Epicor Kinetic ERP

Epicor ERP is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system primarily designed for manufacturing and distribution companies that need to unify modules such as financial management, supply chain, manufacturing, CRM, human resources, and business analytics in a single platform.

Epicor ERP (now rebranded as Epicor Kinetic) focuses on providing a comprehensive platform for managing critical operations in industrial environments. Its modular design and low dependency on external developments offer great flexibility, allowing clients to start with essential modules and add functionality without restructuring the system’s core.

At the core of the solution lies its service-oriented architecture (SOA), which facilitates integration with other business applications and ensures constant scalability without performance degradation. The Epicor Kinetic interface has been redesigned to be more intuitive, featuring customizable dashboards and Excel-like worksheets. The platform supports multi-company, multi-currency, and multi-language operations, enabling global activity and real-time financial consolidation.

One of its strongest points is its depth of customization: Epicor allows users to create specific views, forms, and business rules via the Business Process Management (BPM) module, automating tasks and reducing IT dependency for daily adjustments. This, combined with a real-time report manager, gives users the information needed to react quickly to market changes.

However, there are some challenges. Resource consumption can be high in on-premise implementations, sometimes causing performance issues, especially with complex screens or large data volumes in BAQ (Business Activity Queries). Additionally, the learning curve is steep for new users due to the many available options and process routes, although this is offset by a robust training system and integrated guides.

Regarding support, some clients report that local assistance can be inconsistent, with response times varying by region. Therefore, choosing certified consultants with Epicor experience is crucial to ensure a successful implementation and ongoing support.

Epicor ERP Modules and Features

• Financial Management: Includes modules for general ledger, accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), budgeting, and financial closing. It provides multi-location financial reports and support for multiple fiscal calendars, enabling automatic consolidation for both national and international companies.

• Supply Chain Management (SCM): Manages purchasing, sales orders, inventory, and warehouse management (WMS). It offers material requirements planning (MRP), cost control, and visibility from raw material acquisition to customer delivery, with lot and serial tracking, cross-docking, and route optimization.

• Planning and Manufacturing: Includes an Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) engine that auto-adjusts production orders based on constraints like machinery, labor, and materials, simulating what-if scenarios to maximize plant efficiency. It supports discrete, project-based, make-to-order, and make-to-stock manufacturing, with shop floor control capturing real-time operation and cycle time data.

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Provides a 360-degree view of the customer by integrating leads, opportunities, quotes, orders, and after-sales service into one record. Includes marketing and campaign management features and generates quotes with customer-specific pricing rules.

• Human Capital Management (HCM): Supports personnel management, payroll, time and attendance, and performance reviews. Integrates with finance modules to automatically reflect labor costs in production cost and project profitability analysis.

• Business Intelligence (BI) and Analytics: Tools like Epicor Data Analytics (EDA) and Kinetic Dashboard provide customizable dashboards, real-time KPIs, and event-based alerts. Users can create ad hoc reports, export to Excel, and enable self-service BI without programming.

• Customization and BPM: Epicor Application Studio allows modifying forms, adding custom fields, and redefining workflows without touching source code. With Ice Tools, admins can define business rules to trigger events, notifications, or validations, automating critical tasks and reducing human error.

• IoT and Smart Factory: With Epicor IoT, the platform connects to sensors and plant equipment, collecting operational data displayed on real-time dashboards. This supports predictive maintenance, resource optimization, and immediate response to process deviations.

• Integration and Connectivity: Epicor Integration Cloud (EIC) enables seamless connection with external systems (eCommerce, third-party CRMs, BI platforms, or payroll systems) via RESTful APIs and prebuilt connectors, accelerating cross-platform workflows without costly custom development.

Strengths and Weaknesses Table

Licensing and Installation

Epicor offers both license-based and subscription-based (SaaS) payment models, adaptable for specific needs or scalable requirements. The solution targets medium to large organizations, with a focus on manufacturing and distribution companies.

Regarding installation, it provides flexibility with deployment options in on-premise or cloud environments, enabling seamless transition and upgrades without operational disruption.

References

Official Epicor ERP Page: https://www.epicor.com/en/products/enterprise-resource-planning-erp