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An Independent Look at the Epicor 10.2 User Experience

by | Mar 30, 2018 | Epicor, Epicor 10, ERP, ERP Consulting, ERP Implementation, ERP Selection, Network Administration, Software

Are you ready for an Epicor 10 Demo?

Epicor ERP is a powerful platform with thousands of manufacturers using it to run their businesses. With power often comes complexity, and that’s been the case with earlier versions of the system. There is no perfect ERP system, and the ever-changing balance between functionality and usability is a constant series of trade-offs. Epicor ERP Version 9 often required multiple servers, performance tuning was critical, it had a Progress data base layer, even when running on SQL, and the user experience was challenging. A personalized Epicor ERP demo is the perfect beginning to your Epicor consulting journey.

 

Epicor invested $25M in Epicor ERP Version 10, developing a completely new platform. The system was written and optimized for Microsoft .NET Framework and the Microsoft Data Platform, including Microsoft SQL Server. Users will experience a big increase in performance (over Epicor 9) and find the system easier to manage.

 

What you’ll see in your Epicor ERP demo

According to Epicor, here are the Top 5 user ERP system experience enhancements for Epicor ERP 10.

  •  Responsiveness – Performance has doubled and scalability has quadrupled across virtually all aspects of the system. ERP 10 is much more hardware efficient, which dramatically lowers hardware costs.
  • Simplicity – ERP 10 services are hosted purely using Microsoft Windows® components, including Internet Information Services (IIS) and Microsoft .NET. An all new management architecture makes deployment and migration much easier.
  • Mobility – Touch-enabled devices are now supported for a new navigation system and a re-architected Epicor Web Access (EWA) browser client.
  • Collaboration – Epicor Social Enterprise is included with ERP 10 and is a new way for ERP users to interact with each other and with ERP data.
  • Choice – ERP 10 can be deployed on premise, hosted, or access via subscription. It is also much easier to create a high-performing virtualized infrastructure.

The current version, Epicor 10.2, introduces some really exciting capabilities that you’ll see in your ERP demo, including Active Home Page and Epicor Data Discovery (EDD). Here are some highlights:

  • Developed using the latest web standard, which makes the system mobile-friendly and responsive.
  • Manufacturing role-based KPIs, examples: Percentage of Jobs without Scrap or Non Conformance, Manufacturing Hours and Indirect Hours.
  • Finance and Supply Chain role-based KPIs, including: Price Variance, Open PO Count and Amount, and Negative Inventory Items/Out of Stock.
  • Customization capabilities to modify out-of-the-box KPIs or create entirely new ones based on existing or newly created BAQs.

 

Epicor Consulting: How can we help?

What do you want to see? Our Epicor consultants will show it to you. The best way to get an in-depth look at the new Epicor 10.2 functionality is to experience it firsthand! Our Epicor consulting team can give you a demo of the full system, or one of our ERP specialists can walk you through a specific module. We can help you with project planning, including Epicor budgeting so you experience increased revenue at every step of your ERP upgrade. Your personalized Epicor ERP demo can even show you the newest managed ERP hosting capabilities.

 

Ready for an Epicor ERP demo?
The 10 Principles of ERP Selection Success & How to Apply Them: Be Honest And Dependable

The 10 Principles of ERP Selection Success & How to Apply Them: Be Honest And Dependable

by | Aug 14, 2015 | ERP Selection

In our final 10 Principles of Success for selecting an ERP system, we emphasize a foundational value: honesty and dependability. Selecting the right ERP system for your business is not only a technical choice; it’s about integrity, trust, and responsibility. These values must be central to the decision-making process, from your internal team to your ERP consultants and vendor.

ERP Selection Mobile Tablet Cloud ERP Security Symbols

The 10 Principles of Success Applied to ERP Selection

  1. Mindset Matters: Think success, not failure. A positive mindset fuels the journey, especially in the complex ERP selection process.

  2. Define Clear Goals: Write down specific objectives for your ERP system. Define what success looks like for your organization.

  3. Take Action: Plans need action. Don’t let the fear of imperfection hold you back. Start, learn, and refine as you go.

  4. Commit to Continuous Learning: ERP systems evolve. Ensure your team receives ongoing training to leverage your ERP to its fullest.

  5. Persistence Pays Off: ERP selection is a long-term project, not a quick fix. Stick with your goals and adapt as needed.

  6. Analyze Details Carefully: Gather as much information as possible, and learn from each stage of the ERP selection.

  7. Focus Resources Wisely: Time and budget are valuable. Avoid distractions and keep the focus on your ERP objectives.

  8. Embrace Change: Innovation can set your company apart. Don’t hesitate to explore new ways of working.

  9. Communicate Effectively: Foster clear, open communication with all stakeholders to ensure everyone aligns with ERP goals.

  10. Be Honest and Dependable: Without trust, the above principles won’t matter. Honesty and dependability should guide every step.

Why Honesty and Dependability Matter in ERP Selection

Your ERP system will touch every aspect of your business, and choosing the right one requires a foundation of trust with every person involved:

  • ERP Consultants: Independent consultants should disclose any partnerships with vendors. Look for consultants who provide unbiased, transparent guidance. At EstesGroup, we prioritize independence and transparency.

  • ERP Vendor Personnel: Evaluate how well vendors understand your business. If they’re rushing the sales process or offering quick discounts without a tailored approach, that’s a red flag. Reliable vendors work to understand your needs first.

  • Your Team: Internal bias can impact ERP selection. Establish an open dialogue within your team to identify preferences and ensure they align with your company’s goals.

ERP Honesty Gauge Toolkit

Here’s a practical toolkit to help you assess the honesty and reliability of consultants, vendors, and internal stakeholders in the ERP selection process.

Independent Consultants:

  • Verify their independence by asking for references and checking if they have partnerships with specific ERP vendors.
  • Request a signed statement confirming they do not receive referral fees.
  • Look for balanced recommendations across multiple ERP solutions.

ERP Vendor Personnel:

  • Require vendors to outline a customized demonstration based on your business processes.
  • Ask for relevant references in your industry and pay attention to their willingness to provide detailed answers.
  • If one person handles every aspect of the ERP demonstration without team involvement, this may indicate the vendor lacks resources.

Internal Company Team:

  • Have the ERP Review Leader issue a bias survey to gauge preferences among team members.
  • Address any consistent favoritism or opposition toward a specific ERP early in the process.
  • Encourage team members to focus on how a new ERP will improve company efficiency and avoid personal bias.

Taking the Next Step

Selecting an ERP system is a critical decision that requires trust, transparency, and teamwork. At EstesGroup, we understand the complexities of ERP selection and can help you establish a selection process built on these values.

Together, we’ll help you simplify technology, improve operations, and gain efficiencies.

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The 10 Principles of ERP Selection Success

The 10 Principles of ERP Selection Success

by | Jul 5, 2015 | ERP Selection

Focus Your Time and Money During ERP Selection

When it comes to selecting the right ERP system, there’s one principle we see overlooked more often than any other: focus. ERP selection isn’t a back-burner project. It’s a strategic initiative that will shape the future of your business. Whether you’re upgrading from legacy systems or implementing ERP for the first time, how you manage your selection process will determine how well your new system supports growth, efficiency, and innovation.

 

Man celebrating successful ERP system selection

Focus your time.

Focus your money.

And most importantly—focus your attention on what really matters.

Why ERP Selection Deserves Your Full Focus

There’s an old saying in business: you can’t manage what you don’t measure. And you can’t measure what you haven’t prioritized.

ERP software touches every part of your organization—from sales and purchasing to shop floor operations and financial reporting. That’s why you need to treat ERP selection with the same level of discipline and investment you’d give to a new production line or major facility upgrade.

Yet too many teams try to fit ERP evaluation between daily tasks, letting months slip by with little traction. That delay doesn’t just cost time—it costs momentum, clarity, and confidence.

Build a Realistic Timeline

Most successful ERP selection projects take 3 to 6 months from kickoff to final decision. Stretching beyond that increases the risk of project fatigue, shifting priorities, and stakeholder disengagement.

Set clear milestones. Appoint a project owner. Treat ERP selection like the business-critical initiative it is—not a side task.

Form the Right ERP Review Team

ERP software doesn’t live in a silo—and your selection process shouldn’t either. Build a cross-functional team that brings voices from every part of the organization:

  • Sales and Marketing

  • Operations and Manufacturing

  • Finance and Accounting

  • Purchasing and Supply Chain

  • Human Resources

  • Executive Leadership

Each team member should expect to dedicate 4–6 hours per week, while your internal project lead should plan on 12–15 hours to manage progress, coordinate with vendors, and ensure alignment.

These aren’t optional meetings—they’re critical investments. The people who use your system every day should help choose it.

Budget for the Real Costs

ERP selection isn’t just a software expense—it’s a time and labor investment. Here’s a quick breakdown of what that might look like:

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Internal Time Commitment

Let’s say you have 6 team members plus a project lead, each contributing 6 hours/week over 20 weeks. That’s over 800 hours of combined effort. Multiply that by the hourly cost of your leadership team, and you’ll start to see the real investment—before you even write a check to a software vendor.

External Consulting Support

Hiring an independent ERP advisor (like EstesGroup) can add structure, insight, and vendor neutrality to your process. A typical engagement might run 15 hours/week at $175/hour over 20 weeks—an investment of around $50,000–$60,000. But don’t make the mistake of thinking this replaces internal participation. The consultant brings clarity—the team brings context.

Travel & Workshops

Don’t forget discovery sessions, site visits, vendor demos, and potential travel costs. A good discovery meeting today can save hundreds of hours post-implementation.

The Cost of Distraction

We’ve seen companies spend over a year “researching” ERP systems without making a decision. By the time they’re ready, leadership has changed, priorities have shifted, and employees are disengaged. The result? Restart. Reset. Rework. With a slow-burn approach to ERP selection, success can feel impossible. Given all of the variables in ERP selection, success is often a fast play and a long play, full of risk and fury and, eventually, celebration.

That’s why we tell clients: Set the time. Commit the resources. Make the decision.

ERP is not a someday project—it’s your now strategy for operational excellence and future-proofing your business.

Let EstesGroup Help You Focus

At EstesGroup, we’ve spent more than 20 years helping companies like yours navigate ERP selection. We don’t just manage software—we guide business transformation. Our team brings deep experience in manufacturing and distribution, along with a proven ERP selection methodology that ensures time and money are spent wisely.

Let’s build a process that fits your goals, your people, and your future.

Let’s Get to Work

Need help budgeting for ERP selection success? Want to know what good looks like? Reach out—we’re here to help you simplify technology, improve operations, and gain efficiencies.

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