What Is an ERP Consultant?
Implementing an ERP system is rarely simple. Even the best ERP won’t improve a business if it’s not planned, configured, and deployed properly. That’s where an ERP consultant comes in.
They help clarify your processes, guide your project from start to finish, and make sure the system actually works for the people using it.
What Does an ERP Consultant Do?
An ERP consultant is a professional who specializes in planning, implementing, configuring, and optimizing Enterprise Resource Planning systems.
They work across finance, supply chain, operations, inventory, CRM, and more to align the ERP with the way the business actually runs.
While some consultants focus on a single platform (Epicor, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.), others work across multiple ERP systems. At EC Solutions, our consultants specialize in industry-leading solutions such as Epicor Kinetic and Epicor Prophet 21, widely used in manufacturing and distribution.
ERP Consultant vs System-Specific Consultant
An ERP consultant is a specialist who helps set up, implement, and improve business-wide software that links core functions like finance, inventory, customer service, manufacturing, and sales.
While ERP consultants can work across platforms (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.), a system-specific consultant is deeply specialized in one product suite. That means they not only understand the principles of ERP but also how to apply them using the specific tools, interfaces, architecture, and workflows.
An ERP consultant understands general ERP principles such as process mapping, system configuration, data migration, user training, change management, and cross-department process alignment.
A system-specific consultant goes deeper into one software, understanding its modules, dashboards, tools, screens, and unique workflows.
Why Businesses Work with ERP Consultants
Businesses turn to consultants for many reasons.
Choosing the Right ERP System
The ERP market is crowded, and comparing features alone doesn’t reveal which system fits best.
ERP consultants help evaluate options, compare deployment models, and recommend the solution that aligns with your industry and goals.
Lack of Internal Resource or Experience
Many companies lack the experience and internal resources to manage an ERP. Managing an ERP is a complex task involving the collaboration of all departments of an organization, and IT teams usually lack the time to manage it on top of their daily tasks.
An implementation partner has the experience and a team of ERP consultants able to manage an ERP.
Fixing a Poor ERP Implementation
If the ERP was poorly configured or implemented without industry best practices, it can create errors, bottlenecks, and frustrated users.
A consultant can diagnose the issues, rebuild core components, and restore system performance.
Key Responsibilities of an ERP Consultant
A skilled ERP consultant plays multiple roles: strategist, project manager, trainer, and more.
Process Review and Needs Assessment
An ERP consultant will start by reviewing all business processes and requirements to understand how the business operates and identify areas of improvement. The consultant works closely with internal teams to make sure his understanding of the business is accurate.
ERP Configuration and Module Setup
After carefully reviewing all processes and needs of the business, the consultant will establish a strategy to set up and configure the ERP system and tailor it to business processes.
Data Migration and Cleanup
When moving from a legacy system, it is important to safely move sensitive data to the new system. Consultants can help extract, clean, and import data to ensure accuracy and consistency in the new ERP.
Customization
Most ERP systems allow dashboards, screens, fields, and workflows to be tailored.
Consultants ensure these customizations support your business instead of complicating it.
It’s important to note that a system-specific consultant is best positioned to make customization to an ERP because they know every detail about it.
For example, an Epicor consultant knows how to adjust screens, dashboards, reports, and more to make sure the Epicor ERP is tailored to the organization’s unique workflows.
Data Migration and Cleanup
When moving from a legacy system, it is important to safely move sensitive data to the new system. Consultants can help extract, clean, and import data to ensure accuracy and consistency in the new ERP.
Ongoing Support and Troubleshooting
After the go-live (deployment) of ERP, consultants often stay involved to provide technical support, optimize performance, and help with future development needs.
Skills That Make a Great ERP Consultant
Strong ERP consultants combine technical knowledge with real business understanding.
Cross-Functional Business Understanding
A good ERP consultant should understand how every process connects to one another and interacts with each other. Like how sales connect to finance and how purchasing connects to inventory.
Communication and Training Skills
Consultants work with every department of a business, from IT to the shop floor, and they need to understand all processes and know how to train the people of each department.
Technical Proficiency
Even if they’re not writing code, they should know how integrations, automations, and custom reports are built.
Project Management
A good ERP consultant will keep the project on track, give a reasonable timeline for the project, and make sure to keep the business updated through every step of the process to deliver the project on time.
Proven Experience
A great ERP expert will have a proven track record and will be able to prove his experience through case studies. A consultant who has delivered results for their clients will be happy to show their work.
When to Bring in an ERP Consultant ?
You don’t need to wait for something to break before asking for help. Bringing in an expert before something goes wrong can save time and money.
Before You Choose Your ERP
An experienced consultant can help you choose the right ERP software, modules, and deployment options.
During Implementation
Implementing an ERP is a complex task that requires experts to be completely successful. Preparing, planning, designing, validating, and deploying an ERP with an expert will help manufacturers and distributors save time and money with an effective methodology.
When Expanding or Adding Features
If your business is expanding and needs to add new features like customer relationship management (CRM) software, an ERP consultant can help facilitate the integration with the ERP to make everything work seamlessly.
If Internal IT Teams Are Overwhelmed
Dealing with an ERP is a complex and time-consuming task. Your IT team is already busy with day-to-day operations and may not have the resources to deal with an ERP.
After a Failed or Stalled Go Live
As a complex operation, the implementation of an ERP can easily fail or stall due to lack of experience and technical knowledge. Expert help can be required to fix and rebuild the ERP correctly.
Why ERP Consultants Specialized in Epicor Make a Difference
While ERP consultants can work across systems, those specialized in Epicor Kinetic and Epicor Prophet 21 bring deep platform understanding:
- Advanced module configuration
- Custom dashboards and workflows
- Data migration best practices
- Personalization tools like Dynachange or Kinetic dashboards
- Industry-specific setups for manufacturing and distribution
Frequently Asked Questions About ERP Consultants
Contact an Epicor Consultant
Our team at EC Solutions has over 20 years of experience in consulting manufacturers and distributors about Epicor solutions, implementing and customizing Epicor Kinetic and Prophet 21, as well as training workforces and delivering professional services.