Next Release of Epicor Enterprise Performance Management Suite to Leverage “Denali” In-Memory Capabilities and Empower Faster Business Intelligence Data Analysis

Epicor Software Corporation, a global leader in business software solutions for manufacturing, distribution, retail and services organizations, today announced at the 2011 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) its support of Microsoft SQL Server Code Name “Denali” - a complete set of enterprise-ready technologies and tools to enable people to derive the most value from information at the lowest total cost of ownership.

Following the launch of SQL Server Code Name “Denali” Epicor plans to uplift its Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) suite to take advantage of the release’s enhanced levels of performance, availability and security; to employ its productive management and development tools; and, to deliver the next-generation for doing ad hoc business intelligence (BI) data analysis and bring pervasive insight to business users.

“Business executives and information workers  in organizations that use the next release of the Epicor EPM solution with SQL Server Code Name ‘Denali’ will be able to leverage the data residing in their enterprise resource planning system faster and in more interactive ways.” said Herain Oberoi. Director, SQL Server BI Product Management, Microsoft Corporation. “Epicor consistently takes advantage of the latest technology from Microsoft to drive innovation and improve operations for our joint customers worldwide.”

Epicor EPM is an end-to-end solution that removes the barriers to better business insight through a combination of intuitive user experiences, user driven key performance indicators (KPI), and prepackaged analytics that have real meaning to the business. Epicor EPM provides a complete set of tools and applications that let users plan, execute, and analyze at both strategic and tactical levels – aligning business activities with business goals. Effective BI is an important component of any EPM strategy and is an integral component of Epicor solutions, enabling more effective decision making throughout a business. Today, Epicor EPM leverages the advanced analytic capabilities of the Microsoft platform and incorporates modern Web 2.0 concepts for unprecedented ease of use and ultimately business results.

“Epicor is excited to support Microsoft SQL Server code name ‘Denali’ and to employ in the next-generation of Epicor EPM, the rapid data exploration and visualization capabilities Microsoft’s project ‘Crescent’ will offer,” says Hakan Ebersjo, Director, Product Marketing for Epicor. “Microsoft’s new in-memory computing capabilities will afford much faster data analysis and easier navigation for customers leveraging Epicor EPM solutions.  The highly interactive, web-based user interface offers clever reporting and analytics navigation that builds up data graphically on the fly, while Microsoft’s PowerPivot add-in with new advanced analytic capabilities will enable users to plow through a mass of data in a familiar format at much faster speeds.”

Epicor unveiled its Smarter Business Intelligence (BI) initiative at its user conference last October, previewing plans to leverage the advanced analytic and cloud computing technologies offered by Microsoft to bring more valuable insights, predictability and performance guidance to businesses; new features available with “Denali” will make the delivery even easier to manage and tailor.

With Epicor EPM at the core of Smarter BI, it’s all about making business insight easier to find, share and understand for customers. Central to the Epicor EPM platform is the provision of prepackaged industry analytics that remove the need for additional IT involvement.  The combination of “Denali” with its tight integration to SharePoint and the ability to share insight across all levels of the organization with project “Crescent,” coupled with Epicor’s prepackaged content, will be a powerful and game changing experience for Epicor customers in how they can monitor and run their businesses.

News Facts
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Epicor plans to leverage SQL Server Code Name “Denali” in next release of Epicor EPM.

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Epicor customers stand to benefit from faster query performance and rapid data discovery via Microsoft’s project “Crescent” and PowerPivot.

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Because business intelligence analysis is done in-memory, benefits are much faster analysis that is much easier to navigate.