Our Verdict…

We like Kinetic’s extensive product configuration, discrete manufacturing capabilities, and customizable reporting. We also liked having the option to make limited code adjustments to the software.

Though it offers multi-company management, Kinetic is not the best option for multinational organizations with numerous product lines.

8.8
Our Rating
based on our expert editorial analysis
8.9
User Rating
based on 9 user reviews
Best for: Kinetic is best for a range of business sizes, from small companies (10-50 employees) to enterprises (over 10,000 employees). It supports mixed-mode, made-to-order, engineer-to-order, and discrete manufacturing environments.
Pros:
  • Built for manufacturers
  • Collects real-time shop floor data
  • Built-in artificial intelligence support
  • Customizable and extensive reporting
  • Easily-integrated with applications like Excel
Cons:
  • Not ideal for multinational organizations
  • High learning curve
Starting Price
$175 /user/month
Price Range Learn More
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What Is Epicor Kinetic?

Epicor Kinetic is a sophisticated, tier-two ERP software offering a modular manufacturing and distribution approach. Features include compliance management, planning and scheduling, supply chain management, quality assurance, and maintenance management. It’s available in both cloud-based and on-premises deployment models.

Pros Cons
  • Low-code customizations.
  • Robust product configurator.
  • Great for discrete manufacturing.
  • Not ideal for multinational organizations.
  • High learning curve.

Our Ratings

Usability - 7.8 Sophisticated global search function to access various manufacturing operations; modern user interface; some workflows are cumbersome; high learning curve associated with navigating system.
Support - 8.2 Unlimited online, chat, and phone support 24/7 through EpicCare; some user reviews report slow response times to support tickets.
Scalability - 8.8 Low-code customizations allow users to configure Epicor to business processes without changing source code; provides multiple options for deployment; responsive design adjusts for tablets and mobile devices; may not keep up with multinational manufacturers.
Security - 10 Compliant with corporate and financial governance (IAS, IFRS, GAAP) and international trade standards (RoHS, WEEE, NAFTA, ITAR); permissions limit access to certain features and data based on user roles, groups, etc.
Value - 8 Generally higher starting price compared to SMB ERP solutions like xTuple; user reviews suggest high implementation expenses; low-code customizations help companies save on costs of rolling out new functionalities in the system.
Performance - 9 Platform experiences lag when loading dashboards and shop floor maps; customizing homepage and work views is fast and intuitive.
Key Features - 10 Strong product configuration provides business rules to manage sub-assemblies; in-depth reporting with drill-down capabilities; purchase order entry is standardized for inventory, MRO, job materials, etc.

Who Uses Epicor Kinetic?

We recommend Kinetic for small to enterprise-level businesses in mixed-mode, made-to-order, engineer-to-order, and discrete manufacturing environments. Its functionalities best serve the manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries. Epicor Kinetic is browser-based and compatible with Windows and iOS devices.

What Features Are Missing?

  • Low learning curve: Like many ERP solutions with a robust feature set, Kinetic might overwhelm new users. Navigating different workflows in the system can be tedious, and employees will likely require extra training to grasp all Kinetic truly has to offer.

Kinetic Pricing

Epicor does not provide specific pricing for Kinetic on its website; potential clients will need to contact Epicor directly for a quote based on business size, deployment type, ongoing maintenance and support, user count, and implementation complexity.

Because ERP onboarding is generally a complex, long-term process, you can also work with a VAR or reseller to get started. Additionally, a VAR will reconnect with your company after implementation to provide additional support.

What Does Kinetic Do?

Kinetic is an enterprise resource planning software designed for discrete manufacturing scenarios. The platform provides a full range of material requirements planning (MRP) services, advanced planning and scheduling, inventory control, accounting, compliance, and supply chain management.

Is Kinetic Web-Based?

Yes, Kinetic is browser-based, meaning you can access it anywhere from your desktop or mobile devices. Its responsive design and button-based navigation ensure ease-of-use, with no loss in functionality even when you’re away from a computer.

Alternatives

xTuple
xTuple Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$175/user/month
Client OS
Windows, macOS, Linux
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
What We Like
Free trial available
New eCommerce additions
Platform agnostic
What We Don’t Like
Complex reporting
Learning curve
Workflows can feel constrained
Aptean Industrial Manufacturing ERP Workwise Edition
Aptean Industrial Manufacturing ERP Workwise Edition Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Client OS
Deployment
On-Premises
What We Like
Mobile accessibility
Multi-warehouse support
Customizable reporting
What We Don’t Like
Requires consultation for pricing
High learning curve
Fewer integrations than NetSuite
SYSPRO
SYSPRO Screenshot
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$199/user/month
Client OS
Windows, Web
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises
What We Like
Mostly straight-forward and user-friendly
Accessible from any device
Built with over 40 years of manufacturer and distributor expertise
What We Don’t Like
3rd party add-ons may be necessary, like EDI and shipping notifications
Difficult to customize
No payroll or HR modules

Summary

We recommend Epicor Kinetic for small to enterprise-level organizations in distribution, manufacturing, and retail. Kinetic has deep functionality in discrete manufacturing. Its sophisticated product configurator is perfect for made-to-order and engineer-to-order scenarios. Finally, its low-code customization options allow companies to tailor the platform to their business workflows without altering the source code.

However, Kinetic is not the best fit for multinational corporations with various product lines and locations. It also comes with a higher learning curve.

Overall, we think Kinetic is the best ERP option for your company if you value a customizable and flexible system that still delivers the rich feature set required for fast, efficient manufacturing.

Epicor Kinetic
★★★★★
★★★★★
(9)
Formerly known as Epicor ERP, Kinetic is renowned in manufacturing and distribution. Kinetic is a two-tier ERP software offering compliance management, planning and scheduling, supply chain management, quality assurance, and maintenance management.
Price Range
   $     $     $     $     $   
   $     $     $     $     $   
Starting Price
$175/user/month
Client OS
Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Deployment
Cloud or On-Premises

User Reviews of Epicor Kinetic

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on July 25th, 2023 by Anonymous

For our operations, Epicor Kinetic was a bit more than what we needed. While the Epicor system would be great for manufacturing companies larger than us, we were not ready for that type of system. We have just some basic assemblies we needed to track and we felt the program was offering more than our current needs.

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on July 6th, 2023 by Anonymous

Epicor has been a stand out product in our software search. Their collaboration feature is impressive, streamlining our entire communication process. Instead of constant email threads with project updates, they allow easy access and updates to each project. Instead of shuffling through pages of emails, I am able to click a project and see all the activity; what payments were made, what parts are here and what have been delayed, and any remaining tasks. It allows production to run smoothly and allows the back office to stay on top of any needed actions.

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on May 16th, 2023 by Anonymous

When we reviewed Epicor Kinetic, we quickly came to realize it was far bigger than we needed. We have a manufacturing small team of about 20-25 employees and Epicor told us their program is best for businesses in the hundreds of employees.

The Good…

Strong Manufacturing program for larger operations

The Bad…

Not made for smaller companies with less than 500 employees

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on May 23rd, 2018 by Anonymous

Service was great initially and now it’s all online don’t seem to know how to solve the problem. They never get back to you, and mind you there aren’t that many issues, but when we do have to use them their streamlining and support have not improved.

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on September 28th, 2017 by Anonymous

I have used and managed Epicor ERP installations since 2007 and I can’t imagine using anything else! From quote to manufacturing to sales and after sales service Epicor 10.1 does what you need it to do with real time reports that you can design and customize to fit your needs.

The Good…

I love the way Epicor 10.1 has all the data at my fingertips. I can see it in a query, dashboard, report or extract the data to use in other reporting packages.

The Bad…

Epicor no longer releases individual patches to fix an isolated issue. They replaced it with bi-weekly releases of ALL the fixes that everyone needs. At times to wait for a patch may be more than 2 weeks.

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on September 28th, 2017 by Anonymous

We have been on Epicor 10.1 for over a year and it is a vast improvement from 9.05. Speed, layout, ease of use, reportability on anything that is tracked in the system is great. We use all of the modules that come with the basic software across all of our business and most of it works great.

The Good…

I like the ease of use, readiness to train and find what you are looking for, especially with the new search function and how easy it is to get reports on anything

The Bad…

Scheduling seem very cumbersome and very hard to use, not user friendly and there seems to be some cases where orders or quotes seem to get stuck and you can’t do anything with them.

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on December 9th, 2016 by Bruce

I use Epicor Eclipse ERP for wholesale. Very powerful package for inventory, sales, and warehouse management. Has a lot of extra add-ons available for state of the art wholesale business, and numerous third-party providers with good peripheral programs like B2B, B2C, invoicing, tax handling, and BI. Reporting is weak (although custom reporting can be done by a techie), and third-party dashboards are almost necessary for executive level summary information. We have had very minimal down time and fairly responsive support. If you are considering the package, just make sure you understand clearly what you need or want for your business—the add-ons can get expensive up-front and in monthly fees. Do good negotiations up front!

The Good…

Powerful integration between all areas of inventory, order management, and warehouse management.

The Bad…

Cost of add-ons; many add-ons ought to be part of the core package.

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on December 7th, 2016 by Josh

Epicor Erp helps us to track all of our processes in real time. We can see how are costs compare with the price we are getting paid for each job. It also has functions to create purchase orders, shippers, and to do monthly finance reports and communicate with banks. Epicor does more than we even use at our business. But we can pull reports to help track progress on all the jobs in the plant and keep everyone informer. I enjoy using Epicor. It can take some getting used to as there are steps to get to your end goal and sometime it can be tricky but it is worth it.

The Good…

I like how I can create a sales order and open a job and start tracking everything right away. I like being able to see real time costs so we can stay on target for our margins. Epicor also has many customization features so you can create whatever kinds of reports you want.

The Bad…

I don’t like how sometimes things get stuck and you can’t do what you want. Some things take multiple steps to get to your end result that seem so simple. But not too bad.

★★★★★
★★★★★
Submitted on November 30th, 2016 by Erik

Epicor Eclipse is easy to use and easy to learn. I have only been with this company for about 8 months and had never heard of Epicor or Eclipse and I am getting around pretty good already. Actually I have been for a couple of months now. One thing I like is that there is a whole community of users that share their tips and tricks for using the system which helped. The representatives with the company (that I have spoken with) are patient. I do agree that the support fees are way to high, but, on the other hand, in my opinion they do a lot of behind the scenes work. We are using an older version and I am excited about the chance to move up to a newer, more aesthetically pleasing version in the near future. Epicor offers training after the installation (for a charge per person) in the form of classes held regularly, which is better than I can say from my previous experience with SAP. I can’t really say if I would choose this product again, because we are on an older version, which I don’t like. It looks too much like I am using a mainframe.

The Good…

Epicor offers training after the installation (for a charge per person) in the form of classes held regularly, which is better than I can say from my previous experience with SAP.

The Bad…

I do agree that the support fees are way to high, but, on the other hand, in my opinion they do a lot of behind the scenes work.