Epicor ERP and SAP Business One are two popular enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems with strong functions, such as financial management, human resource management and supply chain management.
In this post, we’ll compare them on several factors.
What is the Difference Between Epicor ERP and SAP?
- Epicor ERP mainly targets the manufacturing industry, while SAP Business One is intended for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) in a variety of industries.
- Both solutions have modules that organizations can select and then scale up or down based on their needs. But with SAP Business One, supply chain management and HR features require integration with other SAP software solutions.
- Epicor ERP is now only deployed in the cloud, while SAP Business One is available on-premise and in the cloud.
Product Overview
The following excerpts from our Epicor ERP and SAP Business One reviews summarize each software solution:
Epicor ERP
Epicor Kinetic (formerly Epicor ERP) is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning solution built for organizations of all sizes – although it mainly targets mid-sized companies – involved in manufacturing.
Considered a fully integrated ERP suite, it offers comprehensive features and functionality to handle accounting and finance, project management, customer relationship management, inventory, pre-production materials planning, manufacturing execution, human capital, supply chain, global business management and more. This allows prospective customers to purchase only the modules they need without having to buy other modules to run the system.
SAP Business One
Business One is SAP’s ERP software for small and medium-sized businesses that accommodates extensive industry-specific functions, best practices and processes. Its focus is on consumer products, industrial machinery and components, professional services, retail information and wholesale distribution.
Specifically designed to scale as small businesses grow, Business One’s primary functions include helping users streamline key processes, gain greater insight into their businesses and make decisions based on real-time information to drive profitable growth. This software can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud and is integrated with a business intelligence module with handy analytics.
Features Comparison
Financial Management
Epicor ERP
With the Kinetic Financials module (formerly Epicor ERP Financials Core), companies can manage their financial operations (e.g., general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable) and get insights into their performance, expense and risk data with robust reporting and analytics tools.
Companies that want country-specific functionality, as well as multicompany and multicurrency support, can purchase the optional Global Business Management module, and they can also add on any of the following modules for advanced financial management functionality: Epicor Tax Connect (sales tax), Epicor Cash Connect (revenue collections) and Epicor Financial Planner (budgeting and planning).
Finally, Epicor provides optional advanced business intelligence features, including Epicor Data Analytics, Epicor Data Discovery and Epicor XL Connect (for working within Microsoft Excel).
SAP Business One
SAP Business One’s Financial Management features streamline accounting operations and provide valuable benefits, such as improved profit margins, reduced errors and better decision making. Its tools include accounting, cash flow management, a fixed asset management system, banking and reconciliation features, budgeting and multicurrency support. The Financial Management module also provides real-time standard and custom financial reports.
Bottom Line
While both solutions have comprehensive financial management features, Kinetic Financials has some features that are optional, while all of SAP Business One’s financial features are included in a single module.
Inventory Management
Epicor ERP
Inventory management, a feature within Epicor Kinetic’s Supply Chain Management module, automates processes such as shortage monitoring and reordering. Users can get updates on inventory average, FIFO (First In, First Out) and other metrics.
Additional features are alternate parts maintenance, costing management, country of origin tracking, lot and serial tracking, customer-managed inventory, supplier-managed inventory, physical and perpetual inventory, RoHS compliance and time-phased material inquiry.
In addition, the Kinetic Warehouse Management System module comes with fully-featured warehouse management functionality, such as finite bin and packaging definitions, task and load management, multichannel order processing, inbound and outbound serial tracking, and pick planning.
SAP Business One
The Purchasing and Inventory Control module manages the complete order-to-pay cycle, including receipts, invoices, returns and payments, to optimize purchasing practices and control costs. Users can perform inventory counts, stock tracking and transfers in real time across multiple warehouse locations by serial number, lots and multiple bin locations.
Additional features include streamlined procurement processes, master data management, warehouse and accounting integration with real-time synchronization, accounts payable features and integrated reports with real-time data.
Bottom Line
Warehouse management features are included in a separate module for Epicor ERP, but they’re standard functions within SAP’s Purchasing and Inventory Control module.
Supply Chain Management
Epicor ERP
Epicor ERP’s Supply Chain Management module allows companies to manage all aspects of their supply chains from forecasting to fulfillment.
Some key features include purchase management, short- and long-term customer demand management, inventory management, warehouse management, shipping and receiving, advanced material management and supplier relationship management.
There’s also a Supplier Connect feature with a dedicated portal for suppliers to send quotes and invoices, answer requests or access order information.
SAP Business One
SAP Business One doesn’t provide built-in supply chain management features, but companies can integrate it with any of the products within SAP’s Supply Chain Management portfolio. The portfolio consists of several products based on industry and company size in five core areas: supply chain planning, supply chain logistics, manufacturing, product lifecycle management and enterprise asset management.
Bottom Line
Supply chain management features are found within the Epicor ERP portfolio, while SAP Business One requires integration with SAP’s dedicated supply chain management solutions.
Customer Relationship Management
Epicor ERP
Kinetic CRM (formerly known as Epicor CRM) provides a 360-degree view of the entire customer, supplier or partner relationship. It helps businesses effectively manage the entire customer lifecycle, improve operational efficiency and accelerate bottom-line growth. Users can manage leads, customers, contacts and quotes directly from the CRM.
In addition to lead management and contact management, features include marketing campaign management, case management for customer service teams and a mobile CRM. Kinetic CRM integrates with Salesforce and Microsoft Office, so manual data entry is eliminated (e.g., flagging a sale in Salesforce automatically creates a quote in Kinetic CRM).
SAP Business One
The Sales and Customer Management module lets users oversee the full sales process and customer lifecycle, starting from initial contact and going through final sale, after-sales service and support. Some of its features include sales and opportunity management, marketing campaign management, customer management, service management, analytics and mobile functionality.
Bottom Line
Both vendors have strong CRM features that support the sales, marketing and customer service teams.
Human Resources
Epicor ERP
With the Epicor Human Capital Management (HCM) solution, organizations can keep track of the entire lifecycle of their global workforce from recruitment to retirement. It includes configurable fields, views, and business logic to address an organization’s unique requirements.
Several features include performance management, recruiting, succession planning, training and development, compensation management, absence management, time and attendance and workforce scheduling. There’s a self service portal for employees to access their performance reviews, participate in online training, and display their certifications and skills. Finally, Epicor HCM integrates with third-party payroll and benefits software.
SAP Business One
Human resources features aren’t built into SAP Business One. Rather, the software integrates with the SAP SuccessFactors HXM Suite solution. SAP SuccessFactors has four core categories for a full employee lifecycle: Employee Experience Management, Core HR and Payroll, Talent Management, and HR Analytics and Workforce Planning. It also has features to support country-specific compliance requirements (e.g., payroll support for more than 46 countries), and companies can extend their HR capabilities with integration with more than 300 SAP partner apps.
Bottom Line
Epicor HCM doesn’t provide payroll, relying on third-party integration. However, this feature is built into the SAP SuccessFactors software.
Pricing
Epicor ERP
Pricing is based on the modules the organization selects, the number of users it has and any additional services (e.g., implementation).
Epicor doesn’t provide pricing information because it gives clients a custom quote based on the organization’s needs. Prospective customers should contact the vendor directly to learn more about pricing.
SAP Business One
SAP Business One has a Starter package for companies with up to five users that includes accounting, sales, stock control and analytics features. Companies can scale up by adding other modules if needed.
SAP Business One doesn’t publicly list its pricing information, but based on third-party sources, the Starter package appears to cost $39 per user, per month, and it also requires a one-time fee of $1,357. SAP Business One offers perpetual and subscription licensing options.
Bottom Line
Both vendors don’t publicly display their pricing. Instead, prospects will need to get a custom quote. (And keep in mind that both Epicor and SAP have a network of implementation and support partners that have their own pricing, too.) Prospects should also keep in mind that additional costs, including implementation, may need to be factored into the price quote.
Customer Support
Epicor ERP
Epicor has two support plans: Essential and Pro. The Essential plan includes access to the EpicCare support portal, industry expertise from over 600 tenured Epicor support analysts and industry leading response times for priority 1 cases.
The EpicCare support portal has customer account information, a knowledge base, product documentation and community forums. Users can also get the latest updates on software fixes or enhancements, as well as unlimited online, chat and phone support from Epicor’s support staff.
The Pro support plan includes all of the features of the Essential plan, plus:
- 24/7 support
- Global support center access
- Case prioritization
- Senior support experts
- Advocacy through scheduled support manager meetings
- Insights with the Support Experience Dashboard
SAP Business One
All SAP Business One customers with a valid maintenance contract have access to:
- 24/7 support for critical issues
- SAP Business One’s support launchpad portal with articles, documentation and ways to contact support
- Automation and proactive support tools, such as a remote support platform
- Software updates
- SAP Business One community forum
The vendor also offers free SAP Business One training and roadmaps.
Bottom Line
Both vendors include standard customer support. Epicor offers premium support and SAP does not. However, SAP’s implementation partners can provide additional support options if an organization needs them.
ERP Vendor Comparison Guide
Download our Vendor Comparison Guide with reviews on more than 15 popular ERP solutions.