About Encompass Solutions

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.


About Encompass Solutions

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.


About Encompass Solutions

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.


About Encompass Solutions

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.


 

About Encompass Solutions

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.


If you have not read the writing on the wall, cloud-based technologies and digital transformation initiatives are quickly becoming the focus for enterprises around the world. Providing more security, reliability, and mobility, cloud technologies simply provide too many benefits to ignore. However, their adoption is not always easy. As with any significant change at the organizational level, cloud ERP implementation challenges can stack up quickly. Here are the top 5 challenges in cloud ERP implementation and how you can address them before they impact your success.

Cloud ERP Implementation Challenges

While there are far more than five challenges that cloud ERP implementation may present to an organization, these are what we have found to be the most common. Several of these challenges are compounded by the increased reliance on remote workforces and the inability to meet in person due to environmental factors.

1. Change Management

While the age-old adage is nothing is certain but death and taxes, in business the only constant changes. For most people who are comfortably entrenched in the predictability of a routine, change can be a “four-letter word”. In most cases, change will be unsurprisingly met with resistance.

Change management will be one of your biggest hurdles in moving towards a complete cloud ERP solution from a system that was either previously on-prem or a hybrid deployment model of on-prem and cloud-based.

The easiest way to address the inherent resistance to change is to illustrate where things will improve. This is done not just by saying things will be new and modern. Show where those improvements will take place, and the cost savings and gains in productivity that system users and the company can expect to reap.

2. Focus

The last several months have pretty much done away with the divide between work life and personal life for a significant portion of the global workforce. Transitioning to remote work from home has presented unique challenges for enterprises of every size.

The result has been a muddying of work hours, family obligations, self-care, and a host of other responsibilities in one venue, without end.

The ability to focus on implementation can be a challenge in the best conditions. In a completely remote environment, where distractions are abundant, maintaining focus will be a challenge that presents itself consistently.

To overcome distraction and maintain focus, set aside specific windows of time for core project components. Businesses need to be open to scheduling compromises with employees and their families when the lines blur between work and home. By compromising on specific project hours, there is a higher probability of remaining focused on the progress of your implementation project. The remaining work time can be more fluid as the separation of workday duties and household obligations continue to muddy.

3. Security

One of your project initiatives may be an effort to move towards heightened system security. This is a great feature of Cloud ERP. However, during the implementation phase, you may not have advanced security in place to maintain your sensitive data. This security becomes even more difficult to maintain between remote resources, like staff and their workstations.

Make it a point to understand the risks upfront. You can take on the challenge alone, hire a consultant, or work in tandem with your implementation partner to find the right protocol for your case. A simple step, like password-protecting Wi-Fi connections, not allowing users other than staff to utilize remote workstations is a necessary first layer of security.

Firewalls and network security software should follow. If you do not provide the hardware your staff will be working from while remote, you may want to consider doing so. A small investment in this area can result in big savings when you consider the alternative.

Lastly, have a plan in place, both documented and practiced, with your staff. Make sure they understand the risks and the results of a security breach and demonstrate the protocol they are going to follow moving forward.

4. Access, Permissions, and Productivity

Yeah, I know that’s three things but each build on the former to deliver a complete effort. So, in the interest of time and space, they’ve been combined.

Not everyone on your cloud ERP implementation project will need access to all components of your system. Working with IT to designate the proper permissions will be critical in ensuring that staff remain on task and don’t have an opportunity to ruin transitioning data, either by malice or mistake.

Provisioning web and mobile access may fit into this implementation scenario, too. If your staff has spotty connections based on their location, consider bolstering their coverage through their provider to ensure your project isn’t impeded by poor connectivity. This is usually as simple as flipping a switch on the provider’s end. This way, you won’t lose precious time in the event cloud cover conceals the satellite internet connection of your data analyst in rural Illinois.

5. Knowledge

When leaping on-prem and, in many cases, outdated data management systems, tribal knowledge, and training will be integral as you move forward.

By relying on your most knowledgeable IT professionals and department heads to deliver their expertise during the cloud ERP implementation process, you have your top minds tackling your biggest challenge yet. However, there will be scenarios for which even they are not prepared. This is where training can be one of your biggest assets. Whether training is provided by your vendor or consultant of choice, or you have chosen to produce your training plan, enabling your project staff with defined direction and knowledge will ensure their success.

Lack of familiarity with a new environment is sure to produce plenty of anxiety and opportunities for missteps. Proper planning can help to mitigate these pitfalls. Having an experienced and knowledgeable guide through the process can eliminate them. That is because every implementation is different, and every company is different. With the experience of an implementation professional, there is a wider breadth of experience to draw from in the event an obstacle presents itself.

There will inevitably be some unexpected challenges for even the most experienced vendors, VARs, and consultants to guide you through. However, doing your research and taking the time to get familiar with the nuances of a cloud ERP implementation will impart the confidence and understanding any business needs to go through the project on their own.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services. 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.

 


Epicor Data Analytics (EDA), powered by Phocas, is an easy-to-use cloud service with powerful tools to help you reduce costs, identify new opportunities, and speed decision-making.

  • Stay up-to-date with the daily changes in your business
  • Eliminate time-consuming and error-prone manual reporting processes
  • Visualize data across all of your business systems from production to sales

EDA factsheet – Download
EDA customer success story – Download
EDA top-ranked Highlights in Business Application Research Center (BARC) Report – Download

Epicor Data Analytics Prebuilt Content Packs

Each of the currently available Epicor ERP content packages for EDA provides starter dashboards and deep integration into a specific set of Epicor ERP data. You have the freedom to build onto these content packs with any additional fields from Epicor ERP and augment from any other data sources, such as Salesforce and ADP.

Epicor Data Analytics for Sales (sales, orders, quotes)

Quickly discover business trends by visualizing the sales data in your Epicor system. Get deeper insight into sales results by account, location, geography, order, and more.

Answers questions like:

  • What are my average sales and gross margin by invoice?
  • Who was buying, but is not buying now?
  • Where are we succeeding geographically?

Gain full visibility into:

  • Net sales
  • Quantity shipped
  • Quantity ordered
  • Material cost
  • Fixed burden
  • Variable burden
  • Labor cost
  • Other cost
  • Gross margin

Epicor Data Analytics for Materials (inventory, purchasing, and shipping)

Improve the productivity of what is likely your largest fixed asset—your inventory—by making sure you invest in the right inventory mix. EDA can help you see your inventory data more clearly.

Answers questions like:

  • What is our current inventory value today?
  • What are our potential inventory shortfalls?
  • What is on order in my open POs?
  • Where are my shipments?

Gain full visibility into:

  • Quantity on hand
  • Inventory value
  • Cost
  • Allocated
  • Backordered
  • On PO
  • In transit
  • Quantity ordered

Epicor Data Analytics for Financials (AR/AP and general ledger)

Improve overall visibility into your business by drilling down into categorized accounts and transactions within your income statement and balance sheet.

Answers questions like:

  • What are this year’s actuals versus last year’s actuals by account?
  • How long is money held up in accounts receivable?
  • What payments are receivable and what invoices are due?
  • Did we take advantage of discount terms and how much did we save?

Gain full visibility into:

  • Amount paid
  • Terms taken
  • Allowed
  • Bad debt amount
  • Amount receivable
  • Owing
  • Items invoiced
  • Invoices paid
  • Memos
  • Terms taken
  • Transactions for income statement and balance sheet

Epicor Data Analytics for Production (production, reporting, and quality)

With the production content pack for Epicor ERP and iScala, make certain that quality products are produced for the right customer at the right time—for the right price and profit margin.

Answers questions like:

  • What is my resource earned hours?
  • Do I have differences in production rates between shifts?
  • How do I improve the overall effectiveness of my resources?
  • What is the most frequent cause for product rejections?

Gain full visibility into:

  • Good quantity
  • Total Quantity
  • Good value
  • Total value
  • Estimated setup hours
  • Estimated production hours
  • Actual production hours
  • Actual production
  • Rework hours
  • Actual setup hours
  • Actual setup rework hours
  • Production run standard
  • Production labor rate
  • Setup labor rate
  • Production burden rate
  • Setup burden rate
  • Actual labor cost
  • Actual burden cost
  • Rework labor cost
  • Rework burden cost

About Encompass Solutions

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.


The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP

The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP is an annually published report that outlines the research organization’s perspective on the best software available. This year, Epicor Software again received designation as a visionary in the category of Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises.

The published report is free to download for anyone interested in learning more about Epicor Software and other Cloud ERP vendors.

an image advertising the 2020 gartner magic quadrant for cloud erp report

You can download the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises report HERE.

Epicor ERP Cloud

Epicor ERP Cloud is a secure, economical, efficient, and reliable enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

The solution provides businesses with flexibility and comprehensive support. It helps manufacturers simplify processes, optimize operations and ease IT responsibilities.

For example, Epicor Cloud ERP delivers a 99.5% or greater uptime.

Aerospace and defense manufacturer Wipaire leverages the benefits of Epicor Cloud ERP to free up resources and reduce costs.

The company enjoys real-time access to information, which delivers higher cost efficiency and better time management.

Wipaire Controller Mike Elrod commented about their choice to use Epicor ERP, “We chose to deploy in the cloud because it offered flexibility and cost savings and we no longer need to maintain in-house servers or equipment.”

Epicor ERP is built to scale alongside manufacturers as they grow and depend on better tools to deliver the results and experience their stakeholders and customers expect.

With Epicor Cloud ERP, businesses are better equipped to compete, thrive, and grow by harnessing data and implementing automation to improve productivity and profitability.

“We believe Epicor’s spot in the Visionaries quadrant proves that we are a cloud vendor of choice in the markets we serve and that our cloud ERP software is providing customers with the tools they need to succeed in today’s mid and enterprise markets,” said President Himanshu Palsule. “Our customer base is large, incredibly loyal, and actively engaged, and we will continue to foster those relationships to address and prioritize their feedback in future product updates so that our customers can push ahead of their competitors and can focus on business resiliency rather than IT administration.”

Placement in the Visionary quadrant validates Epicor’s ability to provide businesses with the best ERP solution. Read the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud ERP for Product-Centric Enterprises report HERE to learn more.

About Encompass Solutions

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 Industry.


The article “It’s 2020 — Should Business Owners Fear The Cloud?” was written by Epicor Software Corp. CEO Steve Murphy and published by Forbes on March 2, 2020. You can read the original article here.

The cloud. It’s a small word that packs a big punch. Defining what a cloud is can confuse some while implementing it raises concerns for others.

We should consider three key factors as we continue into a new decade and business owners ask if they should fear the cloud: privacy, interoperability, and cost.

But first, what is the cloud, and why are businesses migrating to this solution?

Essentially, the cloud is a delivery method for your software. It’s a network of servers that are linked together and operate as a single system. The cloud can perform a variety of functions (e.g., storing data, running applications, delivering content, etc.), and you can access it online. There are both public and private cloud options. The biggest difference with the cloud is what it doesn’t require. You don’t need any hardware or networking gear on-site – all you need is a tablet or a phone to run the software.

One of the major reasons I believe cloud adoption continues to grow is the flexibility and productivity enhancements it offers. As the CEO of a company that offers cloud platforms, I’ve found that these features are particularly attractive for business owners looking to build resiliency in the face of unpredictable trade wars and other geopolitical changes. Business owners often look to business management software to provide stability. According to Goldman Sach’s 2020 review (via CNBC), 23% of IT workloads are now in public clouds.

So, should business owners fear the cloud when it comes to privacy, interoperability, and cost?

Should I fear privacy in the cloud?

There is no denying privacy is a major concern when it comes to data. Data breaches continue to increase, as does the projected production of data. To keep pace, both software solutions and IT departments will have to up their game.

First, I’ll share the bad news. According to Hiscox’s 2019 Cyber Readiness Report, most businesses are unprepared for cyber threats. In fact, in the U.S., 73% of businesses are “novices” at cyber readiness.

The good news, however, is that the public cloud has proven safer than on-premise data center environments. Specifically, Gartner found that “to date, there have been very few security breaches in the public cloud” and that “through 2020, public cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) workloads will suffer at least 60% fewer security incidents than those in traditional data centers.”

If you decide to move to the cloud due to these safety findings, you should still be mindful of cloud vulnerabilities. Take stock of what kinds of sensitive information you are putting in the cloud, and ensure you understand how the cloud provider will protect that data. The time needed to safely migrate systems and data can be lengthy, but it shouldn’t be rushed at the expense of security infrastructure. Select a provider who prioritizes security during the migration process and who has a solid reputation for getting the configuration right, and communicate with your team so that they understand the migration timeline and can manage their expectations.

Regardless of your software solution, privacy issues will continue to be a concern. One of the most important things business leaders can do is ensure they have a crisis management protocol in place if and when a breach should occur.

Should I fear cloud interoperability challenges?

I have great news on this front. There have been major strides toward interoperability. Multiple systems can exchange and use information easier than ever before. This is due to a variety of reasons: Many application programming interfaces (APIs) continue to get better, standards continue to improve, and, notably, I see tech giants such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft Azure frequently expand the universe of applications that can easily be put in their clouds. I believe their efforts have significantly moved the needle.

While interoperability isn’t perfect, there’s a lot of upward momentum. I expect that to progress.

Should I fear the cost of the cloud?

If you’re a business owner and you aren’t sure cloud makes sense for you from a cost perspective, ask yourself if you have a good grip on how much it costs to have your own data center in your business. Do you already have the IT skills in-house to run your system? If so, the cloud may not make sense.

However, many business owners are surprised to find that their IT operations cost them a lot more than they think and that implementing cloud solutions can save them both time and money when it comes to issues such as automatic upgrades (which keep your company current and competitive), labor and maintenance costs, or increases in workforce productivity, to name a few.

Just remember that the decision between on-premise and cloud will be unique for each business. When you’re evaluating your IT operations cost, ask yourself how scalable you need your solution to be in the future. How adept is your IT department at staying up to date with evolving technology? Will you need additional data storage, and do you have the physical space to accommodate an expansion of your on-premise data center? Do you need access to data on the go? If a natural disaster hits your business, how will you back up your data?

What it comes down to is the total current cost of your on-premise data center versus a cloud solution. For business leaders who are still on the fence about expenses, make sure you evaluate your options regularly. Cloud providers will have to continue to be cost-competitive, which could work in your favor.

Bottom line: Don’t fear the cloud. It could be a safer option than on-premise data. Its interoperability continues to improve. It can be highly effective at increasing productivity. It can save you money long-term. And the cloud will likely continue to improve over time. The year 2020 may be the one for you to move forward with implementation.

About Encompass Solutions

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.


The Epicor ERP 10.2.600 update is the first of two Cloud release upgrades planned for 2020. This is a major update that brings greater usability, performance, and strategic value in a single upgrade.

Epicor ERP 10.2.600 Highlights

As with past releases, the breakdown of what’s been added has been categorized into four major components: Experiences, Industry, Cloud and Analytics, and Global updates.

Epicor ERP 10.2.600 Experiences Updates

  • Epicor ERP Kinetic Dashboards and Trackers
  • Epicor ERP Kinetic Application Studio
  • Kinetic Help and Support Panel
  • Epicor Collaborate Phase 2
  • EVA Skills

Kinetic Highlights For Epicor ERP 10.2.600

  • 184 reports and processes
  • 20 Trackers (Located on a new Trackers – Kinetic menu)
  • Ability to deploy dashboards to Kinetic UI
  • Ability to create BAQ Reports in Kinetic UI
  • Ability to personalize and customize Kinetic forms
  • Epicor Application Studio (version 1)*
  • Enhancements to Kinetic Home Page
  • Kinetic App Maintenance*
  • Kinetic version alert banner*

*coming in 10.2.600.2

Refer to Release Notes for a cumulative list of Kinetic forms.

Kinetic Help and Support Panel

  • One-click access to videos, articles, and guided learning
  • Context-sensitive results
  • Easy access to Epicor Learning Center, EpicCare, and EpicWeb
  • Display field help

an image of the epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 kinetic help and support panel

New In-App Feedback

  • Give Epicor your direct feedback
  • Not a replacement for Support calls

an image of epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 in-app feedback

Epicor Collaborate

  • Cloud-based, collaboration solution within Epicor ERP
  • Simple, intuitive experience
  • New in 10.2.600:
    • Editing, sharing, flagging and tagging messages
    • Creating groups to make communication easier, including private groups
    • Creating custom notification rules
    • Designing BPM workflows to post notifications to Collaborate
    • Integrations with EVA, EDD, IoT, and Microsoft Teams
    • Support for 11 additional languages

an image of epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 epicor collaborate

Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA)

  • Conversational digital agent
  • EVA is enhanced with new skills each release:
    • Collaborate API – @EVA user posts message to a Collaborate group or individual
    • Return Material Authorization (RMA) Skill – “Create RMA for X pieces of [part] to [Customer]”
  • Available for iOS and Android

an image of epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 epicor virtual agent eva

 

Epicor ERP 10.2.600 Industry Updates

  • Epicor Financials Enhancements
  • Epicor Quick Ship
  • Epicor Cash Collect
  • DocStar ECM 2020.1
  • Epicor AMM PCID Transfers

Epicor ERP Core Financial Enhancements

  • Centralized AR collections
  • AR/AP netting settlement
  • AP invoice cancellation
  • AR/AP invoices-WHT timing option through interim accounts

Epicor Quick Ship (Manifest)

  • Cloud enablement on Microsoft Azure
  • Data mapping tool
  • New carrier integrations with:
    • CH Robinson’s freightquote.com
    • Canadian carriers Loomis and Canada Post

Epicor Cash Collect

  • User-friendly Customer Portal empowers businesses to better serve their customers
  • New Communications Assistant enables collection representatives to record, transcribe and store calls
  • Document Creation gives users a PDF print driver that enables printing a batch of invoices
  • Advanced Workflow allows the ability to create custom workflows within Epicor Cash Collect

Epicor Data Analytics Financial Reporting

  • Replaces Advanced Financial Reporting with a modern, cloud-based BI and analytics solution
  • All-in-one easy-to-use solution
  • Robust financial reports such as financial statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports in a pre-packaged format
  • Offers Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)
  • Device-agnostic

Epicor Advanced Project Management

  • Provides integrated project management for customers with modules for:
    • Project Contracts
    • Project Accounting
    • Project Subcontracts
  • Simplifies and streamlines the contract management process and tracks at the sub-ledger level

DocStar Enterprise Content Management 2020.1

  • Provides automation to route and process business documents more efficiently, faster, and more accurately
  • Integrates to Epicor ERP for storage of documents and attachments, pre-built automated processing of documents for sales order entry and accounts payable
  • New features include AP Automation enhancements, integration with Epicor ERP identity, supporting multi-factor authentication, and new Kinetic screens

Package Control Identification Transfers

  • Reserve and allocate Advanced Materials Management PCIDs for sales orders
  • Enables customers to supply multiple sites with raw materials from a central location
  • Allow a customer to receive a single PO line or job info multiple PCIDs in a single transaction

Epicor ERP 10.2.600 Cloud and Analytics Updates

  • EDA Financial Reporting
  • Multi-Region Multi-Company Transactions
  • Azure Germany Datacenter
  • Functions and File Storage

Core Cloud Enhancements

  • Functions Enhancements – low code/no code customizations
    • Scheduling Functions
    • Functions calling other Functions
    • Solution Workbench support
  • File Attachment Storage now supports
    • Google Drive
    • Dropbox

Note: Microsoft has ended support for Windows 7

Epicor ERP Public Cloud Multi-region Multi-company Transactions

  • Run Epicor ERP in multiple company locations from any geography, in the cloud or on-premises
  • Enable intercompany transactions such as purchasing, sales orders, and reporting across multiple databases
  • Roll out a cloud strategy in phases, meet local requirements, and gain global visibility and alignment

Epicor ERP Cloud Regions

an image of epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 new epicor erp cloud data center in Germany

Epicor Cloud Communication

  • The email address on the In-app user profile is now where you enter your preferred communication email address
  • Need to update your notification preferences?
    • Access your profile from the System Monitor -> Action Menu

an image of epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 update notification preferences

 

Epicor ERP 10.2.600 Global Updates

  • Country-Specific Functionality updates
  • Epicor Electronic Reports

Epicor Country Specific Functionality

  • Countries providing updates for:
    • China
    • Colombia
    • France
    • Germany
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Malaysia
    • Mexico
    • Netherlands
    • Norway
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Sweden
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • UK
    • and all countries in the European Union (EU) with support for the EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) number.

Epicor Electronic Reports

  • Prepare electronic reports for third-party organizations
  • Work efficiently with advisory companies and auditors
  • Leverage simple e-invoicing
  • Strengthen your global business management with legally required electronic reports

Timeline for 10.2.600

epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 update timeline

Preparation Checklist

epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 update checklist

Pilot/Additional Env Upgrade Weekend

  • Pilot/Additional Systems offline Friday 12:01 AM local data center time
    • Not able to log in during upgrade process

Timeline

  • For live Public Cloud customers: We start copying your Production data to Pilot on Wed April 15 at 8:00 PM CDT and through Thurs
  • For MT, Express: We start copying your Production data to Pilot on Thurs at 8:00 PM CDT
  • Additional environments are not auto refreshed
  • When upgrades are complete, your users can login
    • Download happens automatically
    • No changes to Users \ menu \ permissions
    • 10.2.600 in the Pilot system available for testing on Sunday, April 19

Production Upgrade Weekend

  • Production System offline Saturday 12:01 AM local data center time
    • Not able to log in during upgrade process
    • Approximate time for an upgrade 4-10 hours once your upgrade has started
  • During this time the Epicor Cloud Ops team will…
    • Upgrade your Production
    • Install UBCs solution from Pilot if requested by Tuesday, May 12
    • Send “all clear” messages
      ▪ First to administrators, second to all users
  • When complete, your users can login
    • Download happens automatically
    • No changes to Users \ menu \ permissions
    • Local system admin import UBCs previously saved to local drive and not included in the solution
    • Pilot changes will be retained on a backup copy until May 29 if needed

Data Refreshes for Customers in Public Cloud

  • All live customers staying on cadence—your pilot database will be automatically refreshed Wed, Apr 15 and upgraded Fri, Apr 17
    • Additional environments are NOT automatically refreshed. But if you would like a refresh prior (so you test the latest data) please raise a ticket in EpicCare – this must be completed ASAP, to be ready for 12:01 Friday AM local data center time.
  • All implementing customers –your pilot database will not be automatically refreshed. You will be upgraded on Fri, Apr 17 with the data in place.
    • But if you would like a refresh prior (so you test the latest data) please raise a ticket in EpicCare – this must be completed ASAP and ready for 12:01 Friday am local data center time.
    • Implementing customers will not be able to have the database refreshed from Production to Pilot during the upgrade testing month – so if you want this done it must be done by Thurs, April 16.

Customers with Option to Flex Their .600 Upgrade

  • The deadline was Wed, April 8 to submit your Flex request
  • Updates:
    • Note: if you choose to defer your upgrade, you will NOT receive any scheduled 500.x updates after 10.2.500.10.
    • However, Kinetic forms (User interface refresh) will continue to be turned on during this Flex period, regularly, with no downtime required

Option 1

  • Week of June 22 – your pilot system will be refreshed from live and upgraded
    • Additional will be upgraded and not refreshed. But if you would like a refresh prior
      (so you test the latest data) please raise a ticket in EpicCare – this must be completed ASAP and ready for 12:01 Friday AM local data center time.
  • Saturday, July 25 at 12:01 AM – your live system upgrade will start

Option 2

  • Week of July 20 – your pilot system will be refreshed from live and upgraded
    • Additional will be upgraded and not refreshed. But if you would like a refresh prior
      (so you test the latest data) please raise a ticket in EpicCare – this must be completed ASAP and ready for 12:01 Friday AM local data center time.
  • Saturday, Aug 22 at 12:01 AM – your live system upgrade will start

Testing in Pilot

  • Use this time to test end-to-end
    • A sample test plan is available for download on EpicWeb
    • Personalize the test plan and distribute it to your power users
  • Monitor for any failed Unique Business Components
    (UBCs)

    • Tues, May 12 is your last day to fix any UBCs and “opt-in” by requesting via EpicCare that the Epicor Cloud Ops team moves your UBCs to Production
    • If you need changes later, that’s ok. You’ll just have to update your Production after go-live.
    • Export all UBC changes to a known local location (Don’t take the default location)
  • Pilot/Additional will be upgraded to 10.2.600.2 May 12 just before the Live upgrade May 16-17
  • If you need help, please submit an EpicCare ticket

Testing Your SSRS Reports in Pilot

  • Open both your Production and Pilot applications from the same computer
  • Print the report in Production
  • Download your Production report from Production
  • Upload the report into the Pilot
  • Print the report in the Pilot
  • Compare the two documents
  • If you need to make modifications, make them in Pilot, and take notes so that you can move them post-upgrade
  • If you need help, please submit an EpicCare ticket

Unique Business Components (UBCs)

Vendor/Partner-side Teams Will: Upgrade your UBC items to 10.2.600

You need to:

  • Use the UBC Tracker to prioritize what needs your attention: clean up old data and fix issues
  • Use the sample test plans to walk through your business processes end-to-end (including reports)
  • Work to resolve items by Tuesday, May 12
  • Create an EpicCare Ticket IF YOU WANT* Epicor Cloud Ops to move your UBCs from Pilot to Production for you

Note: *In 10.2.400 and earlier, Epicor moved your modified UBCs files automatically, unless you opted out by requesting that they not be moved. Like the 10.2.500 process, with 10.2.600 Epicor will only move your modified UBC files if you choose to opt-in by submitting an EpicCare ticket.

Unique Business Components Tracker

  • Provides a read-only overview of your UBCs in one spot
    • Tabs organize your items so you can see what is good to go
    • Use it to identify obsolete or prototype items for cleanup
  • Dynamically reads your data
  • Customization panel refreshed every 4 hours

UBC Customization Tab

  • Three fields help you identify and prioritize customizations needing resolution
    • On the menu – Any customization used on a menu that has a problem is your highest priority
    • Is Cosmetic – These customizations have fields that may need attention
    • Duplicate – Review and delete
  • These fields are updated in Customization Maint by the verification process
  • Access a “how-to” video on the EpicWeb Cloud Documentation site

epicor erp cloud 10.2.600 UBC customziation tab

Training Courses

  • Epicor ERP Cloud 10.2.600 features over 60 new and updated titles in our Training on Demand library
  • Epicor ERP Cloud Embedded Education has over 100 courses with several updates
  • Remember to leverage the cloud upgrade training:
    • Getting Started with Epicor ERP in the Cloud
    • Epicor Support and Cloud Operational Excellence
    • Leveraging the Unique Business Component Tracker to Manage Your Customizations During an Upgrade

 

Watch the What’s New In Epicor 10.2.600 Webcast

What’s New In Epicor Cloud 10.2.600

About Encompass Solutions

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.