epicor storefront 8 release guide

Epicor Release Guide

iScala Storefront 8.0

October 2009

EPICOR iSCALA STOREFRONT 8.0 RELEASE GUIDE

© Epicor Software Corporation, October 2009 i

Disclaimer Epicor, Scala, iScala, and the Epicor logo are registered trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation and/or its wholly owned subsidiary, Scala Business Solutions. Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other names and brands may be claimed as the trademarks of others and are acknowledged. This document is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Epicor makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, with respect to the contents of this document publication and specifically disclaims any warranties, express or implied, of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Where any software product is expressed to be compliant with certain local laws or requirements in this document, such compliance is based on Epicor’s current understanding of such laws and requirements. All laws and requirements are subject to change and accordingly Epicor cannot guarantee that the software product will be compliant and up to date with such changes. The contents of this document are believed to be current and accurate as of its date of publication, October 2009. Changes to this document between printing and other important information about the software product are made or published in release notes, and you are urged to obtain the current release notes for the software product. We welcome user comments and reserve the right to revise this publication and/or make improvements or changes to the products or programs described in this publication at any time, without notice. For a complete description of the product features, please refer to the product’s user guides, reference manuals and release notes. Use of any Epicor Software is subject to the terms and conditions of Epicor’s end user license agreement and the performance of any consulting services by Epicor personnel shall be pursuant to Epicor’s standard services terms and conditions. Companies, names and/or data used in screens are fictitious, unless otherwise noted. Copyright © Epicor Software Corporation, 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Epicor Software Corporation.


© Epicor Software Corporation, October 2009 i i

Table of Contents

Introducing Epicor Storefront 8.0 for iScala 4

Introduction 4

What’s Inside 4

Epicor Storefront Product Overview 4

Additional Information 10

Product Distribution 10

Version Compatibility 10

Product Contents 10

Documentation 10

Supported Languages 10

Limitations 11

Product Packaging 11

Recommended Hardware and Software Requirements 13

Introduction 13

Impact on Epicor Scala / iScala 13

Epicor Storefront Administrator 13

Supported Operating System Requirements 13

Supported Database Management Systems (DBMS) 14

Workstation Operating Systems 14

Hardware Scalability & Sizing (servers) 14

Implementation Types 15

Implementation Modes 16

Technical Services 17

Overview 17

The Customer Center 17

New Technical Support Services Offerings for Epicor iScala 17

Supported Products 18


© Epicor Software Corporation, October 2009 i i i

Professional Services 19

Overview 19

Implementation Support 19

Global Presence 21

Product Education 22

Who Benefits From Education? 22

How Do I Get Started? 22

What Resources Are Available? 23

Where Do I Go For More Information? 23

User Groups 24 About Epicor 25


© Epicor Software Corporation, October 2009 4

Introducing Epicor Storefront 8.0 for iScala Introduction

iScala is used by clients around the world as their core ERP software to run all aspects of their business including financials, distribution and manufacturing. As part of the iScala product strategy, Epicor is constantly seeking ways to expand the functional footprint where it will benefit clients and add value. The need to expand sales and increase their customer base means that more and more iScala ERP users are seeking to trade on-line via the internet. Epicor Storefront for iScala allows Epicor iScala ERP customers to design, customize and implement a modern ecommerce storefront that allows for them to target new markets whilst increasing sales and customer satisfaction as well as simultaneously increasing efficiencies within the sales process.

What’s Inside

This Release Guide is intended to assist iScala customers and partners with planning for the adoption of this release of Epicor Storefront for iScala. The guide is designed to be an introduction to the key features of the release. Further details can be found in the User Guide shipped with the system. The guide also provides information on professional services, product support, education and other important topics related to this release. Please note that all information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Epicor Storefront Product Overview

Epicor Storefront is a comprehensive solution that allows our customers to provide web-based sales functionality to their sales people as well as partners and customers.

Epicor Storefront provides our customers with the ability to allow their own customers, partners and sales people to select products, create and manage sales orders and view business information via the web.

The Epicor Storefront product is integrated to iScala using web services and has been successfully installed in more than 25 sites. A demo site is available at http://www.epicorstorefront.com

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Epicor Storefront is integrated to iScala using web-services and includes the following key features:

• Search and view product information with net prices and availability

• View customer information, orders and invoices.

• Create, edit and delete orders and quotations.

• Display news and product campaigns.

• Select spare parts via interactive images (exploded views).

• Maintain and publish an interactive clickable product catalogue.

• Select / configure complex products via Storefront Configurator (optional).

• Design style, layout, menus, pages, content and links via the built-in editor.

• Store images, documents and other content in the Media Bank.

• Define multiple payment alternatives including credit card (optional).

Epicor Storefront can be deployed according to requirements:

• Multiple company, market, language and currency support.

• Advanced Localization and Personalization per market, customer or user.

• Choice between direct integration to iScala or a hosted solution offering data synchronization.

ON LINE VS SYNCHRONIZED MODES

To support both organizations that wish to run their eCommerce Site from their own location and those that prefer to use a hosting service (possible located in a more reliable communication hub) Storefront can operate in either on-line mode or synchronized mode. When using on-line mode, data is accessed directly from the iScala database. In synchronized mode data is accessed from a separate database which in turn is synchronized with the source iScala database as communication permits. As a result of the dual-mode ability, Storefront can be deployed in multiple ways including using hosted or distributed installations.

ON-LINE SALES ORDERS AND QUOTATIONS

Storefront users can create, edit or delete orders and quotations, subject of course to the required access rights. Real-time stock availability can be displayed together with customer specific prices, discounts and delivery planning, calculated using web services. On completion, the order is posted into iScala instantly and the user receives confirmation on the screen as well as via e-mail (if required) including details about the total sales value, expected delivery date and order number.

RETURNS MANAGEMENT

Epicor Storefront allows authorized customers to enter sales order returns, selecting the reason for the return from a pre-populated list. The user can access the Sales Order returns window from the original order and enter additional information about the return including detailed comments.



ONLINE CUSTOMER INFORMATION Epicor Storefront facilitates 24/7 customer service. As well as basic customer account information, your customers will be able to find the information they require without calling your customer service center. Orders and invoices can be viewed at any time. Order status and shipping details can be tracked on-line. Product details, net prices and news are also available and can be tailored to a specific customer, customer group or market.

CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT

The optional Payment Pack extends the solution by Storefront to add customers into the iScala Sales Ledger using predefined templates that includes default payment terms, delivery block settings etc. Customers can add their default invoice and create and maintain additional delivery addresses.

Epicor Storefront automatically sends an email to the Accounts Receivable team informing them that a new customer account has been created and is ready for review.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

The PayPal™ and DIBS payment solutions are integrated to Epicor Storefront when the optional Payment Pack module is licensed. The Payment Pack allows additional payment providers to be added to the list of payment options. Some providers may need additional integration solutions. An updated list of supported providers can be found at http://www.epicorstorefront.com

CAMPAIGNS AND NEWS

Using the embedded campaign designer, news and campaigns can be created for customer groups or individual customers. Campaign items can be highlighted on the welcome screen with special prices or other offerings. Purchases of specific items can be configured to allow the customer discounts on other items or qualify the customer for rewards.

GLOBAL AND LOCAL NEEDS

The modular architecture of Epicor Storefront ensures that it can support the needs of both small organizations and global enterprises that may run multiple Scala or iScala




companies. At log-in each customer is automatically linked to the company they purchase from, their customer code, their preferred user interface language and their preferred document language. Sales staff can select the customer they are accessing. This design ensures a salesman can place an order for a customer using their own user language, simultaneously generating order documentation, product descriptions and other order content in the customer’s language.

VIEW PRODUCT INFORMATION

Products can be searched for using a search field or through the Product Search Tree. When setting up the Product Search Tree, advanced queries can be defined using composite keys based on one or more iScala data fields. When searching, the resulting product lists show availability and price; users can click an item to place it in their order basket. Images, detailed descriptions and related products can be displayed along with planned and previous deliveries, including drill down to the sales order details.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Any Storefront page can be re-designed via the built-in administration tool. Custom pages and design templates can be created with language dependent content and smart links. The extended design tool available with the optional Storefront Design Pack allows administrators to setup multiple context driven designs / layouts that can be deployed in a single Storefront simultaneously.

NAVIGATION AND SITE STRUCTURE

The Epicor Storefront site structure (frames and frame content) as well as menu structure can be re-designed using the built-in administration tool. Epicor Storefront requires a log in account to access the web-site. With the optional Storefront Design Pack, a complete corporate site can be created enabling auto-login for guests with an optional log in for registered users offering more tailored functionality for registered customers.

MEDIABANK AND CONTENT MANAGEMENT

Additional content including product images, catalogue pages, exploded views, Adobe® PDF documents etc. can be stored in the Storefront MediaBank. Any item in the MediaBank can be linked to products and viewed by the user. A custom database can be set up to provide additional product related content such as multiple images and texts per part number.

USER MANAGEMENT

8 user levels can be defined including automatic log in, guest users, three different customer types, salesmen and administrators. Storefront structure, style, menu structure, product search tree and language can all be set for individual users. Using this highly flexible structure advanced localization and personalization can be achieved. For multiple styles and structures, the optional Storefront Design Pack is required. Each user can change password, define favorite items, turn VAT calculation on /off and make other user settings after logging in.

MULTI-SITE MANAGEMENT Storefront was designed to support the needs of both large and small organizations. A single instance of Epicor Storefront can be connected to multiple iScala companies. This simplifies maintenance and administration for large installations. Each extra company requires a Storefront Extra Trading Entity license.



SELECTION VIA INTERACTIVE IMAGE

The Embedded Catalogue allows administrators to setup interactive images with clickable hotspots for ordering of items. A typical application is ordering of spare parts via exploded views or CAD/CAM diagrams. With an exploded view on the screen, the spare part can easily be located and ordered with a mouse click. During the entire selection process, business information including net price and product availability can be viewed.

Hotspots can be any area of any electronic image, similar to the images normally found in product or spare parts catalogues. The hotspots are linked to a database containing the reference to the corresponding part numbers. This feature can also be used to create online product catalogues for quick browsing, zooming and can also be used to simplify ordering of products using a graphical view instead of an item list. For example, a furniture manufacturer may allow customers to order a bed directly from a picture of a furnished bedroom.

To ensure the correct spare parts are ordered the embedded version handling system ensures that the correct component are selected depending on the product series, chassis numbers or other restrictions.

PRODUCT CATALOGUE

The Epicor Storefront Catalogue is an extension of the built-in catalogue tool. It extends the basic solution with the ability to maintain market specific versions of the catalogue. In addition, using Crystal formatting the Product Catalogue adds the ability for users to print single pages, selected chapters or full catalogues as they require. Tables of contents can be included for each chapter.

A standard template is included with the Product Catalogue and can be easily adjusted using Crystal Reports. The print engine can also generate output as PDF files. Printouts can be done either via Storefront or via Storefront Administrator.

Catalogue page images as well as existing part lists can be imported from Excel or maintained in the administration tool.



Feature Embedded Catalogue

Full Catalogue

Creation of Spare Parts catalogues Deploy interactive catalog pages Order entry from interactive catalog pages

Creation of clickable hotspot positions on existing image

Support multiple image formats (.bmp, .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, tif, .tiff, .png)

Creation of position numbers, rings and lines as a layer on top of image

Creation of several versions of the same Catalog Page

Creation of interactive accessories images from templates

Support for the creation and deployment of alternate product catalogue layouts

Importation of catalogue data via Excel sheets Printout of catalogs, chapters or pages

Design of catalog layout via Crystal Reports

PRODUCT CONFIGURATION

The Epicor Storefront Configurator is an optional module that guides Storefront users through configuring complex product using rules based logic. The user interface is dynamically generated at runtime based on the configuration structure, available components and pre-defined configuration rules.

During the configuration process, Storefront users can compare different options, monitor the current price and finally view the complete, validated product before placing it into their Storefront shopping basket.



Additional Information Product Distribution

Release Date

Epicor Storefront 8.0 is released for general availability in October, 2009.

Version Compatibility

Epicor Storefront 8.0 is compatible with the following versions of Scala and iScala:

• Scala 5.1 SQL

• iScala 2.1, 2.2, 2.2 SR1, 2.2 SR2, 2.3, 2.3 SR1

Product Contents

The Epicor Storefront 8.0 solution includes::

ADMINISTRATION TOOLS

• Epicor Storefront Administrator

SERVER APPLICATIONS (WEB SERVER) • Epicor Storefront 8.0 (Web Site aspx Package)

• Epicor Storefront 8.0 Server Components (PT Server)

SERVER APPLICATIONS (APPLICATION SERVER) • PT Service Manager

• Client Applications

• Storefront Configuration Designer (optional)

• Storefront Configuration Preview Client (optional)

Documentation

• Storefront 8.0 Installation Guide

• Storefront 8.0 Administrator User Guide

Supported Languages

This release of Storefront supports the following languages. Additional languages may be available, please contact your Epicor representative for details

• English

• Swedish

• Russian

• Finnish

• Lithuanian



• Slovak

• Czech

• Polish

• German

• Hungarian

• Romanian

Limitations

The iScala available to promise (ATP) logic is not supported in this release

Product Packaging

Epicor Storefront is available as a standard solution with additional modules that can be separately purchased

EPICOR STOREFRONT 8.0

The core solution is licensed per server, and provides support for unlimited named customers and unlimited named salesmen for a single Enterprise Trading Entity. Tools are included for configuration of layout style, menu structure, product search tree and editing of Storefront pages. Standard catalogue features are embedded and can be extended with the Product Catalogue extension package. Log in and user validation is required for all users. The Design Pack extension allows multiple styles to be defined as well as access by unregistered/guest users.

• Single Trading Entity

• Direct Connection Mode (no synchronization)

• Log in to Storefront required

• Configurable menu structure

• Storefront Page Layout Editor (existing pages)

• Configurable Storefront Style

• Storefront Standard Catalogue included

• Alternative items offering (similar items)

• Fixed price implementation (quoted locally and charged separately)

EPICOR STOREFRONT 8.0 DESIGN PACK

This extension enables multiple Storefront styles, menu structures and product search trees which can be set per user, user group or market. Dual site mode can setup enabling support for a combined corporate site and Storefront site allowing access to Storefront to registered users (traditionally B2B customers) as well as unregistered guest users (B2C). Design templates can be set up for product detail pages with links to user defined tables for additional product content.

• Multiple Storefront Styles

• Multiple Designs (menus, search trees, templates)

• Custom Pages Editor

• Content Management Editor



• Dual Site Mode (Open site and/or Login required)

• Personalization (settings per user)

• New User Account Registration

• Order lookup for New User Accounts

EPICOR STOREFRONT 8.0 EXTRA TRADING ENTITY

Additional iScala companies can be added to Epicor Storefront to provide a common web site for multiple companies. One additional license is required per extra Trading Entity.

EPICOR STOREFRONT 8.0 DISTRIBUTED SITE ADMINISTRATION PACK

This module includes an extra instance of the system settings tables which means that multiple system instances can be defined within the same Storefront web site. A unique URL can be defined per instance. This allows for the creation and management of distributed sites. One license is valid for unlimited distributed sites.

EPICOR STOREFRONT 8.0 PAYMENT PACK

With this module, common payment solutions such as PayPal can be connected Adding support for multiple payment options. Some providers may need additional integration work. An updated list of supported providers can be found at http://www.epicorstorefront.com

EPICOR STOREFRONT 8.0 CATALOGUE

This optional module extends the standard embedded catalogue included in Epicor Storefront 8.0. It enables bulk uploads of catalogue data from Excel, separate catalogue pages per market and printout of catalogue pages, chapters or full catalogues. Catalogue design can be adjusted via Crystal Reports. (Requires separate Crystal Reports license).

EPICOR STOREFRONT 8.0 PRODUCT CONFIGURATOR

The Product Configurator is integrated to Storefront and adds support for the creation of rules-based product configurations that can then be deployed into Storefront to guide users and salesmen through the configuration/definition of complex products. The Product Configurator extension includes the following:

• Configuration Designer (client application),

• Configurator Preview Client (client application for testing purposes)

• Configurator web client.

EPICOR STOREFRONT 8.0 SYNCHRONIZER

Storefront Synchronizer is required when Storefront is hosted without any direct connection to the iScala database. The Storefront 8.0 Synchronizer handles the bi-directional data transfer between the iScala database and the hosting provider Microsoft SQL database. One license is required per combination of iScala SQL Server and Hosting SQL Server.




Recommended Hardware and Software Requirements Introduction

This section is not meant to provide complete system configuration specifications for all iScala implementations. Each customer environment is unique and therefore requires specific consideration of these differing factors. The following guidelines are provided only to assist our customers in planning the system environment to best support their iScala applications. They do not account for third-party applications or services, or for variations in applications used, user counts, transaction volume and geographic dispersion that will naturally affect system performance. For an overall system configuration analysis, contact your authorized consultant. These recommendations are subject to change.

Impact on Epicor Scala / iScala

Epicor Storefront Applications do not require any changes in Scala / iScala databases. However, when running in synchronized mode, optional triggers can be used in iScala database to minimize the database load during synchronization

Epicor Storefront Administrator

Epicor Storefront is a server based application. However, system administrators maintain Storefront databases and settings via the administration tool, Storefront Administrator that can run on a workstation.

Supported Operating System Requirements

Component

Windows Server® 2003

Windows 2003 R2 Server

Windows 2008 Server

Windows 2008 R2 Server

Operating system

Standard Edition, SP2

Enterprise Edition, SP2

Datacenter Edition, SP2

Web Edition, SP2

Standard Edition, SP2 Enterprise Edition, SP2

Datacenter Edition, SP2 Web Edition, SP2

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise

Windows Server 2008 Standard Windows Server 2008 Foundation Windows Server 2008 Web Windows Server 2008 Itanium® Windows Server 2008 HPC

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 Standard Windows Server 2008 Foundation Windows Server 2008 Web Windows Server 2008 Itanium Windows Server 2008 HPC



Internet information server IIS

6.0 6.0 7.0 7.5

MDAC MDAC 2.8 MDAC 2.8 Included in OS Included in OS

Microsoft .NET Framework

2.0 (Installed separately)




Supported Database Management Systems (DBMS)

The following database management systems are supported:

• Microsoft SQL Serve®r 2005 Standard Edition 32Bit and 64Bit (SP3)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition 32Bit and 64Bit (SP3)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition 32Bit and 64Bit (SP3)

• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition 32Bit and 64Bit (SP3)

Workstation Operating Systems

The following workstation operating systems are supported:

• Microsoft Windows® XP Professional (SP2)

• Microsoft Windows Vista® (SP2)

• Microsoft Windows 7

Hardware Scalability & Sizing (servers)

Requirements for servers are shown in the list below. Epicor Storefront databases normally require less than 1 GB of hard disk. The size of iScala Catalogue database depends on number of and size of images stored.

The following are examples of hardware configurations for various user access and transaction volumes. Although examples are provided for up to 1000 simultaneous users and up to 1000 web orders per day, the system will scale far beyond these levels. The below hardware recommendations are based on typical usage. Every business is different and the below may not be suitable for all users. Please discuss any additional scaling requirements with your local Epicor sales representative.

Up to 10 simultaneous users and approx 25 web orders / day

Web server:

• 1 Intel® Pentium® 4 (HT) 3.2 GHz 2 GB memory 290 GB HD

SQL-server:

• 1 Intel Pentium (dual core) 3.2 GHz 2 GB memory 465 GB HD

Up to 50 simultaneous users and approx. 125 web orders / day



Web server:

• 1 Intel® Xeon® (dual core) 3.4 GHz

• 2 GB memory

• 70 GB HD

Application server (PT Service, iScala-serve):

• 1 Intel Xeon (dual core) 3.2 GHz

• 2 GB memory

• 140 GB HD

SQL-server:

• 2 Intel Xeon (dual core) each 3 GHz

• 5 GB memory

• 270 GB HD

Up to 1000 simultaneous users and approx. 1000 web orders / day.

Web server:


• 2 GB memory

• 120 GB HD

Applications server (where order import and other transactions are made):


• 4 GB memory

• 140 GB HD

SQL-server:


• 16 GB internal memory

• 1 TB HD

All databases is on this server including iScala

Implementation Types

Epicor Storefront applications can be deployed in different ways depending on client requirements and/or environmental conditions.

Single Company Installation One instance of PTServer is required. The public Web Server needs access to the iScala database via Web Services (http).

Multiple Company Installation One instance of PTServer is required for each company. The public Web Server needs access to each iScala database via Web Services (http/https).

Hosting (Single or Multiple Companies) The Web Server is placed in a separate location (Hosting Provider) while the iScala database is located in the internal LAN. Hosting requires Synchronized Mode (see below).



Implementation Modes

On-line - Epicor Storefront accesses the iScala database directly. This means fully updated information in Storefront with no delay. Also, orders placed via Storefront will be written to iScala instantly.

Synchronized - Business information is synchronized from iScala database to a separate database which in turn is accessed by Storefront. This means a slight delay in the information displayed in Storefront. Also, orders placed via Storefront will be written to iScala with a slight delay. The delay is possible to set in the system parameters and depends on your requirements.

The benefits of using Synchronization are two-fold;

• Synchronization enables full 7/24 availability even during iScala system maintenance

• Synchronization supports heavy traffic hosting scenarios even for low speed internet connections between company LAN and Hosting Provider.

Web Hosting Provider Customers requiring outsourced operations can set up Epicor Storefront in a hosting environment.



Technical Services Overview

Epicor’s commitment to deliver high quality business solutions means that our customers depend not only on our applications, but also on our experience in supporting those solutions around the world. Epicor stands behind all of its products with a world-class technical support organization, capable of serving our global customer base.

We are able to offer this support through our worldwide Epicor support centers located in Orlando, Florida; Budapest, Hungary; Moscow, CIS; Dubai, UAE; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The support teams consist of certified application specialists who work alongside certified technical consultants. Information, documentation, discussion forum and other useful resources are available on the Epicor Customer Web Site, http://epicweb/epicor.com

We strive to develop solid, long-term business partnerships with our customers. Epicor's support analysts are not only specialists in our products but they also understand the ongoing business needs of our customers. To ensure our staff are up-to-date they are regularly trained and monitored to ensure they pass our internal certification standards. Our goal is to continue to fine-tune and improve our support systems to enable us to provide the support you need to keep your organization as productive as possible. We continually monitor our performance with incident questionnaires as well as more general customer satisfaction surveys.

Advanced Technology Epicor Technical Support uses advanced telecommunications technology to ensure you connect with the right person quickly to resolve your application related issues. When you call into any of our support centers, our Automatic Call Distribution System quickly routes your call to the appropriate support analyst. Our call tracking system gives our analysts instant access to your records and our extensive knowledge base of information, so they can quickly provide you with answers and solutions. Epicor Technical Support also utilizes the latest technology in troubleshooting tools such as WebEx™ to resolve tough customer issues in a timely manner. Our support centers cover over 20 languages, fluently, using native speakers where possible.

The Customer Center

Self-service support via the Internet can be challenging. That’s why Epicor has designed a specific portion of our website for our Customers. Epicor’s Technical Support Web site (epicweb.epicor.com) includes access to the latest software updates and patches as well as a discussion forum Furthermore, we will soon be launching a secure, documented online-chat system to further improve our ability to answer your queries quickly, while allowing you to break off to work on other tasks while the chat session is underway.

Product Downloads Product patches and service packs are regularly published to the Customer Center where they are available for download to customers with a valid maintenance contract.

New Technical Support Services Offerings for Epicor iScala

Expanded Evening and Weekend Coverage (by Appointment Only) Epicor’s Technical Support realizes that many customers would like to contract for additional support coverage for specific planned system events, like upgrades, which fall outside the normal business weekday support coverage. For an additional fee, we can arrange for you to have access to a personal support contact, available over evenings or weekends, as long as this is scheduled well in advance.

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Supported Products

Support for Epicor Storefront 8.0 handles the following products:

• Epicor Storefront 8.0

• Epicor Storefront 8.0 Design Pack

• Epicor Storefront 8.0 Extra Trading Entity

• Epicor Storefront 8.0 Distributed Site Administration Pack

• Epicor Storefront 8.0 Card Payment

• Epicor Storefront 8.0 Catalogue

• Epicor Storefront 8.0 Product Configurator

• Epicor Storefront 8.0 Synchronizer



Professional Services Overview

Epicor’s Professional Services organization helps mid-market companies implement a complete enterprise software solution, quickly and cost-effectively. By coupling its product suite with a large, well-trained Professional Services organization, Epicor makes implementing enterprise applications simpler by providing a single-stop solution for all customer needs.

In addition to Epicor’s own professional services consultants, we partner with many Value Added Resellers (VARs). VARs are certified on Epicor products and even offer specialized implementation services for geographic markets or specific vertical markets.

Implementation Support

To help you achieve successful, live operation as quickly and as productively as possible, Epicor’s professional services team employs an integrated consulting approach consisting of several fundamental principles.

Technical and Functional Expertise The basis of our consulting success is a robust knowledge base concerning not only our products and how they function but also how you can utilize them most effectively to maximize the return on your investment. Our consulting organization is staffed with Microsoft-certified professionals, Visual Basic® and SQL Server software programmers, and applications experts who have backgrounds in the industries we serve.

Consultants work with you to design your system, explain the functional and technical details of system processes, troubleshoot implementation issues, and concurrently, transfer our extensive knowledge to you.

Customer Solutions Epicor’s Professional Services organization has extensive experience in implementing solutions that span customer relationship management, supplier relationship management, distribution, manufacturing, financial accounting, and enterprise services automation. The organization boasts a proven track record with thousands of successful implementations around the world.

As a leading provider of enterprise applications for the mid-market, Epicor’s solutions are designed to be easy-to-implement, flexible and cost-effective. Through their significant industry experience and direct involvement with the products and technologies, Epicor’s Professional Services organization can deliver tangible business results faster and more efficiently whether you are implementing a single location, or a worldwide deployment.

Proven Implementation Methodology

Our Signature implementation methodology is based on years of field experience implementing our products in hundreds of organizations and provides a compilation of approaches, instructions, techniques, templates and sample deliverables to facilitate implementation projects. The methodology acknowledges the architecture, technology, and personnel requirements for a successful implementation. It also recognizes the requirements for success and increases the chances of quickly and painlessly reaching implementation goals and objectives. It is also highly customizable to each customer’s specific requirements, timetables, and resources. All Epicor consultants and project managers are trained and certified on the Signature methodology as the first step of the Epicor certification program.



Upgrade Services Epicor Consulting offers complete upgrade services. By enlisting services from the consulting team, you will have access to the experience of many upgrades. Specifically, when upgrading from Scala 5.1 version to subsequent versions of iScala, the Epicor consulting team can help you understand the extensive new features and functionality and assist you in both the technical aspects and the business process aspects. You will be provided with a set of consulting and training services to guide you along the fastest migration path in order to maximize the value of your upgrade.

ROI Optimization Program Epicor Professional Services has recently developed an exciting new program to provide our customers with post go-live support services: This program is the iScala ROI Optimization Program.

The main objective of the ROI Optimization Program is to ensure that your business systems remain highly optimized and fully leveraged. With business software, customers may initially implement only a partial amount of the overall available functionality. As priorities and functions change, customers may not realize all of the potential value inherent in their solution. Epicor consultants can help you maximize the return on your current system investment by assisting in the implementation of additional features that you might not be aware of. The intention of the program is to share best practices across our customer base and to ensure your business is getting everything possible out of your Epicor investment.

Integration Services Leveraging the Internet is not just about putting a catalog on a Web site. The Internet can fundamentally change the way a company does business, uses systems, and communicates with its customers, suppliers and partners. Epicor has been helping its customers connect their businesses to the Internet for years, and it understands the impact of it on our customers’ businesses. As a result, Epicor has established a specialized Professional Services team that is focused on implementing e-commerce solutions.

Epicor’s Integration Services team has the experience to implement Epicor systems, from electronic storefronts to supply chain integration to customer portals. Epicor consultants are experienced with protocols, security, virtual private networks, XML schema standards, Microsoft Site Server, Microsoft IIS, HTML, DHTML, ASP’s, Scripting, Microsoft DNA and a host of other technologies necessary to link up to the Internet. More importantly, Integration Services understands all aspects of Epicor’s customers’ businesses so the team knows how to tie eBusiness systems with sales, marketing, finance, distribution and manufacturing systems to e-enable an entire business – not just a Web site.

Hosting Services Epicor designs "total solutions" one customer at a time. It's a "configure-to-order" philosophy which tailors every solution to the specific needs of the customer. Epicor Hosting Services provides a wide range of offerings to configure, host, manage, and monitor the server and network environments of our customers. These offerings provide complete hardware, connectivity, and accessibility within a secure environment. For many of our customers, we are the sole organization responsible for managing their entire Enterprise Application Environments. This includes not only their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and related software, but all applications that are deployed enterprise-wide.

Managed Services Epicor provides application management to mid-size businesses across a range of industries. We pride ourselves on being the "single point of accountability" for our customers' environments. So, regardless of the application on which your business is powered, Epicor provides customized, high quality remote application management.



Epicor’s experienced technicians work in an environment optimized to make use of all of the experts within our company. This ensures higher quality services and offers improved efficiency. All of this means lower costs and less risk for you. This offering includes application and database administration, operating systems and network administration, business process outsourcing and around-the-clock support.

Global Presence

Our regional consulting resources combined with a world-wide partner channel enable Epicor to effectively deliver services when and where you need them. Regional consulting offices are based in our North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific regions.



Product Education Epicor’s Product Education department is pleased to provide a comprehensive set of educational resources to help you understand iScala.

Who Benefits From Education?

Everyone. The comprehensive educational resources that accompany Scala benefits every Scala user: New users, help desk technicians, analysts, support representatives, consultants – everyone!

Education plays a vital role in any implementation. Your organization will realize the greatest benefit when your employees have a deeper understanding of the software solution, enabling them to make their lives at work easier and more productive. At Epicor, we can help your employees gain this understanding through our Education programs.

Our Education Team draws from a wide range of academic and business experiences. The team is made up of experts in their field and the application of Epicor software, who effectively tie structured learning experiences to real world business challenges. Our goal is for you to come away from every learning experience with a basic foundation of knowledge and the enthusiasm to further develop your understanding.

How Do I Get Started?

Visit EPICweb|Epicor Learning! EPICweb|Epicor Learning provides the latest and most innovative methods of delivering education content to you.

EPICweb, Epicor's secured support site, is the central point of contact between Epicor and customers, partners, and peers. Epicor Learning, via Web services, is fully integrated to EPICweb. As a result, by accessing Epicor Learning via EPICweb, you need only a single login for all Epicor services and training content.

To access EPICweb|Epicor Learning, go to http://www.epicor.com and click on Support Login. You will then be prompted for your EPICweb username and password. Once on EPICweb, click on Scala, your product-specific Education page to start your education journey!

Epicor Learning manages training content for all Epicor products and provides a single convenient location for customers to:

• View education announcements

• Download curriculum roadmaps

• Find product-specific educational content

• Register for courses on Epicor's expanding list of classroom training options

• Track and report individualized training progress

• View feature summaries

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What Resources Are Available?

Epicor offers a variety of learning methods to suit your individualized needs and schedule.

• Instructor-led classroom training is one option. For your convenience, these are conducted at one of Epicor's training centers, at your organization, or over the Web.

• A flexible and cost-effective way to train employees is through Web-based trainings. Your employees benefit from instructor expertise without the expensive travel or extended time away from the office. These trainings are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All you need is two hours dedicated to learning.

• Epicor believes in a train-the-trainer approach. That is why we offer a self-paced option for all of our new courses for release 2.3 and beyond. Self-paced packages include the student manual, the instructor manual, and the online course in the same format Epicor instructors use to deliver courses. This gives you a flexible way to handle further training of your employees in-house in a cost-effective manner. NOTE: Some of these courses will also be available as eLearning recordings. A spin on Web-based trainings, eLearning recordings lets you see and hear an instructor conduct product demonstrations.

• A Feature Summary provides a high-level overview of the major new capabilities contained in each release or service pack. It provides a general explanation of enhancements.

• The iScala User Guide, a four-color 280 page book, explains iScala’s functionality with specific examples for users to follow in the product. It is more detailed than the Feature Summary, but still high-level enough to give a beginner a very good grasp of the system as a whole.

Where Do I Go For More Information?

Visit EPICweb|Epicor Learning. You can also contact professional services or your account manager for details about subscription programs.



User Groups Epicor user groups have been organized throughout the world. These user groups provide opportunities for our customers to share experiences and ideas with each other and with the Epicor product marketing and product management teams. The feedback from these groups positively influences our products, our partner relationships and our services.

User Group Leadership Council The Epicor User Group Leadership Council (EUGLC) consists of representatives from all Epicor product lines. The purpose of the leadership council is to represent the customer base and assist Epicor in being responsive to its customers’ needs. The council has the opportunity to influence product development plans and customer support procedures to ensure that both our software products and our services meet our customer needs.

The User Group Leadership Council submits a prioritized list of issues and product enhancement requests to product management. Epicor then reviews these requests with the EUGLC in the form of a product summit. Product Summits consists of members of the EUGLC, key customers, and representatives from Epicor product management, product marketing and technical support teams. Ultimately, the agreed upon software fixes and enhancements are scheduled for incorporation into the future product releases.

It is important to note that we will continue to address issues reported by individual customers directly to technical support. However, the User Group Leadership Council has the unique opportunity to actively participate in Epicor’s release planning and prioritization process.



About Epicor Epicor Software (NASDAQ: EPIC) is a global leader delivering business software solutions to the manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality and services industries. With 20,000 customers in over 150 countries, Epicor provides integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM) and enterprise retail software solutions that enable companies to drive increased efficiency and improve profitability. Founded in 1984, Epicor celebrates 25 years of technology innovation delivering business solutions that provide the scalability and flexibility businesses need to build competitive advantage. Epicor provides a comprehensive range of services with a single point of accountability that promotes rapid return on investment and low total cost of ownership, whether operating business on a local, regional or global scale. The Company’s worldwide headquarters are located in Irvine, California with offices and affiliates around the world. For more information, visit www.epicor.com.

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