ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lawson Software (Nasdaq: LWSN - News) today introduced the latest version of Lawson for Equipment Service Management & Rental (ESM&R), version 1.2, a leading enterprise software package for dealers and distributors of heavy equipment and other large assets. The latest release, which will be generally available November 25, helps equipment dealers and distributors maximize asset tracking, availability and profitability, while reducing software deployment time.

Lawson for Equipment Service Management & Rental now offers pre-configured solutions that help maximize reliability while speeding deployment. Pre-configuration is based on recognized industry best practices, but the enterprise software system also provides scalability and customization options to help meet a dealer’s specific needs. While the Lawson system can support the needs of large dealerships, it is also designed to be a strong fit for smaller and mid-market equipment dealers.

“Heavy equipment dealers of all sizes have been hit hard by the recession and are looking to streamline their businesses to help sustain profitability,” said Ron Kubera, general manager of the Equipment Service Management and Rental Business Unit for Lawson. “We’re seeing an increased demand from customers – specifically among smaller to mid-market heavy equipment dealers who may be more resource-strained – for solutions that require less time for implementation and are easy to own, update and operate.”

Lawson for Equipment Service Management & Rental, geared specifically to the heavy equipment market, helps dealers manage, track and coordinate service for their equipment throughout the equipment lifecycle. The software supports integration across a dealer's global supply chains, links back to manufacturers, and helps drive integration across the dealer's internal sales, finance, service, warranty and rental departments for better customer service and equipment maintenance.

“Heavy equipment dealers want to minimize the number of disparate software systems from multiple vendors,” added Kubera. “The Lawson system covers a wide range of business challenges for dealers to help them improve forecasting and planning, better manage sales processes and maximum the return on investment in their equipment through better maintenance.”

The latest version, Lawson for ESM&R 1.2, includes:

• Lawson QuickStep for ESM&R, which helps speed software implementation by streamlining the steps required for a customized implementation. Based on Lawson’s 20 years of equipment industry expertise, the QuickStep offering allows customers to realize benefits faster by pre-configuring 70-90 percent of the processes within the Lawson ESM&R applications.
• Lawson Analytics for ESM&R, which provides fast business intelligence without having to develop analytics tools in-house. Lawson Analytics combines 50 pre-configured key performance indicators (KPIs) with 20 built-in scorecard templates that build task-specific views of data, including contract profitability, equipment analysis, resource analysis, equipment reliability and rental equipment utilization.
• Lawson for ESM&R 1.2 also offers an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Value Content Package, which provide customized interfaces for dealers that are connected with OEMs. In this version, Lawson is providing greater integration between a Caterpillar dealership and the systems in use with Caterpillar.

Wheeler Machinery Co., based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is among the dealerships that have selected Lawson for Equipment Service Management & Rental. “We chose Lawson because it’s the only software provider that offers an ESM&R-specific solution,” said Rob Campbell, president of Wheeler Machinery Co. “Wheeler has aggressive market share and growth goals, and to help us achieve these goals we needed a single, reliable enterprise system that is easy to implement and use, tightly connected with Caterpillar, and meets our business requirements and customer needs.”

More information about how Lawson is shaping the equipment service management and rental market, including product demonstrations and customer success stories, is available at http://equipment.lawson.com.

About Lawson Software
Lawson Software provides software and service solutions to 4,500 customers in equipment service management and rental, fashion, food & beverage, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution, public sector (United States), service industries, and strategic human capital management across 40 countries. Lawson Software is a global provider of enterprise software, services and support to customers primarily in three sectors: services, trade and manufacturing/distribution. Lawson’s solutions include Enterprise Performance Management, Human Capital Management, Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Manufacturing Resource Planning, Enterprise Asset Management and industry-tailored applications. Lawson solutions assist customers in simplifying their businesses or organizations by helping them streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance business or operational performance. Lawson is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., and has offices around the world. Visit Lawson online at www.lawson.com. For Lawson’s listing on the First North exchange in Sweden, Remium AB is acting as the Certified Adviser.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that contain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Lawson Software and its management. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company is not obligated to update forward-looking statements based on circumstances or events that occur in the future. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: uncertainties in uncertainties in the software industry; uncertainties as to when and whether the conditions for the recognition of deferred revenue will be satisfied; increased competition; general economic conditions; the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; continuation of the global credit crisis; global military conflicts; terrorist attacks; pandemics, and any future events in response to these developments; changes in conditions in the company's targeted industries and other risk factors listed in the company's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lawson assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.

Lawson Software
U.S. Media:
Joe Thornton, 651-767-6154
joe.thornton@us.lawson.com
or
EMEA Media
Clea Herrmann, +49 (0) 89 552699-12
clea.herrmann@fireflycomms.com