Critical Industrial
Distributor Needs
XX Quotes and orders
XX Front counter
XX Scheduled orders
XX Order history/previous requests
XX Customer-specific pricing
XX Contract pricing
XX Document links
XX Accessory and substitute items
XX Manufacturer’s rep orders
XX Customer- and vendor-managed
inventory
XX Crib integration
XX Vendor pricing updates
XX Rebate management
XX Lot tracking
XX Serial number tracking
XX Service and maintenance
Epicor—A Proud Sponsor of Industrial
Distribution’s 2018 Big 50 List—Knows
Your Industry
As a distributor of industrial equipment or supplies typically sold to the OEM and
MRO industry, your business processes are unique, and you need a business software
solution that’s fit to solve the challenges you face on a day-to-day basis. You need
an easy-to-use system that’s at the leading edge of technology and is uniquely
positioned to drive grown and profitability. Your business software solution must
be flexible and robust enough to support multiple branches, your value-added
services, productivity improvements, and customer retention as intense eCommerce
competition from large-volume Internet distributors is driving prices downward.
Epicor is the preferred business software provider
for 1,200 industrial distribution customers, and
over 42% of the Industrial Distribution Big 50 List
are Epicor customers*.
Epicor Prophet 21 for
Industrial Distributors
*2017 Industrial Distributors Big 50 List
Epicor Prophet 21 for Industrial Distributors
Industrial Industry Relationships
Epicor is an active member of leading industrial trade associations such as Industrial Supply
Association (ISA), National Association of Wholesale Distributors (NAW), Affiliated Distributors
(AD), NetPlus Alliance, Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA),
Independent Distributors Cooperative-USA (IDC-USA), and Evergreen Marketing Group.
Because Epicor seeks to provide industrial distributors with the best solutions to help them meet
their business goals, Epicor also regularly seeks out the input of its industrial customers in the
development of its solutions and services.
A Comprehensive Solution
The Epicor® Prophet 21® enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution is designed to address
the challenges of today’s dynamic industrial distributor—enabling users to take full advantage
of modern, cloud-ready technologies for lower total cost of ownership (TCO) . It runs on any
leading browser—improving usability and mobility while allowing users access from supported
devices, anywhere. Epicor Prophet 21 software is designed to help your distribution business
scale, change, and grow without major system modifications. It’s a future-ready platform that
will help support your digital business needs today and beyond.
“We selected
Epicor Prophet 21
for several reasons.
When we looked
at our business,
we looked at the
leaders in the
industry. What
does Amazon do?
What does Grainger
do? We felt if we
wanted to grow our
business, we were
going to need to be
at that level.”
—ALP Supply
Epicor Prophet 21 for Industrial Distributors
First, we offer comprehensive functionality for the core needs
of any distributor—inventory management, purchasing
and planning, sales and order management, and finance.
However, Epicor focuses on the unique needs of your business
including value-added services. We offer more out-of-the-box
distribution capabilities than any other leading software on the
market—including vessel and container cost tracking, sales tax,
PO variance queues, kitting, assembly and production orders,
job management, VMI, buying trend analysis, special project
pricing, and more.
Epicor delivers the tools you need to thrive in a changing,
competitive landscape. In addition to the deep distribution
functionality you receive in the core product, we also offer
a number of optional modules that can be added to build
the perfect solution for your unique business including an
integrated eCommerce platform, powerful BI and analytical
tools, and enterprise content management. By choosing Epicor
as your software solution, you enter the largest and most
engaged community of industrial distributors that includes top
organizations like DXP, GHX, United Central Industrial Supply,
Eriks, Stellar Industrial, Duncan-Parnell Inc., Abatix, GS Global
Resources, Interstate Connecting Components (ICC), and
DeeTag Ltd.
XX Duncan-Parnell Inc. has seen a 133% increase in profits
with a 58% increase in sales over 3 years as an Epicor
Prophet 21 customer
XX After implementing Prophet 21 software, Abatix had a
40% increase in sales with less than 10% increase in
headcount
XX GS Global Resources saved 2,000 hours per year as
a result of database consolidation with fast access
to meaningful reports for analyzing and improving
company performance
XX DeeTag Ltd saw a faster learning curve for new
employees and warehouse interns
saving $15,000 in training costs annually after
implementing Prophet 21
XX ICC saved $40,000 over implementing a separate
CRM solution
Stand Out From
Your Competition
Epicor is uniquely positioned to help you achieve the business
results you need to grow and sustain a long-term competitive
advantage. Below are just a few of the ways you can
differentiate your business with Epicor business software.
Drive sales growth
Increase sales with Customer Buying Trend Analysis to know
which customer/item combinations have had a measurable
sales trend up or down over a certain number of days.
Recapture lost revenue from missed purchases by better
understanding customer/item combinations with missed
purchases over a certain number of days.
Shorten order-processing time with manufacturer rep order
entry to simplify billing rep orders by allowing you to enter line
items as you would for a typical sales order.
Grow margins
With Epicor Strategic Pricing, you’ll get all your transactions to
that optimal price—not too high, not too low, but just right.
This ensures you maximize profits by squeezing higher gross
margins out of less price-sensitive transactions.
Epicor Strategic Pricing can also increase your gross margins
anywhere from two to four percentage points by analyzing
your database for customer and order information and
recommending optimal discount structures across customer
and item categories.
In addition, you can improve control over warehouse tasks
with the fully integrated, real-time wireless warehouse solution
built into Prophet 21 software.
Set yourself apart
Out-of-the-box Consignment/Distributor-Managed Inventory
allows you to manage inventory at your customer’s location
to increase loyalty and service levels. Multi branch transfer
management also lets you source product from other locations
and centralize your purchasing.
Improve the management and accuracy of customer deliveries
with Epicor Proof of Delivery software. Enhance customer
satisfaction by adding a return to a driver’s delivery list.
Support employee engagement
Improve sales team satisfaction and productivity with
automated notifications when any of their accounts are
trending down in sales, have missed typical purchases, when
backorders are filled, or if a backorder will be late.
Help your sales and services team members be more
productive with Prophet 21 Mobile Sales. Keep accounts up
to date, enter new opportunities, or update the degree of
confidence they have about winning a sale—all organized
directly from their device of choice.
Wireless Workbench allows your managers to be proactive in
pushing work out to the warehouse—keeping them and the
team engaged in meeting goals.
Epicor Prophet 21 for Industrial Distributors
Your ERP System Should Solve Problems, Not Create Them.
Find out How at epicor.com.
Innovation
An ERP partner who supports
innovation is useful. One who
understands the risks—and
helps you navigate them—
is invaluable.
Implementation
If you have problems
at this stage, it can
have a lasting effect
on your ERP system’s
performance—and your
profit. Look for a partner
with a proven record.
Industry expertise
A partner with specialized
industry expertise can bring
useful perspective and insight
to your ERP system.
Agility
You can’t always predict the direction
future growth will take. A partner who
can keep pace is essential.
Deployment options
On-premises, private cloud, public
cloud, or hybrid deployment
options—combined with mobile
access for your employees—help
enable your organization to
remain flexible and responsive.
Scalability
An ERP system built on scalable
architecture will help you manage
growth—and the fewer customizations
a system requires to meet your specific
needs, the better.
Functionality
An ERP system requires the
capability to do everything that
your ERP strategy demands of it. It
must be fast, reliable, and easy to
integrate with your other systems.
Ease of use
Nobody wants to wade through
a difficult and unfriendly learning
curve. An ERP system with
an intuitive user interface will
increase employee satisfaction
and productivity.
Co
nsi
derations When
Choosing Your ERP
Sy
st
em
The contents of this document are for informational purposes only. Epicor Software Corporation makes no guarantee, representations or warranties with regard to the contents and specifically
disclaims, to the full extent of the law, any applicable implied warranties, such as fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, satisfactory quality or reasonable skill and care. This document and
its contents are believed to be accurate as of its date of publication October 2017. Epicor and the Epicor logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation in the United
States and certain other countries. Copyright © 2017 Epicor Software Corporation. All rights reserved.
epicor.com
Epicor Prophet 21 for Industrial Distributors
Functionality Supporting Your
Critical Needs
Quotes and orders
Your order management processes directly affect your
customers and how they view your business. Customers
demand faster, better service and will go elsewhere if you can’t
meet their needs.
Prophet 21 software enables you to complete the entire order-
entry process from one screen, allowing you to:
XX Enter quotes and orders
XX Convert quotes to orders
XX Check stock
XX Expedite orders
XX Search price and availability requests
XX View past invoices
XX Verify shipping preferences
XX And more
Whether orders are entered at the counter, remotely via
a mobile computing device or laptop, or over the web,
information goes directly into your Prophet 21 solution for
faster processing—eliminating re-keying errors.
Front counter
Whether you have a small counter or a large customer
self-service area, you’ll need point of sale and front counter
capabilities to help your customers check out. Prophet 21
software has the necessary tools to handle that early morning
rush quickly and efficiently. You can help any customer on the
spot by accessing your entire inventory from the Order Entry
screen, offering a price, placing the order, and then accepting
payment or recording the transaction for invoicing.
To speed the order entry process, items can be manually
entered or scanned using a wireless or USB bar code scanner.
Customer credit can be checked on the fly, and notifications
can be sent immediately to the credit manager should there be
an exception. Payments can be entered on the transaction—
including the ability to accept cash, check, or credit card
payments. The Epicor integrated credit card processing solution
enables you to accept customer payments with credit or debit
cards and receive immediate authorization. You can avoid
the inefficiency and inaccuracy of separate terminals while
simultaneously simplifying and lowering your costs to comply
with the payment card industry (PCI) security standards.
Having proof of pick-up—such as the signature of the person
who completes the pick-up on the invoice—can prevent messy
disputes and expedite payment. Front Counter Signature
Capture uses a simple, easy-to-install capture device that fully
integrates with the Prophet 21 Order Entry module to instantly
provide you with a permanent, irrefutable record of what left
the warehouse, when, and with whom.
Scheduled orders
Customers sometimes place orders that will ship over time.
Delivery dates could vary from item to item or even within an
item—requiring distributors to ship specific items or quantities on
specific dates. Many distributors enter these as separate orders
or track these orders outside their system—in spreadsheets or on
paper. Prophet 21 software allows distributors to handle these
types of orders directly in Order Entry.
Prophet 21 Order Entry allows you to manage release dates
at both the order and line level. Multiple releases can be
scheduled for the same order and can be entered using a
specific date or using a rule—for instance, 12 releases, once a
month, starting on a specific date. Default settings allow you
to determine when the order is expedited and picked.
Prophet 21 software also helps manage inventory allocations
for scheduled orders. Instead of immediately allocating material
on a schedule order, Prophet 21 software uses lean principles
to allocate the material “just in time.” The calculation begins
with the expedite date, then—using the next schedule review
(purchase) date, the safety stock days, the lead time, and the
lead time safety factor—Prophet 21 software allocates the
material “just in time.”
Order history/previous requests
How often do you deal with customers who ask for the same
item they purchased in the past? When you ask for more
specific information, do they only remember a portion of the
item information, the quantity, or the date they bought it?
Prophet 21 software includes a previous request search—
allowing you to search through the customer’s sales history.
You can narrow your sales history search by date range or
keywords and—in a few simple steps—add that item to the
customer’s current order. This saves time and eliminates trips to
the file cabinet to thumb through customer invoices.
Customer-specific pricing
You can probably count on your core customers to order
certain products from your company on a regular basis.
It makes sense for you to reward frequent customers and
encourage return business by offering special pricing. When a
manufacturer offers you a price break, you may also want to
pass those savings on to your customers.
Epicor Prophet 21 for Industrial Distributors
Customer-specific pricing gives you the flexibility to set prices
as you see fit—including offering select customers preferred
pricing, offering pricing based on quantity breaks, and setting
promotional pricing—ensuring you maintain your margins
while meeting customer and competitive demands. You can
even set start and end pricing dates on a customer, product,
or product group basis to meet contractual obligations or for
limited-time specials.
Contract pricing
For many customers, you’ll need to negotiate pricing down to
the item level. Establishing fixed, time-based net prices on a
SKU-by-SKU basis. Prophet 21 software enables you to set up
time-sensitive contract pricing for these customers. Contract
pricing is fully integrated in Quote/Order Entry to ensure the
customer gets the right contract price on each transaction.
Additionally, starting and ending dates on contracts allow you
to track when contracts are expiring and set up contracts that
will automatically kick in on the starting date.
Document links
Epicor Prophet 21 software offers a cost-effective, reliable
alternative to filling your office with space-consuming
file cabinets. Eliminate the need to walk back and forth
between desks and file cabinets to retrieve your paperwork
with document links. By giving you the ability to scan paper
documents and link them to records within the solution,
Prophet 21 software helps boost employee efficiency while
cutting the time and expenses associated with maintaining
traditional paperwork.
Document links allow you to link maintenance and transaction
records to any file on your network—from vendor invoices and
customer purchase orders, to specifications and material safety
data sheets (MSDS). You can even scan and save handwritten
letters and faxed communications or link to emails that relate
to specific orders. Because your employees will have better
access to important customer and product information,
service can improve. In addition, because they can email or fax
the documentation directly from Prophet 21 software, your
employees can simply click on a link to those documents and
send them instantly.
Accessory and substitute items
Because Prophet 21 software has the built-in ability to suggest
accessory items and substitutions, you can grow your margins
and make even your most inexperienced sales people sound
like seasoned pros. Does every one of your sales and service
representatives know—or remember—to offer “go-with”
items? Prophet 21 software solves this issue by automatically
“suggesting” products that go with items on a customer’s
order—helping to increase sales and improve customer
satisfaction. In addition, Prophet 21 software automates
substitution processes. For example, if one of your most
popular SKUs is backordered, the solution will remind your
sales representatives to offer a similar—or even identical—
product. This feature ensures that you will never turn
customers away because products are out of stock.
Manufacturer rep orders
Whether you call it an “order,” an “agent order,” a
“commission order,” or a “manufacturer rep order,” any
order where you act as the sales representative for a certain
manufacturer, supplier, or vendor requires special treatment.
Since these orders are billed and filled by the manufacturer,
processed without creating a customer receivable, and paid
as a commission from the manufacturer, they cannot be
treated as a normal order. The manufacturer’s representative
functionality in Epicor Prophet 21 software manages such
orders by providing you with the features necessary to separate
manufacturer rep orders from normal orders while tracking
how they impact your bottom line and business processes.
Once enabled in your order processing system settings,
manufacturer rep order entry simplifies billing rep orders by
allowing you to enter line items as you would for a typical sales
order. However, since rep orders are a non-inventory process,
Prophet 21 software is designed to not allocate any quantities
from inventory and will print manufacturer rep order forms in
place of pick tickets, packing lists, and invoices.
Customer/vendor managed inventory
Many distributors now offer to manage storerooms and
stock bins and determine usage for their customers. This
service is gaining momentum as one of the most important
value-added services a distributor can offer. If performed
manually, this process can be incredibly tedious, time-
consuming, and inaccurate. However, with the right tools,
it can lead to increased sales, better inventory control, and
satisfied customers.
Epicor Prophet 21 for Industrial Distributors
Prophet 21 software allows you to manage any customer’s
inventory through either consignment—when you keep your
stock in their warehouses—or bin management—when you
regularly replenish SKUs at their locations. You can schedule
blanket releases, track what inventory is with which customer,
and monitor usage trends to determine how much stock
you need to carry to satisfy needs. Cycle-counting features
can confirm that inventory counts are accurate—both at
your company and at customer locations—and lot and serial
number tracking permits you to track stock and ensure well-
organized inventory rotations. With the scalability and flexibility
of your Prophet 21 system, you will have the capability to
manage numerous customers’ stockrooms.
Crib integration
Epicor Prophet 21 software also provides the ability to integrate
with tool cribs or vending machines in place at customer sites.
Tool cribs allow your customers easy access to inventory and
can be automated to pass information about usage back to
Prophet 21 software without the need for a salesperson to
make an onsite visit.
Vendor pricing updates
Let your service representatives focus on proactive tasks—
not data entry. With an open database and unparalleled
connectivity, it’s easy to upload manufacturer price lists and
data sheets. Plus, the solution can automatically convert metric
measurements into inches and feet after you upload data from
overseas manufacturers—simplifying the process of importing
product and reducing the chance of errors.
Rebate management
Many top vendors offer rebates that help distributors maximize
profits. Robust rebate functionality helps you manage these
rebates and insures you have the functionality you need
to take advantage of anything your manufacturers might
offer. Track vendor rebates electronically for more accurate
books and a healthier bottom line. Simplify the often tedious
task of handling vendor rebates by completely automating
the process. Each step—from negotiation, to receipt, and
beyond—is recorded in real time and reflected in your
solution’s General Ledger and price schedules. This way, you
never lose track of a $2,000 rebate you earned and sales and
order entry staff always see proper gross margins to offer
customers appropriate pricing. Additionally, your accounting
staff will benefit from the ability to produce detailed, easy-
to-understand rebate reports and—more importantly—the
accurate, concise information you need to send vendors to
claim your rebates.
Lot tracking
Tracking item lots from origin through final shipment is
a critical task many distributors must manage each day.
Customers often demand to know when, where, by whom,
and to what specifications a product was made, and they
want you to provide documentation detailing each step of any
process. Without the right tools and technology, managing
these processes can easily overwhelm even the most organized
businessperson. Fortunately, Epicor Prophet 21 simplifies lot
tracking by making it easy for distributors to manage the most
complex products and processes.
Prophet 21 software allows you to assign virtually limitless
attributes to each lot—enabling you to determine exactly
which data you associate with each item. Many distributors
might also need to keep information about a product’s
genealogy from manufacturers and suppliers. Prophet 21
software makes it easy to record this type of information.
Some customers—like those in the aerospace, automotive, and
medical industries—may require that you send specifications
and/or certifications related to the lot they purchase, while
others may not want such detailed information. Prophet 21
software lets you customize records to match customers’
documentation needs and will automatically print, fax, or
email the information with packing slips, invoices, or other
pieces of correspondence.
Serial number tracking
Important for recalls and record-keeping purposes, tracking
serial numbers can be a big part of your business. Prophet 21
allows you to record the serial numbers on any item coming
into or leaving your warehouse and offers flexibility in how
you track this information. You can choose to group all items
manufactured at the same time together, or you can assign lot
numbers at the point of sale.
Service and maintenance
To help distributors automate the service and maintenance
process and more quickly and effectively meet their customers’
needs, Epicor developed the Service and Maintenance module
for Epicor Prophet 21. Service and Maintenance allows users to
enter and process service quotes and orders at all phases of a
service transaction. You can order and replenish parts directly
from your existing inventory, set up labor and technicians to
manage work performed, track full sales and service history
for all serial numbers, and minimize data entry through an
automated process.
Warranty information and preventative maintenance schedules
can also be set up at the item level. Warranty records note
expiration dates for given serial numbers, as well as coverage
details down to the individual part and labor level. When
processed on a service order, customer pricing is set based on
coverage rules by the warranty, and warranty claims can be
generated to manufacturers for reimbursement. Similarly, if you
or the manufacturer recommends preventative maintenance,
Prophet 21 software can automate the reminder process
and facilitate creation of service orders against preventative
maintenance schedules.
Once a service order is entered, the dispatcher can schedule
the service by viewing a graphical display of technicians’
availabilities and dragging and dropping specific labor tasks
into an open time slot—which will automatically create
start and end times for the technicians to complete the
associated labor.
About Epicor
Epicor Software Corporation drives business growth. We provide flexible, industry-specific software designed to fit the precise needs of our
manufacturing, distribution, retail, and service industry customers. More than 45 years of experience with our customers’ unique business
processes and operational requirements are built into every solution—in the cloud or on premises. With this deep understanding of your
industry, Epicor solutions dramatically improve performance and profitability while easing complexity so you can focus on growth. For more
information, connect with Epicor or visit www.epicor.com.
Contact us today [email protected] www.epicor.com
The contents of this document are for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice. Epicor Software Corporation makes no guarantee, representations, or warranties with
regard to the enclosed information and specifically disclaims, to the full extent of the law, any applicable implied warranties, such as fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, satisfactory
quality, or reasonable skill and care. This document and its contents, including the viewpoints, dates, and functional content expressed herein are believed to be accurate as of its date of
publication, May 2018. The usage of any Epicor software shall be pursuant to the applicable end-user license agreement, and the performance of any consulting services by Epicor personnel shall
be pursuant to applicable standard services terms and conditions. Usage of the solution(s) described in this document with other Epicor software or third-party products may require the purchase
of licenses for such other products. The results represented in the end user examples and testimonial may be unique to the particular user, as each user’s experience will vary. Epicor, the Epicor
logo, and Prophet 21 are registered trademarks or trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation in the United States, certain other countries, and/or the EU. All other trademarks mentioned are the
property of their respective owners. Copyright © 2018 Epicor Software Corporation. All rights reserved.
Our focus is clear—make it easy for distributors to stay current on technology, move to the cloud, leverage solutions that fit their
industry and empower them to drive digital transformation and growth. Epicor products are working today on a global scale,
delivering impressive benefits to companies just like yours. By providing flexible, industry-specific software designed around the
precise needs of our customers, Epicor solutions promote growth while managing complexity and increase efficiency so your
business can stand out from the competition.
Epicor Prophet 21 for Industrial Distributors
Your business software solution must be flexible and robust enough to support multiple branches, your value-added services, productivity improvements, and customer retention as intense eCommerce competition from large-volume Internet distributors is driving prices downward.
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