Proper customization is one of the cornerstones of an effective ERP system implementation. Epicor offers a suite of advanced customization tools that enable quick and effective adaptation of Kinetic ERP to the needs of any organization and every user.
The EPICOR Kinetic ERP system provides extensive modification capabilities—from the database level to business logic, ranging from simply adding custom fields to utilizing “reserved” user tables and building relationships between built-in system tables that are automatically monitored. In other words, this means that the standard functionality of Kinetic ERP can be significantly expanded in a relatively simple way.
The simplest example of customization is modifying the web user interface by making changes to the screens that employees use daily. We can add any fields, controls, or forms. Existing ones can also be removed or hidden. Finally, any system method can be triggered from any screen.
A more advanced example is the use of the aforementioned reserved tables. The possibilities are truly vast, as there are several dozen such tables available for use. It is worth noting that it is best to entrust this type of work to experienced specialists, as the consequences of errors can be serious. However, when such modifications are performed by experts, they open up enormous possibilities for the organization.
At the same time, all integrations can also be considered system customization. EPICOR Kinetic ERP offers a great deal in this area. The system is completely open and allows for the creation of custom interfaces. For example, you can create an interface dedicated to tablets that, from the user’s perspective, will look like an integral part of the system.
Importantly, the system has built-in tools—ranging from basic to advanced—for creating various modifications. Regular users can handle some of these perfectly well after brief training. The tools designed for them allow for building new system elements from ready-made “building blocks.” Other tools are intended for developers.
The client, of course, decides which tools to use and when. Some customization work can certainly be performed by employees themselves. This is made easier by the fact that users are very often trained in this area as part of the implementation process. This is how we operate, for example, when we conduct a Kinetic ERP implementation for a client. However, some tasks are better left to specialists—by hiring a database expert or entrusting the task to external experts.
In addition to the system tools available under the standard EPICOR Kinetic ERP license, there is also an independent SDK environment, which EPICOR itself uses to develop the system. This set of tools, which is quite expensive, is available exclusively to specialized EPICOR partners. For companies that have access to it, there are practically no limitations on modifying the system. Although this option exists, clients very rarely decide to purchase the SDK due to the costs and the expertise required to operate it. Nevertheless, it can be used to write completely new, additional functionalities and create business objects, thereby discovering entirely new dimensions of popular customization.
