Epicor: A Global ERP Solutions company breaks into the Philippine market

Businesses make use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions with the intention of consolidating information and raising efficiencies in their business processes. ERP systems are integrated computer-based systems that are used to manage company resources. These were initially used as tools to enable manufacturing companies to manage their production requirements. Through the years, ERP functions have since expanded to meet the requirements of other industries. To implement ERP systems, businesses seek the assistance of ERP vendors or third-party consulting companies. Significant planning is required to implement these systems. Thus vendors offer a range of services that include consulting, customization and support. The challenge facing the planning and implementation of these systems is that, ERP vendors have designed their systems around the standard business practices of various industries. These ERP solutions are oftentimes standard or “modular" in nature. Thus, companies that want to implement ERP systems are forced to change some of their processes to fit the functions of the systems, as opposed to the ERP packages adapting to their existing processes. Many businesses in the Philippines have already availed the ERP systems offered by various local and international providers. The usual problem encountered, however, is that the available ERP solutions are either too limited in functionality as the ones offered by the cheap off-the shelf software solutions, or too expensive yet oftentimes not functionally-suited to the requirements of Philippine operations which end up requiring customization that spells additional costs to the client. But the biggest disappointment comes when clients realize that the ERP system they bought from even the well-advertised, supposedly leading and high-end ERP providers could not go live after incurring multi-million peso investments and several months of integration and customization efforts. A number of business owners and IT executives feel they have been shortchanged by their ERP providers, and this horrible story is shared by many companies in the Philippines that decided to invest in an ERP system. This is one sad experience that companies who are about to acquire a viable ERP system definitely would like to avoid. They do not want to follow suit and make the wrong decision to work with an unreliable ERP provider which boasts of being a well-known brand but end up not being able to deliver the client’s expectation. Clients want an ERP that works! This challenge in the Philippine market presents a unique selling point for Epicor, a highly reliable Microsoft-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) system which Dr. Patrick Azanza brought into the Philippines last year after his stint as an international consultant for the Asian Development Bank. Flexibility and functionality are the key words that best describe the services that Epicor ERP system offers. “Epicor offers an ERP solution that meets our clients’ specific needs at a total cost of ownership (TCO) that is affordable and cost-efficient as there are no extra customization fees and other exorbitant hidden charges. Companies can compare the functional capabilities of Epicor as well as our TCO with the rest of the ERP systems in the market and I am sure that Epicor will end up as the most affordable working ERP solution," explains Dr. Azanza, who now serves as President and CEO of Winsource Business Solutions Inc (WBSI). “The one big thing though that makes Epicor a cut-above the rest of the other ERP systems in the country, is that aside from its functional and operational flexibility, it provides 24/7 mobile access capability which allows every owner and top executive to do business without barriers. Now every President/CEO of an Epicor-supported company has his business within his reach anytime, anywhere, he simply has to open his cellphone or check his management dashboard from the web. This is something that other ERP systems cannot provide," declared Dr. Azanza. Winsource is the authorized channel partner and value-added reseller of Epicor, a global company based in the USA with more than 20,000 clients worldwide. Winsource is also part of the group of companies under Winace Holdings Philippines Inc., owned by business leader and technocrat Teodorico T. Haresco Jr. Winsource is headquartered at the 14th Floor of Tower 1 Robinsons Cybergate and can be reached thru telephone number 667-3838 and email address winsource.epicor@wsi-ph.com. - Press release from EPICOR