
Lawson Enterprise Workflow - automates work processes, increasing efficiency and reducing operating overhead; tracks process metrics, providing further opportunities to analyze and improve processes.
Lawson Business Component Integrator - enables business-to-business and system-to-system communication by connecting disparate systems in a real-time processing environment.
Lawson Broadcast System - electronically divides (bursts) and distributes reports over a Web-deployable, role-based Information Channel Viewer accessible via a standard browser; notifies subscribers of report content.
Lawson Resource Directory - centralizes corporate directory-type information into a single repository for secure sharing across the enterprise; interfaces with mail, workflow and security systems to make corporate resource information available to a wide variety of internal and external users and systems.
Lawson Imaging Integrator - combines the convenience of imaging with the power of LAWSON INSIGHT II to improve communication and facilitate paperless work environments.
A key delivered component of the LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport is the Lawson Portal Designer, a truly self-evident, visual portal-building application that facilitates fast, easy creation of dynamic role-based enterprise portals. The Portal Designer meets all Internet standards and is compatible with all Web programming languages. Powerful, easy-to-use tools create high-performance, interactive portals that can easily integrate other Web applications and services. The Lawson Portal Designer eliminates the need for HTML coding and any type of file transfer protocol by allowing developers to create a corporate portal on the server where it resides. Lawson`s Portal Designer includes powerful search engine, e-mail integration and client/server application launch capabilities. In addition to developer tools, the Lawson Portal Designer includes features that allow each individual end-user to personalize the portal interface`s "look and feel."
"Lawson`s reputation as an enterprise software innovator comes from identifying technologies with strong business value, developing solutions based on those technologies and delivering them to market ahead of the competition," said Richard Lawson, president and chief operating officer, Lawson Software. "We did this with Web-deployable enterprise applications three years ago, role-based Self-Evident Applications two years ago and analytic applications like Performance Indicators last year. With our portal solution launch we are once again delivering a real product, instead of vision and futures, well ahead of our competitors."
Empowering e-business Throughout the Enterprise and Beyond
While first-to-market availability of the LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport alone represents a significant announcement, its launch also contributes to Lawson`s strategies for delivering its enterprise software solutions via the emerging application service provider market, and empowering e-business through leading-edge Internet technology. Earlier this month, Lawson announced it will offer the LAWSON INSIGHT II Business Management System to the enterprise software market via application service providers. In support of this delivery strategy, Lawson is fully supporting Sun Microsystems` recently announced ServiceProvider.com Initiative, a comprehensive set of innovative products, programs and business practices designed to empower service providers to create stronger, more flexible and more profitable business models.
In April 1999, Lawson announced a key initiative to become one of the first enterprise software providers to integrate an enterprise application with IBM Net.Commerce. The integration of LAWSON INSIGHT II with Net.Commerce provides users with a complete e-commerce solution and offers companies enhanced capability for conducting business with suppliers and customers over the Internet. It also will provide companies with an easy path to gaining advanced e-business Web applications, particularly those in the wholesale distribution, retail and healthcare industries. The integration is based on IBM`s robust MQSeries middleware.
"Unlike some other enterprise software companies, we are offering a true corporate portal solution that empowers every employee, from the CEO on down, with secure, one-click access to every information and application resource they need to accomplish their corporate mission - from any computer in the world with an Internet connection," said William Lawson, Jr., executive vice president, Advanced Technologies, Lawson Software. "LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport is fully role-based and self-evident, requiring no training. The SEAport Designer extends the value of our solution to the technology professional, giving them the tools to easily build Web sites and pages and extend business processes outside the enterprise to include vendors, suppliers and customers. And most important, you don`t have to wait up to a year for other enterprise software providers to deliver on well-publicised portal strategy.
Secure Access for Today and The Future
Like all Lawson applications, the LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport utilizes industry-standard security protocols and authentication measures. In addition, Lawson`s open, componentised software architecture facilitates fast, easy integration with emerging and future security technologies.
Earlier this month, Lawson announced full integration with Sun Microsystem`s recently announced iPlanet solution, gaining highly secure, encrypted connections to all enterprise resources from any browser-enabled, Internet-connected computer. This integration provides customers with an additional measure of security for accessing Lawson applications via the Internet. The LAWSON INSIGHT II SEAport also gives organisations the flexibility to allow initialisation and authentication using other leading-edge security technologies such as smart cards and biometrics. Depending on the level of security desired, a combination of any or all of these start-up authentication processes may be used.
The LAWSON INSIGHT II Business Management System addresses the specific information needs of executives, managers, knowledge workers and information technology professionals with Web-based enterprise software products employing Lawson`s role-based Self-Evident Applications. LAWSON INSIGHT II is comprised of fully integrated solutions for enterprise value management, including Financial Performance Management and the Analytic Suite. Transactional process suites for automating and managing core business processes include Enterprise Budgeting, Financials, Human Resources, Procurement, Supply Chain and Collaborative Commerce.
In addition, LAWSON INSIGHT II offers Open Component Solutions, which leverage industry standard development environments and toolsets like Java technology, Microsoft Visual Basic and Lotus Domino for faster application deployment and easier customisation. The first fully Web-deployable enterprise-wide business management system, LAWSON INSIGHT II also features ijob, a Web-based, outsourced solution for job candidate recruitment and screening.
Lawson Software, a $238 million provider of Self-Evident Applications (SEA) for the NetGeneration, offers role-based Web solutions for financials, human resources, procurement, supply chain and performance management. Lawson has distinguished itself competitively through a unique blend of feature-rich customer solutions, technology innovation and user-friendly support. Lawson Software has been acclaimed by technology analysts for its innovative and unique use of leading-edge technologies, like Self-Evident Applications (SEA) on the Web, and Drill Around for integrated, cross-application data access.
Red Herring magazine names Lawson "the strongest private ERP company" and lists Lawson among the world`s top 50 private companies. The Information Technology Association of America asserts Lawson is the first to be certified for Year 2000 compliance. Says the Meta Group, "Lawson gives its customers quantified savings by aiming their technology at saving corporations on overhead...a rare thing in the client/server world." Offering LAWSON INSIGHT II for UNIX, NT and AS/400 platforms, Lawson has offices in 15 countries, more than 20 distributors worldwide and a 96 percent client retention over five years. The company is headquartered in Minneapolis and London.