5 Epicor Features Almost No One Uses

In most organizations, Epicor Kinetic acts as the central hub connecting Sales, Purchasing, Production, and Inventory. Yet even experienced users often rely on only a fraction of its capabilities. Between complex screens, habit-driven workflows, and limited training time, it’s easy to overlook tools that can dramatically simplify daily operations.

Studies show that many businesses use less than half of their ERP’s available functionality. That means automation, alerts, and data insights are often sitting unused while manual tasks continue to consume time and resources.

Below are five lesser-known Epicor Kinetic features that can make a measurable difference in productivity, accuracy, and decision-making.

(Note: Menu names and availability may vary slightly depending on your Epicor Kinetic version, licensed modules, and whether your system is cloud or on-premise.)

1. Automating Reports and Alerts with System Agent

Still running the same reports every morning? Epicor Kinetic includes scheduling capabilities that can automate repetitive reporting. Using the System Agent (or the scheduling options available within your Kinetic environment), you can configure reports to run automatically and distribute them by email, ensuring data always reaches the right people on time.

Example: A purchasing manager can schedule a low-inventory alert or open order backlog report to be delivered automatically every morning. Once configured, reports update with the latest data, eliminating manual generation.

Get started: In most setups, navigate to System Management → System Agent → Schedule Maintenance or your cloud scheduler equivalent to define frequency, recipients, and report parameters.

2. BAQ Export to Excel with Refresh Capability

If you’re still copying and pasting data from Epicor into Excel, there’s a far better way. Epicor’s Business Activity Query (BAQ) feature supports OData connections, allowing Excel to pull live data directly from Epicor. Once the link is configured, you can refresh your workbook with a single click—no manual exports required.

Example: A finance analyst tracking daily sales margins can open their Excel workbook, hit “Refresh All,” and instantly update all linked Epicor data. This reduces report preparation time and ensures consistency across teams.

Get started: In Excel, go to Data → From Web and enter the OData URL for your BAQ. Authenticate using your Epicor credentials. Once the connection is set, you can refresh data on demand.(Configuration may require proper user permissions and may vary depending on your Epicor Kinetic environment.)

3. Using Advanced Filters in Job Tracker

Scrolling through thousands of job records can be inefficient. The Job Tracker in Epicor Kinetic allows users to apply multiple filters and conditions, by part, customer, status, or date, to pinpoint what matters most. You can also configure custom layouts or saved views for quick access.

Example: A production planner might create a view showing active jobs due within the next seven days for a specific department. By saving that configuration, it becomes instantly reusable whenever the planner logs in.

Get started: In Job Tracker, use Advanced Search to set your criteria, then save or pin your preferred layout for future use.(Saving “favorite views” may vary depending on your personalization settings and user role.)

4. Custom Dashboards for Personalized Insight

Dashboards in Epicor Kinetic are more than static reports—they’re customizable, interactive spaces where users can visualize and analyze key data. You can combine multiple BAQs, apply filters, or add charts and grids for real-time visibility into the metrics that matter to your role.

Example: A materials manager could build a dashboard showing real-time inventory levels, supplier performance, and pending receipts all in one place. This kind of setup provides immediate clarity without jumping between multiple screens.

Get started: Open Dashboard Maintenance to create a new dashboard. Start small with one BAQ, then layer in additional components or filters as needed.(Dashboard behavior and visual controls may differ depending on your Kinetic release and whether you’re using the classic or modern UI.)

5. Task Management and Automation with BPM Workflows

Epicor Kinetic’s Business Process Management (BPM) engine allows teams to automate repetitive tasks, enforce policies, and route approvals. By building logic into the system, you can ensure key steps happen automatically and consistently.

Examples:

• Block a purchase order automatically if the supplier is on credit hold.

• Trigger an email to a supervisor when a high-value job is released.

• Require managerial approval for discounts exceeding a set percentage.

Once implemented, BPMs reduce manual oversight and help standardize operations across departments.

Get started: Navigate to System Management → Business Process Management → Method Directives Maintenance. Create a test directive first, validate the logic, then deploy it once confirmed.(Configuration access may require admin privileges, and workflow capabilities vary based on your license tier.)

Final Thoughts

Epicor Kinetic is much more than a record-keeping system—it’s a platform built to automate, analyze, and optimize business processes. By exploring features like scheduling, BAQ data connections, dashboards, and BPM workflows, teams can work smarter and eliminate repetitive tasks.

Small refinements in how your organization uses Epicor can lead to significant gains in productivity and accuracy. Take the time to explore these tools in your environment, experiment safely in a test company, and encourage your team to continuously look for ways to make the system work for them.