Epicor ERP Shootout

Introduction

• Reviewing various ERP products
• Comparing technical and functional capabilities
• First product: Epicor ERP

Agenda

• Vendor/product overview
• User interface (UI) and technical highlights
• Reporting and analytics capabilities
• Sales and order fulfillment
• Manufacturing and purchasing
• Finance and financial reporting

Epicor Corporation Overview

• 20,000+ companies running their software
• 3,800+ employees
• Presence in over 150 countries
• Annual revenue: ~$1 billion
• Dedicated to ERP software

Market Focus

• Mid-market to larger organizations
• Not competing with low end (QuickBooks) or high-end (SAP, Oracle)

Industry Focus

• Products for:
  • Manufacturing
  • Distribution
  • Retail
  • Service businesses

Epicor ERP Modules

• Broad and native capabilities
  • Manufacturing
  • Distribution etc.
• Advantages:
  • Fewer integration issues
  • Simpler upgrades
  • Common user interface
  • Common data model

Technical Overview

• Service-oriented architecture (SOA)
  • Customizable without source code changes
  • Compatible with various displays (Desktop, Web browser)
  • Modern APIs (SOAP and REST)
• Advanced features
  • Enterprise Search, Composite Applications, Presence, RSS

User Interface

• Version 10.2 highlights
  • Active desktop, browser-like interface
• User examples
  • Penny Lane (Customer Service Rep): Tracks customer info, orders
  • Scott Popeil (Salesperson): Sales functions, CRM integrations
  • Brian Howard (CFO): Financial and KPI focused views
  • Epicor Admin: Comprehensive system shortcuts
• Consistency: Functionality applies system-wide

Reporting & Analytics Capabilities

• Data Discovery Views
  • Flexible charts, graphs, statistics
  • Real-time data filtering and customization
• Enterprise Search
  • Searches any text/data within system
  • Integrates with email and other external applications
• Dashboards
  • Real-time information, highly customizable
  • Example dashboards: Billing, Bookings, Backlog, Job Cost Exceptions, Quote Funnel
• Epicor Data Analytics (EDA)
  • Hosted solution for data analysis
  • Customizable dashboards
  • Examples: Accounts Receivable Dashboard, Production Operations, Sales Analysis

Master Data Management

• Customer Tracker
  • View financials, invoices, orders, jobs, etc.
  • Group by, summarize, filter capabilities
• Part Master File
  • Detailed part info (group, default fields, accounting setups, attributes)
  • Site, warehouse, bin configurations
• Lot & Serial Traceability
  • Drill-able transaction history
  • Lot & serial analysis

Sales & CRM

• Opportunity and Quote Management
  • Create new opportunities/quotes
  • Customizable line items and configurations
  • CRM integration with quote tracking
• Order Fulfillment
  • Fulfillment workbench (picking, packing, shipping)
  • Handheld device integration for material handling

Manufacturing & Supply Chain

• MRP Processing
  • Net change vs regenerative options
  • Finite scheduling, filtering by criteria
• Planning Workbench
  • Job linking and suggestions
  • Firming and releasing job orders
• Purchasing
  • Purchase Order Suggestion Screen
  • Automatic generation and vendor links

Financial Management

• Accounts Receivable
  • Reports (aged receivables)
  • Cash receipts process
• Accounts Payable
  • AP Invoice Workbench
  • Vendor and payment management
• General Ledger
  • Account segment values and dynamic segments
  • General journals (reverse, import, allocation, multi-currency)

Reporting Tools

• Excel Connect
  • Real-time data reporting in Excel
  • Pre-built templates (executive dashboards, trend statements, cash flow, balance sheets)
• Excel Connect 7
  • Advanced reporting across all Epicor modules
  • Example dashboards (profitability, AR aging, sales performance)