October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time when organizations typically focus on password hygiene, phishing training, and basic security protocols. But this year, we’re seeing something more profound across manufacturing and distribution companies: compliance-driven ERP transformation is reshaping how businesses approach both security and modernization. Cybersecurity requirements aren’t just defensive measures anymore—they’re becoming catalysts for genuine business transformation.
Here’s a question worth considering: What if your next cybersecurity compliance mandate isn’t an obstacle to overcome, but an opportunity to make your business better?
We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how companies approach regulatory requirements—whether that’s data privacy laws, industry-specific security standards, or customer-mandated certifications. Rather than treating these requirements as checkbox exercises, forward-thinking organizations are leveraging them as justification for ERP upgrades they’ve been deferring for years. The compliance deadline becomes the business case. The security requirement becomes the catalyst for operational excellence.
Cybersecurity Compliance-Driven ERP Transformation and ERP Architecture
Manufacturing companies might be responding to supply chain security requirements or industry certifications. Distribution companies could be addressing payment card security standards, data privacy regulations, or customer security audits. Regardless of the specific framework, the pattern is the same: companies aren’t simply retrofitting security controls to aging systems anymore. They’re using these mandates to migrate to modern, cloud-based ERP platforms like Epicor Kinetic and Epicor Prophet 21 that embed security from the ground up.
The result? Yes—they achieve compliance. But they also gain real-time visibility into operations, streamlined workflows, and systems that can actually scale with their business. Security becomes the driver, but efficiency becomes the reward.
ERP security architecture sounds like a technical concept—and it is.
But when implemented during compliance-driven ERP transformation, it fundamentally changes how systems interact, how data flows, and how teams collaborate.
Organizations upgrading their ERP systems—whether implementing Epicor Kinetic for manufacturing operations or Epicor Prophet 21 for distribution management—are discovering that security requirements don’t just protect against threats. They create cleaner data governance, clearer accountability, and more intentional system design.
Every integration point becomes an opportunity to ask: Does this connection make business sense? Does this access level align with actual job requirements? Should our warehouse team have access to this financial data? Do these customer-facing systems need to connect to our production planning tools?
That kind of disciplined questioning often surfaces inefficiencies that have existed for years. The department that somehow had access to data they never needed. The automated process that was pulling unnecessary information across systems. The integration that made sense five years ago but serves no purpose today. Security-focused implementation forces those conversations—and the operational improvements that follow are often as valuable as the security gains themselves.
Data protection for business continuity is the ultimate point of enterprise resource planning (ERP).
Let’s talk about data protection for a moment. On paper, it’s a compliance requirement. In practice, it’s forcing organizations to finally get serious about business continuity.
We’re seeing companies use security mandates as the impetus to move beyond their aging backup strategies—those weekly tape rotations, those untested disaster recovery plans, those backup systems that haven’t been validated in years.
A distribution client recently confessed that their security upgrade project “accidentally” resulted in the fastest system recovery time they’d ever achieved when a server failed during peak season. The backup and recovery system they’d implemented for compliance reasons saved them two days of downtime during their busiest period. Security infrastructure became operational advantage.
Similarly, a manufacturing client found that the access controls they implemented to meet customer security requirements revealed bottlenecks in their production approval processes. Fixing the security issue streamlined their operations.
So what does all this have to do with Cybersecurity Awareness Month? Everything, actually.
This month reminds us that cybersecurity compliance isn’t isolated from business strategy—it’s intertwined with it. The most successful manufacturing and distribution organizations aren’t treating security as a separate initiative managed by the IT department. They’re recognizing that compliance requirements, ERP transformation, and operational excellence are deeply connected.
When you upgrade to Epicor Kinetic with the latest security controls, you’re not just checking a compliance box. You’re positioning your manufacturing business for better production visibility, quality management, and supply chain coordination.
When you implement Epicor Prophet 21 with embedded security features, you’re not just securing your distribution operations. You’re creating a platform that supports better inventory management, customer service, order accuracy, and multi-location visibility.
When you implement proper access controls and data governance during your ERP transformation, you’re not just reducing risk. You’re creating systems that are more intentional, more efficient, and more aligned with how your business actually operates.
Real-World Security Applications Across Industries
The beauty of compliance-driven ERP transformation is that it works regardless of your specific regulatory requirements:
For manufacturers: Whether you’re responding to customer security audits, industry certifications like ISO 27001, supply chain security requirements, or specific regulations in your sector—the ERP transformation opportunity is the same. Use the requirement as justification for the upgrade you’ve needed.
For distributors: Whether you’re addressing payment security standards, data privacy laws, customer compliance mandates, or e-commerce security requirements—the path forward is similar. Leverage the compliance need to modernize your entire technology foundation.
So now we must ask: How do you make industry cybersecurity compliance regulations work for you?
As we observe Cybersecurity Awareness Month, consider this: Is your organization treating cybersecurity compliance expectations as a constraint or as a catalyst?
The manufacturing and distribution companies thriving in today’s environment are the ones who’ve stopped viewing compliance frameworks as obstacles and started seeing them as opportunities. Viewing industry regulations as a roadmap toward success, these business owners are embracing compliance-driven ERP transformation by leveraging whatever requirements they face. Industry standards, customer mandates, regulatory frameworks, or internal security goals serve as strategic drivers for the system upgrades they need anyway.
They’re implementing Epicor Kinetic for manufacturing operations or Epicor Prophet 21 for distribution management not just to check compliance boxes, but to transform their entire operational capability.
They’re embedding security so deeply into their operations that it becomes inseparable from operational excellence.
That’s not just good security practice. That’s smart business strategy.
Perhaps that’s the real awareness we should be cultivating this month: the understanding that cybersecurity compliance, when approached strategically, doesn’t slow transformation—it accelerates it.
What cybersecurity compliance requirements are on your horizon? Are you viewing them as hurdles or transformation opportunities? Let’s have that conversation. Book your free strategy session today with ERP and IT experts to learn how cybersecurity is driving successful, resilient, and profitable business transformation.
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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and EstesGroup is proud to stand as a Cybersecurity Champion. This year, we’re focusing on what matters most to our clients: protecting ERP-driven businesses at the very heart of the supply chain.
Why Cybersecurity Awareness Month Matters
For more than twenty years, October has marked a national call to action on cybersecurity. In 2025, that call is louder than ever. Manufacturers and distributors don’t just move products. They power critical infrastructure. And in today’s threat landscape, cybercriminals know that disrupting ERP systems means disrupting entire industries.
Cybersecurity Month 2025 isn’t just about “staying safe online.” It’s about keeping your production lines running, your shipments moving, and your data protected.
The ERP Factor: Why EstesCare Guard Is Different
Awareness campaigns too often stop at the basics — passwords, phishing, software updates. Important, yes, but incomplete. EstesGroup goes further by addressing where the real business risk lives: your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system’s evolving vulnerabilities, including new threats incoming and abounding from AI.
ERP platforms like Epicor Prophet 21, Epicor Kinetic, Sage, and other mid-market solutions manage everything from customer records to pricing strategies to production schedules. That makes them a high-value target for attackers and a weak point in many companies’ cyber defenses.
This is where EstesCare Guard stands apart. Unlike one-size-fits-all cybersecurity tools, EstesCare Guard is purpose-built for ERP environments. It integrates with your IT infrastructure, your on-premise or cloud-based environment, and your business processes to provide:
Compliance alignment for industries bound by HIPAA, ITAR, CMMC, and NIST 800-171
Proactive defense through logging, backups, and encryption tailored to ERP data
Single accountability — one team responsible for both IT security and ERP continuity
The New Supply Chain Battleground
Today’s attackers aim higher than stealing passwords. They aim to freeze operations, ransom production schedules, and compromise customer trust. For supply chains, a single compromised ERP login can cascade across vendors and customers in hours.
EstesCare Guard was designed to make sure that never happens to your business.
What to Expect in Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025
Throughout October, EstesGroup will share practical insights to help companies build ERP-centric defenses:
Week 1: Why Cybersecurity Matters in Manufacturing & Distribution
Week 2: Beyond the Basics—Passwords, MFA, and Phishing in ERP Systems
Week 3: Building ERP Resilience—Logs, Backups, Encryption Done Right
Week 4: AI-Powered Threats vs. AI-Powered Defenses in ERP Environments
Week 5: Recap & Roadmap—Where ERP Security Goes Next
Follow along for blogs, posts, and resources designed specifically for the manufacturing and distribution communities.
EstesGroup: Your Cybersecurity Champion
At EstesGroup, we believe cybersecurity is not just about firewalls and alerts — it’s about keeping your ERP ecosystem strong and your business moving. With EstesCare Guard, you gain more than a tool. You gain a partner dedicated to safeguarding the systems that power your growth.
Customers frequently reach out to us looking to transform their organizations by radically reconceptualizing how they utilize their ERP system. It is not uncommon that a poorly configured ERP system can become a significant impediment to business excellence, beleaguering business processes and muddying the information that would otherwise form the basis of decision-making.
As such, remediating an ERP system can be a fundamental step in transforming the related organization. That said, many customers come to us seeking to understand just how this process operates: how does a consultancy like The Estes Group work with a customer to improve their ERP system? Our answer is not especially surprising — a successful business transformation begins with a successful business process review (BPR).
A BPR is a comprehensive review of an organization and its ERP application, to understand the relationship between them and how the ERP system in question might be modified to the betterment of the organization. But the BPR itself occurs in stages, so let’s better understand the stages of a business process review.
Onsite Review
This is the first stage of a business transformation effort, and is an area-by-area assessment of the organization and the ERP-related elements that might be within the scope of the overall transformation effort. It consists of the following activities:
Clarify business priorities and goals that form the backbone of the assessment. For instance, an organization might be trying to understand whether to reconfigure or reimplement the current ERP system to better serve the needs of the organization, or even to understand whether the system in question is the right system for the organization.
Review ERP-related business processes by department — understanding each department’s perspective is critical for understanding the movement of data across the system. Identify and document issues, gaps, process problems, performance issues, data issues, or any related ERP challenges.
Review ERP data setup — data is fundamental to a successful implementation, and the core master files (items, customers, suppliers) need to be properly set up to support successful transactions.
Review ERP system configuration — the base configuration of the ERP system, which can manifest itself at the level of the company and site or even among various setup tables, can significantly alter how the system behaves. Understanding which decisions have been made is critical to understanding the behavior of the system itself.
This assessment is normally conducted onsite, as it tends to be most thorough when conducted in that manner. The consultant involved is documenting findings and making assessments at the time of the review. On the heels of the onsite review, the consultant normally performs any additional follow-up, be it in the form of data review, process follow-up questions, or remote meetings.
Document Findings
Coming out of the business process review, comprehensive documentation would occur as related to the areas covered, including the following:
Functional areas covered and the characteristics of each.
Gaps/issues identified within areas and between areas, and across the system as a whole.
Recommendations to address gaps/issues where applicable.
Determine Key Next Steps
Based on the business priorities, next steps would be identified and recommendations made. Should the organization clean up the existing environment and correct the existing data structures and business processes to better align with the organization’s intent, or should the organization reimplement a new environment to avoid the challenges of the current state? Or are there simply some tweaks to the existing system to be made, in the form of business logic or reporting?
Preliminary Review
At this point, the BPR would be reviewed with the customer. Considerations of the benefits and drawbacks of each approach would be defined and reviewed, and priorities and scope would be identified, which would be used to construct the project plan and budget. It is always helpful at this stage to clarify expectations, to make sure that goals are aligned and to avoid any downstream confusion when the final deliverables are reviewed.
Identify the Scope
Scope definition would serve to answer the following questions:
Which gaps or issues are most significant, and thus should be fundamental to subsequent planning efforts?
Which key areas would need to be addressed in order to achieve the goals identified above?
Which data files (master files and transactional files) are most in need of review?
Which business processes need to be adjusted?
How much prototyping is required to make the necessary decisions regarding data setup and process definitions?
How do we ensure that data entry is better managed in the future?
How do we ensure that preferred business processes are consistently performed in the future?
Develop the Project Plan
Based on the decisions made in the preliminary review, and the related project plan, determine the project budget that answers the question: what does the cost of the ensuing project look like? A budget may similarly have multiple versions based on the degree of customer involvement:
High customer/user involvement
Low customer/user involvement
Final Review
Once the plan and budget have been constructed, a final review will be conducted with the customer. Fine-tuning of the project plan and budget can occur to align with customer perspectives.
Proposal Development
As an output of the final review, a proposal for project execution will be constructed, using all of the information developed at this point. Assuming agreement on and signature of the proposal, the implementation project will commence.
As you can see, a systematic and staged approach to a business process review can set the stage for a systematic and staged approach to transforming your ERP system — to transform your business.
Your ERP Transformation Begins with a BPR
An ERP process review matters because it reveals how well your system is supporting — or hindering — your business. Over time, ERP setups drift away from best practices as organizations grow, users improvise, or data quality slips. This creates inefficiencies, workarounds, and reporting blind spots that quietly slow down the business. Your ERP journey doesn’t have to be complex. A review with EstesGroup’s expert consultants gives you clarity, direction, and confidence in every next step. Whether you’re reconfiguring, reimplementing, or simply fine-tuning your system, the right insights can transform challenges into opportunities.
By stepping back to evaluate processes, data structures, and configurations, an ERP process review uncovers where gaps exist and what changes will deliver the greatest impact. It turns vague frustrations into concrete improvement opportunities, aligns system performance with business goals, and provides a roadmap for smarter decision-making. In short, it ensures that your ERP isn’t just running, but running in a way that drives measurable business value.
Curious how a BPR could reshape your business? Let’s start the conversation.
Before any major ERP decision, clarity comes first. That’s why we offer a free first-step assessment with our industry experts. In this consultation, we’ll review your current ERP environment, discuss your business priorities, and identify where process gaps or system challenges may be holding you back. Think of it as a guided starting point — no obligation, just actionable insight to help you decide whether a full BPR or another path makes the most sense for your organization. And as your needs grow, EstesGroup’s expert ERP and IT teams can also support you with flexible cloud options and EstesCare Support Services to keep your systems secure, scalable, and supported long-term.
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A practical guide to automating payments and ensuring compliance when implementing ACH in Epicor Kinetic.
One of the many areas where a modern ERP system enhances business operations is in finance, where routine, periodic transactions between financial entities can be securely and automatically processed. Within the realm of finance, one of the most common transactions to automate is ACH.
Understanding ACH in Epicor ERP: What It Is and Why It Matters
ACH (Automated Clearing House) processing is an electronic funds transfer system that enables the secure and efficient movement of money between bank accounts in the U.S. It’s commonly used for direct deposits, bill payments, B2B transactions, and recurring payments. ACH transactions are typically batched and processed in groups, with funds clearing within one to two business days. Regulated by NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association), ACH offers a low-cost, reliable alternative to checks and wire transfers.
How Epicor Kinetic Supports ACH Transactions
ACH processing within Epicor Kinetic supports various payment types—including vendor payments, customer collections, and payroll disbursements—enhancing cash flow management and operational efficiency. The system ensures compliance with banking regulations and provides detailed tracking and reporting of all ACH transactions.
ACH Implementation: More Complex Than You Might Expect
However, implementing ACH within Epicor Kinetic is not as simple as clicking a button. Generating a file format that meets your bank’s requirements can be surprisingly complex. A successful ACH implementation requires a blend of setup, programming, and rigorous testing.
To successfully implement ACH in Epicor Kinetic, you’ll need specific resources:
A Technical Resource – Someone skilled in C# who can modify the outgoing file format as needed.
In this context, there are several key considerations:
Begin the process in your Test/Pilot system. Here, you’ll migrate addresses, load bank data, configure the electronic payment file, and generate test files to send to the bank for validation.
Early in the project, obtain a PDF from the bank detailing their ACH file upload requirements. This document will guide your configuration work.
Define bank account details for all vendors to be paid within Epicor.
Create a new payment method in Epicor to accommodate ACH.
If remittance advice will be sent by email, gather email addresses for all applicable vendors.
Enter your organization’s bank account details into Epicor’s bank account definition to ensure the file is generated correctly.
Identify who will be responsible for sending remittance advice emails, as this step typically accompanies ACH payments.
Don’t Skip This Step: Testing with Your Bank
Let’s talk about testing, testing, and testing again. One of the most potentially challenging stages of ACH integration is testing with the bank. Each bank has different requirements for test file volume, the number of test runs, and what constitutes a valid test case. Some banks will test the entire file thoroughly, while others may reject it at the first incorrect field. This often results in extensive back-and-forth communication. At the beginning of the process, aim to work closely with your bank to establish comprehensive testing criteria early on—minimizing delays and rework cycles later.
Final Thoughts: Unlocking the Power of ACH in Epicor Kinetic
While ACH processing in Epicor Kinetic provides major advantages for automating and streamlining financial transactions, the implementation process requires careful planning. A successful rollout depends on a combination of functional and technical expertise, close collaboration with your bank, and a deliberate, well-tested approach. By investing the right time and resources upfront, businesses can unlock the full value of ACH automation—improving accuracy, accelerating payment cycles, and strengthening overall financial efficiency.
Prepare for Bank-Specific ACH File Requirements
Every ACH implementation begins and ends with your bank’s specifications. Epicor Kinetic provides the framework to generate ACH files, but it’s your responsibility to ensure that those files match the exact formatting and data structure your financial institution requires. From defining payment methods in the ERP system to customizing the ACH output using C#, the technical side of this process hinges on understanding what your bank expects. That’s why obtaining your bank’s ACH upload guide early in the project is critical—it becomes your blueprint for configuration and testing. The more accurate your initial setup, the fewer file rejection loops you’ll face during validation.
Turn Financial Compliance Into an Operational Advantage
ERP-integrated ACH processing isn’t just about eliminating paper checks. It’s about embracing secure, compliant, and auditable transactions that scale with your business. By aligning your ACH implementation with NACHA guidelines and up-to-date ERP security protocols, you create a system that both protects sensitive banking data and improves the speed and visibility of your payment cycles.
When configured correctly in Epicor Kinetic, ACH automation supports vendor payments, customer collections, and even payroll with detailed tracking, remittance advice emails, and consistent reconciliation. In today’s financial landscape, businesses that uplift their ERP payment workflows gain more than efficiency. They gain a strategic edge in compliance, cost control, and trust.
Talk to an ERP expert today and get guidance on setting up ACH the right way—securely, efficiently, and in full compliance with your bank’s requirements.
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Is your backup solution running on a Raspberry Pi?
We’ve all tinkered with DIY tech—but when it comes to business data, even a Raspberry Pi has its limits. Let’s explore business backup and disaster recovery plan options for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) workloads.
DIY Backups Can Be Fun—But Are They Enough?
Many businesses struggle to figure out how to properly back up their data. We all know that backup is important to prevent data being lost. Many things can happen such as ransomware attacks, natural disasters, data breaches, or even internal attacks on your backup system. With this in mind, it is of utmost importance to ensure your company is making proper backups. A well-built business backup and disaster recovery plan protects data, ensures uptime, and gives your team the confidence to handle the unexpected.
You never know when disaster might strike, whether it be something like flooding, an earthquake, or even something as simple as a hard drive failing in your NAS or an employee accidentally deleting a file. These things can greatly affect the productivity of your team, and cause your business to lose money, data, and time.
Common threats that make a business backup and disaster recovery plan essential:
Ransomware and cyberattacks targeting small businesses
Natural disasters like floods, tornadoes, and fires
Employee error, accidental deletions, or insider threats
Hardware failure, aging on-premise servers, or NAS crashes
Data breaches requiring fast compliance-driven restoration
Why Professional Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions Matter
When it comes to data backup and disaster recovery, small businesses and enterprises alike need robust solutions that go beyond basic file storage. Professional backup and disaster recovery services, which are built into business application cloud hosting solutions, ensure business continuity by providing automated backups, version control, and rapid data recovery capabilities. Without a comprehensive backup strategy, companies risk losing critical business data, customer information, and years of operational history that can never be recovered.
Enterprise-Grade Data Protection Features
In light of this, as a business owner, you must ask yourself the important question, is your backup solution running on a Raspberry Pi? Is your team making trips to the bank on a weekly basis to put a LTO tape backup of your data into a safe deposit box that is intended for rare coins and jewelry? Or, even worse, is all of your data stored in a cabinet in the basement of your office, making all of your data stored on-site?
The True Chaos (and Cost) of Data Loss for Businesses
The old saying goes “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” and this absolutely applies to backups. If all your data is stored on one site, what will you do if your building gets swept away by a tornado or broken into in the night? Will you call Sherlock Holmes and try to find your Linear Tape-Open (LTO) backup tapes or hard disk drives?
LTO Tape vs. Modern Cloud Solutions
While simple solutions like a Raspberry Pi can be great for ensuring the coffee pot in the break room is never empty, your backups are the backbone of consistent service for customers. Your business deserves better than a solution designed for hobbyists, or even something like a NAS (Network Attached Backup), which only really ensures a secure backup if it is located off-site.
Thankfully, EstesGroup is here to help, with our dedicated team which will help you analyze your current business backup and disaster recovery solution, and help you improve your business continuity plan. Our on-premise and cloud-based solution suites make disaster recovery of your important data fast, secure and available 24/7/365.
Our team works hard to meet your advanced cybersecurity and compliance needs, and will help you ensure everything from your customer data to your email accounts are backed up to allow for recovery in case of a disaster.
Integrate, Automate, Report — And Prepare for Disaster
Modern backup solutions should include features like cloud storage integration, automated scheduling, encryption, and compliance reporting. Enterprise-grade backup systems provide redundancy across multiple geographic locations, ensuring your data remains accessible even during widespread outages or natural disasters.
Automated Business: Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan Scheduling and Monitoring
The best backup and disaster recovery services offer both on-premises and cloud-based options, giving businesses the flexibility to choose the right mix of speed, security, and cost-effectiveness for their specific needs.
What to look for in a business backup and disaster recovery solution:
Automated backups with customizable scheduling
Cloud-based redundancy across secure, geo-distributed locations
End-to-end encryption and ransomware protection
24/7/365 support with SLA-driven recovery
Compliance-ready reporting for audits and regulations
Scalability to grow with your business needs
Business owners often underestimate the true cost of data loss until it’s too late. Studies show that 60% of small businesses that lose their data shut down within six months of a disaster, and few IT departments leverage expert network and security assessments.
3-2-1 Backup Rule
Professional IT services and managed backup solutions can help prevent this scenario by implementing industry best practices for data protection, including the 3-2-1 backup rule: three copies of your data, stored on two different types of media, with one copy kept off-site.
Don’t let your business become another statistic – invest in professional backup services that scale with your growth and protect your most valuable digital assets.
So, what are you waiting for? Reach out to our team today at [email protected] or call us at (888) 300-2340 (if you prefer the old-fashioned telephone). Let us help you ensure your business is prepared for anything.
ERP Platforms That Require a Strong Backup and Recovery Plan
EstesGroup supports a wide range of ERP systems for manufacturers, distributors, and service-based businesses. Our team provides consulting, optimization, and secure cloud hosting for leading platforms, including:
Infor SX.e and Infor SyteLine (CloudSuite Industrial)
Whether you’re running a legacy ERP system or planning a cloud migration, EstesGroup can help you build a disaster recovery plan that aligns with your technology, operations, and compliance needs.
Wondering if your backup strategy is really enough? Whether you’re running Epicor, Prophet 21, Sage, SYSPRO, Infor, or another ERP system, your business depends on consistent uptime and data protection.
Below are some of the most common questions we hear about backup and disaster recovery (BDR) for ERP users—along with expert answers to help you protect your systems, your data, and your future.
What is a business backup and disaster recovery plan?
A business backup and disaster recovery plan is a set of strategies, tools, and processes that protect your company’s data and systems. It ensures you can recover quickly from threats like ransomware, hardware failure, or natural disasters—minimizing downtime and loss.
Is a DIY (like Raspberry Pi) backup good enough for business?
Not really. A Raspberry Pi can handle basic backups for personal use or lab environments, but it lacks the redundancy, encryption, automation, and compliance features needed for enterprise-grade disaster recovery. Think of your DIY business backup and disaster recovery plan as the Raspberry Pi of the current digital landscape.
What’s the difference between a NAS and cloud backup?
A NAS (Network Attached Storage) is a local device for storing files, while cloud backups replicate your data to secure, remote servers. Private and hybrid cloud solutions provide better scalability, offsite redundancy, and disaster resilience.
How does the 3-2-1 backup rule work?
The 3-2-1 rule means keeping three copies of your data, on two different types of storage, with one copy stored off-site. It’s a proven strategy for avoiding data loss during unexpected events.
How can EstesGroup help with disaster recovery?
EstesGroup offers fully managed backup and disaster recovery solutions tailored to small and mid-sized businesses. From secure cloud hosting to compliance reporting and rapid restore capabilities, our team helps you prepare for anything. Schedule a free IT assessment with a vCIO today.
Stay ahead of system failures, ransomware threats, and compliance risks with expert insights about enterprise-grade backup and disaster recovery plans and more.
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Managing an ERP implementation is like setting out on a major expedition. The right guide can make all the difference between smooth sailing and getting stuck halfway to your destination (without a single fish!). Read on to make your Epicor® Kinetic or Epicor® Prophet 21 project easier today.
Fishing for You: Full-service Team Project Management Model
In traditional “Big ERP,” a fish-for-you method is often used. People in the industry sometimes call this “Big ERP,” and this approach was popularized in SAP implementations. In this case, the consulting partner comes in and extracts business information from your subject matter experts (SMEs), then uses that information to configure the system.
Often, the individuals who are extracting this information are quite different from those actually performing the system configuration. This model expects less of a time investment from your subject-matter-expert community, but it requires a significantly larger team of consultants and business analysts. As such, the consulting cost to an organization can be significantly higher. This model also tends to take longer to complete, which is typical for the big fish-for-them format.
In a full-service project management model, a consulting partner like EstesGroup takes the lead role. We handle the detailed planning, day-to-day management, and problem-solving so your team can stay focused on operations.
Teaching You to Fish: The Core Team Model
The other approach is often referred to as the core team model. In this model, a core team is assembled from the company’s subject matter expert community. These SMEs form a core team that operates in conjunction with the consultants’ core team. The core team is responsible for understanding and communicating the organization’s core requirements, and then working with the consultants to configure the system.
This model expects a much larger time investment from the subject matter experts — often requiring full-time commitment.
In the coaching model, your team stays deeply involved. A team like EstesGroup comes in to guide, mentor, and support, but you lead the charge. This approach focuses on building in-house ERP project management capabilities so your business isn’t just implementing a system—you’re growing internal experts who can optimize it for years to come.
How do companies decide between options when managing an ERP implementation?
The truth is, many successful Epicor® ERP projects use a blend of both approaches. You might start with full-service project leadership to hit critical milestones and transition to a coaching model as your team grows more confident. At EstesGroup, we tailor project management to your unique needs — whether that means handing you the fishing pole or helping you “reel in” the challenging bits and bytes, such as supply chain management or cybersecurity protocols.
What Full-Service ERP Management Looks Like
Project Planning and Roadmapping: Aligning system goals with business strategy.
Timeline and Milestone Tracking: Keeping all work-streams moving smoothly.
Task Management: Overseeing everything from system builds to user acceptance testing.
Risk and Issue Resolution: Proactively identifying and addressing roadblocks.
Vendor and Stakeholder Coordination: Managing communication so your leadership team stays informed.
Advantages of Full-Service Project Management
Faster Timelines: Seasoned project managers keep things moving efficiently.
Minimal Business Disruption: Your employees don’t have to juggle day jobs with project work.
Proven Playbooks: Experienced teams bring best practices honed across many ERP implementations and new risks like tariff volatility.
Considerations for Project Costs and Culture
Higher Costs: You’re paying for a complete service, start to finish.
Knowledge Retention Risk: Your team may feel less connected to the system if they weren’t hands-on during the build.
Culture disruption: Your team will be stressed by too much interference, which is why EstesGroup focuses on the partnership aspect of projects throughout every step.
Full-service ERP project management is a great fit if your team is bandwidth-constrained or if hitting a tight go-live deadline is critical.
What Coaching and ERP Partner Empowerment Looks Like
Collaborative Roadmapping: Your team helps design the project plan.
Training and Skill Development: We coach your team on best practices for project leadership.
Guided Execution: Your employees manage tasks, with access to expert advice whenever needed.
Ownership and Confidence Building: Your team grows into a force of independent ERP stewardship.
Advantages of the Core Team Model
Sustainable Success: Your organization develops strong ERP project management skills.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership: Consulting hours are often lower since your team leads key tasks.
Higher System Adoption: When users are involved early, change management feels more natural.
Considerations for Project Costs and Culture
Time and Resources: Team members must invest time to learn and lead.
Longer Implementation Timelines: Learning curves can extend project schedules.
Culture, Culture, Culture: Long-term internal expertise requires that employees are content and will stay to coach others.
Building in-house ERP project management capabilities is essential for organizations that want not only to implement a system successfully, but also to develop lasting internal expertise that drives continuous optimization over time.
When considering all options when managing an ERP implementation, why partner with EstesGroup?
Choosing the right Epicor® project management approach shouldn’t be overwhelming. Our team has helped businesses across manufacturing, distribution, and services industries implement ERP successfully — with flexible support models that build lasting success. We’re here to manage your project if you need a steady hand. We’re also here to coach your team to become future ERP champions if that’s your goal. Teaching ERP project management skills is what we do every day. We’re not only here to help you choose your path forward — we’re here at every step on your ERP implementation project. ERP implementation. On-premise or cloud deployment. ERP upgrades. We have the ERP expertise to help you know your options for every little detail of your Epicor® ERP implementation approach.
Want to explore your options for managing an Epicor® ERP implementation? Chat will us now, give us a call, or fill out the form below and we’ll email and call you faster than you can say ERP!
