I am looking for information re Lawson's ProcessFlow Integrator--specifically whether any Lawson users out there are using another third-party product successfully. We use BCI and Mercator currently and are looking to upgrade to the ProcessFlow Integrator. However, we wanted to know if anyone was using another product, the pros and cons of using that product and whether it handles security successfully. We currently integrate data in nightly processes from several other applications in the company. Additionally, we have to map data where the origin's format differs from the destination's format. Any information you could provide about your workflow integration process and your satisfaction level with it, would be greatly appreciated.
I can tell you where Integrator would be a must have is if you plan to automate any security for new hires and terminations. With the ProcessFlow Integrator product it is integrated and fairly simple to change LDAP information in an automated process.
The other advantage you have with the product is that with the ability to access data (and update it as well) of data from other systems you still maintain the security and the access within Lawson.
The product does have it's limitation as I saw when Lawson was using it to interface the new Landmark HCM suite with S3. Large volume data can be slow to process.
But there are some many other things you can do with the product other than just SQL of outside tables such as execute UNIX commands, parse XML, read CSV files, interface with Service Automation and of course update Resource Management data (LDAP).
It is not a cheap product, but there are rumors too that beyond 9.1 that ProcessFlow Professional may not be available and you will have to purchase the Integrator product to use those features.
Gary Davies
www.automated-workflow.com