Welcome to the CSI ERP FAQs page for the implementation and licensing of Infor CSI ERP. This page is designed to provide you with helpful information and answers to common questions about the implementation and licensing process for this powerful enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Whether you’re just starting to research Syteline or are already in the process of implementing it, we hope that this page will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions and achieve success with this powerful software.
How long does an Infor CSI Syteline ERP implementation normally take?
The length of time for an implementation of Infor CSI ERP can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size of the organisation, the complexity of the business processes, and the scope of the implementation. Typically, the implementation process can take several months to a year or more to complete.
The implementation process typically includes several phases, such as planning, design, configuration, testing, and deployment. Each phase of the implementation can take a varying amount of time, depending on the specific requirements and complexities of the organisation.
For example, the planning phase, which involves identifying the specific needs and goals of the organisation, can take several weeks to a few months to complete. The design phase, which involves creating a detailed plan for the implementation, can take several weeks to a few months, depending on the complexity of the organisation’s processes and requirements.
The configuration and testing phases, which involve configuring the software to meet the organisation’s specific requirements, and testing it to ensure it is working as expected, can take several weeks to a few months. The deployment phase, which involves installing the software and training users on how to use it, can also take several weeks to a few months.
It’s important to note that the implementation process is an iterative process and changes may happen as the organisation adapts to the new system. It’s also common for organisations to continue to make improvements and modifications to the system even after the initial implementation is complete.
What size company would normally deploy CSI?
Infor CSI (formerly known as Syteline) is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that is well-suited for small to mid-size manufacturing and distribution companies. The software is designed to help these companies manage and automate their business processes, such as accounting, inventory management, production management, and customer relationship management.
The system is flexible and can be configured to meet the specific needs of a wide range of industries, including aerospace and defence, automotive, electronics, food and beverage, industrial machinery, medical devices, and more. Some of the companies that deploy CSI are in the range of $20 Million to $1 Billion in revenue and have between 50 to 500 employees, but this can vary depending on the company’s specific needs.
It’s also worth noting that Infor CSI can be deployed on-premise, in the cloud, or as a hybrid solution, making it a scalable and flexible solution that can grow with the organisation.
What type of manufacturers use CSI?
Infor CSI Syteline is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that is designed for small to mid-size manufacturers. It is well-suited for manufacturers that produce a wide range of products, including make-to-order, make-to-stock, engineer-to-order, and configure-to-order items. The system can help manufacturers manage and automate their business processes, such as accounting, inventory management, production management, and customer relationship management.
Some of the industries that use Infor CSI include:
- Aerospace and defence
- Automotive
- Electronics
- Food and Beverage
- Industrial machinery
- Medical devices
- Pharmaceutical
- Sheet metal fabrication
- Job Shops
Infor CSI is also used by manufacturers with complex manufacturing processes, such as those that use Kanban, Lean or JIT methodologies. It is also well suited for manufacturers that have to comply with specific regulations.
It’s worth noting that Infor CSI is a flexible system that can be configured to meet the specific needs of a wide range of industries, so it can be used by other manufacturers as well.
Can I customise CSI and will it affect upgrades?
Infor CSI Syteline is a highly customisable enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. It provides a wide range of customization options that allow users to tailor the system to meet their specific business needs. The customization options include:
- Custom fields: Users can add custom fields to existing forms and tables to capture additional data.
- Custom forms: Users can create custom forms to display data in a specific format or layout.
- Custom reports: Users can create custom reports to display data in a specific format or layout.
- Custom scripts: Users can create custom scripts to automate specific business processes or calculations.
- Custom integrations: Users can integrate the system with other third-party software or systems.
However, customising the system can have an impact on upgrades. Customisations are specific to a particular version of the software and may not be compatible with newer versions. This is also dependent on cloud and on-prem versions.
Infor releases new versions of CSI regularly and It’s important to have a plan in place to manage the customizations when upgrading to a newer version of the system. Infor does provide a tool called Upgrade Centre that helps users to migrate their customisations to new version of the software.
Additionally, it’s recommended to work with a partner or a consultant who has experience with the software and can help you plan and execute the upgrades.
It’s important to keep in mind that customizations can add complexity and cost to the upgrade process, so it’s important to weigh the benefits of customising the system against the potential impact on future upgrades.
What are dataviews, what do they do?
In Infor CSI ERP, a dataview is a virtual table that is created by joining one or more tables in the database. It is used to retrieve data from the underlying tables in a specific format or structure, and can be used to display data on the user interface, or to perform calculations or other data processing tasks. Dataviews can be created using the software’s built-in tools and can be customised to meet specific business requirements. They can also be used to restrict access to certain data by creating filters or other security controls. In summary, dataviews in Infor CSI ERP provide a way to retrieve, manipulate, and display data in a specific format or structure, and can be used to improve data access, security and performance.
How many licences do I need to have?
Typically a licence for every user that will need to transact in the system. (Assuming named licences)
Can I reuse the licences for other staff?
Not for Named Licences – Named licences means you can only have ‘x’ amount of users set up with a valid licenced module.
However concurrent licensing would allow you to consume ‘x’ amount of licences – You can set up any number of users.
I only want the APS module, do I have to implement the whole thing?
CSI is a product that contains multiple modules, APS, Fixed Assets, Finance, Service, Sales. During Pre-Sales we can discuss what areas of the system you would like to implement. We always recommend 1 system as 1 source of truth so would usually implement the whole ERP, however there have been exceptions where a business prefers to continue to use there own sales system so we can implement APS (Planning) within CSI & integrate across to third party programs.
Payroll – do we have a solution with Australian components and STP reporting?
Our customer base uses specialised payroll programs like Sage Micropay and seamlessly integrates into CSI.
CSI Employee Self Service allows users to request Time Off, CSI Factory Track Time & Attendance can also send timesheet information for factory workers who clock in & Off to Sage Micropay & CSI can consume financial information sent from sage to create journal entries to ensure your books are kept up to date.
