Do Epicor Kinetic and Prophet 21 Work Together?
No Native Handshake, No Problem: Making Epicor Kinetic and Prophet 21 Work Together
Running both manufacturing and distribution operations? You might find yourself juggling Epicor’s two flagship systems: Epicor Kinetic (for manufacturing) and Prophet 21 (for distribution). While these platforms weren’t designed to talk to each other out of the box, getting them to communicate doesn’t have to give your IT team nightmares.
Different ERP Systems, Different Strengths
Think of Epicor Kinetic as your manufacturing maestro – handling production schedules, materials, and shop floor activities with robust features for BOMs and shop floor control.
Meanwhile, Prophet 21 excels at distribution – managing inventory, supply chains, and sales orders with streamlined workflows designed specifically for distributors.
They’re like siblings raised in different households – related but with distinct personalities and skill sets. Both use Microsoft SQL Server behind the scenes but speak somewhat different languages when it comes to sharing information. Epicor Kinetic uses a service-oriented architecture with a comprehensive REST API, while Prophet 21 operates through its Middleware API with OData services for queries and transaction processing. So, how do you get Epicor Kinetic and Prophet 21 to join forces?
Option 1: Use Epicor’s Own Toolbox
- Automation Studio: This low-code platform is embedded in both systems and lets you build “recipes” that automatically sync data between systems without heavy programming.
- Integration Cloud: Epicor’s cloud solution offers pre-built connectors for both platforms, though P21’s connector has some limitations with filtering capabilities.
Option 2: Bring in a Mediator
- Third-party platforms like DCKAP Integrator can bridge the gap with drag-and-drop simplicity and pre-built error handling.
- Custom API integrations work well for companies with technical resources who need complete control over their data mapping.
- Traditional EDI exchanges can handle batch transfers of orders and invoices when real-time sync isn’t required.
Best Practices for Using Kinetic and P21 Systems Together
If you’re taking on this integration project, keep these best practices in mind:
- Divide and conquer: Let each system do what it does best – Epicor Kinetic for manufacturing, P21 for distribution.
- Start simple: Use Epicor’s built-in tools before diving into custom development.
- Establish clear rules: Decide which system “owns” which data (your “source of truth” for customers, inventory, etc.).
- Map your journey: Document which fields need to sync, how frequently, and in which direction.
- Test thoroughly: Simulate real-world scenarios to ensure the integration handles both successful transactions and errors gracefully.
- Roll out gradually: Start with master data sync before tackling complex transactions.
- Keep an eye out: Monitor your integration points and optimize as needed.
Case Study: Seamless Order-to-Manufacturing Flow
A metals distributor using Prophet 21 for sales and inventory acquired a fabrication company running Kinetic. Rather than forcing everyone onto one system, they integrated the two platforms:
- Customer orders entered in P21 automatically create work orders in Kinetic.
- As manufacturing progresses, status updates flow back to P21.
- When products are completed, inventory is updated in both systems.
- The sales team can provide real-time production updates without switching applications.
- They used Epicor’s Automation Studio to build this workflow, allowing each division to keep using the software best suited for their operations while maintaining a single view of the customer order.
- Result: Order fulfillment time decreased by 35%, and customer satisfaction scores jumped by 22%.
Case Study: Building Business Intelligence
A building materials company with manufacturing (Kinetic) and distribution (P21) divisions struggled with inconsistent reporting until they integrated their systems:
- Sales data from P21 now automatically feeds production planning in Kinetic.
- Inventory levels stay synchronized across both platforms.
- Management accesses unified dashboards showing end-to-end metrics.
- Financial reporting consolidates data from both systems for accurate forecasting.
- Result: Inventory carrying costs decreased by 18%, and the time to generate company-wide reports dropped from days to minutes.
Do you have a good reason to use Epicor Kinetic and Prophet 21 together?
EstesGroup is here to help! While Epicor didn’t design these systems to seamlessly integrate, new tools make connecting them entirely achievable. With the right approach, you can create a unified ecosystem that handles both manufacturing and distribution without missing a beat. The result? Less manual data entry, fewer errors, and a smoother operation from production floor to customer door.
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