Epicor to NetSuite: Migration Guide for Manufacturers and Distributors

Your Epicor system may hold years of production records, job costs, and customer data. Yet month-end may still take too long. Reports may require manual exports. Adding online sales may feel like a separate IT project.

Moving to NetSuite gives you a chance to clean data and simplify work. The right NetSuite Services team can preserve useful processes. It can also replace the workarounds that slow your staff down.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. technical debt has reached $1.52 trillion
• Companies spent an average $2.9 million on older technology in 2023
• Many mid-market NetSuite projects take three to six months
• NetSuite OneWorld supports companies with several business entities
• Epicor data needs cleaning and mapping before it moves
• Strong testing can reduce problems after the system launches

Why Manufacturers and Distributors Are Switching from Epicor to NetSuite

Epicor has supported manufacturers for many years. Its job costing and plant controls remain strong. Its production planning tools also serve many complex operations.

However, company needs have changed. Many firms now want finance, sales, inventory, and ecommerce in one system. They also want fewer servers and system links to manage.

Several common concerns may lead companies to review NetSuite.

Ecommerce needs: Epicor offers Epicor Commerce, which uses Magento technology. Some companies prefer a store that shares NetSuite data and order rules.

Multi-company reporting: Epicor supports more than one company. Reports may still become difficult when sites use different settings.

IT work: Older Epicor systems may require servers, backups, database support, and upgrades.

Special skills: Older versions may depend on code that few workers understand.

Upgrade demands: Major updates may require planning, testing, training, and outside support.

NetSuite runs as a cloud ERP platform. Oracle provides two major NetSuite updates each year. Finance, inventory, customers, and What is SuiteCommerce? can share the same core records.

Understanding ERP Migration Fundamentals

An ERP migration moves data, work steps, system links, and users. The goal should not be to copy every old record and workaround.

A good migration should also improve daily work. It may simplify approvals and remove duplicate data. It can also make reports and user roles easier to manage.

What Makes Epicor-to-NetSuite Different

Epicor Kinetic often uses Microsoft SQL Server. Some older Epicor products use Progress OpenEdge.

NetSuite uses its own cloud data model. Companies cannot move the full Epicor database into NetSuite as it stands.

The main steps include:

• Data extraction: Export records and open work from Epicor
• Data cleaning: Fix copies, missing fields, and old records
• Field mapping: Match Epicor fields with NetSuite fields
• Data conversion: Change dates, units, and values into accepted formats
• Validation: Compare inventory, order, and accounting totals

The schedule depends on your Epicor version and data quality. Custom code can also add more work.

A simple move may take three to four months. A harder project may take six to nine months.

Several plants or business units can extend the project. Currencies and system links may also add more work. The first review should find these risks early.

The Customization Question

Epicor users often depend on Business Activity Queries, known as BAQs. A BAQ helps users find and display business data.

They may also use Business Process Management rules, known as BPMs. These rules control approvals, alerts, and other system actions.

BAQs and BPMs do not move into NetSuite by themselves. A BAQ may become a saved search, report, or workbook.

A BPM may become a SuiteFlow workflow or script. Some rules may also use standard NetSuite settings.

Do not rebuild every custom rule without reviewing its value. Some rules may support an old process that no longer helps.

Other rules may copy features that NetSuite already includes. Rebuilding them would add cost without adding much value.

Older Epicor systems may also contain custom tables with few notes. An early review can find these records before they cause delays.

Key Considerations for Your Data Migration

Data work often creates more delays than teams expect. The same item may use different names at separate plants.

Units, account codes, and customer records may follow different standards. These issues must be fixed before the final data load.

Start this work early. Assign an owner to each data group. Each owner should approve the cleaned records before they move.

What to Migrate vs. What to Archive

Not every old record needs to move into NetSuite. Too much history can slow testing. It can also make search results less useful.

A practical plan may include:

• Migrate: Open orders, active customers, current inventory, and needed history
• Archive: Closed orders, older records, inactive vendors, and old files
• Remove: Duplicate records, test entries, and obsolete item records

Some companies keep older Epicor data in a secure archive. Staff can still search it during an audit or customer review.

Finance, legal, and tax teams should approve the plan. Record rules vary by location, industry, and document type.

Critical Data Types for Manufacturers and Distributors

Finance should own the general ledger map. Operations should own items, BOMs, routings, units, and inventory rules.

Both groups must approve the final results before launch. A small mapping error can cause major stock or reporting problems.

How NetSuite Handles Manufacturing Operations

NetSuite offers several manufacturing modules for mid-market companies. These tools support work orders, builds, BOMs, WIP, routings, and supply plans.

The exact tools depend on the NetSuite products you buy. They also depend on how the project team sets them up.

Core Manufacturing Features

• Work orders: Track planned production and required materials
• Assembly builds: Convert parts into finished products
• Bills of materials: Define the parts used in each product
• WIP and routings: Track production through planned work steps
• Labor costing: Record worker time and production costs
• Supply planning: Plan purchases and production from demand

These tools may meet the daily needs of many manufacturers. Each company should still test its hardest production cases.

Tests should include scrap, rework, part changes, and outside work. The team should also test lot tracking and partial builds.

A standard product demo may not cover these cases. Those cases often reveal the details that matter most.

Manufacturing Capabilities Worth Understanding

Epicor may provide deeper plant control for some job shops. NetSuite also offers Advanced Manufacturing, mobile plant tools, and quality tools.

Some companies may still need a manufacturing execution system. This type of system is often called an MES.

An MES tracks detailed work on the plant floor. It may collect machine data, worker steps, and production results.

Quality needs also vary by industry. Medical, aerospace, and defense companies may need strict checks. They may also need a full history for parts and materials.

NetSuite may manage finance and inventory while another system runs plant work. That choice should follow a full review of the company’s needs.

Streamlining Distribution with NetSuite

Some distributors move from Epicor Prophet 21 or Epicor Eclipse. They often want easier reports, stronger ecommerce, and better inventory data.

NetSuite for Wholesale Distributors can support:

• Procurement: Vendor records, purchase orders, and landed costs
• Inventory: Stock across sites, bins, lots, and serial numbers
• Order management: Sales, fulfillment, billing, and returns
• Customer pricing: Price levels and contract rates

SuiteCommerce gives NetSuite users a connected ecommerce option. Customers can sign in, view products, check inventory, and place orders.

The store can use the same customer and item data as NetSuite. This may reduce the need to copy records into another database.

Native does not mean instant. The team must still define prices and payment rules. It must also set user access, shipping methods, and order steps.

The full customer path also needs testing. This includes login, pricing, checkout, payment, shipping, and returns.

Evaluating Cloud ERP: NetSuite vs. Traditional Epicor

The way each system runs is a major part of the decision. NetSuite is a cloud-only ERP platform.

Epicor Kinetic supports cloud use and has also supported local systems. The right choice depends on your IT rules and support team.

Feature Comparison

When NetSuite Is a Strong Fit

NetSuite may fit well if you:

• Want less server and database work
• Need reports across several legal entities
• Plan to add ecommerce or customer portals
• Want sales and ERP data in one place
• Prefer scheduled cloud updates
• Need one view of orders, inventory, and finance

When NetSuite May Not Be the Best Fit

A move may need more review if you:

• Run complex engineer-to-order production
• Depend on advanced finite scheduling
• Have strict quality processes built into Epicor
• Recently finished a large Epicor project
• Must keep ERP data on local servers
• Depend on custom Epicor tools without replacements

Enhanced Functionality with NetSuite

NetSuite provides more than core finance and inventory tools. Its NetSuite Modules support planning, production, ecommerce, sales, and reporting.

Not every product comes with the base plan. Confirm the required products before approving the project scope.

Financial Management

NetSuite OneWorld supports several subsidiaries, currencies, tax needs, and shared reports. It can help companies review results across many business units.

NetSuite sells Multi-Book Accounting as a separate product. This tool helps companies keep more than one set of books.

Advanced Revenue Management is another separate product. It helps companies record revenue over time.

These products differ from Advanced Financials. Advanced Financials supports budgets, cost splits, and other finance work.

McKinsey says technical debt may equal 20% to 40% of a company’s technology value. A migration gives teams a chance to remove old fields, reports, and scripts.

Automation Opportunities

NetSuite workflows can manage many repeated tasks. Common examples include:

• Order approvals: Send large orders to the correct manager
• Credit holds: Stop orders above an approved limit
• Shipping notices: Send tracking details after fulfillment
• Inventory alerts: Warn staff about shortages or delays

These tools can reduce manual work and missed steps. Results still depend on clear rules and accurate data.

Anchor Group helped one ecommerce company cut order processing from ten minutes to ten seconds per order.

The best tasks have stable data and clear decisions. Poor data can make a good workflow unreliable.

Integration Capabilities

NetSuite can connect with outside tools through APIs, SuiteApps, and NetSuite Integrations.

Common connections include:

• NetSuite WMS and RF-SMART
• FedEx, UPS, and ShipStation
• TrueCommerce and SPS Commerce
• Mailchimp and Klaviyo
• Stripe and PayPal

Each connection adds another data flow to test. Choose one main system for customers, items, prices, orders, and payments.

This rule stops two systems from changing the same record. That is where data problems often begin.

Tips for a Successful Migration

ERP projects often struggle because teams miss key data or testing work. Weak training and unclear ownership can also cause trouble.

The software matters, but project choices matter just as much. A clear scope and strong owners can prevent many common problems.

It also helps to reject old custom work that adds little value. There is no prize for rebuilding every workaround from 2014.

Phase Your Migration

Do not try to solve every business problem at once. A sample plan may include:

1. Weeks 1 to 4: Review Epicor, workflows, code, and system links.
2. Weeks 5 to 12: Set up accounts, sites, items, users, and roles.
3. Weeks 10 to 16: Load test data and verify totals.
4. Weeks 15 to 20: Train users and load final data.
5. Weeks 21 to 24: Support users and fix launch issues.

This schedule is only an example. Several plants, business units, currencies, or system links may require more time.

Avoid These Mistakes

• Skipping test cycles: Complete several data tests before launch
• Rebuilding every BAQ: Replace only reports people still use
• Weak training: Train users with real business examples
• Moving all history: Migrate only useful historical data
• Unclear ownership: Assign one owner to each data group
• Testing ideal orders: Include returns, shortages, and exceptions

Get Finance and Operations Aligned

An ERP move is not only an IT project. Finance must own accounts, balances, tax rules, and reports.

Operations must own items, BOMs, routings, locations, and inventory rules. Sales and service teams should test orders and returns.

Without clear owners, valid data may still fail during daily work. A system can run correctly and still frustrate its users.

You can book a FREE 30-minute NetSuite fix to discuss your Epicor setup. The review can identify difficult questions before the project begins.

Why Manufacturers and Distributors Work with Anchor Group

Anchor Group received a NetSuite Competitive Spotlight award for an Epicor switch. The award reflects the team’s experience with this type of project.

What makes Anchor Group different:

• Epicor experience: The team understands BAQs, custom fields, and old data
• Manufacturing knowledge: Consultants understand WIP, routings, and inventory
• Ecommerce experience: The team supports NetSuite and SuiteCommerce
• U.S.-based staff: Clients work directly with experienced consultants
• Hands-on support: Clients receive clear answers without extra layers

Forney Industries praised Anchor Group’s ideas and honest feedback. POS Global completed a website project on budget and ahead of schedule.

Douglas Production Technologies said its team’s morale improved after two meetings. That may not appear in an ERP report, but it matters.

Anchor Group offers NetSuite Implementation for manufacturers and distributors. It also provides NetSuite Managed Services after launch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an Epicor-to-NetSuite migration take?

Most mid-market projects take about three to six months. Clean data may shorten the schedule. Heavy custom code can add more work. Several plants or business units may require added testing. The first review should identify these risks early. Teams also need time for training and data checks. A rushed launch often creates more work after the new system goes live.

What happens to my historical Epicor data?

You can move recent records and place older data in a secure archive. Most companies move open orders, current inventory, active customers, and approved balances. They may also move a limited period of past transactions. Older records can remain available for audits and customer questions. Finance and legal teams should approve the rules. This plan keeps useful data without moving every old record.

Will my custom Epicor reports transfer to NetSuite?

Epicor reports do not move directly into NetSuite. BAQs may become saved searches, reports, or SuiteAnalytics workbooks. Crystal Reports often need to be rebuilt. Start with reports used for major business decisions. Some older reports may no longer be useful. A NetSuite dashboard may replace several separate reports. Users should test every replacement before the final launch.

Is NetSuite strong enough for manufacturing?

NetSuite supports work orders, BOMs, WIP, routings, and supply planning. These tools fit many mid-market manufacturers. Some plants need deeper scheduling or shop-floor controls. Regulated companies may also require added quality tools. Test your hardest production cases before choosing. Some companies use NetSuite for finance and inventory. Another system may handle detailed plant work.

What support can I expect after go-live?

A good partner provides close support after the system launches. This period is often called hypercare. The team fixes urgent errors and answers user questions. It may also review inventory, order, and finance problems. Hypercare often lasts several weeks. NetSuite Optimization can then improve workflows and reports. Continued support helps resolve issues that testing did not find.