Today’s field service organizations are faced with the challenge of transforming decades-old business processes into efficient, cost-effective, and customer-centric practices using the complete set of technological tools available today.
Service organizations’ inability to execute these critical business processes is what we refer to as the field force execution gap. To bridge the gap, businesses must automate these processes with field service management software. When done correctly, this transition to automated processes provides a rapid, significant, and sustainable return on investment to your company
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, or renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
This discussion brief, together with its companion (The Economic Case for Deploying Epicor ERP in the Cloud) is designed to elevate discourse and provide guidance to organizations evaluating the best ERP deployment model (on-premises, single-tenant SaaS, or multi-tenant SaaS), unique to their business and technical environment.
It’s especially important to recognize that there is no universal answer to the question “Which deployment model is best?” as each customer presents unique business and technical requirements and abilities. The purpose of this document isn’t to provide absolute answers, but rather to arm readers with additional (and perhaps better) questions to assist in their internal evaluation of deployment options. This is an especially important conversation for potential (and existing) Epicor customers because of our unique position in offering Epicor ERP across multiple licensing and deployment options.
Except as incidental to framing conversations around cloud deployment, this paper makes no effort to explore core ERP features/functions, or traditional line-of-business topics. While analysis of the fit of the Epicor solution specific to your business needs is warranted as part of your product assessment, the reader is directed to content available at www.epicor.com on all matters of application functionality.
Key Take-Aways
1. The question “cloud or on premises?” presupposes an unnecessary tradeoff. The best answer is ‘both—and I reserve the right to change my answer over time as my business needs to change.’ Epicor encourages customers to demand absolute freedom of choice from their ERP vendor and to not find themselves artificially constrained to only one deployment option due to limitations imposed by their solution vendor.
2. The best ERP systems are ‘everywhere for everyone.’ Deploying in the cloud is (for most customers) the fastest want to tie together remote facilities and mobile employees, thereby streamlining enterprise-wide collaboration and access.
3. Your IT department is ready, willing, and able of doing so much more than ‘racking and patching’ your servers. Moving Epicor ERP to the cloud likely frees your IT resources to focus on more strategic, and mission-aligned tasks.
4. The topic of data security and residency is more nuanced than it may seem. In cloud deployments, the actual physical location of your data may not be obvious, and that may not (or may) matter to you. However the security and disaster preparedness of your Epicor ERP needs to be well thought out, and for many companies, passing that responsibility to Epicor may provide for an elevated level of security, reliability, and availability.
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, or renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
If today’s small and mid-sized manufacturer is to sustain growth and thrive in today’s global marketplace, they must evolve from some of the practices they used in their early stages. Case in point: the use of Intuit® QuickBooks.
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, or renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Centralized collaboration technology in cloud ERP solutions can help you manage operations more efficiently. It brings employees together from locations around the world by hosting data and information that serves as a single source of truth. Your organization can share information that offers these surprising benefits along the entire supply chain.
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, or renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Epicor Data Analytics (EDA), powered by Phocas®, helps companies turn their data stored in Epicor ERP into actionable insights. Non-technical users have instant access to data, taking them from easy-to-read dashboards to lightning-fast grids to detailed transactions in a few clicks or taps.
With deeper insights into potentially massive amounts of their current and historical data, companies can grow by reducing costs, identifying new opportunities, supporting specific programs, and speeding up decision-making.
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, or renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Time and money are two key aspects that impact your business profitability. You need to ensure you make proper payments to your employees or subcontractors and accurate billing to your customers. Manual time and expense reporting processes can be time-consuming and often result in inaccurate data.
With Epicor Mobile Time and Expense Management, you get full control and visibility to make better decisions. Sync back the data in real-time to Epicor ERP, as Mobile Time and Expense apps are an extension of your ERP system. Data flows seamlessly between the different modules like Financials, Project Management, and MES into the mobile applications. They also don’t need a separate license, as they are accessed through the Time and Expense Management module licenses.
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm specializing in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Below is a quick tutorial on how to leverage the Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA) to complete an array of sales and customer service functions as part of the Epicor ERP solution.
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Traeger Grills specializes in the design and manufacture of wood pellet grilling systems that bypass conventional propane and charcoal burner capabilities—creating healthy foods with a flavorful, smoky taste.
Offering a complete line of grills, hardwood pellets, sauces, and accessories, Traeger surpassed its expectations by increasing year-to-year sales by nearly 40 percent over the last three years. Among the driving forces behind this sales boost was an expanded retail channel consisting of big box and specialty dealers, online venues, and specialty events that dramatically generated greater awareness among key audiences—ranging from barbecue enthusiasts to world-renowned chefs.
Success Highlights
Challenges
Easily fulfill a dramatic increase in orders generated from new markets and expanded sales channels
Solution
Epicor® ERP Cloud
Benefits
Reduce delivery times and costs
Identify stock availability and location in real-time
Quickly secure additional IT resources during peak times with minimal expense
Shifted IT from a capital expenditure to an operational expenditure
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Founded in 2009, Aimtron is a highly sophisticated printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) manufacturer that delivers thermal management technology to verticals such as medical, military, automotive, consumer, commercial, gaming, and alternative energy. Its capabilities range from small, rapid-turn prototypes to high-volume domestic and offshore manufacturing.
Success Highlights
Challenges
Inability to plan at the group level because of poor alignment across different departments
The legacy system could not cope with new acquisitions
Inadequate supply chain planning
Tough compliance laws
Solution
Epicor® ERP
Benefits
Increased efficiency with the consolidation of data across multiple legal entities and real-time data monitoring
Eased compliance with U.S. industry regulations
Integrated platforms across the entire supply chain
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Applied Composites Engineering (ACE) is a premier supplier of aviation and aerospace products and services. This includes creating products from concept to finish for the international commercial, corporate, and military aircraft industries.
Success Highlights
Challenges
Tie together operations end-to-end and ensure all manufacturing processes, products, and services meet stringent government and industry regulations
Solution
Epicor® ERP
Benefits
Visibility to make on-the-fly changes based on customer requirements
Review details, communicate changes, and make informed decisions in minutes
Create automated procedures ensuring all processes meet certification standards
Increased profitability by tracking the shelf life of materials and reducing the amount of inventory kept on hand
Better identify the time and activity spent on each operation
Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.