Selecting a certified Epicor ERP partner for your enterprise software implementation, migration, service, or support is vital to protecting your technology investment. Choosing an Epicor authorized partner, like Encompass Solutions, over other technology consultants yields a better experience for your team and better results for your business.
Encompass Solutions, Inc.: A Certified Epicor ERP Partner
The Epicor Partner Network is a comprehensive sales, support, and marketing program that offers businesses significant opportunities to grow with award-winning products, training, and support in a highly competitive, dynamic marketplace. With Encompass Solutions solutions, our proven ability to drive growth, and equipping workforces with the knowledge and tools necessary to succeed, Encompass Solutions remains one of the highest-ranked partners in the Certified Epicor ERP Partner program.
Epicor authorized and certified partners:
Have completed the Epicor certification program for the highest level of product knowledge
Invest in their customers’ success with Epicor solutions
Are fully trained on the most recent product release
Have direct relationships with Epicor product development, services, and support staff
Are informed about the latest product roadmaps, promotions, and incentives
Adhere to regulations set by Epicor for the protection of your business
The Epicor certification program defines learning standards, trains participants on Epicor applications, and tests their mastery of each application upon completion. Epicor certifies partners annually, so you can expect we are equipped to provide you with the best possible consulting experience and the most up-to-date information.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
The most recent escalation of US-China Tariffs has seen a commitment from China to raise tariffs on more than $60 billion worth of goods from the US. The results are already being felt. Most notably, in the US stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen more than 700 points since trading began Monday morning following the announcement that China’s latest round of tariffs will go into effect on June 1, 2019. Additionally, The S&P 500 dropped by 2.6 percent and the Nasdaq Composite fell by 3.5 percent.
US-China Tariffs: A Brief Background
In December of last year, President Trump introduced tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, which resulted in a slight slowdown in the Chinese Economy. With two of the world’s largest economies in an active trade war, fears around the world of a global economic downturn quickly spread. Fortunately, fears were abated by renewed talks between the two countries over the following months. However, the economic ceasefire would soon be put aside as President Trump instated a new round of heightened tariffs on Chinese imports.
US-China Tariffs: The latest Exchange
The Chinese commitment to raise prices on US-made goods followed President Trump’s commitment to increase tariffs on more than $200 billion worth of Chinese manufactured goods last week. That round of tariffs would include more than 5,700 goods subject to as high as a 25 percent tariff, up from the previous 10 percent. Experts believe that the latest US-China tariffs will only make things worse for both economies.
Trump’s duty increase on Chinese exports came following allegations that China had backtracked on its agreement reigning in the alleged theft of intellectual property and pressures to hand over technology to companies manufacturing components in China. Trump has gone so far as to threaten an additional $325 billion worth of tariffs on other Chinese products.
After the most recent developments regarding US-China tariffs, Alec Young, managing director of global markets research at FTSE Russell in New York, stated regarding investor activity, “With the ultimate trade outcome inherently uncertain and difficult to model or predict, investors are selling first and asking questions later. Investors are increasingly worried an anticipated second-half profit rebound may now evaporate as President Trump’s threat to tariff the remaining $325bn in Chinese imports would disproportionately target consumer products like iPhones, thereby posing a greater threat to the consumption-driven US economy.”
US-China Tariffs: Who’s Affected
There are industries across the board that is affected by the ongoing trade war, particularly those incorporating steel and aluminum into their manufacturing operations. Listen firsthand to 12 top executives explain how the trade war has already affected their bottom line as far back as late 2018.
It remains unclear just how the latest round of tariffs will affect small and medium-sized businesses, which cannot as readily absorb cost increases when compared to their larger, conglomerate counterparts. However, based on reports, many are less than optimistic regarding the economic outlook.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm, NetSuite Solution Provider, and Epicor Platinum Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Chances are you have come across the terms Internet of Things (IoT) or the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). These are networks of connected devices that communicate data to a central system to make sense of it all. These networks consist of connected edge devices, terminals, and machines in an enterprise. The data captured through this network provides an understanding of what is successful and what is not in terms of operations and processes. The system that helps you interpret the captured data is, more often than not, your company’s ERP system. Read on to learn how you can leverage the top 10 benefits of IoT for manufacturers in your facility.
Internet of Things (IoT)
When it comes to everyday devices capable of the connectivity we are talking about, the numbers are staggering. Billions of devices exist with this capability. It is estimated that there are roughly 7 such devices for each person on the planet, totaling roughly 50 billion devices by 2020.
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
When it comes to IoT devices, the vast majority reside in manufacturing, followed closely by the healthcare and retail industries. The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) focuses on this interconnectivity and data provided by the terminals, sensors, and other systems on the factory floor. These data-fueled factories become “intelligent” environments, which are capable of informing enterprises from the top down. They provide visibility regarding the efficiency of factory processes and performance both in real-time and over time. In short, the data enables manufacturers to refine and improve operations with relevant and up-to-date data.
So, how can your organization stand to benefit from investing in IoT connectivity? Here are the top 10 benefits of IoT for manufacturers.
1. The Connected Factory – Blindspots Begone
IoT-enabled machines and endpoints are capable of communicating operational information to personnel both inside and peripherals to your organization. That includes machine operators, managers, field service personnel, and even partners like suppliers, subcontractors, and OEMs. This connectivity delivers mission-critical data and information to operation managers and factory leadership on-site and out-of-office. The power to control operations and manage factory activity on a remote level increases opportunities for process optimization and automation. view the Connected Factory In Action infographic at Manufacturing Tomorrow.
2. Production Visibility – Identifying Bottlenecks And Improve Processes
When it comes to production, the continuous monitoring of processes that IoT connectivity provides will enable improvements to be made on a rolling basis. Hangtime in assembly and manufacturing operations gain particular benefit when bottlenecks are identified and adjustments can be made in nearly real-time to realize better approaches to production management and the reduction of operational costs. Additionally, part waste is reduced alongside fewer resources tied up in inventory and better overall product delivery. For some organizations, IoT connectivity will lead to a 15 percent productivity increase in delivery and supply chain performance.
3. Better Inventory Management – Find It Fast, From Anywhere
With technologies like RFID and IoT connectivity, personnel tasked with managing inventory can leverage automated asset tracking and reporting through ERP to avoid the costly mistakes that come with working within antiquated inventory-tracking systems. This connectivity allows items to be tracked and the data recorded to the ERP system automatically. These performance management capabilities made possible through IoT connectivity and ERP can help organizations reduce the number of working hours committed to inventory management each month and reduce the probability of human error. Track your stock from shop to dock with IoT technologies in your facility.
4. Build A Safer Work Environment
While there are no doubts that IoT connectivity and ERP improve production on the factory floor; these technologies can also help create a safer working environment for employees. This can be in the form of vision and spatial awareness systems for human-machine interactions or wearable safety technologies your staff keep on their person throughout the day. There are several safety concerns in any manufacturing facility. IoT-connected devices can communicate to larger systems within the organization of aberrations, such as too much vibration or heat being exhibited from a machine pressure loss within piping segments, and even gas leaks that might be otherwise undetectable to human perception. Staff moving through dangerous parts of your facility can signal to connected machines that a human is nearby and appropriate action can be taken automatically. An employee who sustains an injury in a remote location of the facility or even off-site can receive faster care with the inclusion of IoT-connected safety equipment. These are only a handful of examples of how IoT for manufacturers can improve safety in your facility.
5. Secure Your Facilities
With a growing number of bad actors participating in malicious attacks on manufacturers across the globe, manufacturing facility security is a topic of conversation every organization should be discussing. When it comes to security, IoT provides manufacturers with a way to monitor their data coming into the system as well as going out. Terminals and end-points can signal foreign devices being connected to infrastructure, large amounts of data being moved, and individuals accessing data they otherwise shouldn’t have access to. Leveraging IoT for manufacturers can help guard against security threats to vital hardware, software, and cloud-stored data. You can even manage devices and policies throughout an enterprise from a single point using IoT connectivity. For more information on Practical Security for the Internet of Things – view the infographic from Entrust.
Predictive maintenance identifies the condition of equipment while it is in service and determines the optimal service interval. It saves time and money by completing maintenance activities only when necessary. A special focus has been placed on predictive maintenance, as opposed to preventative maintenance, more recently. This is because it allows longer periods of operation between maintenance tasks, resulting in less downtime for essential machinery. When coupled with technologies like IoT for Manufacturers, everything from vibration, voltage, temperature, and other performance indicators feed into sensing tools attached to machines. This information is interpreted and visualized by intelligent software solutions, such as ERP platforms, into updates, warnings, and alerts. Your teams can use this information to evaluate the situation and take the most appropriate action. Intelligent and connected devices assist in setting data points that indicate when a part is reaching end-of-life, too. Automated systems can be directed to order replacement parts if none are on-site and schedule the replacement or repair in such a way that minimizes unplanned production downtime, which can cost manufacturers as much as $300,000 an hour.
The Volvo Group provides one real-world example of how an IoT-based predictive maintenance solution can predict damage to spindles, as well as identify cracking and spalling of rotating equipment, gearing, and motor defects. The resulting improvements to OEE saw a 70 percent reduction in diagnostic time and a 25 percent reduction in repair times.
7. Predictive Forecasting – Real-Time vs. Historical Data
Today’s global economies move too quickly for manufacturers to rely on historical data to forecast demand. Weather events, materials shortages, and a host of other environmental factors can influence demand for any given product at any given time. Accurate forecasting is critical for manufacturers that want to sell as much of a product as possible without oversaturating their markets.
Take, for instance, a widget. A consumer buys a connected widget, which in turn collects data about usage, wear and tear, and overall performance. The relative data is then sent back to the manufacturer to determine what adjustments need to be made to the product for more predictable forecasts of future demand. If the product is satisfactory for customers across a wide range of environments and uses, then the average life-cycle can be taken into account, and manufacturing volume can be adjusted to match. The result is more accurate demand forecasting, fewer wasted resources, and stock tied up in inventory. What follows is an increase in overall customer satisfaction based on quality and deliverability when consumers return for a replacement part.
IoT for Manufacturers in this sense can go far beyond demand forecasting to include the entire supply chain with traditional forecasting, statistical bottom-up forecasting, and ship-to forecasting. Zara is one retailer using IoT to forecast demand and minimize waste.
8. Increased Energy Efficiency – A Smaller Footprint
If you didn’t already know, industries like discrete and process manufacturers are responsible for the majority of energy consumption worldwide. Industrial manufacturing is responsible for consuming 54% of globally delivered electricity. This leads to pretty sizable operating costs. fortunately, IoT for manufacturers can significantly increase energy efficiency in several ways.
initially, managers can easily identify hardware and devices that use the most energy. This information can be used in creating advanced operating profiles that tell machines when to power up and operate or power down and conserve energy. Systems draining too much power, or more than they should be, can be a sign of malfunction. IoT connectivity can highlight these abnormalities right away and address problems more immediately than if the power consumption of machinery were not being monitored. This capability keeps machines operating at peak efficiency and capacity without draining resources unnecessarily.
Beyond this, IoT connectivity can give you an energy profile of your entire facility, or many facilities. The data can then be used to create the most appropriate and efficient backup systems to keep operations running smoothly despite adverse environmental factors. As a result, you can keep operating during tight deadlines and production schedules despite outages.
9. Improved Quality – IoT For Manufacturers’ Process Improvement
Quality can mean many things for manufacturers and their partners. Internally, improving processes through IoT devices can come from something as commonplace as alerting operators when there is too much material buildup on a machine’s end effectors or internal mechanisms. The addressing action would lead to improved machine performance, better output, and an improved process. In a temperature-controlled facility, aberrant tempt reading could be the result of a door left open, poor insulation, or a faulty HVAC system component. All of which can be identified and addressed with the help of IoT connectivity.
Alternatively, connected products and goods used in the field can relay valuable data that might not have been previously tested. This can include machinery performance when used in a cold, dry climate versus the humid tropics. Even phones that fail in freezing or sweltering temperatures can tell designers and engineers what components are of substandard quality, leading to improvements in future products manufactured with those conditions taken into account.
10. Increase Operational Efficiency – Maneuver Like A Tesla, Not An Oil Tanker
IoT-connected devices allow manufacturing operations and executives to utilize data flowing through their facilities to make smarter, more informed decisions. Using the information available enables the connected enterprise to undertake proactive, continuous improvement initiatives that create a more agile and stable future through both insight and action.
Truly, the benefits delivered by IoT-connected assets go beyond operational efficiency. The connected enterprise represents the next level of organizational maturity. It encapsulates predictive maintenance, higher-quality products, more focused leadership, and overall organizational health. Overall, IoT for manufacturers allows staff throughout a company to work smarter, not harder, today. over the long term, cost benefits are realized many times over as upsets and disruptions in operations can be avoided entirely.
Epicor ERP IoT For Manufacturers – Workflow
Monitor equipment, assets, environmental factors, inventory locations, and their corresponding IoT data. Events and data—such as sensor and machine telemetry—flow into the Azure IoT Hub. From there, the data propagates to the IoT module of your Epicor ERP solution. Epicor IoT has an advanced rule-based engine that can detect patterns and raise alerts and notifications that propagate into Epicor ERP where they can be used to trigger business process changes like raising a maintenance suggestion when equipment degradation is detected.
Here are just some of the benefits realized when you implement Epicor ERP IoT for manufacturers:
Identify issues such as potential breakdowns before they happen
Optimize supply and reduce costs by monitoring events across your supply chain
Improve overall workers’ safety and security in the plant by monitoring the KPIs of health and safety
Improve decision-making by providing real-time, actionable information
Increase customer satisfaction and efficiencies and lower costs
Gain insights into the usage patterns and handling of products from customers
Predict issues and reduce inventory by tracking materials, equipment, and products as they move through the supply chain
Contact Encompass Solutions, Inc. to learn more about implementing Epicor ERP IoT for manufacturers using the link below.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm, NetSuite Solution Provider, and Epicor Platinum Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
May 2019 news and updates include a month packed with developments from vendors, educational sessions, and industry events that showcase how we make doing business better.
The Epicor ERP 10.2.400 release is now generally available for cloud customers, with the production update scheduled for the weekend of May 11th, 2019. That leaves just under two weeks of testing time for customers scheduled to follow Epicor update cadence.
AI has become an increasing part of the overall conversation surrounding advanced technologies in the workplace. Artificial Intelligence into the fold for Epicor customers as the Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA), an AI-powered assistant that helps small and medium-sized businesses leverage data to make informed decisions on the fly, makes its debut this month.
In case you missed us at Automate 2019 or our coverage of the event, here’s a quick recap of what we learned and how you can leverage the latest tech in automation and robotics to your benefit.
Exclusive Epicor ERP software discounts are available to Insights 2019 attendees. Contact your Encompass Customer, Account Manager, today for more details.
Epicor ERP 10.2.400 Production Update
The Epicor ERP 10.2.400 production update is scheduled for the weekend of May 11th, 2019.
Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA)
Epicor Virtual Agent, EVA, Availability Announced For May. Learn More About How To Empower Your Work Force With AI-Enabled ERP.
Automate 2019 Recap
In case you missed our coverage of Automate 2019 in Chicago, IL, here is a brief recap with a few key takeaways.
Customer Appreciation Event At Insights 2019
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the Customer Appreciation Mingle with Encompass at this year’s Insights event in Las Vegas. for those of you who couldn’t make it, we look forward to connecting with you soon.
Exclusive Epicor Discounts For Insights Attendees
If you attended Insights 2019, you can claim exclusive discounts on licensing, SaaS subscriptions, and implementation services.
Contact your Encompass Customer Account Manager for more details.
Encompass May 2019 News And Updates
As we further develop the EnTrust EDI product, the team is expanding to accommodate demand. We’d like to welcome Andy Spark, formerly of Bezlio, to the Encompass team as a Senior Software Developer. Happy to have you aboard, Andy!
Epicor May 2019 News And Updates
The biggest Epicor event of the year took place at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, NV between April 15th to 18th. The show offered opportunities to train, network, and explore the developments of Epicor.
NetSuite May 2019 News And Updates
NetSuite’s annual spring conference, SuiteWorld, was a smashing success and played host to thousands of users and partners from around the world. Keynote and headlining DJ for the event, Dr. Shaquille O’Neal, sat down for a follow-up interview on how his experiences helped shape and grow his larger-than-life persona.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm, NetSuite Solution Provider, and Epicor Platinum Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Insights 2019 is the annual Epicor user and partner conference that convenes each spring. It is a place where users and partners can experience first-hand training and education on the latest Epicor software and tools to empower businesses. Keynote speakers deliver insights on industry trends and where the company is directing efforts over the coming year. The manufacturing solutions being developed have a lot of users and partners excited for rollout. Read more about the biggest Epicor ERP developments in our Insights 2019 Recap below.
Insights 2019 Recap Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA)
AI is a buzzword on the tongues and in the minds of many involved in manufacturing industries. Gartner predicts that by 2020 80% of technologies will be driven by artificial intelligence in some form. Epicor has answered that call with the rollout of the Epicor Virtual Agent, aptly named EVA. A Microsoft Azure-powered virtual assistant, EVA leverages AI to deliver insights and data in real-time to empower workforces wherever they find themselves.
Virtual assistants are nothing new. However, their ubiquitous nature has yet to be fully realized, and appropriately utilized, among traditional manufacturing operations. Gartner also believes that by 2022, enterprises utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies will have some form of virtual assistant within the organization.
With built-in artificial intelligence, EVA can simplify user interactions with the ERP system and automate manual tasks to speed up operations. Text and voice cognitive skills enable EVA to transform data into visual representations. The result is an intuitive experience that allows users to complete actions on native devices with ease. The technology is powered by Natural Language Processing (NLP), a human-computer interactive technology that users can leverage from mobile devices with requests and tasks that will be addressed by the Epicor Virtual Agent. Targeted information and data to enable faster, better decision-making is then delivered in real-time.
Insights 2019 Recap Epicor ERP 10.2.400 Update
Epicor ERP 10.2.400 has also been announced and will receive its full production update on the weekend of May 11th, 2019. Now it’s the time to be testing end-to-end for those customers keeping in pace with the Epicor ERP software update cadence. Among the changes coming with the Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update, users can expect to enjoy full use of and coming functionality that includes:
For more information on the updates discussed above, reach out to the ERP experts at Encompass Solutions, Inc. using the contact us link below.
Exclusive Epicor Software Discounts
Encompass customers are entitled to exclusive discounts on Epicor software and services, provided they attended Insights 2019. If you were at Insights 2019 and wish to take advantage of reduced pricing on several Epicor ERP modules, SaaS subscriptions, and third-party integrations, get in touch with your Encompass Solutions Customer Account Manager today.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
The Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update is the first of two major upgrades planned for 2019. Epicor’s cloud ERP solution update cadence is a commitment to helping businesses grow through innovation at a manageable pace in-line with manufacturing industry trends. Major releases like this bring benefits of cloud deployment to customers in the form of improved usability, enhanced performance and profitability, and strategic value within a single upgrade. Because of the size and breadth of the Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update, 4 weeks have been allotted to test and explore these updates before upgrading customers’ production system. Now is the time to be testing end-to-end, as the update will be released in full to cloud users on May 16, 2019. The Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update for on-premise users will follow later this month. If you’re trying to choose the best cloud ERP solution for your manufacturing business, consider evaluating Epicor Cloud ERP today.
Epicor ERP 10.2.400 Update And Product Roadmap
Among the changes coming with the 10.2.400 update, users can expect to enjoy full use of and coming functionality that includes:
Marketed as ERP Intelligence personified, Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA) utilizes Artificial Intelligence to deliver real-time insights and suggestions based on your Epicor system data. As a new feature, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Conversational digital agent
Azure-enabled, including Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Available for iOS and Android in May 2019
Order Entry Automation
The new functionality enables your organization to capture sales orders and reduce manual order entry and errors through the use of automation. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Captures customer purchase order data from inbound emails, scanned documents
Validates orders, then flows into Sales Order Entry
Leverages DocStar and Intelligent Data Capture with Epicor ERP
A solution aptly suited for repetitive actions and orders
Job Scheduling Board
Leverage enhanced usability with a modern, Gantt-based view of your scheduling board.
Faster and easier to use
New look and feel of one of the most frequently viewed screens
Leverages Kinetic System to provide modern customer experience
Industry
Enhanced Project Management
Provide key stakeholders with timely financial information to ensure profitability. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Revenue recognition by WBS Phase
Improved visibility into project stage completion percentage
Delivers real-time project analysis through EDA.
Epicor Advanced Projects adds significantly more functionality with:
Extended Epicor ERP 10 standard Project Module
Three new modules:
• Advanced Project Management
• Advanced Contract Order Management
• Advanced Sub-contract Management
Available late 2019 in collaboration with Epicor partner Precise
Epicor Mobile Warehouse
Leverage this next-generation mobile handheld for warehouse and distribution. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Provides workflow optimization for fast and accurate scanning
Part and bin level validation and complex sorting and filtering options
Reduces time to process transactions, increases accuracy, and reduces errors
Available on Android, fully integrated to Epicor ERP
Supplier Portal
Manage supplier relationships, enter purchase transactions, and process RFQs. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
Built on Commerce Connect
REST-based communication between Supplier Portal And Epicor ERP for flexibility, security, and performance
E10 Credit Card module is no longer required to process fully paid credit card orders
MES Expansion
Utilize a modern refresh to improve the usability of popular MES screens.
Provides users with a functional and visual approach that transforms how to shop users interact with the system
Simplified workflow and modern look and feel with anywhere access
Common interface with Mattec Advanced MES Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
Epicor IoT
Leverage IoT connectivity to acquire and analyze device data from across your organization. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor. The workflow is simple and follows this simple logic:
IoT-enabled sensors send their readings to the IoT Hub > Epicor ERP reads events from the IoT Hub > Epicor creates a new maintenance order suggestion > Maintenance department approves suggestion and scheduled maintenance.
Epicor IoT is integrated with the Microsoft Azure IoT Hub
Monitor and visualize data from sensors including
Equipment
Assets
Inventory Locations
Environmental factors
Analytics
Data Analytics Expansion
This EDA expansion further provides insights into projects and production management. As a new solution, a purchase may be required depending on your current contract with Epicor.
New content packs for field service and preventive maintenance
Updated content packs for production and project management, materials management, and Mattec MES
Data Discovery Expansion
New sidebar display that allows users to work and see EDD views at the same time
“Open with” feature to open Epicor ERP forms and trackers in context
EDD Discovery Dashboard widget as a tab on Active Home Page
EDD IoT widget to alert decision-makers on what needs attention on the shop floor
New Reports
New Inventory and general ledger reports are available with the Epicor ERP 10.2.400 update.
Inventory
The New Stock movement report prints movements in and out per warehouse summarized for a given period
New Stock Aging Report prints the current stock on hand by part, UOM, age of stock, and value of the aged stock
GL
New Booking Voucher report and the Booking Voucher FC report print journal transactions for a selected year and period range. The reports display a separate page for each document or voucher
Enhanced Homepage
An enhanced homepage experience comes equipped with new widgets, layouts, and overall feel of interfaces of Epicor ERP screens.
New Widgets Available
Discovery Dashboards – A Data Discovery Dashboard is a collection of several views, that enables you to compare a variety of data simultaneously
Discovery IoT Widget – Use this widget to view the current status of the IoT (Internet of Things) Devices
Web Applications – Use this widget to host web applications, primarily kinetic-based applications, such as Manufacturing Execution System (MES) forms, scheduling boards, and others
Default Layout
You can pick a default layout that will be loaded for all users who do not have their layout
New Kinetic Style brings the new look to all your ERP screens
Kinetic features:
Quick Access Panel
Enables widgets on most of your master table and transaction screens
Enabled from the options menu perform
Can be used to keep key information handy
In-app icon
In-app messages have an icon on the homepage notifying you of unread messages
10.2.400 Update Webcast
You can watch the latest update webcast, here.
For more information on the Epicor ERP 10.2.400 Update, contact the ERP experts at Encompass Solutions using the Contact Us link below.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Interactive interfaces are the next stage in workforce agility, providing more visibility into data and processes while enabling faster reaction times. Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA) is Epicor Software Corp.’s answer to manufacturers’ desire to extract more value from their current assets and investments without incurring higher costs or sacrificing product quality. The Epicor Virtual Agent, aptly named EVA, is a cutting-edge digital assistant designed to help users work more intelligently.
Epicor Virtual Agent (EVA) At Work
With built-in artificial intelligence, EVA can simplify user interactions with the ERP system and automate manual tasks to speed up operations. Text and voice cognitive skills enable EVA to transform data into visual representations. The result is an intuitive experience that allows users to complete actions on native devices with ease. The technology is powered by Natural Language Processing (NLP), a human-computer interactive technology that users can leverage from mobile devices with requests and tasks that will be addressed by the Epicor Virtual Agent. Targeted information and data to enable faster, better decision-making is then delivered in real-time.
According to Scott Hays, Epicor senior vice president of product marketing, “When EVA responds within the Epicor solution, she does so with more visuals,” offering the example, “If I ask for a typical part, I’ll get back an image of the part with the key information I need to know right away. And, she’ll have a ‘next best action button.” Users can also request more information, including part price or quantity on hand, which will be provided by the Epicor Virtual Agent via the request and response interface.
Taking The Epicor Virtual Agent Beyond Conversation
While the request/response conversational experience may be what most users are familiar with when it comes to virtual agents, the Epicor Virtual Agent extends functionality into proactive suggestions based on best practices. The proactive decision-making process takes into account combinations of events, market statistics, and historical data. Designed to extend and support the workforce, EVA can provide insights teams can easily overlook to improve accuracy, and problem-spotting, and can even forecast or adjust production or distribution levels according to customer demand.
When conversation falls short, actional insights reinforce the agent’s effectiveness according to Hayes, who elaborated on what it means to be an effective virtual agent, stating “The second capability is taking action. If EVA has noticed something going on, she may say that based on what she’s seeing happening on the factory floor I should schedule maintenance on a machine.” The data described includes that from shop floor machines and IoT sensors. These devices, coupled with Epicor ERP, create a virtual nervous system that enables seamless and informed communications between EVA and users’ mobile devices.
The Epicor Virtual Agent In Action
By utilizing the EVA via an interface device, management can confirm or deny suggestions from the Epicor Virtual Agent with just a few clicks or taps. Production managers can schedule maintenance for a machine, shift production to other machines, and carry out an array of other actions with ease.
The Epicor Virtual Agent goes beyond traditional manufacturing scenarios, too. Other applications and industry-specific use cases include:
Distribution — EVA can provide outside sales and field service representatives with instant and easy access to information they need, such as product details, price, and availability information, as well as the ability to create a quote on their mobile devices while meeting with customers face-to-face.
Retail — EVA utilizes an AI-powered recommendation engine based on market basket analysis to suggest relevant cross-sell or up-sell recommendations in real time. This can take place in the aisle, in real-time, where purchase decisions are made.
Automotive Aftermarket — By using AI to evaluate huge datasets that include vehicle registrations and parts failure rates by region, EVA can communicate to auto parts distributors that specific parts are in high demand and stock levels of specific parts need to be replenished or increased to meet that projected demand.
Leveraging The Epicor Virtual Agent Alongside Epicor ERP
Developed using AI services from Microsoft Azure AI services are an integral part of EVA’s development. As such, the Epicor Virtual Agent can accompany any size and type of Epicor implementation, be it on-premise or in the cloud. By delivering the power of EVA to customers of every size, even small and medium-sized companies can leverage the innovative tech the biggest enterprises use to grow their businesses.
Hays emphasizes EVA’s machine learning component and how extended use will make the tool even more ubiquitous, “With EVA, you interact naturally with your ERP system. It’s as easy as just talking or typing to a colleague. This makes the breadth and depth of the industry-specific functionality and information available inside the system directly accessible to a larger audience, boosting productivity and efficiency, and giving the company an improved return on their ERP investment.”
EVA will be available as part of the latest releases of Epicor ERP and Prophet 21, which are planned for general availability in May 2019.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Change within an organization is never easy. However, when the competition is forcing you to increase efficiency around lead times and manufacturing process improvement, ERP may be the secret weapon that can get your business on the right track to innovation. In an industry where agility is rarely a recognized quality, ERP solutions can bridge the gap between traditional manufacturing processes and modern technology. Here are 5 ways to improve manufacturing processes with ERP.
1. Connect Your Organization At Every Level With A Single Source of Truth
An ERP solution is not just about manufacturing execution systems and financial reporting. It delivers all the data you need to run your business from the shop floor to the top floor. This includes your essential accounting practices and manufacturing operations and expands into demand planning, MRP, corporate performance analysis, human capital management, e-commerce, CRM, and so much more. ERP systems are purpose-built to link your machine, device, team, supplier, and customer data in one location. As an accessible repository for all your business data, ERP systems provide a digital gateway to your records and the essential visibility into the supply chain you need for control, traceability, and reliability. By breaking down the silos that keep your business’ departments separated and utilizing a single system of record, you can improve your corporate and operational agility to make real-time decisions and facilitate each new stage of growth when it matters most.
2. Leverage Superior Visibility In Real-Time, Across The Globe
When customers expect manufacturers to turn on a dime and manufacturers need to know what’s happening on all fronts, not just in-house, but with suppliers and partners, too, there is no substitute for the superior visibility derived from a powerful ERP solution. Every aspect of a manufacturing operation can benefit from the utility an ERP system provides. Among the most valuable benefits is real-time visibility which allows a business to manage all its moving parts at once, with accurate and up-to-date data. This visibility also lends timely and accurate communication between internal teams, external suppliers, and partners. The result is on-time delivery, accuracy, quality, and reliability in the eyes of the customer.
3. A Culture Of Best Practices Will Improve Manufacturing Processes
Just because the old way of doing things has worked up to this point in time, doesn’t mean it will continue down the road. Bringing your operation’s processes in line with a modern sensibility and making an effort to utilize all the proven tools and tactics available can improve manufacturing processes and bring performance from patchy to prosperous. Established ERP vendors have incorporated the best practices of their targeted industries into their software solutions. These best practices are collected through decades of working with manufacturers in a variety of verticals and those best practices are designed to eliminate waste and inefficiencies from quote to cash. By training staff to utilize the new tools in their hands the way they are most effective, rather than conforming to the old way of doing things, a culture of best practices will emerge and steer your business toward new growth.
4. ERP Gives Your Business Tools To Expand
As the world grows more interconnected, shipping and sourcing nationally and internationally become viable options. As a result, doing business in a single currency, presenting your brand’s story and products in a single language, and abiding by just one region’s regulation may leave your company in a position of exclusion. Not only this, but the capability of modern ERP systems enables your business to easily tackle the challenges of corporate and operational growth as you scale to include bigger teams, bigger facilities, and multiple sites, at home or abroad. With global supply chains reaching around the world many times over, sourcing quality and affordable materials from international suppliers and partners are far less daunting hurdles to overcome with the help of ERP. EDI goes further in helping automate traditionally manual processes using data sourced from your ERP system.
5. ERP Allows You To Be Proactive, Not Reactive
Modern ERP systems are all about data and connectivity. delivering that crucial data to those who need it most. This data will inform and improve manufacturing processes, allowing decision-makers to see just how teams, machines, and processes are working together. When advanced technologies like machine learning and AI come into play, you can identify patterns that will lead to breakdowns further down the road. This is most evident in maintenance cycles, where a breakdown lasting just hours can cost a company hundreds of thousands of dollars. Leveraging ERP analytics you can identify problematic events before they affect your bottom line. Drive time and utilization for your machines to new heights with ERP, while process and quality improvement are the results.
As the most indispensable tool for modern manufacturers, ERP is essential to improve manufacturing processes. Use these systems to drive your business’s digital transformation, gather data to make informed decisions in real-time, stay connected on a global scale, and see around the next big turn for your business.
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, 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.
We came, we saw, it was awesome. Encompass Solutions’ participation as exhibitors and speakers at Automate 2019 gave us the perfect vantage point from which to experience the show and deliver an Automate 2019 recap.
Automate 2019 At a Glance
Produced by the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), the show featured more than 500 exhibitors in the massive 160,000-square-foot exhibition space at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. In addition, the show hosted five educational tracks that included practical training in How to Automate, Automation Solutions & Innovation, Collaborative & Mobile Robotics, AI, Digitalization & Smart Manufacturing, Certified Vision Professional (CVP) Basic, Certified Vision Professional (CVP) Advanced, Certified Motion Control Professional (CMCP), and Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Updates. These tracks included content from introductory level to advanced topics for users, students, educators, and operators. While we delivered an introductory seminar on current automation types, robotics in use on the factory floor, and how you can get started implementing in your facilities, we attended several breakout and advanced sessions. During each of those talks, one theme emerged over and over–ours is the age of automation.
Here are just a few more happenings from Automate 2019 regarding new advanced robots and robot vendor developments that are rolling out into facilities worldwide.
Automation 2019 Key Takeaways
There were too many things we learned at Automate 2019 to list in one post. However, we want to share a few highlights that we think everyone needs to consider moving forward:
Automation is here and it’s only gaining more momentum as advancements in hardware, software, and utilization become more refined.
If you are not thinking about leveraging automation and robotics, you are already behind.
While many are expecting an economic downturn between 2020-2022, now is still the best time to begin investing in these technologies.
Start small. You don’t have to outfit your entire operation to remain competitive. start with one robot or one instance of automated assembly. build from there.
Empower your staff and involve them in the transformation that is coming.
Focused Automation and Robotics specializations for employees will be necessary, as there will be less and less room for unskilled staff in modernized facilities.
Upskilling current staff will be of greater benefit and lower cost for employers than training and onboarding new staff.=
It’s going to be a hard-fought battle to outpace competitors as automation becomes more affordable and more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises. Start training and experimenting with automation today and you’ll be ready to weather the bout.
ERP At Automate 2019
We spoke with hundreds of users and manufacturers thinking about robotics and automation during the weeklong Automate 2019 event. While the robots and automation enclosures were captivating, to say the least, one thing few seemed to consider during that time was how they were going to connect those robotics and automated systems to the rest of their enterprise. In short, the answer is an ERP solution.
It’s one thing to install a robot on your factory floor to install windshields, make welds, or assemble PCBs. However, what are you doing with that data from your manufacturing processes? Are you even tracking it? By plugging your robotics and automation data into your ERP system, you are getting more detailed accounts of performance, quality, material and time optimization, maintenance cycles, and so much more. Everyone we spoke with, from attendees to exhibitors to organizers, agreed that ERP connectivity is an essential component of automation and robotics on the factory floor. We look forward to carrying those conversations further and urge everyone looking to automate processes or install robots in their facilities to consider the necessity for visibility and connectivity when evaluating such technologies.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
Medical device manufacturing has grown more and more complicated as products become more intricate and regulators become stricter about conformity to rigid standards. These two industry trends have driven Medical Device Manufacturing ERP systems to command an increasingly larger portion of the conversation on where the industry is headed.
Medical Device Manufacturing ERP And Encompass Solutions
As a result of the growing trend, Medical Device Manufacturing ERP implementations and integrations into existing business systems are in high demand. But that doesn’t mean all implementation specialists are created equal. Encompass Solutions delivers proven implementation and consulting experience to an array of medical device and bio-science clients. The longstanding partnership with ERP vendor Epicor has kept Encompass at the forefront of ERP and manufacturing industry developments.
What A Medical Device Manufacturing ERP Can Do For You
The platform allows all facets of the business to derive data from a single source. Epicor ERP allows users to control accounting, production, forecasting, performance metrics, product lifecycle management, 360-degree visibility, and much more. Encompass Solutions empowers clients with the training and support to utilize these powerful tools to their fullest extent in heavily regulated markets like medical devices, aerospace and defense, and aviation.
Whether a medical device manufacturer is regional, national, or international, the same essential tools can be leveraged to manage quality, meet demand, and facilitate the corporate and operational growth of their organization. Automating manual and non-value-added back-office tasks with an ERP system will provide talented staff to take on more value-added tasks, such as customer care, and sales, and ensure conformity to government and industry standards.
Encompass Solutions Is Your Medical Device Manufacturing ERP Partner
Encompass clients utilizing medical device manufacturing ERP systems work with our consultants regularly to automate manual tasks, improve processes and maintain their organization from the shop floor to the top floor with less effort and fewer costs.
Our position as subject matter experts ensures that clients not only have a partner that speaks their language but can value-add to their organization for the lifetime of their partnership. From implementation, to upgrade, and beyond, you bring the vision and bring the tools with business systems to fit the build.
Encompass Solutions, Inc. is an ERP consulting firm and Epicor Gold Partner that offers professional services in business consulting, project management, and software implementation. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems or addressing emerging challenges in corporate and operational growth, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. As experts in identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of the Industry.
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