Epicor ERP for Manufacturers: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
Manufacturers often outgrow spreadsheets and disconnected systems faster than they expect. When data lives in silos, planning becomes harder, errors increase, and decisions slow down.
This article explains how Epicor ERP helps manufacturers centralize operations, improve visibility, and support growth. It also outlines what to evaluate before choosing an ERP.
Why Choosing the Right ERP Matters for Manufacturers
Choosing the right ERP matters for a business. It can have a significant impact on business performances and boost operations like no other tool. The right ERP will reunite all your core business functions under one platform to provide your business one single source of truth.
An ERP generally represents a significant investment for a company and needs to be researched carefully. Many options exist on the market, but not all are suitable for your type of business.
For example, manufacturers and distributors are types of businesses that could benefit from a careful evaluation of options on the ERP market because they have specific needs and requirements that could be met with an industry-specific ERP.
What is Epicor ERP?
Epicor ERP, also known as Epicor Kinetic, is a cloud-based ERP designed specifically for manufacturers.
It is designed to maximize the productivity and profitability of manufacturing companies by integrating key business operations, such as production management, supply chain management, finance, and customer relations, into a single platform.
It provides real-time data for all operations to enable better decision-making and eliminate data silos. LEARN MORE ABOUT EPICOR ERP
Who Is Epicor ERP Designed for ?
Epicor ERP, also known as Epicor Kinetic, is an ideal solution for manufacturing businesses in many industries, such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices, electronics, and many more.
Kinetic understands the specific challenges faced by manufacturers across all industries and is tailored to adapt and grow with the business.
Key Features of Epicor Kinetic for Manufacturers
Production Management
With Epicor Kinetic, manufacturers can plan and manage jobs efficiently with tools for scheduling, costing, tracking, and quality management. The data is updated in real time, from inventory levels to machines’ performance, which allows faster and more efficient decision-making.
Supply Chain Management
Epicor ERP helps manufacturing companies streamline their supply chain operations with accurate tracking and automated purchases to reduce manual work. The built-in demand planning and advanced scheduling ensure that the right materials are available at the right time, which improves efficiency and reduces delays.
Financial Management
Epicor Kinetic offers financial tools to manage daily accounting, including billing, expenses, and assets, as well as supporting multiple locations and currencies, which makes it ideal for global operations. The real-time dashboard and reports provide insights to guide financial decisions.
Project Management
Epicor Kinetic helps businesses manage projects by assigning the right resources and tracking the progress. It also keeps the budgets and timelines on target with tools to monitor costs, schedules, and overall performance that ensure projects stay on time and within budget.
Customer Relationship Management
Epicor ERP helps manage leads and contact information, track interactions in real time, and target the communications to build relationships with customers and prospects.
Demand Forecasting
Manufacturers can use Kinetic to forecast demand, accounting for trends, seasonality, and event-driven demand to respond to customer demand.
Modular Capabilities
Kinetic is built with modularity in mind to allow businesses to select and add different modules and systems to help them grow and expand as their needs and goals evolve.
Security and Compliance
Epicor helps manufacturers stay secure and compliant with both local and global regulations, as well as industry best practices. It offers tools like business process management (BPM), audit trails, eSignatures, and secure workflow automation, along with Microsoft Azure Active Directory for single sign-on (SSO) or multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Benefits of Epicor ERP for Manufacturers
Improved Operational Efficiency
Automation of workflows allows employees to work on higher-value activities rather than wasting their time on manual data entry and repetitive tasks.
Scalability
Cloud-based systems allow manufacturers to scale by adding users and modules without having to change their entire infrastructure.
Improved Decision-Making
Data updated in real time allows managers to adapt and make fast and informed decisions based on accurate and relevant data.
Enhanced Productivity
The Internet of Things (IoT) provides live data about equipment performance and operational conditions using sensors and smart machines connected to the ERP.
Compliance and Risk Management
Data can be restricted to specific users and groups to ensure the security of the platform. Epicor Kinetic is a comprehensive platform enabling compliance with local laws and international regulations.
Specialized for Manufacturing Excellence
Epicor ERP is made for manufacturers supporting discrete and process manufacturing as well as make-to-order. The built-in features are designed to deliver value for manufacturers out of the box without requiring heavy customization.
What to Consider Before Buying an ERP for Manufacturing
- Business process alignment and objectives
- System and hardware requirements
- Deployment options
- Integration and customization
- Determine needed functionalities
- Consulting with an implementation partner
- Maintenance and support
- Total costs
Why Epicor Kinetic Is a Strong Fit for Manufacturers
Epicor Kinetic was built with manufacturers in mind, and every part of the platform is built around the complexities of the industry. It holds features to handle production workflows, inventory tracking, quality control, and compliance.
It is designed to provide the same information from the floor team to the finance team to the operations manager, making sure all teams can collaborate effortlessly.
Why Working with an Epicor Implementation Partner Matters
Partnering with an Epicor implementation partner like EC Solutions is essential for a successful implementation because ERP projects are complex and require more than a software installation to get the best results.
An experienced partner can deliver implementation and customization services to tailor the system specifically to your business and ensure efficient workflows, as well as provide ongoing training and technical support.
FAQs About Epicor ERP for Manufacturers
Ready to Implement Epicor with EC Solutions?
If you’re exploring ERP options, Epicor Kinetic deserves a serious look. It combines deep industry functionality with a modern, cloud-first architecture.
Not sure where to start? Reach out for a consultation with our experts to see if Epicor Kinetic fits your operations.
Here at EC Solutions, we have more than 20 years of experience in helping manufacturers streamline their operations with Epicor ERP, and we would be more than happy to help your business grow.