If you are already using Epicor Eclipse ERP, or you are considering adding it to your tech stack, the real question is how you can get the most out of it.
For wholesale distributors, Eclipse is built to handle things like large SKU volumes, complex pricing, branch inventory, and fast-moving counter sales. But to really get the most value from the system, it needs to fit well with the way your business operates.
This guide looks at the key capabilities of Epicor Eclipse ERP and how you can use them to make day-to-day distribution operations more efficient.
Understanding Epicor Eclipse ERP
Overview
Epicor Eclipse is an ERP built specifically for wholesale distributors that handle high order volumes, large product catalogues, complex pricing, and multiple branches.
It is designed around the day-to-day needs of distributors, so things like counter sales, order processing, purchasing, inventory, warehouse operations, accounting, and customer orders can all be managed through one system.
Eclipse can be deployed on-premises or as a cloud-based solution hosted on Microsoft Azure. The idea is to have one central system that keeps your core distribution operations connected and gives your teams better visibility across branches, inventory, orders, and customers.
Who Can Use Epicor Eclipse ERP?
Epicor Eclipse is mainly suited for mid-sized and large B2B distributors that deal with a high number of transactions, large SKU catalogues, and multiple locations.
It is commonly used across areas such as:
- Electrical supply: For distributors handling fast counter sales, large product catalogues, and complex pricing.
- Plumbing and heating: For businesses managing large product ranges, job-site deliveries, and different vendor programmes.
- HVAC: For distributors dealing with seasonal inventory, equipment tracking, and warranty information.
- Pipe, valve, and fitting (PVF): For businesses managing different units of measure, custom items, and industrial products.
- Building materials and industrial supplies: For multi-branch distributors that need better control over inventory, freight, and customer accounts.
Core Modules of Epicor Eclipse ERP
1. Sales Order & Counter Management
This helps sales teams handle counter sales, phone orders, quotes, and field orders without slowing down the process.
Key capabilities include:
- Quick order and line-item entry
- Quote and job tracking
- Customer-specific pricing
- Credit limit checks
2. Inventory & Purchasing Management
This helps distributors keep track of inventory across branches and make sure stock is available where it is needed.
Key capabilities include:
- Multi-branch inventory transfers
- Purchase order and replenishment management
- Vendor rebate tracking
- Cycle counting and safety stock management
3. Warehouse Logistics & Shipping
This covers the movement of products through the warehouse, from receiving and putaway to picking and shipping.
Key capabilities include:
- Barcode scanning and bin tracking
- Picking and putaway
- Shipping management
- Advanced Shipping Notice (ASN) handling
4. Financial Management & Accounting
This brings the main accounting and financial processes into the same ERP.
Key capabilities include:
- General Ledger
- Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable
- Customer credit management
- Billing and financial reporting
- Branch-level profitability tracking
5. Enterprise Content Management (ECM)
ECM helps reduce the manual work involved in managing business documents and records.
Key capabilities include:
- Invoice and purchase order capture
- Digital proof-of-delivery records
- Document search and storage
- Compliance workflows
6. EDI & Vendor Integration
This helps connect Eclipse with vendors, manufacturers, buying groups, and other trading partners.
Key capabilities include:
- ANSI X12 EDI processing
- Automated purchase order and invoice exchange
- Product catalogue updates
- Pricing updates
Overall, these modules cover most of the core processes a distributor deals with every day. The real value comes from having these processes connected and making sure Eclipse also works smoothly with the other systems in your technology stack.
Also read: More Than an ERP: How Epicor Is Building AI Trust and Selling on Fit, Not SpeedÂ
Key Considerations for New & Existing Users
Whether you are already using Epicor Eclipse or planning to deploy it, there are a few things worth keeping in mind.
User Interface & Change Management
Older Eclipse setups often rely on keyboard-driven screens, such as the PassThrough Window (PTW). If you are moving to a more modern web or cloud interface, your team will need some time to adjust.
So, proper training and change management are important to make the transition easier and get users comfortable with the new interface.
Keep Your Pricing Matrices Clean
Eclipse can handle complex pricing rules based on customers, branches, products, and other factors. But if you have years of old pricing rules sitting in the system, it is worth cleaning them up.
This becomes especially important when you are connecting Eclipse with ecommerce platforms or other digital channels. Keeping the pricing data clean can help avoid pricing or synchronisation issues later.
Cloud vs. On-Premises Deployment
If you are deciding between staying on-premises and moving to Epicor Eclipse Cloud, it is worth looking at what your business needs today and where you want to go next.
The cloud option, hosted on Microsoft Azure, gives you access to modern APIs, ongoing updates, and cloud infrastructure without having to maintain physical servers yourself.
Keep Customization to a Minimum
It is tempting to modify the core ERP whenever you need something that Eclipse does not handle out of the box. But too many core changes can make future upgrades more complicated.
Where possible, use APIs, integrations, and low-code platforms to extend Eclipse without changing the core system. This keeps the ERP easier to maintain and gives you more flexibility as your business and technology stack change.
Tips to Maximize the Potential of Epicor Eclipse ERP
Getting more out of Epicor Eclipse does not always mean making major changes to the system. A lot of the improvement can come from getting the basics right and making sure your teams and systems are working together.
1. Keep Your ERP at the Center of Your Tech Stack
Your Epicor Eclipse ERP should be the central system that connects the rest of your technology stack. Make sure it is connected with your ecommerce platform, CRM, WMS, EDI, marketplaces, and other business applications.
This reduces duplicate data entry, keeps information consistent across systems, and gives your teams one central source of truth to work from.
2. Keep Training Your Team
Even if your team has been using Eclipse for years, regular refresher training can help. New employees may not know all the shortcuts and features, while existing users may fall back on manual processes over time. A little ongoing training can help counter and warehouse teams use the system more efficiently.
3. Keep Customer and Product Data Clean
Small data issues can create bigger problems later. Old customer addresses, duplicate records, or incorrect product information can slow down fulfillment and affect billing.
Regularly reviewing and cleaning your customer and product data helps keep these processes running smoothly.
4. Use Daily Cycle Counting
You do not necessarily need to wait for a full yearly inventory count to find stock discrepancies.
Instead, count a smaller group of high-volume or high-value SKUs regularly. This makes it easier to catch differences between your physical inventory and what Eclipse shows, without disrupting the entire warehouse.
5. Keep an Eye on Counter Discounts
Counter sales move quickly, and it can be easy for discounts or price overrides to get out of hand.
Use transaction logs and reporting to review discounts and overrides. This can help managers identify unusual activity, protect margins, and also see where additional training may be needed.
6. Connect Your Systems with the Right Middleware
As you add ecommerce platforms, CRMs, WMS solutions, or other applications, avoid creating a separate custom connection for every system. A distribution-focused middleware platform such as DCKAP Integrator can help connect these systems with Eclipse and automate the movement of orders, pricing, customer, and inventory data.
The goal is not just to add more integrations. It is to make sure your systems work together without creating more manual work or unnecessary changes to the core ERP.
How to Integrate Epicor Eclipse ERP
If you are connecting Eclipse with other systems, such as an ecommerce platform, CRM, WMS, or buying group portal, there are a few ways you can approach the integration.
1. Native Eclipse REST API
Eclipse provides REST APIs that can be used to connect the ERP with other applications. These APIs can expose data such as products, pricing, orders, inventory, and shipping information while still working with the business rules within the ERP.
This can be a good option when you need a more direct connection between Eclipse and another application.
2. iPaaS / Middleware Integration
Another option is to use a middleware or iPaaS platform to connect Eclipse with multiple systems.
Platforms such as Epicor Automation Studio, powered by Workato, or distribution-focused platforms such as DCKAP Integrator can help automate data movement between Eclipse and other applications. This is useful when you need bi-directional data synchronisation or have several systems that need to stay connected.
3. Epicor Commerce Connect (ECC)
If your main requirement is connecting Eclipse with a B2B ecommerce storefront, Epicor Commerce Connect can be an option.
It helps bring information such as customer-specific pricing, inventory availability, and order history from the ERP into the ecommerce experience, so customers can get the information they need when ordering online.
4. B2B EDI Connections
For businesses exchanging documents with suppliers, manufacturers, and other trading partners, EDI is another important integration route.
Using standards such as ANSI X12, you can automate documents like purchase orders, Advance Shipping Notices (ASNs), and invoices instead of handling these exchanges manually.
The right approach really depends on what you are connecting, how many systems you need to integrate, and how much flexibility you need. For a simple connection, a direct API may be enough. But when you have multiple applications, trading partners, and data flows to manage, a middleware approach can give you more control.
Also read: Top 18 ERP Integration Tools & Platforms (Reviewed)Â
The Simplest Way to Integrate Epicor Eclipse ERP
Once you start connecting Eclipse with ecommerce, CRM, PIM, WMS, EDI, and other systems, managing all those connections can get complicated.
This is where a distribution-focused middleware platform like DCKAP Integrator can help. It takes an ERP-first approach, keeping Epicor Eclipse at the centre of your tech stack and as the main source of business data.
With DCKAP Integrator, you can:
- Connect Eclipse with the other systems in your tech stack
- Automate bi-directional data flows
- Sync orders, inventory, pricing, and customer data
- Reduce manual data entry and duplicate work
- Add new systems without creating multiple point-to-point connections
DCKAP also has experience across the Epicor ecosystem, including Eclipse, Prophet 21 (P21), and Kinetic, so the integrations are built with the needs of distributors in mind.
So, to get more out of your Eclipse ERP, get in touch with the DCKAP team for a personalized demo of DCKAP Integrator.
FAQs
What is the difference between Epicor Eclipse and Epicor Prophet 21 (P21)?
Both are Epicor ERP solutions built for distribution, but they serve slightly different needs. Eclipse is more focused on trade distributors such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and PVF businesses, while Prophet 21 (P21) is designed for a broader range of industrial distribution and light manufacturing businesses.
What database does Epicor Eclipse use?
Epicor Eclipse uses a MultiValue database, including Rocket UniData. If you need to access or move data outside the ERP, you would typically use REST APIs, ODBC connectors, or an integration platform rather than directly working with the database.
Is Epicor Eclipse available in the cloud?
Yes. Epicor Eclipse is available both on-premises and as a cloud-based SaaS solution hosted on Microsoft Azure. The cloud option removes the need to maintain physical servers while providing remote access and ongoing software updates.
How does Epicor Eclipse handle complex customer pricing?
Eclipse has a pricing engine that can handle customer, product, branch, and volume-based pricing rules. This allows the system to calculate the right price automatically instead of requiring sales reps to manually look up pricing for every order.
How do you connect Epicor Eclipse to ecommerce, CRM, or PIM platforms?
There are several ways to connect Eclipse with external systems, including its native REST APIs, Epicor Commerce Connect (ECC), and integration middleware. For businesses managing multiple applications, an ERP-first integration platform such as DCKAP Integrator can help connect these systems and manage bi-directional data flows without directly modifying the core ERP database.
How long does an Epicor Eclipse implementation take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the business. A multi-branch distributor with complex pricing, large product catalogues, and data migration requirements can take around 6–12 months, while a smaller and more standard deployment may take around 3–5 months.
