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KEY FEATURES OF EPICOR 10.1: PLANNING CONTRACT

KEY FEATURES OF EPICOR 10.1: PLANNING CONTRACT

Establish the criteria

Planning Contracts are the processes by which an enterprise documents its products, services, and result requirements, as well as identifying potential sellers. The primary purpose of Planning Contracts is to generate procurement documents and establish the criteria by which these products, services, and results can be evaluated.

A procurement plan is a product of the planning process. It indicates how procuring entities might plan their procurement activities over a given period, and advises as to what needs assessment and market studies may be carried out during the life of a particular contract. Put differently, all processes germane to deciding what to contract for, when, and how fall under the Planning Contract heading.

Epicor ERP 10.1 features the ability to create purchasing demand in situations where previous versions of the software required users to prepossess demand as triggered by database values in fields such as Sales Order, Job, or Inventory Minimum. The importance of this new functionality cannot be underestimated to an enterprise focused on growth. It provides the necessary flexibility by which a company can proactively engineer its processes rather than stumbling into the hard wall thrown up by “just in time” forecast models.

Mature enterprises routinely face situations where expansion and gain hinge on thinking ahead. On this point, the best piece of advice we can offer is the one taught to young, prospective car drivers in driver education schools across the country. When you’re driving a busy highway, don’t just watch the car in front of you. Watch the next several cars!

It doesn’t take much to pull this off — just a glance at the road and the willingness to keep an open mind about what could potentially happen. But this tiny effort can offer tremendous payoff. As any experienced driver knows, when pile-ups happen (as pile-ups do), the people best prepared to swerve and keep going are the ones who’ve been scanning the road ahead.

And that’s why Epicor 10.1’s new ERP Planning Contract function is so important. It gives your company the ability to manage long lead-time items before a concrete trigger appears to demand that those items have been procured. Best of all, the database allows you to earmark these items for specific needs even if a Job code or Sales Order hasn’t been generated yet.

Your enterprise can chart its own course.

As with many new Epicor ERP 10.1 features, ERP Planning Contract functionality puts your enterprise right where it should be: in charge of its own destiny and able to respond quickly to any challenge your business can offer.

Read our other informative blogs about Epicor 10.1 new upgrades and features:

Have questions about Epicor 10.1 An IntroductionEpicor 10.1 Planning Contract and Epicor 10.1 Package Control?

EPICOR 10.1: AN INTRODUCTION

EPICOR 10.1: AN INTRODUCTION

Epicor ERP Remains a Top Choice for Modern Enterprise Solutions

As seasoned ERP consultants at EstesGroup, we’ve been part of the Epicor journey since the groundbreaking release of version 10.1, which marked a significant milestone in enterprise software development. Looking back at that 2016 release while examining where we are today offers valuable insights into Epicor’s commitment to innovation and stability.

The 10.1 Foundation: A Game-Changing Release

When Epicor 10.1 launched following an extensive beta testing period with select customers, it set new standards for ERP functionality. While extended beta cycles sometimes signal development challenges, 10.1’s lengthy testing phase proved to be a strategic decision that resulted in a remarkably stable and feature-rich platform. The improvements over version 10 were substantial, introducing capabilities that still form the backbone of many features we use today.

Flexibility Meets ERP Functionality: Then and Now

What made Epicor 10.1 special – and what continues to distinguish the Epicor Kinetic ERP platform today – is its commitment to providing feature-rich, customizable ERP solutions that work for everyone. The architecture introduced in 10.1 established the foundation for both cloud-based and on-premises deployment options, a flexibility that has become increasingly valuable in today’s hybrid work environments.

The Cloud Revolution: From Vision to Reality

Back when 10.1 was released, we were just beginning to see the potential of cloud deployment in ERP systems. Today, that potential has been fully realized. While all ERPs should help you reduce costs, streamline operations, and boost profitability, the cloud-based solutions that Epicor pioneered with version 10.1 have revolutionized how we think about enterprise software.

The thousands of companies that took a chance on cloud technology during the 10.1 era have proven the model’s success. What was once considered innovative – running entire business processes in real-time, accessible from anywhere in the world – is now an essential business requirement.

Beyond “App Sprawl”: The Unified Platform Vision

One of 10.1’s major achievements was addressing the challenge of application sprawl. This vision – replacing multiple standalone applications with a unified platform – has become even more relevant today. Modern Epicor solutions build on this foundation, offering even more comprehensive integration capabilities.

Why We’ve Trusted Epicor Since 10.1

When version 10.1 was released, Epicor had already spent 25 years leading the industry. Today, with even more experience under their belt, Epicor Kinetic ERP solutions reflect:

  • Decades of continuous research and development
  • Deep industry knowledge that predates and includes the cloud revolution
  • Thousands of successful implementations worldwide
  • An innovation roadmap that began with 10.1 and continues to evolve

The Evolution of Business Process Integration

Looking back at 10.1’s release – which included significant features like Planning Contract and Package Control – we can see how Epicor anticipated many of today’s business needs. The platform’s ability to adapt and grow has only improved since then, making it an even more integral part of modern business operations.

Ready to Be Part of the Next Evolution?

Whether you’re considering your first ERP implementation or looking to upgrade from an older version (even from 10.1!), we’re here to help you make an informed decision. Our team at EstesGroup has been working with Epicor since before the 10.1 release, giving us unique insight into how the platform has evolved and where it’s heading.

Have questions about implementing Epicor Kinetic ERP in your organization? Let’s start a conversation.

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