Kerrie Jordan, VP of Product Management at Epicor, tells us all about their ERP for manufacturers

Thank you so much, Jim. I'm glad to be here.

Happy New Year.

Sure, happy to. Epicor is a business software provider focused on essential industries. We serve those hard-working businesses that keep the world turning: manufacturing, distribution, building supply, retail, and automotive. We help from an ERP perspective but also with other industry productivity solutions like e-commerce tools, business intelligence, content management. We're really focused on being a technology partner for those essential businesses.

That's a great question. Enterprise resource planning. It's a business software application focused on managing financials, tracking transactions, ensuring efficient operations through the shop floor. There are all kinds of ERPs; we're focused specifically on manufacturing. It's a general business category of software.

Sure, thank you for asking. I lead a team of product managers. Our company is focused on these industries, but we're unique in how we help a variety of essential industries use tools like e-commerce and business intelligence. I got into this space after a background in product marketing and customer success. My education is in marketing and English, so I love storytelling. That's what got me into manufacturing—the story arc, the challenges, the innovations. It was my love of storytelling that brought me here.

Given what's happening—supply chain fluctuation, consumer behavior swings, talent changes, sustainability trends—ERP technologies are being pushed to extend beyond the core of financials and operations. They need to bring locked-in data to life, create customer experiences, connect to suppliers, and work within digital ecosystems. It's exciting, but there are also challenges like cybersecurity. One area I love is using configurable products to create personalized buyer experiences, like Tough Shed's 3D visualization. That data flows from the website to the ERP and the shop floor, ensuring accurate orders and timely delivery. That's the kind of differentiating experience manufacturers want today.

That's a great question. When done well, it's all interrelated because data flow across the organization creates competitive advantage. Over time, companies accumulate multiple applications, leading to data entry frustration and lack of trust. Creating connectivity and integration among applications unlocks productivity, efficiencies, and better customer experiences. For example, when a customer calls with a support issue, the team can access the information immediately. There's a lot of opportunity there.

Absolutely. Excellent.

It always comes down to functionality. Is it solving your business challenges now and for the next few years? You want a flexible platform that supports your vision and pain points. Understand your strategic corporate goals—if you want a great web experience, ensure the ERP can integrate with e-commerce. You need open APIs and standard protocols. It could be from a single vendor with composable modules, or multiple technologies that connect. Establish a single source of truth with bidirectional or one-directional data flow to maintain trust.

You nailed it. There has to be training and an intuitive user experience. Many tools have in-context guided learning, step by step, so employees can learn as they use the system. That's a great resource.

We do work with them. We take an open, connected, people-centric approach. Every organization is unique, especially in manufacturing. We allow flexibility and connectivity for data sharing. It's fine to invest in technology that understands specific compliance requirements, like aerospace or medical devices. The key is that it must work in conjunction with your ERP.

We have an Executive Cloud Council made up of our largest cloud customers. They provide feedback that informs our investments and roadmap. Many manufacturers are moving to SaaS-based technologies, and soon the majority of Epicor customers will be on the cloud. We run our cloud on Azure and AWS. The council is a group of strategic leaders we recently met with to discuss data—how to use it, what kinds of data are needed, and how technology can serve that up. With industry data blended with ERP data, and applying AI, we can make suggestions on pricing or supply chain disruptions. Another big area is automation—content management, machine learning to process invoices, and new business models leveraging IoT. For example, tracking pallets to provide customers with real-time visibility, just like Amazon.

So true. Great stuff.

I think an important element is redefining business models based on these technologies. It's not just about innovating a better widget; the full business model needs consideration. That's where incredible opportunity lies. Piecing together IoT, automation, customer portals, and subscription-based services can have a big impact on the bottom line. Companies shouldn't be afraid—they should look to technology partners, participate in advisory boards, attend user groups, and learn from each other.

We absolutely take that seriously. We work with small family-run businesses up to multi-billion dollar organizations. We rely on customers to inform our roadmap. Being a partner is about the people and the relationships.

Absolutely.

Yes, love camping. We do tent camping, but when it gets chilly, I might need an RV. I also love music festivals and camping. Have you been recently?

That's cool—making lemonade out of lemons. The campouts that scouts talk about for years are the tough ones.

People can find me on LinkedIn. It's Kerrie Jordan, spelled K-E-R-R-I-E, and Jordan is J-O-R-D-A-N. Epicor is just epicor.com.

Thank you.