IFS vs Epicor SCM

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Our analysts compared IFS vs Epicor SCM based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Supply Chain Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

IFS Software Tool

Product Basics

IFS offers is a suite of connected workflows such as accounting, warehouse management, distribution, sales and HCM. By integrating a range of front- and back-office workflows, the program aims to alleviate internal snags and streamline operations.

The software contains real-time insights and can be accessed either through the cloud or via on-premise installation. It’s intended for use by medium and large companies. The program is highly integrative and contains various online support and training options for users.

To learn more about their primary ERP offering, visit our IFS Cloud page.
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Epicor SCM is offered as a module within Epicor’s distribution and manufacturing products Prophet 21, Eclipse and Kinetic. It delivers a comprehensive suite of solutions to its users within a single platform based on service-oriented architecture. Users can get complete visibility throughout the value chain to ensure effective coordination between raw materials and finished product consumption.

It offers an array of enterprise capabilities that include purchase, inventory, advanced material warehouse, order and demand management, and sourcing and procurement. Industry expertise is combined with innovative technology to help manufacturers, distributors and retailers gain greater efficiency and eliminate hidden costs.
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$8,000 Monthly
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$50/User, Monthly
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Product Assistance

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24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Accessibility: IFS solutions can be deployed through different avenues: SaaS, cloud service models, IFS Managed Cloud or on-premise. With cloud deployment, the program can be accessed at any time and any location as long as there is an internet connection available. 
  • Real-Time Data: The program includes real-time data and visualizations. For example, engineering changes, bottlenecks in the production system and any material shortages can be analyzed as they occur. Barcode scanning is also included to track the movement of products and materials throughout the supply chain. 
  • Revenue Boost: By identifying and reducing bottlenecks, forecasting demand and honing the sales process, revenue can be increased. IFS includes a range of features that can maximize revenue through elements such as reduction in spoilage and increased efficiency. 
  • Increase Productivity: IFS helps streamline and automate facets of workflows such as sales, manufacturing and distribution. By reducing the amount of time that employees spend on tasks such as supplier invoicing, which can be automated through this tool, more time is freed up for staff to work on other important tasks. 
  • Legal Compliance: This program helps to ensure company compliance with a range of industry or governmental standards and regulations. For example, IFS Human Capital Management can keep track of and manage employee health and safety measures in accordance with legal requirements. A dedicated maintenance tool is also available to help ensure that the company adheres to rules. 
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  • Optimize Inventory: Offers an intuitive web interface that converges consensus demand and inventory planning, optimizing techniques and robust forecasting methodologies. Its modern platform helps identify and correct inventory imbalances, assess and track operational performance, improve forecast accuracy and reduce inventory costs. 
  • Advanced Material Management: Businesses can create electronic requests for materials, dispatch them and track inventory movements through advanced material management. Provides various features to meet customer requirements, including a material handler interface, order prioritization, sales order allocation, scanning and more. 
  • Manage Supplier Relationship: Delivers tools for purchasing agents, buyers and procurement staff to request quotes for subcontract services or raw material from suppliers. Manage purchasing transactions like order expediting, purchase order and supplier account management. Find the best material required through a filter and sort RFQ criteria based on price, lead-time, ISO certification, on-hand inventory and quality rating. 
  • Manage and Control Inventory: Reduce annual audit costs through inventory control and counting on a scheduled and regular basis through a cycle counting module. This system allows the definition of cycles needed, zero quantity counting on-hand and item designation with a suitable ABC code. Also, gain control over obsolete, slow-moving and excess inventory through physical count processes. 
  • Commerce Connect: Promote online business growth with a comprehensive e-commerce solution, integrated with Prophet 21 and Epicor ERP. Its benefits include mobile access, real-time stock levels, B2B and B2C channel support, special pricing, search engine optimization, site analytics, compelling storefronts, master shopper and sales rep features. 
  • Better Customer Service: Improve sales lead-to-close ratio, automate tasks, accurately forecast sales and assist at-risk customers. Fulfill customer needs through insights into their buying behavior. 
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  • IFS Financials: IFS includes basic accounting tools such as general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable and fixed assets. It also contains business planning functionality that uses customer-defined planning models to enable demand-driven planning. The eInvoice tool automates supplier invoicing and enables electronic invoicing. Consolidation can also be conducted across multiple companies and with multiple reporting currencies. 
  • IFS Human Capital Management: This system allows employees to manage their own data as well as perform tasks such as applying for leave and updating time and expense reports. HR personnel can also manage payroll procedures, maintain health and safety information in accordance with government regulations and develop internal training programs through the tool. Recruitment can be done through the program’s connectivity with third-party applicant tracking systems (ATS). 
  • IFS Engineering: This feature includes the ability for continuously updated data related to factors such as design elements, products and facilities to be accessed throughout an organization. Change management capabilities allow users to view, approve and check changes before going ahead with change orders. The commissioning tool also ensures that facility components are designed, tested, etc. in accordance with operational requirements through the use of punch lists and mechanical completion packages. 
  • IFS Projects: IFS includes project management, risk management, project reporting and project budgeting features. Specific functionality consists of the ability to process project cost transactions, create projects using WBS, develop project schedules and develop forecasts using multiple versions of project estimates, reviews, budgets, etc. Estimate to Complete (ETC) and Estimate at Complete (EAC) principles are supported and spreading rules are available. 
  • IFS Manufacturing: This tool can calculate capacity requirements, conduct Master Scheduling for finished goods, manage the production to order process and enable employees to report production information quickly. Project-based, discrete, repetitive and batch process manufacturing are also supported through the system. Visualization of the production plan is included and enables users to identify bottlenecks and material shortages. 
  • IFS Supply Chain: IFS offers demand forecasting, supply chain planning, inventory replenishment, sales order management, procurement, rental management, warehouse management and shipment management features. The inventory function is connected to the demand forecasting tool and includes different planning strategies such as economic order quantity and service level-driven safety stocks. Item traceability is also supported through barcode functionality, which provides real-time stock information. 
  • IFS Sales & Service: This feature controls the customer lifecycle from the time a lead comes in to the time that a product reaches its final destination. It assists with transportation by allowing users to visualize driving routes. It also supports service quote and contract management. Sales efforts can be streamlined through the sales configurator, which includes a product advisor that uses a series of questions to define requirements and recommend products. 
  • IFS Maintenance: IFS enables users to evaluate potential improvements in equipment performance, communicate with subcontractors through a collaboration portal, develop leaner MRO operations and manage preventive maintenance schedules. It also makes regulatory compliance for vehicle fleets easier and manages tasks such as fault reporting, preparation, execution and final reporting for maintenance-related matters. 
  • IFS Business Enablers: This solution includes role-based portals and personalized access to ensure that employees, customers and suppliers view the most relevant information and that no one has access to privileged information that they should not be able to review. The solution contains real-time data and allows for the connection of internal and external programs through web services. Add-ins and add-ons can be implemented to customize the solution through RESTful oData APIs from IFS. 
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  • Warehouse Management: Offers complete visibility, control and management of SCM and logistics operations through warehouse management software. Connect the warehouse with order processing and manufacturing services to optimize pick, pack, ship and receiving operations. Provides various features that include finite bin and package definitions, activities and consumption management, task and load management, multi-channel order processing and more. 
  • Inventory Planning: Statistical forecasting can select an accurate forecast model for items accounting for seasonality, trend and event-driven/promotion demand through the demand planner. Inventory optimization offers policy decision support and helps share, collaborate and track the impact of inventory planning policy. Identify stocking trends, value, understocks, overstocks and potential order cancellations through operational analytics. 
  • Barcoding: Epicor BarTender improves security, safety and efficiency by automating barcodes, printing and controlling labels, plastic cards, RFID tags and more. Lets organizations consolidate designs with intelligent templates, maintain regulatory compliance and apply secure document control. 
  • Electronic Data Integration: Offers B2B integration solutions that provide organizations with electronic data interchange functionality, flexible data integration and database translation engines to reduce costs and increase productivity. EDI managed service on demand uses fully supported and commercially available software tools to connect customers with their business partners as a service. 
  • Purchase Management: Handle purchase order writing and track supplier performance through purchase management. It helps reduce inventory levels, enhance cash flows, improve on-time deliveries and increase profit levels. Provides various capabilities that include automated purchasing tools, approving suppliers, order and supplier tracker, mass purchase order and multiple location receipts, requisition management and cross-referencing. 
  • Shipping and Receiving: Monitor incoming and outgoing items with a central application. Improve efficiency, ease of use and accuracy through online transaction and editing. Enables container and receipt tracking, customer and miscellaneous shipment tracking, manifesting and freight management, bill of lading printing and more. 
  • Handheld Application: Track inventory moving throughout the enterprise with the Epicor Handheld application. Provides event-based directing and routing of managed tasks and helps maintain complete transaction history for reporting and analyzing. 
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Product Ranking

#7

among all
Supply Chain Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

80
79
97
100
77
92
54
53
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Inventory Management
Purchase Order Management
Supply Chain Analytics
Procurement and Supplier Management
Integrations and Extensibility
Inventory Management
Purchase Order Management
Logistics and Transportation
Procurement and Supplier Management
Supply Chain Analytics

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

IFS
Epicor SCM
+ Add Product + Add Product
Inventory Management Logistics And Transportation Mobile Capabilites Procurement And Supplier Management Purchase Order Management Supply Chain Analytics Supply Chain Planning Warehouse Labor Management Warehouse Management 97 77 54 88 93 93 73 86 81 100 92 53 92 100 90 62 75 85 0 25 50 75 100
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90%
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

71%
0%
29%
43%
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57%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 121 reviews
Good User Sentiment 431 reviews
80%
of users recommend this product

IFS has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 80% when considering 121 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

74%
of users recommend this product

Epicor SCM has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 74% when considering 431 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

n/a
4.3 (11)
3.6 (20)
3.7 (326)
n/a
5.0 (2)
3.7 (22)
n/a
4.2 (65)
5.0 (3)
4.1 (14)
3.5 (89)

Awards

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SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Epicor SCM and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Inventory Management and Purchase Order Management.

Inventory Management Award
Purchase Order Management Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise IFS for its user-friendly design and easy-to-navigate interface, which reduces training time and improves adoption rates.
Flexibility and customization: The system's modular architecture allows for a high degree of customization, enabling businesses to tailor it to their unique processes and requirements without extensive coding.
Strong industry focus: IFS is particularly well-suited for industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, and energy, offering deep functionality and expertise in these areas.
Mobile accessibility: Users can access the system from any device, including smartphones and tablets, enabling them to stay connected and productive while on the go.
Robust project management: IFS provides comprehensive project management capabilities, from planning and scheduling to resource allocation and cost tracking, helping businesses deliver projects on time and within budget.
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User-Friendly: Its interface is easy to use and manage, as noted by more than 78% of reviewers who mention ease of use.
Reporting: It offers comprehensive reporting capabilities, as observed by around 67% of the users who refer to reports.
Navigation: All the reviewers who specify navigation state that it is easy to navigate throughout the application.
Customization: It is highly customizable to fit the customer’s needs, as stated by over 86% of the users specifying customization.
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High upfront investment: IFS can require a significant initial investment for implementation and customization, potentially exceeding budgets for smaller businesses.
Steep learning curve: The system's complexity can lead to a steeper learning curve for users, requiring extensive training and support to achieve full proficiency.
Limited out-of-the-box functionality: While configurable, IFS may not offer pre-built features for specific industry needs, necessitating additional development or workarounds.
Integration complexities: Integrating IFS with existing systems can be challenging, requiring specialized expertise and potentially leading to data silos.
Performance bottlenecks: Large or complex implementations may experience performance issues, requiring careful optimization and infrastructure considerations.
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Slow Performance: All the users mentioning performance report that the system runs slow, affecting overall performance.
Customer Support: It lacks support on complex issues, as observed by 87% of the users who refer to customer support.
Implementation: Around 70% of reviewers who specified that the process of installation, implementation and upgrading is cumbersome.
Bugs: It has many bugs that can disturb users, as stated by all reviewers mentioning bugs.
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User reviews for IFS paint a picture of a powerful and flexible ERP system, but one that demands investment and expertise. Fans praise its intuitive interface and industry-specific depth, especially in sectors like aerospace and manufacturing. "The power of IFS is amazing and overwhelming," one user gushes, noting its ability to handle 95% of their business processes. The modular architecture allows for significant customization, a major draw for many. "It can be tailored to fit almost any business environment," says another reviewer, contrasting it with the "rigid" feel of competing products like SAP. However, IFS isn't for everyone. The initial investment and customization needs can be daunting, particularly for smaller companies. "The cost can be high," admits a user, comparing it to the "more affordable" options like Microsoft Dynamics 365. Additionally, the complexity can lead to a steep learning curve. "It's not as user-friendly as NetSuite," says another reviewer, highlighting the need for extensive training. Integration challenges and potential performance bottlenecks are also mentioned as drawbacks. Ultimately, IFS seems best suited for companies with specific industry needs and the resources to invest in its extensive capabilities. "If you're looking for a deep dive into your industry, IFS is amazing," one user concludes. "But if you need something quick and easy, there are other options."

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Epicor SCM offers extensive modules to manage everything from forecasting to the fulfillment processes of a complete supply chain. This user-friendly solution is highly customizable to meet the changing requirements of customers. It provides comprehensive reporting and navigation capabilities to elevate user experiences. However, many reviewers note that its customer support is not responsive, making it difficult to resolve complicated issues. Also, a complex implementation process and slow system can affect overall business performance.

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