Infor is a US enterprise software company headquartered in New York. Its core business is enterprise resource planning, or ERP: these applications connect purchasing, production, inventory, sales and finance. With a presence in the French market, the group stands out for its industry-specific approach, offering solutions tailored to the operational requirements of different sectors.
Built through acquisitions
The company originated in 2002 under the name Agilisys, before adopting the Infor name in 2004. Its initial growth was based on a series of acquisitions in management software. The acquisition of SSA Global in 2006, followed by Lawson Software in 2011, expanded its portfolio and customer base, particularly in manufacturing and services. In 2015, the acquisition of GT Nexus strengthened its capabilities in collaborative supply chain management.
This history explains the diversity of its product lines, as well as the importance of integrating its products. In 2020, Koch Industries acquired the stakes it did not already hold and became the owner of the entire group. Since then, Infor has continued its transformation toward a model that prioritizes cloud software accessed by subscription.
Software designed around industry needs
The offering is structured notably around the industry-specific Infor CloudSuite suites. These combine management functions with processes specific to each activity: traceability in food and beverage, planning in industrial production, collection management in fashion, or flow management for distributors. The aim is to limit the custom development required when deploying a general-purpose ERP system.
Its product lines include Infor LN, aimed particularly at complex manufacturing industries, and Infor M3, used in sectors such as distribution, food and beverage, and fashion. The portfolio also includes tools for warehouse management, equipment maintenance, human resources and supply chain planning.
The Infor OS platform provides cross-functional components for integration, data management, automation and artificial intelligence. For its cloud offerings, Infor relies heavily on Amazon Web Services infrastructure. Deploying and adapting its solutions also involves an ecosystem of integration partners, which is particularly important in supporting local projects.
What next?
Infor’s main challenge remains migrating legacy installations to the cloud without disrupting customers’ day-to-day operations. These transformations require migrating data, reviewing certain processes and keeping integration costs under control. In competition with SAP, Oracle and Microsoft, the software company seeks to make its industry expertise a deciding factor.
Artificial intelligence is also opening up opportunities in forecasting, anomaly detection and user assistance. Turning these opportunities into reality will depend on data quality and measurable operational benefits. For French and European companies, hosting arrangements, security and regulatory compliance will also remain decisive factors.