What's new in manufacturing software?

In manufacturing, most companies can’t make products any faster or cheaper, so they need to achieve efficiencies through data and the back office. ERP, data analytics and the new Epicor Data Analytics (EDA) Financial Statements manufacturing software helps facilitate these gains. Many manufacturers using Epicor ERPs benefit from the partnership between Phocas and Epicor and use the white-labelled Epicor Data Analytics plus EDA Financial Statements to do systematic analysis of their data and monitor KPIs.
What's the point of ERP software?
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is a shared database that collects information from multiple shared systems. People working in different divisions can pull information from this one database which acts as a single source of truth. For manufacturing companies, Epicor ERPs provide an efficient way to store and access important manufacturing data. For instance, the data architecture of ERP software is designed to provide high-speed transaction recording and logging of transactions as soon as they take place.
While ERP software does not perform in-depth analysis, it is a tool centered around delivering operational insights. Besides recording transactions, a well implemented ERP can boost overall performance by providing efficiencies throughout the entire organization. These efficiencies include better interdepartmental communications, IT cost savings and more clarity into business processes. But as helpful as ERP software is, it can’t do everything. The software gives insights into operational performance (daily sales), but not strategic performance (revenue, profit and growth). To get access to the strategic insights you desire, you need to incorporate data analytics.
Update your manufacturing efficiencies with data analytics
To stay ahead of the game and really draw value from your data, the addition of data analytics to your ERP is crucial. Manufacturing customers that use a data analytics solution like Phocas’ alongside their ERP systems can more accurately predict sales and demand. With this information in hand, it is easier to understand questions like where to target, what product performs best, and in what quantity do we need it.
Data analytics helps achieve dynamic reporting. Instead of waiting days to receive reports, get a data analytics tool that reports fast and doesn’t consume precious IT resources. Data is most beneficial when you always have access to it. A report that takes 40 days to get to you because of a slow ERP is out of date and not useful.
MA Ford, a manufacturing company that specializes in high-quality precision cutting tools had the static reporting problem. After incorporating Phocas’ data analytics, they can now ensure consistency, quality and timeliness of reports.
Randy Olson, the IT manager for MA Ford, explained how beneficial this was for their sales team. “Sales can get the information they need, when they need it and twist and turn it as necessary. It greatly empowers our sales team to identify missed opportunities or keep track of new or emerging trends.”
Understand business performance with new Financial Statements product.
Just like the sales team, the finance team is often weighted down by the mass of data they must go through on a monthly basis. The time spent doing monotonous tasks that could be automated means less time spent analyzing data. Save time and gain more valuable insights with Epicor Data Analytics (EDA) Financial Statements. A new way to empower your finance team, EDA Financial Statements takes over the arduous, number-crunching tasks to free up time for your financial team. The automatic reporting capabilities of EDA Financial Statements makes manually transferring data to spreadsheets a thing of the past, allowing the finance team to shift focus to more strategic tasks.
Not only is reporting automated, it is dynamic. The data is interactive, allowing you to investigate and find the answers needed to support decisions. Financial data is no longer locked away in spreadsheets. Instead, the relevant data can easily be identified and presented. EDA Financial Statements was designed with ease of use as a priority. This means even non-technical employees can pull actionable data from the database. Share insights with people across the organization through customizable financial dashboards, which make it easy to visualize financial data and KPIs.
EDA Financial Statements is a game changer for manufacturing software. By pairing an ERP system with the power of data analytics, you’ll achieve more efficiencies through data and gain the edge over your competition.
To find out more about new manufacturing software and achieve business resilience, you can register for the Epicor manufacturing virtual summit on August 20 here.
Top 7 KPIs and metrics for mid-market executives

Download eBook
Fill out the form below to download the eBook.

We make people feel good about data

Break down data silos and improve business planning
The amount of data generated by finance, sales and operations teams is vast and complex, making it difficult for everyone to work together, plan and make data-driven decisions. The time spent on extracting data from multiple systems, formatting into spreadsheets and then loading into other programs is excruciating, and the time lost doing it, is taking its toll. Welcome to the world of data silos.
Read more
Behler-Young connects Amazon Alexa and Phocas BI with great results
Can you have a conversation with your business intelligence solution while driving? Behler-Young sales people do. Robert Wright, a Senior Application Developer and Analyst at Behler-Young, integrated Amazon Alexa with Phocas, a business intelligence solution for manufacturers, distributors and retailers. With critical data only a question away, they always know what's going on even when they're on the road.
Read more
Central Data all in on Phocas partnership
Central Data has annually been recognized as one of Infor’s top distribution partners, being named North American Partner of the Year in 2020. The company’s consistency is a hallmark of its success and is a key reason for its longevity. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary in January 2023.
Read more
How to overcome the C-suite’s new dilemma – speed vs accuracy
Now that organizations are restoring some semblance of pre-Covid normality, they find themselves mired in yet more economic and political uncertainty. Against this turmoil, agile forecasting, reporting, and speed are top of mind as CFOs seek to steer their organizations deftly through an unprecedented set of challenges.
Read more
Find out how our platform gives you the visibility you need to get more done.
Get your demo today