In recent years, the rising average age of vehicles on the road has presented a valuable opportunity for automotive service providers looking to gain additional business. On the other hand, thriving high-volume shops face limitations to the amount of work they can take on. Those limitations often are dictated by time – the time required to diagnose a needed repair, generate an estimate, order replacement parts and/or complete the repair. Increasing Service Shop Efficiency is an endeavor automotive service providers of every size are constantly striving for.

The Push For Service Shop Efficiency

Service professionals have no control over the number of hours in the day – only how they use them. The good news is that modern technology solutions can have a drastic impact when it comes to how much time is spent on common service-related tasks. One solution is the powerful, web-based Epicor Integrated Service Estimator (ISE) service estimating tool. Implemented by thousands of tire dealerships, oil-and-lube facilities, transmission service businesses, tune-up specialists and general repair shops, the platform enables users to quickly and accurately generate comprehensive repair estimates and source replacement parts from multiple local vendors.

For a limited time, those who rely on ISE to streamline their estimating and parts sourcing processes will have an opportunity to participate in a new sweepstakes promotion. From December 1 through May 31, 2018, Epicor will hold monthly drawings to award a total of 12 professional-grade Innova scan tools to vehicle service businesses using the platform, with each order generated and completed through ISE earning users one free entry. Two scan tools will be awarded each month to randomly chosen winners – one Innova 5160 CarScan PRO for the first-place winner and one Innova 5100 CarScan ABS/SRS for the second-place winner.

How Providers Can Increase Service Shop Efficiency

This new promotion makes sense for Epicor and Innova on many levels. Not only do both companies share a strong, ongoing commitment to the success of their customers, but, in many respects, Epicor ISE is the service counter equivalent of a high-tech diagnostic tool. Both solutions serve the function of automating what traditionally were manual processes to increase overall shop productivity. Both also facilitate a shop’s ability to complete jobs faster and get customers in and out with as little hassle as possible. Not only does this ensure a superior customer experience, but it also gives automotive service shops an opportunity to take on more business.

To learn more about our Epicor ISE solution and the new sweepstakes promotion, contact your Epicor representative or visit www.epicor.com/ISEsweeps.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.


Siemens Manufacturing, Epicor ERP, Encompass Solutions

There is a common similarity in name and industry to the German conglomerate Siemens, but Siemens Manufacturing is a great company of its own, based in St Louis. In 1963, Siemens Manufacturing Company was founded by John and Jim Siemens to manufacture custom control and test equipment for industrial customers. Today, their team of nearly 200 employees maintains a commitment to advanced technology, innovative product manufacturing and delivering high-quality solutions to customers.

an image of the Siemens Manufacturing logo

Siemens continues to experience tremendous growth, having outgrown an older and no longer supported information system, they started looking for a fully integrated ERP solution with overall newer technology and capabilities to include stronger manufacturing, production, inventory, user-friendliness, and overall ERP. 

During their evaluation of a new software solution, which took a few months, Siemens also considered another high caliber software solution. In the end, Epicor stood out for having solid features such as Project Management, Resource Management, Financials, as well as equally advanced capabilities for choosing on-premise or cloud deployment.

Epicor did an excellent job in the demo and really showed what Epicor ERP was capable of.

“We were all impressed with the demonstration and the fact that you wrote a mini customization in very short time. This showed us that you could solve the problems we had concerns about as it related to the inventory one to many parts master and BOM.”

John Siemens – President

“We are all behind the selection and want to make this a success for the company.”

Jeff Hamma – Director Materials/Planning

Siemens Manufacturing Selects Encompass Solutions

Siemens has chosen Encompass Solutions to help deliver the Epicor solution their business needs to better handle their tremendous growth. We look forward to building a system for them that goes far beyond the potential they saw at the Epicor Insights convention and will allow them to expand beyond what they thought possible.

Epicor annual user and customer convention ‘Epicor Insights’ was also a great opportunity for Siemens to get a close look at what Epicor has to offer. This year’s event was the largest ever, with over 4,000 attendees from across the world joining together to learn, share, and grow alongside Epicor. While there is plenty of technical talk for veteran Epicor power users, the annual Epicor Insights is one of the best ways for potential customers to learn how powerful Epicor is, and how effectively it can improve and enhance their businesses.

In a speech to a large audience of customers and prospects, Himanshu Palsule, Epicor Chief Product and Technology Officer, discussed growth, industry and the cloud. He said “When you think of Epicor, you think about a company that is fixated on the growth of the customers. Growth in your revenue, growth in your profitability, growth in operations.” 

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.


Encompass Solutions, Inc. has won the Epicor Platinum Partner award in the Annual Partner Program Awards event.

Epicor Platinum Partner Award

Recipients were selected by Epicor Software Corporation based on contributions to customers, revenue generated to Epicor as well as other considerations that showcased the partners’ abilities in transforming customers to position them to grow by leveraging Epicor solutions.

“We are honored to be recognized by Epicor as Platinum Partner for another consecutive year as we continue to deliver excellence throughout the implementation, custom solutions, and training of Epicor ERP,” said Sonia Haslam, managing partner, Encompass Solutions, Inc. Encompass is also proud to integrate value-add products and offer e-business capabilities for specific projects.

Encompass expertise extends from project planning and management through the entire implementation, with a special focus on process improvement. Encompass offers a wide range of services from selection to complete implementation of state-of-the-art ERP systems, to integration and renovation of existing systems as well as analysis and solutions to corporate challenges.

“Congratulations to our Partner Program Award recipient Encompass Solutions, Inc., for enabling business growth through Epicor solutions,” said Steve Murphy, chief executive officer, Epicor Software Corporation. “Our partners are an extension of our salesforce and we are fortunate to have such a talented group of IT professionals aligned with us to support customers with business growth, innovation, and enhanced customer experience.”

Epicor Partner Program Awards

The Epicor Partner Program Awards are designed to reward Epicor Channel Partner Program members who have demonstrated their ability to serve as an extension of Epicor’s own salesforce to help businesses worldwide grow and transform. There are several different categories across different geographies in which partners are awarded, ranging from Global Partner of the Year to specific recognitions such as Rookie of the Year and Marketing Excellence.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.


Automotive service providers thriving in today’s challenging
economic climate often have one thing in common – a drive to pursue continuous
improvement
. Successful shops are always looking for ways to increase salesan image of the new Epicor integrated service estimator on display. and
revenue and give customers more reasons to remain loyal.  Shop professionals can see a powerful new
solution to this challenge in the Epicor booth at this week’s Automotive
Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas. That solution is the Epicor Integrated Service Estimator.

Epicor Integrated Service Estimator (ISE)

Epicor is expanding its presence in the automotive service
sector with each new generation of the powerful Epicor Integrated Service
Estimator (ISE)
web-based service estimating and parts sourcing solution. This
business-building tool provides shop professionals with instant, one-click
access to automotive parts information, pricing and local availability, as well
as labor information, OE service intervals and other critical information
needed to boost mechanical repair sales and bay productivity.

Epicor Integrated Service Estimator Expansion

By extending the Epicor Integrated Service
Estimator 
efficiency benefits to
technicians, the optional “Smart Inspection” mobile tool helps
service providers instantly capture and communicate the results of comprehensive,
guided vehicle inspections. This innovative new feature lets technicians use
tablet computers to photograph and record the condition of key vehicle systems
and components. They can then deliver this information to the customer in a
customized report and import the results to their shop’s point-of-sale system.

By providing quick access to more than 11 million parts from
over 7,800 manufacturer product lines, Epicor Integrated Service
Estimator 
allows users to expand into virtually any mechanical service category and create professional job estimates in as little as one minute. With the addition of our new Smart Inspection feature, the tool has become that much more powerful by giving technicians a way to help eliminate manual data input and offer consumers the information needed to make more informed decisions.

Already, ISE is helping thousands of automotive service, tire, and oil-and-lube businesses increase productivity and boost mechanical sales by allowing them to quickly and efficiently import parts, labor and pricing information into their estimates, work orders and invoices. And the new Smart Inspection tool is indicative of what many successful automotive service businesses already know – there is always room to improve.

Top 10 Benefits Of The Epicor Integrated Service Estimator

Automotive repair shops receive substantial benefits when utilizing the full potential of the Epicor Integrated Service Estimator™, which include.

  1. Expansion into virtually any mechanical service category through instant access to information on more than 10 million parts from over 7,800 manufacturer product lines
  2. Drive sales of high-value/high-margin jobs through an integrated database of OE-recommended service intervals
  3. Enabling service writers fast, confident and effective recommendations when providing add-on services by putting more information at their fingertips
  4. Save time on every estimate with one-click access to part details, photos, pricing, and local availability
  5. Elimination of estimating errors with documented parts and labor requirements for each job
  6. Closing more sales and impressing customers by quickly producing accurate, professionally printed mechanical estimates
  7. Completing estimates and repair orders in as little as one minute by eliminating the need to rekey parts and labor information
  8. Increasing bay and technician productivity by electronically confirming part availability through local suppliers
  9. Quickly creating comprehensive, accurate estimates on complex mechanical repairs through more than 400 custom job packages
  10. Avoid time-consuming software maintenance with a cloud-based architecture that ensures you’re always running the latest and best version Learn more about Integrated Service Estimator.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.


As a leading provider of replacement parts information and related content for the automotive aftermarket, Epicor works diligently to stay ahead of market trends, collaborating with leading parts and service professionals to ensure their needs are being met by current and future iterations of our comprehensive eCatalog solutions. The software corporation’s most recent accomplishments in this area are on display during this week’s Automotive Aftermarket: the Epicor PartExpert eCatalog.

an image of the epicor partexpert ecatalog interface

Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas, the star of the show being the Epicor PartExpert eCatalog.

Epicor PartExpert eCatalog

Epicor’s latest innovation – a graphics-based interface for the Epicor PartExpert eCatalog – is designed to further accelerate the parts lookup and ordering processes. An optional add-on feature, the new interface enables users to identify parts simply by clicking on interactive diagrams of application-specific vehicle systems. Clicking on a part within the diagram automatically pulls up the component in a catalog search.

Automotive Diagnostics And Maintenance With Epicor PartExpert eCatalog

Moving forward, the catalog technology will become even more intuitive, as seen in the “Catalog of the Future” augmented reality (A/R) electronic catalog interface concept, also being showcased at AAPEX. This proprietary new tool allows parts professionals and service technicians to inspect vehicle systems, access and visualize parts and labor information, view installation instructions, order replacement components and perform a variety of other functions using a tablet computer or wearable device. By enabling users to complete these key tasks directly from the service bay, this latest innovation marks a new benchmark for catalog usability, efficiency, and value.

It’s been more than 30 years since Epicor introduced the first aftermarket parts eCatalog solution, and it’s seen many changes in that time. Ultimately, the continual evolution of the Epicor PartExpert eCatalog has helped ensure accurate, rich product “content” is available when and where it’s needed to the thousands of distributors, jobbers, automotive service shops and others who rely on it. But tangentially, it’s also helped to lead those businesses along a path to stronger growth.

More than ever before, convenience is the key to winning new business and retaining customers, and parts businesses must be able to quickly and accurately identify, select and source the parts their customers need. By facilitating these needs, an effective eCatalog solution translates to more completed jobs and higher profit margins. By making parts searching faster, easier and more efficient, technologies such as the Catalog of the Future and the new graphical PartExpert interface can make those goals a reality.

About Encompass Solutions

Encompass Solutions is a business and software consulting firm that specializes in ERP systems, EDI, and Managed Services support for Manufacturers and Distributors. Serving small and medium-sized businesses since 2001, Encompass modernizes operations and automates processes for hundreds of customers across the globe. Whether undertaking full-scale implementation, integration, and renovation of existing systems, Encompass provides a specialized approach to every client’s needs. By identifying customer requirements and addressing them with the right solutions, we ensure our clients are equipped to match the pace of Industry.