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For enterprise companies, SAP S/4 HANA often becomes a default choice due to high transaction volumes, stringent governance, and traceability needs. It particularly shines in product-centric enterprises requiring robust capabilities like MRP and allocation for global workloads. It targets larger companies with revenues exceeding $1B and with a substantial global presence. Whereas, Epicor Kinetic is positioned for companies in the $50M – $750M revenue range and it has a strong customer base within this bracket.
SAP S/4 HANA excels in managing entities across multiple countries within a unified database, Acumatica’s strength lies in its multi-branch capabilities and tailored support for various business models such as manufacturing, distribution, construction, and field service. Whereas, Epicor Kinetic excels in catering to manufacturing companies with formal processes. Its distinctive data model and BOM structure, coupled with robust planning capabilities for dimensional inventory, make it ideal for industries like metal, fasteners, fabrication, aerospace, automotive, and medical devices. Choosing between SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic requires a detailed examination, and this comparison offers valuable insights for ERP selection projects. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics.
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| SAP S/4 HANA | Epicor Kinetic | |
| Started in | Pioneers of ERP | Rebranding in 2021 (legacy version existed for more than 20 years) |
| Ownership by | SAP | CD&R, over $57B in assets, and CVC with over $220B in assets |
| No. of customers | 28,000+ | 23,000+ |
What Is SAP S/4 HANA?
SAP S/4 HANA remains the top choice for large enterprises with global needs and extensive localization requirements across multiple continents. In this league, its primary rival is Oracle. While alternatives like Unit4, IFS, or Deltek might handle the workload for larger enterprises, they often lack the robust global compliance and transactional capabilities that SAP S/4 HANA offers. Additionally, SAP S/4 HANA excels in providing superior transactional workflow capabilities that are purpose-built to streamline traceability for large and complex organizations.
Moreover, SAP S/4 HANA is an ideal choice for companies seeking a best-of-breed architecture tailored to the needs of specific functions. This architecture allows for operational cores on different ledgers, which is crucial particularly for larger distribution and 3PL companies managing complex WMS networks. Companies with intricate HCM operations and stringent compliance requirements may find it necessary to integrate a best-of-breed system.
Additionally, for enterprises requiring sophisticated eCommerce platforms with components like CDP or CPQ, SAP S/4 HANA provides the essential capabilities. The flexibility and enterprise-grade best-of-breed architecture make SAP S/4 HANA a standout solution for such diverse operational needs. The cloud version may require additional third-party add-ons, similar to NetSuite. Nevertheless, organizations opting for the on-prem version can access superior capabilities, potentially outperforming other ERP systems.
What Is Epicor Kinetic?
Epicor Kinetic, their flagship solution, particularly excels in catering to manufacturing companies with formal processes. Its distinctive data model and BOM structure, coupled with robust planning capabilities for dimensional inventory, make it ideal for industries like metal, fasteners, fabrication, aerospace, automotive, and medical devices. Epicor Kinetic’s versatile data model addresses complex planning needs for companies particularly with diverse business models, encompassing manufacturing, distribution, and construction. Moreover, its advanced features support WBS-centric processes, enabling efficient management of large manufacturing programs with centralized cost tracking.
Epicor Kinetic boasts a sophisticated data model, surpassing entry-level ERP systems particularly like Acumatica or NetSuite. Tailored for companies advancing beyond basic transactional processing, it targets those in need of mature manufacturing capabilities such as MRP, allocation, and scheduling. Implementation success with Epicor Kinetic also requires substantial expertise in process and data coding, making it unsuitable for founder-led companies lacking seasoned operational and financial executives with ERP experience. Given its rigid revision model, companies with suboptimal SKU and BOM models may face challenges during implementation, emphasizing the need for robust internal capabilities and advisory support.
Epicor Kinetic has also undergone noteworthy technological advancements, adopting a look and feel reminiscent of Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems. Despite its legacy status, it supports mature cloud capabilities like enterprise search. Positioned for companies particularly in the $50M – $750M revenue range, it has a strong customer base within this bracket. Current limitations also include its field service capabilities, which are being addressed through an acquired add-on, and its finance and accounting module, not as tightly integrated as other modern cloud-native solutions.
SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic Comparison
Navigating the choice between SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic is a significant decision for businesses particularly looking for operational efficiency and strategic alignment. Thus, this section delves into the comprehensive comparison of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic across various critical dimensions.
| SAP S/4 HANA | Epicor Kinetic | |
| Global Operational Capabilities | Deeper multi-entity capabilities. | The limited number of global and financial layers would require inefficient workarounds, particularly like using sub-accounts for traceability. |
| Diverse Capabilities | Supports diverse business models globally, may require add-ons for deeper operational capabilities. | The versatile data model addresses complex planning needs for companies with diverse business models, including manufacturing, distribution, and construction. |
| Best-of-breed Capabilities | Enterprise-grade capabilities with pre-integrated applications supported by SAP, augmented by third-party add-ons. | Limited, relying on third party add-ons for field service and quality module. |
| Last-mile Capabilities | Limited pre-baked last-mile capabilities for specific micro-industries. | Pre-packaged capabilities for metal, automotive, and aerospace verticals. |
| Operational Functionalities | Enterprise-grade operational capabilities, limited to industry-specific functionalities. | Equipped with strong mixed-mode manufacturing capabilities, and strong WBS-centric processes. |
| Integration Capabilities | Lacks out-of-the-box integration with industry-specific PLMs, configurators, and CPQ systems. | With out-of-the-box MES functionality, particularly appeals to smaller companies seeking pre-integrated Industry 4.0 capabilities. |
| Manufacturing Capabilities | Supports complex manufacturing operations and product models, limited to industry-specific manufacturing functionalities. | Manufacturing organizations with formal processes and revision numbers will relate more. |
| Pricing Model | Named-user based | Per user, monthly. |
| Key Modules | 1. Financial Management 2. Sales 3. Procurement 4. Manufacturing Management 5. Supply Chain Management 6. Professional Services Automation 7. CRM | 1. Financial Management 2. Supply Chain Management 3. Production Management 4. Risk and Compliance 5. Customer Relationship Management 6. Project Management 7. Cloud Business Platform 8. Business Intelligence and Analytics 9. Planning and Scheduling 10. Services and Assets 11. Omnichannel Sales 12. Product Management 13. Global Business Management |
SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic Feature Comparison
Both platforms offer a plethora of features and functionalities designed to streamline business operations and enhance efficiency. In this feature comparison, we delve into particularly the distinct capabilities of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic across various critical dimensions, providing insights to aid businesses in making informed decisions regarding their ERP selection. Thus, this section discusses features under each of the following modules, particularly financial management, supply chain management, and manufacturing management.
Financial Management Comparison
In this section, we are discussing a detailed comparison of the financial management capabilities particularly offered by SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic. By examining their respective strengths and functionalities, particularly in managing financial processes. Businesses can therefore gain valuable insights to determine the best-suited ERP solution for their financial management needs.
| SAP S/4 HANA | Epicor Kinetic | ||
| Financial Management | General Ledger | Can support the needs of even the most complex financial organizations with more than ten ledger rollups at the country level and conversions. | It is a customizable, secure core component of its Financial Management suite. Offers accounting controls, seamless integration with other financial modules, global capabilities, and also advanced reporting tools. |
| Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable | Supports global collaboration of customers and vendors, also including shared service model. | Includes AR (managing invoicing, credit, cash, and customer payments) and AP (automating invoice processing, supporting multiple payment methods, and tracking expenses). | |
| Cash Flow Management | Complex treasury capabilities with the support for global operations, including maintaining treasury KPIs, workflows, and processes for dedicated treasury departments. | Features automated cash handling, bank reconciliation, multi-currency and multi-bank management, integration with other financial modules, and also real-time reporting and analysis. | |
| Currency Management | Can support complex currency workflows such as hedging and planning for current impact on different financial statements and accounts globally. | Simplifies multi-currency transactions, automates exchange rate management, integrates with other financial modules, ensures global compliance, and provides real-time reporting and analysis. | |
| Tax Management | Has built-in support for taxes of over 100 countries. | Automates sales and use tax calculations, integrates with financial modules, supports multiple jurisdictions, provides real-time updates, and simplifies reporting and filing. |
Supply Chain Management Comparison
In this comparison, we explore and analyze the supply chain management capabilities of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic, shedding light particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.
| SAP S/4 HANA | Epicor Kinetic | ||
| Supply Chain Management | Warehouse Management | Supports embedded or standalone architectural patterns and complex business models like 3PL or warehouse value-added services. | Optimizes operations with real-time inventory tracking, advanced material management, seamless integration with other systems, and configurable workflows. |
| Service Management | Supports complex quotes and service scheduling workflows particularly for globally operated companies. | Streamlines operations with maintenance management, service contract handling, case management, RMA tracking, and real-time insights for efficient equipment upkeep and customer support. | |
| Inventory Management | Accommodates many different business models and inventory types of complex, global organizations. | Optimizes processes with detailed tracking, smart planning, advanced units of measure, automated purchase contracts, and seamless integration with supply chain and production modules. | |
| Purchase Order Management | Manages complex workflows with automated approval rules and multiple hierarchies. | Streamlines procurement with tools for supplier negotiations, order tracking, automated processes, and supplier relationship management. | |
| Sales Order Management | Manages complex order types tailored to different business models. | Streamlines sales with features for order tracking, automation, estimating, cross-functional collaboration, and eCommerce integration. | |
| Requisition Management | Manages complex requisition processes of globally complex enterprises. | Automates procurement with real-time budget checks, vendor support, standing and blanket orders, multi-level approvals, and effective expenditure management. |
Manufacturing Management Comparison
In this comparison, we explore and analyze the manufacturing management capabilities of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic, shedding light, particularly on their respective strengths and weaknesses.
| SAP S/4 HANA | Epicor Kinetic | ||
| Manufacturing Management | Production Planning | One of the most complex planning capabilities with enterprise-grade strategies to optimize production cycles for global companies. | Enhances manufacturing efficiency with Master Production Scheduling, Material Requirements Planning, Advanced Planning and Scheduling, Job Management, Lean Manufacturing, Quality Management, and Advanced MES for real-time monitoring. |
| BOM and Routing | Enterprise-grade BOM scalability for a variety of business models and products. | Streamlines production with multi-level BOM management, dynamic BOM creation, CAD and PLM integration, strong change control, centralized routing management, detailed routing steps, real-time adjustments, and precise cost and time estimation. | |
| Advanced Planning and Scheduling | Enterprise-grade advanced APS capabilities for complex globally distributed planning workloads that need to be collaborated across geographies. | Enhances production efficiency with automated scheduling, flexible capacity planning, real-time adjustments, what-if scenarios, integrated material constraints, and multi-site management. |
Pros of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic
When evaluating ERP solutions, understanding the distinct advantages of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic is crucial. In this section, we are particularly exploring the strengths of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic across various dimensions. Thus, shedding light on their respective capabilities and functionalities.
| SAP S/4 HANA | Epicor Kinetic |
| It is an ideal solution as the corporate financial ledger for global companies with multiple layers of financial hierarchies operating in multiple countries. | Epicor has a very similar look and feel to Microsoft ERP products, providing you with the same experience but with much deeper last-mile capabilities. |
| The item master, product model, and warehouse architecture can accommodate the needs of most manufacturing business models. | 90% of the capabilities required by verticals such as metal, automotive, and aerospace are pre-packaged with the core platform. |
| Because of the power of HANA, SAP S/4 HANA can process very complex MRP runs with product models containing millions of serial numbers and SKUs, making it much faster than most ERP systems. | Great fit for manufacturing organizations that follow formal manufacturing processes with revision numbers. |
| Ideal fit for complex operations with its transactional maps capabilities built with the products, making debugging complex financial enterprises easier. | Although a legacy product, it includes mature cloud capabilities such as enterprise search and transactional maps for end-to-end transactional traceability. |
Cons of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic
Just like recognizing strengths is important, it’s also crucial to weigh the specific drawbacks of SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic. Therefore, in this section, we will delve into the limitations and challenges associated with SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic across various operational and financial dimensions.
| SAP S/4 HANA | Epicor Kinetic |
| The controls provided as part of the product may feel unnecessary and also overwhelming for smaller companies. | The data layers are highly detailed, requiring substantial consulting help to be successful with the product. |
| Overbloated financial control processes, such as compliance, allocation, and approval flows, are only necessary for large organizations. | The limited focus on certain business models poses the risk of requiring other ERP systems to support complex and diverse business operations. |
| The data model is overwhelming for smaller organizations outgrowing QuickBooks or smaller ERP systems. | The field service capabilities are not as embedded and proven as some of the other products. |
| Despite advanced financial traceability and technical capabilities, the functional capabilities are not as rich as with its on-prem version. | Epicor takes a suite approach to its products while selling directly to its customers. This limits the overall consulting and marketplace penetration. |
| While SAP S/4 HANA has one of the best best-of-breed solutions, they might not be as pre-integrated as other solutions. | Requires ad-hoc arrangements for larger mid-market companies with more than three financial hierarchies. |
| In industries where it might not be the most frequently installed as an operational solution, the other solutions are likely to have deeper last-mile capabilities. | Finance and accounting layers are not going to be as strong as some of the other products. |
Conclusion
SAP S/4 HANA vs Epicor Kinetic offers distinct advantages particularly depending on the scale and specific needs of a business. SAP S/4 HANA stands out as the preferred choice for large enterprises with global operations, also offering robust capabilities in financial management, complex manufacturing processes, and extensive localization support. Its enterprise-grade architecture is particularly well-suited for companies with multiple financial hierarchies and intricate compliance requirements. However, its complexity and the depth of its features may be overwhelming for smaller organizations, leading to higher implementation costs and the need for specialized consulting.
On the other hand, Epicor Kinetic is ideally positioned for mid-sized manufacturing companies looking for a solution that excels in formal processes and dimensional inventory management. Its strong fit within specific industries such as metal, automotive, and aerospace, combined with a user experience akin to Microsoft ERP products, makes it a solid choice for companies seeking depth in last-mile capabilities. While it may lack the extensive global reach and financial intricacies of SAP S/4 HANA, it provides a more accessible and focused solution for companies within its target revenue range.
Thus, choosing between these two ERP solutions requires a careful assessment of a company’s specific operational demands and long-term growth strategies. Also, seeking assistance from an independent ERP consultant can significantly aid the decision-making process. To get a 360-degree view of feature comparisons, it’s essential to explore not only SAP S/4 HANA vs. Epicor Kinetic but also insights from other analyses such as SAP S/4 HANA vs Oracle Cloud ERP, NetSuite, Acumatica, MS Dynamics 365 F&O, MS Dynamics 365 BC, Infor CloudSuite LN, and Infor CloudSuite M3.
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