One early implementer likes the IBM stack and the clear SOA roadmap. The tight integration with IBM allows IT staffers to assign user access privileges by roles and classes, said Sonia Burgin, accounting manager for Buncombe County, N.C. The county, whose seat is based in Ashville, rolled out LSF 9 last month, replacing Lawson 8.1.

Burgin said the financials application automates the process of clearing un-cashed checks from the system. Previously, it took an hour to clear a month's worth of checks, a task now completed in just a couple of minutes. LSF 9 also allows users to directly match a purchase order with an invoice.

The county is now in the process of deploying Lawson Business Intelligence 9, which will deliver performance dashboards to county managers.

LSF 9 is immediately available, with the Lawson 9 business applications shipping by May. LSF 9 and the business applications are sold separately, and pricing will vary depending on the application.