What is Epicor and is it the right ERP solution for your organisation?

Epicor is a flexible, industry-focused Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform designed to support manufacturing, distribution, and service-based businesses.

Known for its modular design, strong operational functionality, and deep industry alignment, Epicor helps mid-sized to large organisations optimise finance, production, inventory, and customer fulfilment.

Epicor’s product family includes Epicor Kinetic (its flagship cloud ERP for manufacturing), as well as industry-specific solutions for distribution, retail, building supply, and automotive. It offers a balance of out-of-the-box functionality and customisation, making it a viable choice for organisations wanting to modernise operations without committing to a full enterprise-scale platform.

This page outlines what Epicor offers, where it fits best, and how to assess whether it’s the right match for your transformation goals.

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Key features of Epicor ERP

  • Core financial management, project accounting, and multi-entity consolidation
  • Supply chain and inventory management with real-time visibility
  • Advanced manufacturing execution, scheduling, and MES integration
  • Distribution and fulfilment workflows including order, pick, pack, and ship
  • CRM, sales, and field service management
  • Built-in analytics, dashboards, and reporting
  • Deployment options across cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments
  • Industry editions tailored for manufacturing, distribution, retail, and services

Which organisations is Epicor best suited for?

Epicor is typically a strong fit for:

  • Mid-sized manufacturers, distributors, and field service providers
  • Businesses that need operational depth across production, inventory, and fulfilment
  • Organisations seeking flexibility in deployment and licensing models
  • Teams modernising from legacy or heavily customised systems
  • Industries including industrial manufacturing, building supply, distribution, and automotive

Pros and cons of Epicor ERP

Where Epicor delivers value:

  • Deep operational functionality tailored to specific industries
  • Scalable platform that grows with your business
  • Strong support for make-to-order, configure-to-order, and distribution workflows
  • Flexible architecture with customisation tools and low-code options
  • Good balance of usability, cost, and deployment flexibility

Where it may fall short:

  • User interface and experience may vary across modules
  • Customisation can lead to complexity without strong governance
  • Requires experienced partners for smooth implementation and change management
  • May lack advanced AI or next-gen features compared to newer cloud-native ERPs

Alternatives to Epicor ERP

Depending on your needs, complexity, and growth plans, you may also want to consider:

  • Infor CloudSuite – strong in manufacturing and distribution with vertical depth
  • Microsoft Dynamics 365 – for organisations seeking integration with the Microsoft stack
  • Oracle NetSuite – well-suited to mid-market firms with strong financial needs
  • IFS – great for project-based industries and asset-intensive sectors
  • SAP Business ByDesign – for mid-sized organisations wanting an SAP-aligned SaaS model

Explore these in our Cloud ERP Software Solutions Guide.

Planning your Epicor ERP journey

Whether you’re considering Epicor for the first time or comparing it to other ERP platforms, SMC can help you plan with confidence.

Expert insights from SMC

At Solution Minds Consulting, we’ve supported clients across manufacturing, distribution and retail, logistics, energy and renewables, ports and marine, and professional services in assessing and implementing Epicor solutions.

Epicor works best when a business has clear operational requirements and wants a practical, scalable ERP without over-investing in enterprise-level complexity. Our team helps you define your requirements, evaluate Epicor in the context of your wider transformation goals, and manage the implementation risks that come with flexibility and customisation.

We take a vendor-neutral, structured approach that focuses on aligning your ERP decision with long-term business outcomes – not just today’s technical needs.

Explore our services in ERP Selection and Implementation Planning.