Epicor
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Enterprise resource planning |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Austin , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Steve Murphy (CEO), Himanshu Palsule (President and Chief Product and Technology Officer) |
| Products | Enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM), human capital management (HCM) |
| Parent | Clayton, Dubilier & Rice |
Epicor Software Corporation is a provider of business software solutions based in Austin, Texas, with its establishment dating back to 1972. The company specializes in delivering enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM), and human capital management (HCM) systems tailored for sectors such as manufacturing, distribution, retail, and services. Epicor supports both cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) and traditional on-premises deployment options.
1972–2000
Originally founded in 1984 as Advanced Business Microsystems (ABM), the company developed accounting software for MS-DOS, which was distributed through a partnership with IBM under the brand The Platinum Series. ABM transitioned this offering into multi-user financial accounting software designed for LAN environments and rebranded itself as Platinum Software Corporation in 1992 prior to its initial public offering. By 1993, Platinum introduced versions compatible with Windows operating systems.
The company pursued growth through acquisitions, including the purchase of Clientele in 1997 and FocusSoft to enhance its distribution solutions. In 1998, Platinum merged with DataWorks, an ERP specialist founded in 1977 that focused on high-tech manufacturing sectors, thereby expanding its manufacturing capabilities. The merged organization adopted the name Epicor Software Corporation in 1999.
2001–2010
In 2001, Epicor divested its Platinum for Windows (PFW) product line to Sage Group. Two years later, it launched Epicor for Service Enterprises, a fully web-based automation platform designed for enterprise service providers. The company further broadened its portfolio through acquisitions such as CompuNet for the hospitality industry and Scala in 2004. In 2005, Epicor acquired CRS Retail to strengthen its retail software solutions, followed by the acquisition of NSB in 2007 to deepen its retail market presence. By late 2010, Epicor had acquired SPECTRUM Human Resource Systems Corporation to unify service delivery under a consolidated framework.
2011–present
In 2011, private equity firm Apax Partners took ownership of both Epicor and Activant (previously Triad Systems Corporation), merging them under the Epicor brand as a private entity. Leadership of the combined company was assumed by Pervez Qureshi, former CEO of Activant, starting May 2011.
Epicor expanded its offerings through strategic partnerships and acquisitions: it collaborated with ASA Automotive Systems in 2012 to increase dealer parts and service income; acquired Solarsoft Business Systems in October 2012—Solarsoft itself having acquired Progressive Solutions earlier that year—and purchased QuantiSense in 2014 to boost retail analytics capabilities. The acquisition of ShopVisible, LLC was completed in January 2015.
In June 2015, Epicor separated its retail division into Aptos, Inc., allowing focus on core enterprise solutions. The company was then acquired by global investment firm KKR in September 2016 for an undisclosed sum. Joseph L. Cowan continued as CEO until October 2017 when Steve Murphy, formerly president at OpenText, took over the role.
Continuing its global expansion and product diversification strategy, Epicor acquired electronic data interchange provider 1 EDI Source in October 2019 and enhanced its Product Information Management (PIM) and digital commerce capabilities by acquiring KYKLO in June 2024.
Leadership adjustments included promoting Himanshu Palsule to president while maintaining his responsibilities as Chief Product and Technology Officer in January 2020. Later that year, in August, KKR sold Epicor to private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) for $4.7 billion to support ongoing growth initiatives.
This era underscores Epicor's deliberate approach to broadening its market reach and product suite through carefully targeted acquisitions and alliances, solidifying its position within the enterprise software sector.
Acquisitions
- Intrepid (1995)
- Clientele (1997)
- Interactive Group (1997)
- Dataworks (1998)
- CompuNet (2003)
- ROI Systems (2003)
- Scala (2004)
- CRS Retail (2005)
- NSB Retail (2007), which had incorporated STS Systems since 2001
- SPECTRUM Human Resources Systems Corp. (2010)
- Solarsoft Business Systems (2012)
- QuantiSense (2014)
- ShopVisible, LLC (2015)
- DotNetIT (2016)
- docSTAR (2017)
- MechanicNet (2019)
- 1 EDI Source (2019)
- KBMax (2021)
- Grow.com (2022)
- eFlex Systems (2022)
- Data Interchange (2022)
- Elite EXTRA (2023)
- Smart Software (2024)
- KYKLO (2024)
Program
Epicor introduced the Fit for the Future initiative aimed at assisting stakeholders in achieving long-term market viability and responding effectively to changing business landscapes. This initiative encompasses a network of resellers, device integrators, and partners who utilize Epicor’s software solutions and services to develop and deploy innovative IT strategies. The collaboration within this partner network plays a critical role in driving Epicor’s expansion and strengthening its position within the competitive marketplace.