Lotus Notes is the original name of HCL Notes: a platform for mail, calendar and business applications that came to market in 1989.
Lotus Notes is the original name of the product that today is called HCL Notes. It is a platform for mail, calendar and business applications that came to market in 1989. The name lives on in daily speech, and most searches on the subject still use the words Lotus Notes.
The history in short
- 1989: Lotus Development releases Notes version 1. Ray Ozzie is behind the idea of documents that can be replicated between computers.
- 1995: IBM buys Lotus for 3.5 billion dollars. The product is still called Lotus Notes.
- 1996: The server gets the name Domino, and Lotus Notes becomes Lotus Notes/Domino.
- 2013: IBM drops the Lotus name. The product is now IBM Notes and IBM Domino.
- 2019: HCL Technologies takes over the product. It is now HCL Notes and HCL Domino.
Why was Lotus Notes so widespread?
In the 1990s Lotus Notes was the first platform where ordinary companies could build their own collaboration tools without a large development team. A case worker could create a form, a view and a workflow in an afternoon. That produced a wave of home grown applications in companies, municipalities and ministries. Many of them still run and still do critical work.
What does it mean for you today?
If you have an old Lotus Notes environment, you typically face one of three choices:
- Upgrade to the latest HCL Notes and Domino and stay on the platform. It is often cheaper than people think.
- Migrate mail to Microsoft 365 and keep the applications in Notes. The most common middle road.
- Migrate everything, rebuilding the applications in SharePoint, Power Apps or custom systems.
We have carried out all three models for Danish and international companies. Read more about migrating Lotus Notes to Microsoft 365.
Common questions about Lotus Notes
Does Lotus Notes still exist?
Yes, under the name HCL Notes. The latest version is 14.5, and HCL still develops the product.
Can you still buy Lotus Notes?
Licences are bought today from HCL or an HCL partner. Old IBM licences can usually be converted.
What is a Lotus Notes consultant?
A Notes consultant helps with operations, development and migration of Notes and Domino. With 35 years of history behind the platform, experience matters more than certificates.