Epicor Prophet 21 vs SAP: ERP Comparison for Distributors

P21, an Epicor cloud system for distribution is undoubtedly one of the most powerful cloud ERP solutions for distributors. The SAP cloud ERP solution is an alternative, even if it’s not specifically designed for the distribution sector.

Discover the main differences between these ERP software packages to help you pick the best choice for your organization.

Prophet 21 is unique in that it specifically targets companies looking for a personalized ERP solution for distribution.

As for SAP Business One, it is a standard ERP solution aimed at various industries. SAP’s primary customers are in the professional services, retail, manufacturing and consumer products sectors.

Another significant difference between Epicor and SAP products is the flexibility of pricing options. P21 offers distributors the choice between a perpetual license or a monthly subscription (SaaS).

However, Prophet 21 in the cloud is offered like virtually any other SaaS product. The total cost of ownership (TCO) of P21 software in the cloud depends on several factors, such as the number of users, deployed functionalities, and of course, your service contract.

For on-site deployment, the cost will mostly depend on the degree of customization required and the number of users.

As for SAP Business One, there are no perpetual licenses. SAP pricing, therefore, depends on the factors mentioned above, i.e., the number of users and customers, degree of customization, etc.

Although SAP is a viable alternative, distributors who own small businesses or mid-market organizations will benefit from implementing Prophet 21. It’s one of the best ERP solutions to enhance your employees’ user experience.

A user-friendly dashboard customized for each team and role to facilitate adoption

Prophet 21 is a fully customizable distribution ERP. Everything can be adjusted, from interface configuration to navigation menus, to best serve your needs and working methods.

Simplified search processes to boost productivity

Epicor has designed the P21 ERP system to be consistent, easy to use and navigate. Whether your employees are looking for data on orders, a final sale, deliveries, suppliers, inventory or any other impactful data, they won’t waste any time searching.

Accessible and responsive to companies’ training needs

When it comes to ERP training for P21, the software checks all the boxes. You can access documentation, a forum, in-person help, online help, tutorials, videos, web conferences and webinars.

In comparison, SAP Business One has only documentation, on-site or online help, and a few videos and webinars.

Technical support services tailored to the needs of modern distributors

Regarding support, you couldn’t do better than the services offered by Epicor and its resellers. We’re talking about:

• 24/7 online support with a representative
• Business hours
• Customer onboarding
• E-mail service within 24 hours
• E-mail support
• FAQ
• Customer portal
• Knowledge base
• Live chat
• Online support
• Phone support
• Professional ERP services and personalized paid support
• Video tutorials

Epicor offers a comprehensive suite of services and features to support its users. SAP only provides e-mail and telephone support, a knowledge base and live chat.

Prophet 21 is offered in both desktop and mobile versions, but desktop versions are only available for Windows operating systems. As for its mobile versions, they perform equally well on Android and IOS systems.

SAP, on the other hand, is also available on MAC Os and Linux desktop operating systems. The two software products are either on-premise or offered as cloud-based SaaS versions.

P21 also offers more language modules to meet the needs of its international customers.

In addition to customizing the interface and menus, P21 can also integrate third-party applications via application programming interfaces (APIs), which is not possible with SAP.

This differential advantage gives P21 a competitive edge that goes beyond the traditional capabilities of ERP and distribution software. Your sales departments can improve their sales processes and customer lifecycle by integrating EDI from suppliers, credit cards or an e-commerce site.

There are also mobile apps for managing deliveries and signatures, payroll, customer relations, finance and enterprise content. Epicor ECC (Epicor Commerce Connect) for B2B, Epicor FP&A for financial management, and Epicor ECM (enterprise content management) are the most popular applications.

We also recommend Epicor Quick Ship for distributors, which offers a number of useful features:

• Contact carriers
• Recover shipping costs
• Tracking information according to weight, size, dimensions, number of packages, and postal code.
• Print all relevant documents and labels for carriers.

All these data are then returned to your Epicor Prophet 21 solution, eliminating manual input errors.

Without getting too technical, Epicor Prophet 21 leverages the simplicity and security of Microsoft Azure cloud technology.

The P21 cloud system is entirely browser-based and accessible on any browser and device. From laptops to tablets to phones, Prophet 21 is available anywhere, anytime.

Prophet 21 software is undoubtedly the market leader in distribution process management. Its warehouse management system facilitates label and barcode printing, as well as a host of exclusive functions. The system also integrates easily with most, if not all, of your existing automated warehouse machines.