Compare ERP: Oracle Before and After Proposed Lawson Acquisition

Word is out that Oracle may soon acquire Lawson in an effort to boost its ERP market share. Multinational Oracle, with revenue totals in the billions, could easily scoop up the Minnesota based company. What would Oracle gain? What can ERP buyers expect to gain if the acquisition is approved?

Oracle Before

The primary function of ERP is the marriage of business management and specific management objectives with the most up-to-date information technology. The ability to acquire information from separate functions and then supply it to other functions means businesses can smoothly merge information making processes concurrently faster and more accurately.

When you compare ERP, you compare its ease, cost and range of integration. Large, multinational corporations with many subsidiaries require a full range of functionality integration. However, smaller companies or specific industry related businesses do not require a complete menu of functionality. For this reason Oracle offers ERP as a modular system in which companies implement only modules specific to their business or industry needs.

Compare ERP: What Lawson Brings

Oracle currently ranks number two in ERP market share. The ability to offer the strongest modules for the widest range of industries is the way to overtake the top position. In acquiring Lawson, Oracle looks to augment its current menu of ERP platforms.

Lawson is an ERP company founded in 1975 with headquarters in St Paul, Minnesota. The company boasts 4,500 customers in 40 countries and revenue totals in the millions. Because their ERP is developed with specific industries in mind, the software is simple and complete. Their greatest contribution to Oracle in the event of acquisition would be their Health Records and Supply Chain Management (SCM) software.

Compare ERP: Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Industries which require SCM have concrete points at which to compare ERP. Does the software adequately merge and monitor information from a product’s point of origin to its point of consumption?

Stated another way….what is the visibility along the extended supply chain? Lawson has developed ERP that gives industry and professional services the necessary tools to improve visibility into and control over the process from manufacturing to operations. Improved visibility and control over the end to end process means that you are offered the best service/product and makes business smarter and therefore more profitable.

Compare ERP: Medical/Clinical Software

A second ERP application which would benefit Oracle is the line of Lawson’s Clinical Software products. Under the name MediSuite, Lawson has developed software specifically designed to meet the management needs for healthcare businesses using electronic health records (EHR). Clinical Department systems, Community Care systems and other health related businesses utilizing EHR systems would benefit from the integration infrastructure MediSuite offers. Creating records, collecting and integrating records, reports and patient data across the system increases the efficiency and accuracy within the network.

When you compare ERP products your choice will be driven by the size and needs of your company, the costs associated and the ease of use. By adding Lawson’s industry specific ERP products to its offerings Oracle can only benefit.