Infor LN Reporting Limitations and Solutions
Infor LN's built-in reporting capabilities have improved with Web UI and Birst integration, but they remain a pain point for many organizations. The standard Business Intelligence Server (BIS) reports cover common scenarios but lack flexibility for custom requirements. Creating new reports requires deep technical knowledge of LN's data model, which is complex even by ERP standards. This guide covers the specific limitations and practical solutions that LN customers have successfully implemented.
Understanding LN Reporting Architecture
LN reporting operates at multiple levels: session-level data views (basic filtering and export), BIS reports (formatted reports with parameters), Infor Birst (advanced analytics and dashboards), and direct database reporting (SQL Server or Oracle). Each level has different capabilities and skill requirements. The most common frustration is the gap between what users want (self-service, drag-and-drop analytics) and what LN natively provides (parameterized reports requiring IT involvement).
- BIS reports cover 60-70% of standard manufacturing reporting needs out of the box
- Custom BIS report creation requires LN data model expertise and BIS development skills
- Birst integration provides self-service analytics but requires semantic layer configuration
- Direct SQL reporting is fastest to implement but bypasses LN security and business logic
Recommended Reporting Stack
The most effective approach combines LN's native capabilities with a modern BI tool. Use BIS for operational reports that users run daily within LN sessions. Deploy Birst or Power BI for analytical dashboards and ad-hoc analysis. Build a data warehouse that extracts LN data on a schedule for complex cross-module reporting. This layered approach gives each user segment the reporting experience they need without overloading any single tool.
- Operational reports (daily): BIS reports embedded in LN sessions for immediate context
- Management dashboards: Birst or Power BI with role-based KPIs refreshed every 15-60 minutes
- Ad-hoc analysis: Power BI self-service with pre-built LN data models for business users
- Compliance reports: Data warehouse with full audit trails and regulatory formatting requirements
AI-Enhanced Reporting for LN
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Related Resources
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