Insights 2019 is the annual Epicor user and partner conference that convenes each spring. It is a place where users and partners can experience first-hand training and education on the latest Epicor software and tools to empower businesses. Keynote speakers deliver insights on industry trends and where the company is directing efforts over the coming year. The manufacturing solutions being developed have a lot of users and partners excited for rollout. Read more about the biggest Epicor ERP developments in our Insights 2019 Recap below.
Insights 2019 Recap Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA)
AI is a buzzword on the tongues and in the minds of many involved in manufacturing industries. Gartner predicts that by 2020 80% of technologies will be driven by artificial intelligence in some form. Epicor has answered that call with the rollout of the Epicor Virtual Agent, aptly named EVA. A Microsoft Azure-powered virtual assistant, EVA leverages AI to deliver insights and data in real-time to empower workforces wherever they find themselves.
Virtual assistants are nothing new. However, their ubiquitous nature has yet to be fully realized, and appropriately utilized, among traditional manufacturing operations. Gartner also believes that by 2022, enterprises utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies will have some form of virtual assistant within the organization.
With built-in artificial intelligence, EVA can simplify user interactions with the ERP system and automate manual tasks to speed up operations. Text and voice cognitive skills enable EVA to transform data into visual representations. The result is an intuitive experience that allows users to complete actions on native devices with ease. The technology is powered by Natural Language Processing (NLP), a human-computer interactive technology that users can leverage from mobile devices with requests and tasks that will be addressed by the Epicor Virtual Agent. Targeted information and data to enable faster, better decision-making is then delivered in real-time.
Insights 2019 Recap Epicor ERP 10.2.400 Update
Epicor ERP 10.2.400 has also been announced and will receive its full production update on the weekend of May 11th, 2019. Now it’s the time to be testing end-to-end for those customers keeping in pace with the Epicor ERP software update cadence. Among the changes coming with the Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update, users can expect to enjoy full use of and coming functionality that includes:
For more information on the updates discussed above, reach out to the ERP experts at Encompass Solutions, Inc. using the contact us link below.
Exclusive Epicor Software Discounts
Encompass customers are entitled to exclusive discounts on Epicor software and services, provided they attended Insights 2019. If you were at Insights 2019 and wish to take advantage of reduced pricing on several Epicor ERP modules, SaaS subscriptions, and third-party integrations, get in touch with your Encompass Solutions Customer Account Manager today.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
The Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update is the first of two major upgrades planned for 2019. Epicor’s cloud ERP solution update cadence is a commitment to helping businesses grow through innovation at a manageable pace in-line with manufacturing industry trends. Major releases like this bring benefits of cloud deployment to customers in the form of improved usability, enhanced performance and profitability, and strategic value within a single upgrade. Because of the size and breadth of the Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update, 4 weeks have been allotted to test and explore these updates before upgrading customers’ production system. Now is the time to be testing end-to-end, as the update will be released in full to cloud users on May 16, 2019. The Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update for on-premise users will follow later this month. If you’re trying to choose the best cloud ERP solution for your manufacturing business, consider evaluating Epicor Cloud ERP today.
Epicor ERP 10.2.400 Update And Product Roadmap
Among the changes coming with the 10.2.400 update, users can expect to enjoy full use of and coming functionality that includes:
Marketed as ERP Intelligence personified, Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA) utilizes Artificial Intelligence to deliver real-time insights and suggestions based on your Epicor system data. As a new feature, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Conversational digital agent
Azure-enabled, including Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Available for iOS and Android in May 2019
Order Entry Automation
The new functionality enables your organization to capture sales orders and reduce manual order entry and errors through the use of automation. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Captures customer purchase order data from inbound emails, scanned documents
Validates orders, then flows into Sales Order Entry
Leverages DocStar and Intelligent Data Capture with Epicor ERP
A solution aptly suited for repetitive actions and orders
Job Scheduling Board
Leverage enhanced usability with a modern, Gantt-based view of your scheduling board.
Faster and easier to use
New look and feel of one of the most frequently viewed screens
Leverages Kinetic System to provide modern customer experience
Industry
Enhanced Project Management
Provide key stakeholders with timely financial information to ensure profitability. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Revenue recognition by WBS Phase
Improved visibility into project stage completion percentage
Delivers real-time project analysis through EDA.
Epicor Advanced Projects adds significantly more functionality with:
Extended Epicor ERP 10 standard Project Module
Three new modules:
• Advanced Project Management
• Advanced Contract Order Management
• Advanced Sub-contract Management
Available late 2019 in collaboration with Epicor partner Precise
Epicor Mobile Warehouse
Leverage this next-generation mobile handheld for warehouse and distribution. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Provides workflow optimization for fast and accurate scanning
Part and bin level validation and complex sorting and filtering options
Reduces time to process transactions, increases accuracy, and reduces errors
Available on Android, fully integrated to Epicor ERP
Supplier Portal
Manage supplier relationships, enter purchase transactions, and process RFQs. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Built on Commerce Connect
REST-based communication between Supplier Portal And Epicor ERP for flexibility, security, and performance
E10 Credit Card module is no longer required to process fully paid credit card orders
MES Expansion
Utilize a modern refresh to improve the usability of popular MES screens.
Provides users with a functional and visual approach that transforms how to shop users interact with the system
Simplified workflow and modern look and feel with anywhere access
Common interface with Mattec Advanced MES Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
Epicor IoT
Leverage IoT connectivity to acquire and analyze device data from across your organization. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor. The workflow is simple and follows this simple logic:
IoT-enabled sensors send their readings to the IoT Hub > Epicor ERP reads events from the IoT Hub > Epicor creates a new maintenance order suggestion > Maintenance department approves suggestion and scheduled maintenance.
Epicor IoT is integrated with the Microsoft Azure IoT Hub
Monitor and visualize data from sensors including
Equipment
Assets
Inventory Locations
Environmental factors
Analytics
Data Analytics Expansion
This EDA expansion further provides insights into projects and production management. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
New content packs for field service and preventive maintenance
Updated content packs for production and project management, materials management, and Mattec MES
Data Discovery Expansion
New sidebar display that allows users to work and see EDD views at the same time
“Open with” feature to open Epicor ERP forms and trackers in context
EDD Discovery Dashboard widget as a tab on Active Home Page
EDD IoT widget to alert decision-makers on what needs attention on the shop floor
New Reports
New Inventory and general ledger reports are available with the Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update.
Inventory
The New Stock movement report prints movements in and out per warehouse summarized for a given period
New Stock Aging Report prints the current stock on hand by part, UOM, age of stock, and value of the aged stock
GL
New Booking Voucher report and the Booking Voucher FC report print journal transactions for a selected year and period range. The reports display a separate page for each document or voucher
Enhanced Homepage
An enhanced homepage experience comes equipped with new widgets, layouts, and overall feel of interfaces of Epicor ERP screens.
New Widgets Available
Discovery Dashboards – A Data Discovery Dashboard is a collection of several views, that enables you to compare a variety of data simultaneously
Discovery IoT Widget – Use this widget to view the current status of the IoT (Internet of Things) Devices
Web Applications – Use this widget to host web applications, primarily kinetic-based applications, such as Manufacturing Execution System (MES) forms, scheduling boards, and others
Default Layout
You can pick a default layout that will be loaded for all users who do not have their layout
New Kinetic Style brings the new look to all your ERP screens
Kinetic features:
Quick Access Panel
Enables widgets on most of your master table and transaction screens
Enabled from the options menu perform
Can be used to keep key information handy
In-app icon
In-app messages have an icon on the homepage notifying you of unread messages
10.2.400 Update Webcast
You can watch the latest update webcast, here.
For more information on the Epicor ERP 10.2.400 Update, contact the ERP experts at Encompass Solutions using the Contact Us link below.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Interactive interfaces are the next stage in workforce agility, providing more visibility into data and processes while enabling faster reaction times. Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA) is Epicor Software Corp.’s answer to manufacturers’ desire to extract more value from their current assets and investments without incurring higher costs or sacrificing product quality. The Epicor Virtual Agent, aptly named EVA, is a cutting-edge digital assistant designed to help users work more intelligently.
Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA) At Work
With built-in artificial intelligence, EVA can simplify user interactions with the ERP system and automate manual tasks to speed up operations. Text and voice cognitive skills enable EVA to transform data into visual representations. The result is an intuitive experience that allows users to complete actions on native devices with ease. The technology is powered by Natural Language Processing (NLP), a human-computer interactive technology that users can leverage from mobile devices with requests and tasks that will be addressed by the Epicor Virtual Agent. Targeted information and data to enable faster, better decision-making is then delivered in real-time.
According to Scott Hays, Epicor senior vice president of product marketing, “When EVA responds within the Epicor solution, she does so with more visuals,” offering the example, “If I ask for a typical part, I’ll get back an image of the part with the key information I need to know right away. And, she’ll have a ‘next best action button.” Users can also request more information, including part price or quantity on hand, which will be provided by the Epicor Virtual Agent via the request and response interface.
Taking The Epicor Virtual Agent Beyond Conversation
While the request/response conversational experience may be what most users are familiar with when it comes to virtual agents, the Epicor Virtual Agent extends functionality into proactive suggestions based on best practices. The proactive decision-making process takes into account combinations of events, market statistics, and historical data. Designed to extend and support the workforce, EVA can provide insights teams can easily overlook to improve accuracy, and problem-spotting, and can even forecast or adjust production or distribution levels according to customer demand.
When conversation falls short, actional insights reinforce the agent’s effectiveness according to Hayes, who elaborated on what it means to be an effective virtual agent, stating “The second capability is taking action. If EVA has noticed something going on, she may say that based on what she’s seeing happening on the factory floor I should schedule maintenance on a machine.” The data described includes that from shop floor machines and IoT sensors. These devices, coupled with Epicor ERP, create a virtual nervous system that enables seamless and informed communications between EVA and users’ mobile devices.
The Epicor Virtual Agent In Action
By utilizing the EVA via an interface device, management can confirm or deny suggestions from the Epicor Virtual Agent with just a few clicks or taps. Production managers can schedule maintenance for a machine, shift production to other machines, and carry out an array of other actions with ease.
The Epicor Virtual Agent goes beyond traditional manufacturing scenarios, too. Other applications and industry-specific use cases include:
Distribution — EVA can provide outside sales and field service representatives with instant and easy access to information they need, such as product details, price, and availability information, as well as the ability to create a quote on their mobile devices while meeting with customers face-to-face.
Retail — EVA utilizes an AI-powered recommendation engine based on market basket analysis to suggest relevant cross-sell or up-sell recommendations in real time. This can take place in the aisle, in real-time, where purchase decisions are made.
Automotive Aftermarket — By using AI to evaluate huge datasets that include vehicle registrations and parts failure rates by region, EVA can communicate to auto parts distributors that specific parts are in high demand and stock levels of specific parts need to be replenished or increased to meet that projected demand.
Leveraging The Epicor Virtual Agent Alongside Epicor ERP
Developed using AI services from Microsoft Azure AI services are an integral part of EVA’s development. As such, the Epicor Virtual Agent can accompany any size and type of Epicor implementation, be it on-premise or in the cloud. By delivering the power of EVA to customers of every size, even small and medium-sized companies can leverage the innovative tech the biggest enterprises use to grow their businesses.
Hays emphasizes EVA’s machine learning component and how extended use will make the tool even more ubiquitous, “With EVA, you interact naturally with your ERP system. It’s as easy as just talking or typing to a colleague. This makes the breadth and depth of the industry-specific functionality and information available inside the system directly accessible to a larger audience, boosting productivity and efficiency, and giving the company an improved return on their ERP investment.”
EVA will be available as part of the latest releases of Epicor ERP and Prophet 21, which are planned for general availability in May 2019.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
