Epicor

Epicor Software Corporation delivers integrated business software solutions tailored to the specific needs of the manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality, and services industries. These solutions include enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM), human capital management (HCM), and enterprise retail software, all designed to improve operational efficiency and profitability. With over 40 years of industry experience, Epicor’s approach centers on providing advanced, industry-specific ERP tools that enable quicker returns on investment, streamlined growth, and confident supply chain decision-making. The company’s mission emphasizes clarity, speed, and confidence in these decisions. Epicor’s heritage is built through a complex lineage of pioneering companies, notably starting with Triad Systems in 1972, which revolutionized inventory management for automotive aftermarket distributors by creating electronic inventory control systems and the first electronic parts catalogs. Triad expanded into related verticals such as hard goods retail, lumber, and building supply (LBM), developing ERP solutions tailored to these businesses and forming strategic partnerships with major hardware cooperatives like ACE Hardware and True Value. Triad also made acquisitions to deepen its industry presence, including CSD, which strengthened its position in lumber and building supplies. In parallel, other companies that would become part of Epicor advanced ERP solutions for small and mid-sized businesses, culminating in the formation of Epicor Software Corporation in 1999 through the merger of Platinum Software Corporation and DataWorks Corp. This merger combined financial and distribution strengths with manufacturing expertise, supporting the development of Epicor’s flagship manufacturing ERP platforms, including Epicor Vantage and later Kinetic. Epicor’s distribution roots trace back to innovations starting in the late 1960s, leading to ERP products like Prophet 21, launched in 1997 as one of the first Windows-based ERP solutions for distributors. Through strategic vertical acquisitions, Epicor enhanced its offerings and deepened its industry expertise. In 2011, the merger of Epicor with Activant—a leader in automotive aftermarket, distribution, retail, and LBM ERP—created a vertically integrated ERP powerhouse focused on supply chain industries, uniting manufacturing, distribution, and retail under one company. This merger, backed by private equity firm Apax Partners, led to expanded market reach with over 15,000 customers and significant annual revenue. The same year, the acquisition of Solarsoft Business Systems broadened Epicor’s LBM capabilities with the industry-leading BisTrack ERP solution. Ownership transitioned in 2016 to investment firm KKR, which accelerated Epicor’s cloud transformation and innovation in cloud-ready solutions. Under KKR, Epicor saw strong growth in recurring revenue and SaaS offerings. In 2020, CD&R acquired Epicor, emphasizing a cloud-first strategy, platform modernization, and integration of automation and analytics, strengthening Epicor ERP systems including Kinetic, Prophet 21, Eclipse, Propello, and BisTrack. Strategic partnerships, such as with Microsoft Azure, enhanced cloud delivery capabilities. Epicor continued strategic acquisitions to enrich industry-specific cloud ERP solutions, including the 2019 acquisition of Majure Data, which bolstered warehouse management capabilities especially for LBM customers. In 2024, Epicor welcomed global private equity firm CVC Capital Partners alongside CD&R, signaling sustained confidence in Epicor’s strategy and long-term growth, including global expansion and integration of emerging AI technologies. Today, Epicor leads with its vision of cognitive ERP, a next-generation platform integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation into industry-specific ERP solutions. These systems provide real-time insights, predictive analytics, and contextual recommendations, transforming transactional workflows into intelligent, proactive decision-making tools. Epicor’s deep vertical industry expertise allows its AI to interpret complex operational data without extensive customization, enabling agility, competitiveness, and seamless connection across supply chain ecosystems. Epicor's cognitive ERP strategy facilitates collaboration among suppliers, logistics providers, and retail partners with secure data sharing and automated transactions, fostering resilience in dynamic markets. Rooted in a history of purpose-built innovation and customer focus, Epicor continues to help businesses thrive by delivering tailored, AI-driven ERP solutions that connect people, processes, and industries across global supply chains. Their philosophy of "made with you, for you" reflects a commitment to deep domain knowledge and continuous reinvention to meet the evolving needs of their customers.