Classic vs. Kinetic Icons in Epicor

As organizations transition from Epicor Classic to Kinetic, one of the first challenges users encounter is not functionality, but navigation.

The system still performs the same core operations. What has changed is how those operations are accessed. For experienced users, this creates friction because the interface no longer aligns with established habits.

This is where most inefficiencies begin.

This article breaks down the key differences between Classic and Kinetic, not just in terms of where things moved, but how users should think differently when interacting with the system.

The Real Shift: From Visibility to Structure

Epicor Classic is built around visibility. Most actions are always present, labeled, and accessible through buttons or right-click menus. Users scan the screen and act.

Kinetic takes a different approach. It is built around structure.

Actions are grouped. Secondary options are hidden behind menus. The interface is intentionally cleaner, which reduces clutter but increases the need for familiarity with navigation patterns.

This is not a loss of functionality. It is a shift in interaction model.

Teams that struggle with Kinetic are not missing knowledge. They are applying the wrong navigation logic.

Menu Icons: Classic vs. Kinetic

The table below provides a direct comparison of commonly used menu actions and how they appear in each interface.

Functionality	Classic	Kinetic
New Record
Delete
Change Log
Refresh
Search
Actions	Actions	Horizontal Overflow  Vervical Overflow

This is one of the most common friction points during the transition.

In Classic, actions are explicit and consistently visible. Users rely on labels and fixed placement, which makes navigation predictable and fast.

In Kinetic, those same actions are consolidated into icons and menus. This reduces visual overload but removes the immediate visibility users are accustomed to.

The result is a perception problem. Users assume functionality has been removed when, in reality, it has been reorganized.

The adjustment required here is simple but critical. Users must stop scanning for individual buttons and instead look for grouped actions. The “Actions” menu and overflow menus are now central to navigation. Once that behavior is adopted, the interface becomes more efficient than Classic, not less.

Printing, Filtering, and Submission

These functions are still present, but their placement reflects Kinetic’s structured design.

Functionality	Classic	Kinetic
Print Preview
Filter	(tab)	(card)
Submit

The key difference here is context.

In Classic, these actions are treated as standalone tools. In Kinetic, they are tied more closely to the workflow the user is performing.

For example, Print Preview is no longer something you access independently. It is part of a broader set of actions related to the record or process you are working on.

Filtering follows the same logic. Instead of being a separate tab or clearly isolated feature, it is integrated into the data experience itself.

This design encourages users to think in terms of outcomes rather than steps. Instead of asking, “Where is the filter tab?” the better question becomes, “What am I trying to refine or isolate?”

Teams that make this mental shift tend to adapt significantly faster.

Grid Functionality: Where the Transition Becomes Most Visible

Grid interaction is where experienced users feel the biggest disruption.

Functionality	Classic	Kinetic
Filter	Right-click → Show Grid Filters
Group By	Right-click → Show Group By	Activates the filter.  if not showing
Summarize	Right-click → Show Summaries	Show Summaries

In Classic, right-click serves as the primary control mechanism for grid interaction. Users depend on it for filtering, grouping, and summarizing data quickly.

Kinetic removes that dependency. These features still exist, but they are not always immediately visible. Instead, they must be enabled or configured within the grid itself. This is often interpreted as a limitation, but it is actually a shift toward a more flexible system. Kinetic allows users to define how they want to interact with data, rather than relying on a fixed set of default options.

The mistake teams make is assuming the grid is incomplete when those options are not visible. The correct approach is to treat grids as configurable tools. If filtering, grouping, or summarizing is not available, it is because it has not been enabled yet.

Once configured, the grid becomes significantly more powerful than its Classic counterpart.

How to Adapt Without Slowing Down Your Team

Most teams approach the transition by trying to relearn the system through memorization. That approach is inefficient and leads to frustration.

A better approach is to focus on patterns. In Kinetic, actions are grouped rather than displayed individually.Overflow menus contain secondary or less frequently used functions.Right-click is no longer the primary interaction method.Grids require configuration instead of immediate access.

These patterns repeat across the entire interface. Once users internalize them, navigation becomes predictable again. At that point, the learning curve drops significantly and productivity stabilizes.

Supporting Resources for Faster Adoption

Epicor provides several resources that can help reinforce these concepts and accelerate adoption:

• Personalization training through the Epicor Learning Center

• Kinetic UI webinars focused on navigation and usability

• Hands-on courses designed to simulate real workflows

These resources are particularly useful for teams transitioning fully into Kinetic and looking to standardize usage across users.

Final Takeaway

Kinetic does not change what Epicor can do. It changes how users access it. The challenge most teams face is not technical. It is behavioral. Users are applying Classic habits to a Kinetic interface.

Once that gap is addressed, the system becomes more intuitive, more flexible, and ultimately more efficient. The organizations that adapt fastest are not the ones that memorize the interface. They are the ones that understand the logic behind it.

Additional Resources

·        Personalization - Epicor Learning Center (7-minute video, requires ELC login)

·        Kinetic Support Webinar: Tips and Tricks for the new UI (45-minute video, requires EpicCare login)

·        Kinetic Navigation - Epicor Learning Center  (2-hour hands-on course requires ELC login)