Lawson Software

In 1975, Richard Lawson and his brother-in-law, John Cerullo, started Lawson Associates from a small office in Minneapolis. Their initial focus was on providing specialized software consulting services. The company's first major client was a local bank, for which they developed a new general ledger system. This early success established their reputation and laid the groundwork for their future product offerings. Lawson Software evolved to create and sell its own packaged enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. They targeted specific industries like healthcare, retail, and the public sector, offering tailored financial, human resources, and supply chain management applications. This industry-specific strategy allowed them to compete effectively against larger, more generalized software providers. The company focused on building integrated software suites that were easier to implement for their target customers. After years of steady growth as a private company, Lawson Software went public with an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2001. The IPO provided the capital needed for further expansion and product development in a competitive market. The journey culminated in 2011 when Infor, a privately held competitor, announced its intention to acquire Lawson Software. The acquisition, valued at approximately $2 billion, integrated Lawson's industry-specific expertise into Infor's broader portfolio, marking the end of Lawson's run as an independent company but cementing its legacy in the ERP software landscape.