INFOR XA ENTERPRISE FINANCIALS Implementation Considerations
TOPICS Overview Enterprise Financials entitlement XA R9.2.X upgrade the project before the project GL Chart of Accounts re-design Company structure and currency complexity Sales taxes Process changes and support from interfacing applications Finance customizations and tools impact analysis, file structure changes, elimination/modification Functions not yet migrated Conversion tools Recommend next steps Q&A
OVERVIEW
WHAT IS ENTERPRISE FINANCIALS? Two primary components GL and AP/AR/Cash/Tax All functions besides GL are grounded in IFM function and supporting tables user interface new to all XA users EGL provides advanced GL functions including support for an intuitive chart of accounts - new to all XA users Except for certain limited functions that will be converted later, all functions are PowerLink (green screen IFM functions disabled) PowerLink interface supports enhanced function As NetLink is rounded out, it will become a viable interface
WHAT IS ENTERPRISE FINANCIALS? Enterprise Financials is not AM Financials with a better interface. This implies the elimination of antiquated AM Financials function: This Year/Last Year GL buckets replaced with a continuous summary All GL transaction detail in a common file no TEMGEN/CURHIS Batch processing is completely optional eliminating a need to remove bad transactions from a batch Flexible GL periods support for non-calendar fiscal year & 4-4-5 No requirement to maintain unwanted format 0 GL report reports Far better drill-down/through capabilities to related transaction data
KEY REASONS TO MIGRATE It s a better long-term solution - enhanced core function supported by future Infor XA architecture, ability to extend Enterprise Financials will be the single go-forward XA core financial module Future Infor enhancements will either become imbedded or integrate with Enterprise Financials Includes financial planning/reporting tools (depm), BI, and in-context analytics Other possibilities include functions such as fixed assets While the exact timeline is TBD, end of life for both AM and IFM will be announced
ENTITLEMENT
ENTITLEMENT Simply put, entitlement to IFM = entitlement to Enterprise Financials If not entitled, speak with your affiliate regarding upgrade options
INFOR XA R9.2.X UPGRADE
INFOR XA R9.2.X UPGRADE R9.2.X upgrade must happen before Enterprise Financials project Changes to Enterprise Financials programs and conversion routines drives need for latest level R9.2.1 - base R9.2 + three ptf bundles +? (Q4 2017 release) There are additional ptf s over R9.2.1 which hopefully/likely will be bundled Create a representative (including customizations) test environment with current financial package and upgrade, followed by full cycle testing of this environment If capacity to create an LPAR (or separate iseries) exists, it is recommended Upon successful testing, upgrade production environment Create a representative R9.2.X test environment as a baseline for the Enterprise Financials project
INFOR XA R9.2.X UPGRADE Current level vs. 9.2 drives the effort High number of 9.2 PTF s Significantly above normal object impact Infor recommends using PUI (Product Update Information) to manage the PTF process
INFOR XA R9.2.X UPGRADE Environment baseline analysis Prep analysis review, data cleanup, 3 rd -party software, validate system save, contingencies XA R9.2 test environment (outage(s) required) Copy from base and upgrade XA modified code Test library list configuration Logical file/view re-build Queries Re-gen/re-compile user exits, remove hard-coding 3 rd -party app install/configuration
INFOR XA R9.2.X UPGRADE Test Environment Validation Production/Live environment (outage needed) system saves, deconfiguration of old XA environments, same/similar migration process as test, user validation Cleanup - final removal of data libraries that were de-configured earlier in project Update Global IDF environment to newest level (outage needed) - IDF R9.2 Global environment upgrade/install if not performed in earlier phase
GL CHART OF ACCOUNTS (COA) RE-DESIGN
GL COA RE-DESIGN Work backwards from the desired result Implied reporting, data extract, and interface (both to and from) changes To change or not to change When to change before, during, or after migration Fix before implementation and map (better supported with future tools?) During initial implementation (more risky) After initial implementation with same COA (reporting re-work) COA re-design adds more effort beyond COA conversion EGL rules and logic (models and macros) must be changed from what the standard conversion provides
COMPANY STRUCTURE AND CURRENCY COMPLEXITY
COMPANY STRUCTURE & CURRENCY More companies and currencies (base/buy/sell) equates to more complexity and added conversion effort (set-up and testing) The need for current AM Financials users to understand: The concept of multiple AP/AR ledgers and cashbooks New currency maintenance and conversion routines as brought forward from IFM
SALES TAXES
SALES TAXES Assuming the use of AM Financials tax function, AM Financials users will adopt new function (initial set-up and on-going maintenance) Purchase/AP sales use taxes? Third-party sales tax routines (i.e. Avalara) should work, but must validate
PROCESS CHANGES AND INTERFACES
PROCESS CHANGES AND INTERFACES The user journey from green screen to PowerLink/IDF Basic PowerLink understanding/training Mapping or replacing existing processes Transactions processed differently, with a different thought process that can be more intuitive Supporting IDF user definitions - workspaces, templates, etc. Provision time and resources for training, process change (including documentation), and testing Interfacing modules such as EPDM, PM/PUR, MM/IM, OBPM/PCC, CSM/COM reference AM GL account or IFM Unit/Nature What is needed to support an interface to a new GL COA? Complete transition from existing GL interfaces? Replacement of existing customizations and tools (next section)
FINANCE CUSTOMIZATIONS AND TOOLS
FINANCE CUSTOMIZATIONS & TOOLS GL entry upload replaced with standard EGLi function Queries and other GL data extracts transition to new files GL - IGGHH (Journal History), IGGLH (Journal History Detail Lines), IGGCR (Account Cross Ref), IGGTY (Books), IGGLA (Journal Line Analysis History), etc. AM Financials everything changes Strongly consider replacing with PowerLink (most desired file relationships implied) Banking interfaces validate IFM versions, replace AM Financials versions Examples include ACH/EFT, positive pay, etc. Interfaces to 3 rd -party tools (i.e. credit/collection like Cforia) validate/update interface
FINANCE CUSTOMIZATIONS & TOOLS Forms IFM validate, but likely no changes AM - most should remain unchanged, however consider checks and AR statements Financial reporting Impact of GL chart of account change F9 interface change depm interface change Replacement or update of other 3 rd -party reporting tools (i.e. Spreadsheet Server) Others?
FUNCTIONS NOT YET MIGRATED
FUNCTIONS NOT YET MIGRATED AP, AR, and cash function are grounded in IFM, leaving AM customers with some requirement to understand the function Tax table maintenance, including 1099 s Nature and Unit/Nature (IFM GL account) combination maintenance Code tables financial divisions, periods, settlement methods, aging structures, document types, transaction types, charges, settlement terms
FUNCTIONS NOT YET MIGRATED Repeating transactions AP invoice accruals Inter-company accounting challenges Others depends on desired function Bank reconciliation Average days to pay/period
CONVERSION TOOLS
IFM CONVERSION TOOLS Standard conversion tools are fully available Standard conversion is fairly straight-forward/push-button (assumes no GL COA change) GL COA change will definitely increase the overall effort The bigger effort is process integration, training, and testing
AM FINANCIALS CONVERSION TOOLS Conversion tool is available for affiliates, but it is somewhat early days Pre-conversion audit tool Be prepared to respond to a volume of data errors Recommend execution as soon as a representative test environment is available While Infor envisions a history conversion tool, the availability date has not yet been determined
LESSONS LEARNED Let the standard Efin conversion tool create the base ERP ledger/coa Creates needed model, macro, event class, and reason code table entries. This is used as a baseline to create modified entries supporting a new COA Up-front understanding of desired GLI logic which drives model/macro changes Effectively, the new GL interface rules
RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS
RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS Outline, plan, and budget project R9.2.X readiness assessment for the R9.2.X prerequisite project Financial reporting analysis determining and scoping GL COA re-design need is a must Aim for a representative test environment that supports testing and training/learning learning curves will vary