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How to Effectively Leverage Consulting with Your ERP Upgrade

How to Effectively Leverage Consulting with Your ERP Upgrade

by | Aug 31, 2015 | ERP Consulting

Maximizing ROI: How to Effectively Work with Consultants on Your Modern ERP Upgrade

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and has been updated to reflect current ERP implementation best practices, particularly for cloud-based systems like Epicor Kinetic.

As ERP systems continue to evolve toward cloud-native platforms, one question remains constant: “How do we work with consultants effectively while maximizing our investment?” Whether you’re planning an upgrade to Epicor Kinetic or implementing another modern ERP solution, understanding how to leverage consulting expertise is crucial for success.

ERP Upgrade Businessman Cloud ERP

The Foundation: Project Management Remains Critical

Project management continues to be the most overlooked yet critical component of any ERP upgrade. In today’s cloud-first environment, experienced project managers bring even more value:

  • They understand both traditional and agile implementation methodologies
  • They have experience managing hybrid teams across on-premise and cloud transitions
  • They can navigate the complexities of modern integration requirements
  • They bring best practices from multiple cloud ERP implementations

Key Tip: While vetting your Project Manager is still essential, today’s focus should be on their experience with cloud transitions and modern implementation methodologies. Once you’ve chosen your PM, trust their expertise while maintaining active engagement in the process.

Strategic Consulting in the Cloud Era

While consulting rates have evolved since 2015, the value proposition remains strong—particularly for cloud implementations. Modern ERP consulting goes beyond traditional system configuration:

  • Cloud architecture and integration expertise
  • Data migration and cleansing strategies
  • Change management for cloud-based workflows
  • Security and compliance considerations
  • Mobile and remote access optimization

Understanding your needs and budget remains crucial. A limited budget of $25,000 still means more internal work, but cloud platforms often require less customization, potentially reducing consulting needs in some areas.

The Modern SWOT Analysis

The traditional SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis remains valuable but needs updating for today’s ERP landscape:

Strengths to Consider

  • Internal cloud technology experience
  • Digital transformation readiness
  • Remote work capabilities
  • Data analytics expertise

Weaknesses to Watch

  • Legacy system dependencies
  • Custom code maintenance
  • Cloud security expertise
  • Integration complexity

Opportunities to Explore

  • AI and automation capabilities
  • Mobile workforce enablement
  • Real-time analytics
  • Enhanced customer experience

Threats to Address

  • Data security risks
  • Integration failures
  • User adoption challenges
  • Cloud performance issues

Making the Most of ERP Consulting

Today’s ERP consultants are more than system experts—they’re digital transformation partners. When engaging with consultants keep the following in mind:

  • Start with Architecture: If you’re moving from an older system or have extensive customizations, begin with a Business Process Review (BPR) that includes cloud readiness assessment.
  • Focus on Integration: Modern ERPs thrive on integration. Ensure your consulting team has expertise in API management and modern integration patterns.
  • Prioritize Change Management: Cloud transitions often require significant process changes. Budget for proper change management and training.
  • Plan for Data: Data migration to cloud platforms requires careful planning. Engage consultants early in data cleansing and migration strategy.

ERP Success

The path to ERP success still runs through effective consulting partnerships, but the landscape has evolved. Today’s successful implementations require a balance of traditional project management wisdom and modern cloud expertise. By understanding your organization’s capabilities and limitations, you can strategically engage consulting resources where they’ll provide the most value—whether that’s in cloud architecture, data migration, or change management.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to upgrade your ERP—it’s to transform your business processes for the digital age. Choose consulting partners who understand both the technology and your business objectives, and who can help you navigate the complexities of modern cloud-based ERP implementations.

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Epicor 10.1 Key Features – Speculation

Epicor 10.1 Key Features – Speculation

by | Aug 31, 2015 | Epicor 10, Epicor Kinetic, ERP

Originally published in 2015, this article explores the features introduced in Epicor® 10.1—a key milestone in ERP history. While many businesses have since moved to Epicor® Kinetic, understanding legacy functionality remains important for upgrade planning and system comparisons.

Epicor 10.1 Epiphany Mobile

What Does the Epicor® 10.1 ERP Upgrade Mean for Your Company?

The release of Epicor® 10.1 represents a significant shift in quality control and stability. Epicor® has restructured their approach, implementing new leadership teams up to the executive level to address historical quality concerns with their releases. While Epicor® has consistently been recognized as an innovator in the ERP space, often being first-to-market with new features, this has sometimes come at the expense of stability and reliability.

At the Epicor® Users Conference (Insights) in spring 2015, version 10.1 was prominently featured, with multiple sessions dedicated to discussing these quality improvements. Many organizations have been waiting for this more stable release before upgrading their systems.

Key Features in Epicor® 10.1

  • Planning Contracts
    • Enables planning for long lead-time items without requiring job release or sales order creation
    • Allows creation of planning contracts linked to projects
    • Supports purchasing demand against contracts with dedicated bin storage
  • MRP by Part
    • Introduces ability to run Material Requirements Planning (MRP) for individual parts
    • Eliminates need to run full MRP for urgent single-item requirements
    • Particularly useful for testing and hot-item management
  • Zero Quantity BOMs
    • Developed in response to EUG (Epicor® Users Group) request
    • Allows addition of zero-quantity items to Bills of Materials
    • Enables listing items without creating inventory or purchasing demand

Additional Notable Epicor® Features of 10.1

  • Multi-Job Scheduling
  • Packaging Control

This release aims to balance Epicor® ERP’s innovative approach with the stability and reliability that enterprise customers require.

From Epicor® 10.1 to Kinetic

While this look back at Epicor® 10.1 provides interesting historical context for Epicor’s development journey, the landscape has evolved significantly with the introduction of Epicor® Kinetic. Many of the foundational improvements introduced in 10.1 – from enhanced stability to user-requested features – laid the groundwork for Kinetic’s modern cloud-first platform. Today’s Kinetic environment offers these capabilities and much more, with improved user experience, cloud-native architecture, and advanced features like artificial intelligence and mobile-first design. Organizations still running older versions of Epicor® can appreciate how each release has built upon previous improvements, making today’s upgrade path to Kinetic a natural progression that delivers on the promises of both stability and innovation that began with releases like 10.1.

Still patching things together as you run on Epicor® 10.1? Wondering what Epicor® features mights be right for you in 2025 and beyond? Talk to our experts about what’s next—whether it’s a targeted upgrade, a Kinetic migration, or a hybrid cloud solution built for growth.

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In Good Company: Understating Epicor’s Company Structure

In Good Company: Understating Epicor’s Company Structure

by | Aug 26, 2015 | Epicor, Epicor 10

Understanding Epicor’s Company Structure: A Guide for Modern ERP Implementation

Epicor’s company structure remains a cornerstone of the ERP system’s architecture, providing the fundamental framework for organizing and implementing your enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution. Understanding this structure is crucial for optimizing your ERP implementation and ensuring your system aligns perfectly with your business needs.

Epicor Company Structure ERP End User

Why Company Structure Matters

The importance of Epicor’s Company structure cannot be overstated—it forms the foundation that affects every module’s functionality and behavior. A well-planned company structure ensures:

  • Alignment with your business strategy
  • Optimal system performance
  • Effective utilization of features
  • Streamlined workflow management

Three-Phase Setup Process

Setting up companies in an Epicor database involves three crucial phases:

  1. Initial Creation: Companies are established through the Epicor Administration Console
  2. Base Configuration: Core company information is defined via Company Maintenance
  3. Module Configuration: Detailed module-specific defaults are set through Company Configuration

Key Configuration Elements

When configuring a new Company through the Admin Console, several critical elements must be defined:

  • Company ID: A unique identifier that becomes permanent once set
  • Company Name: The official designation used across forms and reports
  • Company Installation: The specific license file for the implementation
  • Country Code: Required for company-specific functionality
  • Base Currency Code: Primary currency for financial operations
  • Number of Decimals: Precision settings for costs, prices, and general calculations

Best Practices for Modern Implementation

To ensure successful implementation:

  • Align company structure with current business operations
  • Plan for scalability and future growth
  • Consider multi-currency requirements if operating internationally
  • Document configuration decisions for future reference
  • Regular review and optimization of settings

Moving Forward

While the basic principles of Epicor’s company structure remain constant, modern implementations benefit from enhanced features and improved integration capabilities. Success depends on thoughtful planning and configuration that reflects your organization’s current needs while allowing for future growth.

For more information about optimizing your Epicor implementation or to discuss your specific needs, contact our team of experts.

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