Epicor Implementation

Epicor ERP Implementation Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do you implement Epicor?

1. Planning: The planning stage is critical to the success of an Epicor implementation. It involves defining the project scope, objectives, timelines, and budget. You should also identify the key stakeholders and decision-makers who will be involved in the project, including executive sponsors, project managers, and end-users. During the planning phase, you will also need to decide on the implementation approach, such as a phased rollout or a big bang approach.

2. System Configuration: Once the planning stage is complete, you can begin configuring the Epicor system to meet your business requirements. This involves setting up user accounts and defining user roles, configuring workflows and business rules, creating data fields and customizations, and configuring security settings. You may also need to integrate the Epicor system with other systems you use, such as a CRM or a warehouse management system.

3. Data Migration: Migrating data from your old system to Epicor is a critical step in the implementation process. This involves extracting data from your existing systems, mapping the data to the appropriate fields in Epicor, and importing the data into the new system. You will need to ensure that the data is accurate, complete, and properly formatted before importing it into Epicor.

4. Testing: Testing is an essential part of the Epicor implementation process. This involves testing individual modules and functions, as well as testing the entire system as a whole. You should create a test plan that outlines the testing objectives, test cases, and expected results. You should also involve end-users in the testing process to ensure that the system meets their needs and workflows.

5. Training: Once the testing phase is complete, it's time to train your staff on how to use the new system. You should create a training plan that outlines the training objectives, training modules, and training schedule. The training should cover how to perform common tasks, such as data entry, report generation, and workflow management. You may also need to provide training on specific modules, such as accounting or manufacturing.

6. Go-Live: After testing and training are complete, it's time to go live with the Epicor system. This involves switching over from your old system to the new Epicor system and ensuring that all data is transferred correctly. You should have a go-live plan that outlines the cutover process, including data validation, system testing, and end-user support. It's also essential to have a contingency plan in case of any issues during the cutover process.

7. Ongoing Support: After the Epicor system is live, you will need to provide ongoing support to your staff. This involves providing technical support, addressing any issues that arise, and ensuring that the system continues to meet your business requirements. You should have a support plan that outlines the support process, including issue tracking, escalation procedures, and service-level agreements (SLAs). You may also need to provide additional training or system enhancements as your business needs evolve.

Epicor uses a structured implementation methodology called the Epicor Signature Methodology (ESM) to guide customers through the implementation process. The ESM is a comprehensive framework that provides a structured approach to implementing the Epicor ERP software. It consists of the following phases:

1. Planning: The planning phase involves defining project scope, goals, timelines, and resource requirements. During this phase, the project team is identified, and roles and responsibilities are assigned. The project plan is created, and the implementation approach is decided.

2. Analysis: The analysis phase involves gathering detailed information about the business processes that the new system will support. This involves interviewing stakeholders, mapping workflows, and documenting system requirements. The project team reviews and validates the business requirements, and any gaps are identified and documented.

3. Design: The design phase involves developing the system design based on the business requirements. This includes configuring the system, developing customizations, and designing reports. The project team reviews and validates the system design, and any issues are identified and resolved.

4. Development: The development phase involves building and testing the system based on the design specifications. This includes developing customizations, configuring the system, and building any integrations with other systems. The project team conducts testing to ensure that the system is functioning as expected.

5. Testing: The testing phase involves validating that the system meets the business requirements and works as intended. This includes unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing. Any defects or issues are identified, documented, and resolved.

6. Deployment: The deployment phase involves preparing the system for production use. This includes migrating data, training end-users, and deploying the system to production. The project team verifies that the system is functioning correctly in the production environment.

7. Support: The support phase involves ongoing support and maintenance of the system. This includes providing technical support, resolving issues, and providing training and documentation. Epicor provides ongoing support to customers through a variety of channels, including phone support, online support, and community forums.

How long does it take to implement Epicor?

How much does Epicor implementation cost?

The cost of implementing Epicor can vary depending on several factors such as the size of the organization, the scope of the implementation, the complexity of the business processes being supported, the level of customization required, and the level of support needed. Therefore, it's challenging to provide a specific cost for implementing Epicor.

Typically, the cost of implementing Epicor includes licensing fees, implementation fees, and ongoing support costs. Licensing fees are the cost of using the Epicor software, while implementation fees cover the cost of configuring the system, migrating data, customizing the software, and providing end-user training. Ongoing support costs are the costs associated with maintaining and supporting the system over time, including technical support and software updates.

The cost of implementing Epicor can range from tens of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars, depending on the size and complexity of the implementation. A small organization with straightforward business processes and limited customizations can typically implement Epicor for a lower cost than a large organization with complex business processes and extensive customizations.

It's essential to work closely with Epicor and its implementation partners to create a detailed implementation plan that includes a budget estimate. This can help organizations better understand the cost of implementing Epicor and plan accordingly. It's also important to consider the potential return on investment (ROI) of implementing Epicor, which can include increased efficiency, improved business processes, and better decision-making capabilities.

Why implement Epicor?

There are several reasons why an organization might choose to implement Epicor, a comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Streamlined Business Processes: Epicor can help streamline business processes by providing a single, centralized system for managing financials, inventory, production, customer relationship management, and more. This can help reduce manual data entry, eliminate errors, and increase efficiency.

2. Improved Visibility and Reporting: Epicor provides real-time visibility into business operations, allowing organizations to make better-informed decisions. Epicor also includes robust reporting and analytics capabilities, enabling users to generate customized reports and dashboards to track performance metrics and identify areas for improvement.

3. Scalability: Epicor is highly scalable and can grow with your business. It's designed to support businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, and can be customized to meet the unique needs of each organization.

4. Increased Collaboration: Epicor includes collaboration tools that can help employees work more effectively together. This includes features such as messaging, task management, and document sharing, which can improve teamwork and productivity.

5. Regulatory Compliance: Epicor includes built-in compliance features that can help organizations meet regulatory requirements, such as financial reporting regulations, environmental regulations, and safety regulations.

6. Competitive Advantage: By implementing Epicor, organizations can gain a competitive advantage by improving their business processes, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency. This can help organizations stay ahead of the competition and grow their business.