Epicor promises “technology uplift” from new version of its SOA-based ERP suite
Sidney Hill, Jr., executive editor -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 10/8/2007 7:00:00 AM
Epicor Software has released a new version of its Vantage ERP package that the company says demonstrates how a service-oriented architecture (SOA) can support global supply chains.
Rodney Winger, Epicor’s senior director of marketing for manufacturing and supply chain, says companies adopting the new version of Vantage should experience “a technology uplift.” The upgraded Vantage suite was officially unveiled at the National Manufacturing Week trade show in Chicago in late September.
Winger says the uplift should come from enhancements Epicor has made to Vantage’s SOA foundation as well as from embedded support for current versions of Microsoft technology such as the Windows Vista operating system and SQL Server 2005 database.
Most of the SOA enhancements are contained in a new version of Epicor Service Connect, which Winger describes as “a business process orchestration engine.”
Within Service Connect, Winger says, are tools for linking components of various applications—from Epicor and other vendors—to create business processes that address a company’s specific needs. He says Epicor also has created links for specific applications that significant numbers of Epicor customers have come to rely on for certain business functions, such as a quality management application from IQS.
Early response to the new version of Vantage among existing users appears to be positive. “We expected to get 30 to 40 requests per week from customers wanting to upgrade,” Winger says. “We got 130 requests the first week.”
He attributes that response to companies seeking technology platforms that give them the flexibility to keep pace with constantly changing global business models. He also says that, in addition to the underlying SOA foundation, the new version of Vantage contains functionality specifically for companies operating global supply chains. Such features include:
• An enhanced global finite scheduling feature that allows for instantly assessing supply chain capacity—from a materials, machine, and labor standpoint—at a given moment in time. The system can also project how capacity will change in the near future;
• A link to a Web-based service that automatically calculates the proper taxes for various jurisdictions when goods are being shipped within the U.S. and Canada. Epicor says it is working to have this feature support international shipments as well.
• Improved support for exporting goods outside of North America.
Winger says conversations with customers led to development of a “phantom pack” shipping feature that allows companies to get confirmation that all of the packages in an order have arrived at a destination rather than having to confirm that each item has arrived.
“In talking with customers, we found that they were not always concerned about confirming the arrival of every single item,” Winger says. “In most cases, they were sure that if all of the packages had arrived all the items where there as well. By giving them this level of confirmation with the phantom pack feature, they can streamline their packing and shipping processes.”
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Existing Vantage customers on current maintenance contracts can upgrade to the new version for free. Epicor will even assist with the upgrade at no charge, Winger says.
He also points out that even though the new package is designed to run Windows Vista, it remains compatible with previous versions of Windows. “We didn’t want to force people to upgrade PCs and operating systems,” Winger explains. “But we realize that all new PCs and servers now come with Vista pre-loaded. So, we wanted to accommodate customers who are buying new hardware.”
Unfortunately, Winger says, Epicor could not be so accommodating when it comes to the database. Anyone purchasing or upgrading to the new version of Vantage must have Microsoft SQL Server 2005.
