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Epicor (formerly Activant) Distribution Software
 | 5 Reviews (4.7/5) |
Epicor (formerly Activant) is an industry leader in distribution software, known for its emphasis on vertical markets and developing applications on a best-of-breed basis. The Epicor Distribution Suite portfolio includes the popular distribution systems Prophet 21® and Eclipse™. The software offers a complete set of solutions for distributors to manage their business from a single system.
Epicor Distribution Suite provides applications for purchasing, order management, accounting, transportation management, and inventory management, as well as other modules. All of these modules are brought together to form a single solution that can serve a distributor of any size. The software can handle the needs of businesses with $1 million in annual revenue, as well as multi-warehouse organizations that bring in more than $1 billion. The software is appropriate for distributors in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fluid power, fastener, medical and petroleum industries, in addition to several other industries.
The software draws from multiple applications at once to make the software more usable. For instance, financial information such as credit and accounts receivable data can be viewed on the same screen that orders are entered into. Epicor Distribution also allows for warehouse information to be accessed using purchase order numbers, allowing for inventory to be easily located and shipped after purchase.
5 Reviews of Epicor (formerly Activant) Distribution
Overall rating
We utilize the Prophet 21 software package. We are a medical distributor so we have unique needs. Epicor has addressed those needs and provided all the functionality needed by a medical distributor. They are always focused on new technology and new features needed by their users.
Overall rating
Great Distribution software! Great for mid-size and large companies. Very full featured, very good support. A first class solution! Reliable and Dependable 24/7.
Overall rating
We are a $125 million a year medical supplies distributor located in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago, IL. We have been live on Prophet 21 for a little over a year now - we could not be more pleased with the product and the organization that supports it. Intuitive, easy to use, filled with features, Prophet 21 has helped us not only reduce redundant behaviors, but through optimization of the business process has been able to increase profitability.
I could have easily given Ease of Use and Functionality 5 stars, the reason I did not, we are a very specific industry and while enhancements are on the way, there are a few points the application does lack. Thankfully we are able to work around this and the organization of Epicor has sought our help in developing the future functionality of the application by forming a customer based Steering Committee - of which we happily participate. I believe this along with the excellent support as well as the very strong ERP, Prophet 21, this is the tool of choice for just about any distribution organization. I would happily and strongly recommend Prophet 21.
I could have easily given Ease of Use and Functionality 5 stars, the reason I did not, we are a very specific industry and while enhancements are on the way, there are a few points the application does lack. Thankfully we are able to work around this and the organization of Epicor has sought our help in developing the future functionality of the application by forming a customer based Steering Committee - of which we happily participate. I believe this along with the excellent support as well as the very strong ERP, Prophet 21, this is the tool of choice for just about any distribution organization. I would happily and strongly recommend Prophet 21.
Overall rating
We are a medical supply distribution company and knew for a long time we needed to upgrade our software. In our industry, vendor rebates are critical to profitability and we were tracking these manually and could not determine what our line item gross profit was without tremendous effort. We were on MAS 200 for 9 years and had not upgraded within that software for 6 of those years. Many of our processes were manual and we had automated about all that we could.
After researching about 10-15 other software systems and going through demos with five companies, Grove chose P21. We kicked off the implementation in November 2009 and went live in July 2010. The implementation was very successful, in a large part due to the consultants and support that P21 provided. We were given the same consultant for all parts of our implementation, and his knowledge of our industry and the application were critical to our success.
We are currently on version 12.7 but went live on 12.3. I like Epicor's development cycle, as we are able to get upgrades more frequently, which are enhancement upgrades so that we can continually take advantage of new functionality.
Some of the benefits we have received include a 60% reduction in day to day inventory adjustments and a 50% reduction in our physical inventory adjustments, 6% increase in freight revenue to our customers and increased visibility to everything - open orders, open purchase orders, where an order is in the picking process, increase in fulfillment time, less backorders. We have been able to do more with less people.
With respect to customer support, I gave 4 out of 5 stars because there are always frustrations with support. However, I can honestly say that the customer support at Epicor is the best I have ever experienced with any software company that I have been involved with. They are responsive and knowledgeable and seek to answer the question completely, rather than just "close the case." I would highly recommend P21 as well as Epicor for your software and consulting needs.
After researching about 10-15 other software systems and going through demos with five companies, Grove chose P21. We kicked off the implementation in November 2009 and went live in July 2010. The implementation was very successful, in a large part due to the consultants and support that P21 provided. We were given the same consultant for all parts of our implementation, and his knowledge of our industry and the application were critical to our success.
We are currently on version 12.7 but went live on 12.3. I like Epicor's development cycle, as we are able to get upgrades more frequently, which are enhancement upgrades so that we can continually take advantage of new functionality.
Some of the benefits we have received include a 60% reduction in day to day inventory adjustments and a 50% reduction in our physical inventory adjustments, 6% increase in freight revenue to our customers and increased visibility to everything - open orders, open purchase orders, where an order is in the picking process, increase in fulfillment time, less backorders. We have been able to do more with less people.
With respect to customer support, I gave 4 out of 5 stars because there are always frustrations with support. However, I can honestly say that the customer support at Epicor is the best I have ever experienced with any software company that I have been involved with. They are responsive and knowledgeable and seek to answer the question completely, rather than just "close the case." I would highly recommend P21 as well as Epicor for your software and consulting needs.
Overall rating
We are a wholesaler in the Boston area servicing mechanical contractors, colleges, hospitals and the many commercial, retail and residential buildings in the region. We decided to shop for new software after our consultant demonstrated the efficiencies and added capabilities of newer ERP systems. We now have all functional areas of our business tied together and updated in real time. As an example, purchase orders are suggested to purchasing agents when inventory levels start to run low or a customer needs special order material. When the PO receiving is processed in the warehouse, it immediately updates accounts-payable, inventory value, and product balance on-hands. Then customer orders are triggered to be filled, and sales persons are reminded to schedule customer deliveries.
The system is much more than I just described, but the point is that the workflow has been designed to eliminate redundant tasks while organizing information so tasks are not overlooked. Additionally there is EDI, Web Order-entry and many other services that were not tied into our ERP system before. We are currently using Epicor Eclipse version 8.7.1. Prior to Eclipse we were using an MAI Basic Four system that served us well to the end of its' life cycle. Our training and implementation of Eclipse was quite a transformation for us, as we no longer carried hand-written orders to the warehouse to be filled. We now enter and schedule orders allowing the computer to alert pickers when to gather and pack orders. Prior to our go-live, Eclipse ran multiple training sessions for us.
When we turned off the old system and turned on Eclipse we hit the ground running and now realize we can do more business in less time. People were nervous before the cutover, but no one can imagine having to do business the old way now. Eclipse personnel did the training and it was an excellent program. Eclipse Customer Support is very good. We have been working with some folks at Epicor/Eclipse for more than 15 years and they know the product inside and out. The benefits we have realized are too numerous to detail, but most important to us is that we are able to handle and keep on top of more sales, more products and more customers while improving customer service in an affordable way.
The system is much more than I just described, but the point is that the workflow has been designed to eliminate redundant tasks while organizing information so tasks are not overlooked. Additionally there is EDI, Web Order-entry and many other services that were not tied into our ERP system before. We are currently using Epicor Eclipse version 8.7.1. Prior to Eclipse we were using an MAI Basic Four system that served us well to the end of its' life cycle. Our training and implementation of Eclipse was quite a transformation for us, as we no longer carried hand-written orders to the warehouse to be filled. We now enter and schedule orders allowing the computer to alert pickers when to gather and pack orders. Prior to our go-live, Eclipse ran multiple training sessions for us.
When we turned off the old system and turned on Eclipse we hit the ground running and now realize we can do more business in less time. People were nervous before the cutover, but no one can imagine having to do business the old way now. Eclipse personnel did the training and it was an excellent program. Eclipse Customer Support is very good. We have been working with some folks at Epicor/Eclipse for more than 15 years and they know the product inside and out. The benefits we have realized are too numerous to detail, but most important to us is that we are able to handle and keep on top of more sales, more products and more customers while improving customer service in an affordable way.
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