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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
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 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.
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.
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.
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
New In-App Feedback
Give Epicor your direct feedback
Not a replacement for Support calls
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
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
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 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
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
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
Preparation 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
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
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.