Western Canadian companies with manufacturing and distribution divisions can shop the world for their software needs, with all the time commitment, risks and uncertainties that kind of adventure entails.

Or they can look here, in their own backyard, and count on Epic Solutions of Edmonton for proven business solutions in financial, distribution and manufacturing environments in this part of the country.

Rarely is a business choice so clear.

Not only is Epic Solutions an acclaimed, trusted company dating back to the ’80s, but it has partnered with California’s Epicor – one of the 15 largest software companies in the world – in supplying that company’s remarkable Vantage system, a highly sophisticated end-to-end manufacturing solution.

Epic Solutions president Rodney Keys with some of the company’s software products.

“Our company and Vantage are an excellent fit,” says Epic Solutions president Rodney Keys.

“We are a competent, long-term vendor with extensive knowledge and background in manufacturing and distribution environments. Vantage is a proven, progressive, forward-thinking ERP solution from Epicor.”

Vantage is an easy-to-use solution designed to meet the needs of make-to-order and mixed-mode manufacturing companies. Delivered “out of the box,” it has built-in workflow processes that enable manufacturers to manage the entire order cycle – from marketing and sales through production and planning, sourcing and procurement, to installation and service, and finally financial recognition.

Vantage enables the whole process to be real-time and paperless. Because the entire package streamlines the order cycle, an enterprise can maximize its resources, minimize its costs and improve profitability.

Each client company is unique, but the goal is always the same – improve the bottom line.

It’s no surprise that Epic Solutions – which travels and scrutinizes the software world so its clients don’t have to – would demand the highest software standards. Founded in 1989, Epic Solutions is one of Western Canada’s established system integrators, specializing in providing stable and proven business solutions to financial, distribution and manufacturing environments.

In addition to selling and supporting proven core ERP solutions, Epic Solutions develops industry-specific software enhancements to the core functionality of business solutions products.

Epic Solutions is an accredited turnkey solutions provider of back office solutions, Epicor’s Vista and Vantage products, as well as HR and payroll offerings. Just as important – it has thorough knowledge of its region.

“In the western marketplace, there are a lot of manufacturers that do multiple things,” Keys explains. “That’s different from Ontario, where you’ll get a highly focused manufacturer that just makes one component and may even supply it to a single customer, such as the auto industry.”

In Western Canada, there are manufacturers who support and install valves, pipes and varied oilpatch-related products and have a large or growing field service component in their business model. In this highly competitive marketplace, they’ve become remarkably diverse, and have special software requirements.

“What we’ve done since 1989 is look at the marketplace and ask what solutions fit best and will address 80 or 90 per cent of the requirements of any client, coupled with the ability to modify or change the application locally.

“Localization ability is very important to us so we can address our unique customers’ needs.” Keys likes to describe his company’s approach to customers as “relationship-centric.”

“The professionals that I am privileged to work with are focused upon understanding business environments and the impact, on the human element, any new software deployment may have.”

Epic Solutions’ expertise will benefit firms that are made-to-order manufacturers or traditional repetitive manufacturers that produce tens of thousands of units in one production run.

It also offers distribution components of its software that will support that type of business environment.

Some competitors like to talk of possible third-party add-ons to their systems when a client company grows, but they can be expensive options and not a perfect, fully integrated fit with the existing software.

“The people of Epicor decided, no, we want a more integrated package that we can support a lot easier. As an example of this integration, they have built CRM (customer- relationship management) functionality right into their application,” Keys explains.

“Not only do we handle the traditional order processing, we also manage the customer relationship right from the first point of contact through to the delivery of the finished good. And then there are Vantage software components that elegantly address quality control, revision control and engineer change management.”

Keys believes business solutions must accommodate the user, not the other way around.

“We pride ourselves in knowing about the leading edge in software and business applications, but we recommend what is practical and supportable within the customer’s environment. There’s no point in having the best PDA on the market if your sales rep doesn’t know how to use it.

“Simply put, that’s what we look at. What software tools will fit within your environment, and what features of those tools will benefit your environment?”

For more information, phone 780.488.4418; fax 780.488.0402 or go to www.epicsolutions.ca.