Joe Trent, Author at EstesGroup

Epicor Kinetic 2026.1: So, What Are You Waiting For?

by Joe Trent | Feb 19, 2025 | AI, Business Process Review, Cloud, Epicor, Epicor 10, Epicor Administration, Epicor Kinetic, ERP, ERP Consulting, ERP Implementation, EstesCare, HIPAA, Manufacturing Innovation, Network Administration, Software

Epicor Classic Sunset

Uplifting Epicor Classic UI to Kinetic UI

It’s a natural human tendency to put off unpleasant tasks like mowing the yard, taking out the trash, or addressing the deadline to move entirely from Epicor’s Classic user interface to their new browser-based Kinetic framework.

Entirely understandable, the attachment to years’ worth of carefully tailoring the ERP environment to your company’s needs is hard to give up. Just when you’ve gotten it “just right,” you’re being reset back to level 1, like a video game that suddenly loses all the lives you’ve built with great effort and ingenuity.

Epicor Kinetic 2026.1 Classic UI to Kinetic UI Journey

But like a lot of things in life, change doesn’t have to be bad. For one, it gives us a chance to reevaluate the choices we’ve made in the past.

That process you installed ten years ago—is it still meeting your needs? Could it be ditched or improved? Is there a better way?

And some of the modifications done to your system might have been tortured into the old user interface in ways that weren’t optimal, but were a way you COULD get what you wanted. And that code was often s-l-o-w.

Since the latter days of ERP10, Epicor has been introducing new tools like the REST API and Epicor Functions that give us better ways to interact with Epicor Business Objects and better places to put heavy-lifting development on the server side where it belongs.

And all your old work isn’t lost. BPMs still work the same way. Dashboards, and even some screen customizations, can be converted with some tweaking. Yes, all that C# code will disappear, but you can convert most all of its functionality to better forms in the new customization layers and functions.

The secret weapon in this fight?

prep·a·ra·tion – the action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration

The time to begin the journey is likely not a month before the deadline, for several reasons.

The learning curve for transitioning from old to new can be steep. Although many of the concepts are the same or similar between the two environments, they can be expressed in very different ways.

Before starting to convert a Classic application’s customization that has very much complexity, you’ll likely want to document what the old one does and how it does it, complete with data accessed, UD fields added, C# script processes, and so on. Many Epicor ERP installations are not well documented, and this is a good excuse to do a good thing.

Evaluating the old processes and decisions about whether to promote them or instigate some redesign will take a while.

And then, the actual conversion work can be a slow slog if you have a lot of it to do.

All this might seem insurmountable, if not merely daunting. But there’s still time—the first deadline is still over a year away at this writing.

Gather your resources. Identify your team. Get support from management. Make a plan—and realize it might evolve. And as if eating an elephant, take one bite at a time.

Epicor has good documentation for their Application Studio environment via the Help information accessed from the Kinetic menu. Going to Insights will help, as will joining online user groups like www.epiusers.help.

As always, we’re here you help when you need it. The EstesGroup ERP and IT teams will extend assistance in whatever form you need, a jumpstart, specific application conversions, or project management.

Just give us a shout when you need us.

What does Epicor 2026.1 mean for your business?

EstesGroup is a leading Epicor ERP consultancy that blends elite Epicor Kinetic expertise with cutting-edge technology, AI, and cloud services. There are a bundle of technical challenges to work through and decisions to make when uplifting any custom elements of your Epicor Classic UI to Kinetic. Get your questions about Epicor 2026.1 answered now by our ERP experts. Don’t miss out on insights gained in our “Uplifting Epicor Classic UI to Kinetic” webinar with industry experts.

This Old IT: The Modify vs. Rebuild Software Quandary

by Joe Trent | Jan 24, 2022 | Business Consulting, Epicor, Epicor 10, Epicor Kinetic, ERP, ERP Consulting, Managed IT Services, Prophet 21, Software

When should you start from scratch?

When I was about ten years old, my family lived in an old frame house. I have a lot of fond memories from our time there, but it had some quirks.

New Construction ERP With Blueprints & Project Planning Consultants

Originally a two-bedroom house, a third bedroom had been added onto one side. Built in sort of a lean-to style, the roofline didn’t match, of course. And it was added against the dining room/kitchen side over what was formerly the back door, so you could look out the kitchen window into my parents’ bedroom. It was built on a concrete slab instead of the pier-and-beam construction of the old house, so you stepped down into it, and then there was another back door in the bedroom opening to the backyard. It was an interesting place.

I’m reminded of that house occasionally when I encounter an aging software package that we’re replacing with a modern Epicor ERP system.

When the old stuff was installed, the implementation team made modifications to tailor it to the company’s operation and crafted operating instructions to guide the team. Over the years, the company and its requirements evolved, so more changes and additions were tacked on, old features were abandoned but not removed, and documentation was bypassed in the name of expediency. “Spaghetti Mess” is the technical term for what you get after ten, twenty, or thirty years. That’s just the way of life.

Eventually, a company makes the painful choice to start afresh with current technology and fresh eyes, and we find ourselves on the brink of an adventure. As we all know, adventure is rarely experienced without peril, sacrifice, and hard work. But it also can bring us reward and satisfaction.

When IT comes to IT, our consultants will be there.

The EstesGroup will be excited to be your partners in this journey. Need help with technology solutions or cloud services? Is it time for help with your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system? We’ll be there before you know it!

Partner with EstesGroup for your entire ERP journey.

Are you researching Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and seeking help understanding what your ERP vendor has to offer? Software vendors aside, an initial ERP implementation or ERP upgrade should improve your user experience, streamline business functions, and create new management systems that optimize your core business processes. With real-time data, a single system (deployed in a private or hybrid cloud) can be the software program that gets your business beyond the burdens of the computer system itself – meaning that your ERP software gives you a clean solution across all business units and future software development projects. EstesGroup offers custom solutions for your unique business needs.

Watch Joe Trent On “Epicor Kinetic Business Activity Query: Fancy Tips & Nuanced Tricks”

Watch Joe Trent On “Modifying Standard Reports: SSRS Reporting”

Working from Home: Advice from an ERP Consultant

by Joe Trent | Mar 27, 2020 | Business Consulting, ERP Consulting

Tips to Survive a Transition to Remote Work

Several years ago, I made the switch from working each day in a manufacturing plant to working from home as a consultant. My home office was a dramatically different environment, and I wasn’t prepared. As a consultant, I readily give technical advice to my customers about everything I’ve learned over the years, but I’ve also learned some lessons along the way about working remotely.

When I work on-site, I see a number of individuals every day, as well as a stream of customers on their way through. There’s lots of talk, small and otherwise. Little stories from home, triumphs, jokes, and worries. And there are meetings to attend, and donuts and coffee. All that changed when I began my journey as a consultant working out of a home office. With my wife working, my days were spent alone, and only the occasional phone call or online meeting kept me interacting with others until my wife returned in the evening.

Too, the codes, written and otherwise, for personal dress and hygiene were no longer enforced by company or public opinion. So, I found myself, among other things, sitting in front of a computer in my boxers, wondering about the date of my most recent shower, and making sure the video camera was shut off during meetings so no one would see my free-spirited appearance (not exactly reflective of my constitution as a consultant). For many (many) years, part of my identity was bound up in the daily routine. It’s difficult when your identity suddenly changes, as mine did when I became a consultant.

So, here are a few recommendations for your new office stay (may it ever be temporary):

Keep Your Routine

I try to get up about the same time each morning. It’s a little later than if I had to drive to work, but still consistent. I get dressed for work. It’s blue jeans and boots instead of slacks and dress shoes, but I’m dressed, nevertheless. Then the dogs get potty time, and I get coffee.

I’m “at work” by 8:00, whether there’s a scheduled meeting or not. I try to take a lunch break but sometimes I grab a sandwich while I’m working. (I probably need to work on that.)

My day as a consultant while working at home ends in the style of a normal office work routine. It’s tempting to just keep going when there’s a project that has work left on it, but I try to trim the evening work to a minimum when it’s not urgent. Just like for the coyote and sheepdog, there’s a whistle at the end of the workday for a reason.

Have a Place

For several years, I commandeered a bedroom for my desk and accoutrements. I recently built a small office in my shop and opened that bedroom up for grandkids. Whatever choices you have, set aside some space that is your work area. When my grandkids are here during work hours, I have to let them know I’m “at work” and can’t pay them as much attention as I’d like. You’ve probably seen videos of parents embarrassed by their kids, dogs, or husbands in their undergarments wandering into view of the video camera during video chats, or even newscasts. Secure your place. And laugh at the unexpected.

Get Some Exercise

Early on while working at home as a consultant, I started trekking to the bathroom at the other end of the house—a routine enforced by large quantities of coffee. At least I get a few steps in. Since acquiring a couple of dogs, I get outside at least a few times a day. You can vegetate in your home office chair if you aren’t purposeful about stirring.

Communicate and Recreate

If you don’t get enough time with people otherwise, take a break from work to call a friend. It’ll do you both good. Find something you enjoy. If you can’t leave the house, watch a good movie or read a good book. We had a video chat recently with all our grandkids and a story visit from “Grandad the Pirate.” (I hope there’s no recording of that loose on the interwebs.)

Be Thankful and Find Your Rhythm

You’re working. That’s a good thing. Rinse, repeat, and do it all again tomorrow. As a consultant, I eventually found my working from home rhythm, and I hope I’ve helped you find yours.

EstesGroup specializes in providing both on-site and remote consulting assistance, aligned with our Managed IT, Epicor ERP, Prophet 21 and CyberSecurity services.

Is your team working from home? EstesGroup works with companies to set up and secure remote devices and obtain remote access. Learn more about our remote offerings here.

For more advice from Joe Trent, check out his blog: Epicor ERP Data Management Tool, The Tool That Keeps On Giving.

Integrity is Key with Epicor ERP Customizations

by Joe Trent | May 16, 2019 | Epicor, Epicor 10, ERP Risks and Challenges

An ERP system is like a person or a house: without integrity, you can’t put your trust in it.

One of the great things about Epicor ERP is its openness to customization. That feature can also be a source of trouble. It’s all in how you use the power.

Strictly speaking, you can’t directly modify Epicor’s software without a special Software Development Kit. Changing the base software opens the proverbial can of worms and has lots of ramifications we won’t discuss here, so what we’ll be talking about is the traditional “customization layer” the 99% uses.

Terms to Remember:

Business Object (BO). Data manipulation is governed by Business Objects. You hand the BO a dataset and let it figure out how to care for the data’s integrity, rather than writing directly to all the tables in the dataset.

There is a “Part” business object, for instance, that governs the Part table and its dependent tables. It won’t let you change the base unit of measure for a part if there is any activity like transactions, open orders, or open job materials for a particular part so you don’t, for example, make an material’s on-hand quantity of 10 Each suddenly 10 Gallons, or orphan transaction history by deleting the part.

Embedded Customization. Also known as a “screen customization” or just “customization” (client side) that sits on top of a form such as Part Maintenance. You can add a new field on the screen and attach it to a data source or use C# code to add and modify events happening inside the form to suit your business practices.

Personalization. Similar to the customization, the personalization is a user-made modification that sits on top of the form/screen customization (that sits on the base software). They’re mostly used to modify field placement, grid layout, etc. to let the user see and arrange things in a way useful to them.

BPM. Business Process Management Method and Data Directives (server side) modify data actions triggered by events on the form. They are typically accessed in record updates, new record creation, and so on. The Part BO has many methods like add, update, and delete, so you can say, “when this thing happens to the data also do this other thing,” or “when we create a new record add this thing to it.”

In generic terms, a typical Epicor ERP session works something like this:

An Epicor form loads with standard (out of the box) data views, operations, etc.
Epicor then looks for a screen customization and applies it on top of the standard form.
Epicor looks for a personalization for the current user to layer over the form and over the customization, if any.
The form displays and allows the user to do things.
BPM – Method and Data Directives (server side) hang around and wait for the appropriate signal to take action, say, when you click the save button.

This is what I’m calling the customization layer–the places Epicor gives us to add in/change functionality.

So, where’s the danger? Here’s an example.

When we store data changes through Epicor’s Business Objects, we trust the BO to keep us out of bad trouble. But the data is stored in a SQL Server database, and it’s possible to go outside of Epicor and write directly to that part table or delete records via SQL commands without checking any dependencies. It can be much faster, in the same way ignoring the speed limit in your car can get you home sooner. Maybe you won’t corrupt your data. Maybe you’ll make that turn on four wheels.

There are occasions and circumstances when it’s okay to skirt the rules.

Rarely, something gets stuck and the BO won’t let you correct it, so a SQL fix is in order. Since directly using SQL commands on your database can invalidate your Epicor service agreement, I’d recommend doing it with one of Epicor’s folks on the phone.

Some simple tables and some fields don’t have dependencies that the BO cares about. It’s possible to take a more direct approach within Epicor—when you know what those are.

This topic comes up periodically when we developers talk amongst ourselves. In our company, the standard is to operate from within the Business Object unless there’s a compelling reason for something different.

Integrity is worth the extra effort.

Questions about Epicor ERP Customizations? Are you planning a customization project and have questions for the author? Let us know.

Maximizing Your Sales Team with Epicor ERP Sales Order Automation

by Joe Trent | May 14, 2019 | Epicor, Epicor 10, ERP Benefits & Features

In a previous blog post, we looked at the overview of Epicor ERP 10.2.400 New Features. But let’s dive into Epicor ERP Automated Sales Order Entry.

Currently, sales order entry staff do just what their title implies: they enter orders. Sure, an order might be generated from a quote, but someone must enter that first. Data entry, day after day. What if your customer could send you a purchase order and it just magically appears in Epicor?

It’s not quite magic, but pretty close. Here’s the basic operation of Epicor ERP’s Automated Sales Order Entry:

Your customer sends an email with a PO attachment to a designated email address.
Intelligent Data Collector (IDC) identifies the attachment and pulls it into DocStar.
DocStar creates a “pre-order” and automatically filters it to a workflow.
A user steps in at this point and checks for exceptions. If there are exceptions, they are corrected by the user.
The pre-order passes validations.
An order is born, demand is created, et cetera.

Oh, I see you’re starting to get the implications, so I’ll give you a moment. Okay, moment’s over.

How handy is that? Imagine how much more of your sales order processing staff’s time can be spent on value-added processes, versus mindless data entry, and how errors can be reduced through automation.

It’s not a panacea. It won’t handle parts-on-the-fly or configured parts. It will bring in sales kits, but there’s no way to edit the kit within DocStar. Still, exciting news.

Epicor has made a commitment to provide us with tools to rationalize our work processes and give us the information we need to make intelligent decisions, and we know more is coming.