Company: Epicor Software Corporation, Austin, TX
Company Description: Epicor is a global leader delivering enterprise software solutions to the manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality and services industries. Epicor provides software, services and support to more than 20,000 customers worldwide with a single point of accountability that promotes rapid ROI and low TCO, whether operating business on a local, regional or global scale.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Company of the Year - Computer Software - 500 or More Employees

Nomination Title: Epicor Software Solutions

Tell the story about what this nominated organization has achieved since January 1 2014 (up to 650 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms.

Epicor Software Solutions company growth and momentum expanded throughout 2014 with several strategic acquisitions and innovative new product offerings. Epicor acquired privately held QuantiSense and ShopVisible. Additionally, the product launches of Epicor ERP version 10 and Epicor Eagle N Series further demonstrated its influence in the global marketplace.

In the spring of 2014, Epicor announced its plans to hire more than 100 U.S. military veterans and active duty personnel transitioning to the civilian workforce over the next 12 months as part of the company’s new Hiring Heroes Program. The Hiring Heroes program makes opportunities available to veterans through a focused effort to recruit, network and engage in partnership with Hirepurpose and other veterans groups. Through this engagement, Epicor connects with the veteran community to make prospective candidates aware of the program and available opportunities.

Epicor ERP version 10 was unveiled in April 2014. The new offering is a visionary blend of rich global functionality built on agile technology that eliminates complexity to make ERP easier to use, more collaborative and more responsive than ever before, while supporting today’s business imperatives: social collaboration, deployment flexibility, accelerated performance and broad device accessibility. Inspired by the needs of today’s tech-aware workforce, Epicor ERP version 10 introduces a number of new applications and technologies that will transform the way companies operate. Based on the five principles of collaboration, choice, responsiveness, simplicity and mobility, Epicor ERP version 10 is designed to help organizations work better, both internally and externally, leveraging the knowledge and experience of the people and systems connected together throughout the supply chain.

Epicor introduced the new Epicor Eagle N Series in August 2014. The next-generation retail management software for independent retail businesses, the release extended Epicor Eagle by marrying the platform’s rich feature set and advanced business intelligence tools with a completely redesigned and simplified user interface. Epicor Eagle N Series is designed to give independent retailers the advanced technology used by big box retailers at an affordable price point. It allows independent retailers to make the most of their biggest competitive asset – exceptional customer service. The new software gives independent retailers a comprehensive set of business management tools aimed at creating a seamless, customer-centric shopping experience. It also offers embedded business intelligence, simplified workflows, an integrated support bar with context sensitive access to online training, customer support and online user community, and an updated user interface.

The November 2014 acquisition of privately held QuantiSense, Inc. extends Epicor’s position as a leading provider of extended omni-channel solutions for midsize and large retail chains. Each year, over $450 billion in transactions flow through Epicor Retail systems implemented at leading retail brands. The addition of QuantiSense business intelligence and advanced retail analytics offerings to the Epicor Retail solutions portfolio will empower retailers to leverage enterprise-wide data as actionable insights to optimize all aspects of their operations, from the supply chain through to multi-channel points of purchase.

Acquired in January 2015, ShopVisible, LLC, a dynamic provider of proven cloud retail order management and digital commerce solutions, and its proven, scalable multitenant software as a service (SaaS) solutions in combination with the complementary Epicor retail transaction, enterprise and analytics systems, will enable retailers to optimize the customer experience for consumers across a growing number of mobile devices, channels and interaction points. The combination of ShopVisible’s foundational order management capability with Epicor point of sale (POS), mobile POS, omni-channel Enterprise Selling, Merchandising and Warehouse Management solutions is expected to create the retail industry’s preeminent integrated end-to-end cloud-based solution for omni-channel retailers.

Epicor is committed to continuing its customer-focused product strategy and securing customers’ investments in their business management solutions. With complementary product strategies, Epicor will continue to enhance the joint product lines with new features and functionality; while providing a clear path to next-generation capabilities and enabling technologies customers require as their businesses evolve.

In bullet-list form, briefly summarize up to ten (10) of the chief accomplishments of this organization since the beginning of 2014 (up to 150 words).

• Unveiling of Hiring Heroes Initiative – Epicor plans to hire more than 100 U.S. military veterans and active duty personnel as part of the company’s new Hiring Heroes Program
• Next-generation release of Epicor ERP version 10 – The new offering is built on agile technology that eliminates complexity to make ERP easier to use, more collaborative and more responsive
• Launch of Epicor Eagle N Series – The next-generation retail management software for independent retail businesses extends Epicor Eagle by marrying the platform’s rich feature set and advanced business intelligence tools with a completely redesigned and simplified user interface
• Acquisition of QuantiSense – The acquisition of QuantiSense extends Epicor’s position as a leading provider of extended omni-channel solutions for midsize and large retail chains
• Acquisition of ShopVisible – The acquisition of ShopVisible enables retailers to optimize the customer experience for consumers across a growing number of mobile devices, channels and interaction

Of the following measures of success, which ONE do you want the judges to most appreciate about your organization's story of achievement since the beginning of 2014?