Lawson ships enhanced Open Enterprise financials client/server software; Broad international capabilities and increased general ledger functionality distinguish new wersion

Business Wire, Sept 6, 1995

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 6, 1995--Lawson Software, a leading provider of enterprise-wide, client/server business applications, today introduced the newest version of its Open Enterprise Financials Solution.

Among other enhancements, the new Open Enterprise Financials Solution offers broader international capabilities, including support for multiple currencies, and European and multi-national accounting requirements; expanded flexibility and complexity of general ledger structures; and a flexible reporting system that is capable of growing with the organization.

The Open Enterprise Financials Solution is built on Lawson Software's object-oriented, open-systems architecture that easily integrates with the leading databases, system platforms and third-party applications. The openness of Lawson's architecture enables the Open Enterprise Financials Solution to handle multiple currencies on a variety of platforms, while providing a consistent look and feel across applications. Lawson's unique Drill Around(tm) feature permits easy managed query access to detail records, even across non- Lawson systems, and can be invoked from any other Windows application on the desktop.

"Our users tell us they want integrated accounting software that reflects business models and makes financial data available to users across the organization," said Lee Geishecker, financial products brand manager at Lawson. "Lawson's Open Enterprise Financials Solution has been specifically designed to help the global organization better manage its business processes. Users across the enterprise are able to make better corporate decisions because they have access to the financial information they need right at their desktops."

Major enhancements to the Open Enterprise Financials System's international capabilities include draft processing for payables and receivables, and a versatile cash ledger structure that enables users to control activities and cash functions while still offering flexibility throughout the application. The new version is available in French and Spanish versions, which incorporate multilingual operations and unique corporate terminology through the same application. In addition, all currencies can be translated for consolidations and reports.

With the latest version, the General Ledger package has been modified to provide expanded flexibility and complexity to the Chart of Accounts feature, enabling users to define multiple or alternate charts by using the same detail accounts and sub-accounts. Roll-up of data into summary accounts has also been simplified.

In addition, enhancements were made to the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable packages. All forms of payment are user-defined in the Lawson Open Enterprise Financials Solution, and enhanced terms processing and multiple payment obligations are available. Draft processing functionality for both payables and receivables was improved to enable companies to meet international banking requirements. Domestically, users can take advantage of a variety of functions, including the user-defined payment methods and payment processing options, which have been added to support Bill of Exchange processing.

Like all other Lawson Open Enterprise Solutions applications, the financials package uses a consistent graphical user interface, and is compatible with Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Windows NT, which allows easy integration with existing PC-based spreadsheet and word-processing applications. It supports the leading databases: Sybase, Oracle, Informix, DB2/6000 and DB2/400.

The application runs on a range of popular hardware platforms, including HP 9000, IBM AS/400, IBM RS/6000, Sun SPARC/Sun Server, DEC Alpha AXP and UNIX, among others. A version for the AS/400 will be available shortly.

Under Lawson's Open Licensing Policy, the new version is available without charge to all customers with current maintenance agreements.

Lawson Software is a $70 million full-service provider of enterprise-wide, client/server business application solutions, specializing in accounting, human resources, healthcare, and distribution and materials management. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Minneapolis, the organization employs more than 700 professionals around the world. Offices are located in Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; London; Los Angeles; New York; Seattle; Toronto; and Washington, D.C., with affiliates in France, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

Lawson was recently ranked among the leading client/server business application vendors by International Data Corporation, and was listed among the top five vendors of client/server financial applications by Price Waterhouse LLP and InformationWeek. -0-

Lawson is a registered trademark and Drill Around is a trademark of Lawson Software. Other company and product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Jan Cusumano, Lawson Software (612) 362-4748

Judith Vanderkay or Richard Smith,

Rogers Communications (617) 224-1100