TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Epicor Kinetic

    Score8.1 out of 10
    N/AEpicor Kinetic is a customizable, scalable, product-centric cloud ERP designed specifically for manufacturers.N/A

    Microsoft SQL Server

    Score8.7 out of 10
    N/AMicrosoft SQL Server is a relational database.

    $1,418

    Per License

    Pricing
    Epicor KineticMicrosoft SQL Server
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    Subscription
    $1,418.00
    Per License
    Enterprise
    $13,748.00
    Per License
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Epicor KineticMicrosoft SQL Server
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    YesNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Epicor KineticMicrosoft SQL Server
    Considered Both Products
    Epicor Software
    No answer on this topic
    Microsoft
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    Oracle is quite expensive so unless you run a very large company then SQL Server is probably the best bet.
    Incentivized
    Chose Microsoft SQL Server
    Microsoft Access while a data tool cannot scale to number of concurrent users or the great amount of files needed to run a business. Microsoft Access can attach to sql server as a backend but the interface is still limited to less than 20 concurrent users at a time.
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    92%
    Would buy again
    169 Answers
    100%
    Would buy again
    53 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    90%
    Delivers good value for the price
    126 Answers
    96%
    Delivers good value for the price
    45 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    88%
    Happy with the feature set
    162 Answers
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    53 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    77%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    67 Answers
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    39 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    70%
    Implementation went as expected
    93 Answers
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    45 Answers
    Features
    Epicor KineticMicrosoft SQL Server
    Payroll Management
    Comparison of Payroll Management features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.9
    52 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Pay calculation8.250 Ratings00 Ratings
    Benefit plan administration8.129 Ratings00 Ratings
    Direct deposit files7.537 Ratings00 Ratings
    Customization
    Comparison of Customization features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    8.0
    151 Ratings
    6% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    API for custom integration8.3145 Ratings00 Ratings
    Plug-ins7.7120 Ratings00 Ratings
    Security
    Comparison of Security features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    8.4
    177 Ratings
    0% below category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Single sign-on capability8.8149 Ratings00 Ratings
    Role-based user permissions8.1174 Ratings00 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.6
    186 Ratings
    1% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Dashboards7.2178 Ratings00 Ratings
    Standard reports7.4183 Ratings00 Ratings
    Custom reports8.1174 Ratings00 Ratings
    General Ledger and Configurable Accounting
    Comparison of General Ledger and Configurable Accounting features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.3
    199 Ratings
    6% below category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Accounts payable8.7189 Ratings00 Ratings
    Accounts receivable8.6184 Ratings00 Ratings
    Global Financial Support7.8103 Ratings00 Ratings
    Primary and Secondary Ledgers8.2126 Ratings00 Ratings
    Journals and Reconciliations7.6151 Ratings00 Ratings
    Configurable Accounting8.1136 Ratings00 Ratings
    Standardized Processes8.0159 Ratings00 Ratings
    Inventory Management
    Comparison of Inventory Management features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    8.4
    186 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Inventory tracking8.0185 Ratings00 Ratings
    Automatic reordering7.9111 Ratings00 Ratings
    Location management7.7145 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order Management
    Comparison of Order Management features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    8.3
    189 Ratings
    4% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Pricing8.4176 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order entry8.3187 Ratings00 Ratings
    Credit card processing7.688 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cost of goods sold8.1165 Ratings00 Ratings
    Order Orchestration7.8119 Ratings00 Ratings
    Subledger and Financial Process
    Comparison of Subledger and Financial Process features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    8.5
    161 Ratings
    12% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Billing Management7.8142 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cash and Asset Management7.7137 Ratings00 Ratings
    Travel & Expense Management7.580 Ratings00 Ratings
    Budgetary Control & Encumbrance Accounting7.981 Ratings00 Ratings
    Period Close8.2144 Ratings00 Ratings
    Project Financial Management
    Comparison of Project Financial Management features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    9.2
    19 Ratings
    19% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Budgeting and Forecasting9.015 Ratings00 Ratings
    Project Costing8.016 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cost Capture10.017 Ratings00 Ratings
    Capital Project Management9.011 Ratings00 Ratings
    Customer Contract Compliance9.09 Ratings00 Ratings
    Project Revenue Recognition9.012 Ratings00 Ratings
    Project Execution Management
    Comparison of Project Execution Management features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.7
    74 Ratings
    8% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Project Planning and Scheduling7.767 Ratings00 Ratings
    Task Insight for Project Managers7.154 Ratings00 Ratings
    Project Mobile Functionality7.244 Ratings00 Ratings
    Definable Resource Pools7.051 Ratings00 Ratings
    Grants Management
    Comparison of Grants Management features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.9
    33 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Award Lifecycle Management8.529 Ratings00 Ratings
    Procurement
    Comparison of Procurement features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    8.0
    138 Ratings
    12% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Bids Analyzed and Compared7.559 Ratings00 Ratings
    Contract Authoring7.456 Ratings00 Ratings
    Contract Repository7.758 Ratings00 Ratings
    Requisitions-to-Purchase Orders Integrated7.696 Ratings00 Ratings
    Supplier Management7.6130 Ratings00 Ratings
    Risk Management
    Comparison of Risk Management features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.8
    49 Ratings
    14% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Risk Repository8.139 Ratings00 Ratings
    Control Management7.744 Ratings00 Ratings
    Control Efficiency Assessments7.440 Ratings00 Ratings
    Issue Detection8.545 Ratings00 Ratings
    Remediation and Certification7.739 Ratings00 Ratings
    Logistics
    Comparison of Logistics features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.6
    103 Ratings
    8% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Transportation Planning and Optimization7.971 Ratings00 Ratings
    Transportation Execution Management7.965 Ratings00 Ratings
    Trade and Customs Management7.556 Ratings00 Ratings
    Fulfillment Management8.086 Ratings00 Ratings
    Warehouse Workforce Management7.973 Ratings00 Ratings
    Manufacturing
    Comparison of Manufacturing features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.9
    148 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Production Process Design7.9119 Ratings00 Ratings
    Production Management8.2139 Ratings00 Ratings
    Configuration Management7.6106 Ratings00 Ratings
    Work Execution7.6109 Ratings00 Ratings
    Manufacturing Costs7.7132 Ratings00 Ratings
    Supply Chain
    Comparison of Supply Chain features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    8.1
    134 Ratings
    10% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Forecasting7.1107 Ratings00 Ratings
    Inventory Planning7.7131 Ratings00 Ratings
    Performance Monitoring7.8104 Ratings00 Ratings
    Product Lifecycle Management
    Comparison of Product Lifecycle Management features of Epicor Kinetic and Microsoft SQL Server
    Feature
    Epicor Kinetic
    7.9
    67 Ratings
    7% above category average
    Microsoft SQL Server
    -
    Ratings
    Proposal Management8.254 Ratings00 Ratings
    Product Master Data Management8.063 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    Epicor KineticMicrosoft SQL Server
    Small Businesses
    Zoho One
    Score9.2 out of 10
    Amazon RDS
    Score8.1 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Zoho One
    Score9.2 out of 10
    SingleStore
    Score8.2 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Microsoft Dynamics AX (discontinued)
    Score4.8 out of 10
    SAP IQ
    Score5.4 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Epicor KineticMicrosoft SQL Server
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.1
    (222 ratings)
    7.9
    (107 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    8.8
    (2 ratings)
    9.0
    (8 ratings)
    Usability
    8.1
    (182 ratings)
    7.6
    (17 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.3
    (3 ratings)
    7.9
    (26 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    7.3
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (6 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Data Sharing and Collaboration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (5 ratings)
    Data Sources
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    8.5
    (15 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    7.6
    (14 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Epicor KineticMicrosoft SQL Server
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Epicor Software
    I think it depends on the industry and complexity of the company. In our situation, we primarily use Epicor for financials, in a relatively simple manner. I don't think that Epicor is the most intuitive or simple to set up for our situation. I think Epicor is better suited for its target industry of manufacturing, where building out the multiple layers let's Epicor's strengths come to bear.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    Microsoft SQL is ubiquitous, while MySQL runs under the hood all over the place. Microsoft SQL is the platform taught in colleges and certification courses and is the one most likely to be used by businesses because it is backed by Microsoft. Its interface is friendly (well, as pleasant as SQL can be) and has been used by so many for so long that resources are freely available if you encounter any issues.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Epicor Software
    • MRP Processing, PO Suggestion processing and maintaining Inventory/Accounting cost consistency.
    • Freighting with speed and precision allows us to ship on time with over 10 shipping stations they all run seamlessly.
    • Using ECM, we've streamlined our AP Invoicing process and increased our teams throughput at least 2x with more speed projected.
    • Using Co-Parts with Advanced Production, we've increased inventory accuracy and accounting for parts cost in a more transparent way.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • Easy to configure and use with Visual Studio and Dot Net
    • Easy integration with MSBI to perform data analysis
    • Data Security
    • Easy to understand and use
    • Very easy to export database and tables in the form of SQL query or a script
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Epicor Software
    • In Application Studio, there are quite a few things that you just have to know in order to really get it to work right. Such as when you are updating a dataview you have to save them refresh and then go back to the wizard to get the added fields that you may have added from a BAQ.
    • When running MRP it has a tendency to stall or not finish on occasion. This is a problem as we do not get any PO Suggestions when this happens.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise edition has a high cost but is the only edition which supports SQL Always On Availability Groups. It would be nice to include this feature in the Standard version.
    • Licensing of Microsoft SQL Server is a quite complex matter, it would be good to simplify licensing in the future. For example, per core vs per user CAL licensing, as well as complex licensing scenarios in the Cloud and on Edge locations.
    • It would be good to include native tools for converting Oracle, DB2, Postgresql and MySQL/MariaDB databases (schema and data) for import into Microsoft SQL Server.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Epicor Software
    Easy to use, reliable, known product, best product configurator, Epicor continues to offer improvements every year.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    We understand that the Microsoft SQL Server will continue to advance, offering the same robust and reliable platform while adding new features that enable us, as a software center, to create a superior product. That provides excellent performance while reducing the hardware requirements and the total cost of ownership of our solution.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Epicor Software
    There is always room for improvement! I've used Great Plains ERP/MS Dynamics and Epicor my entire career. both do some things really well. Both could learn from each other. The KInetic user interface is much better than the classic windows overall. Please keep adding more functionality to the core financials!!! You need the accountants to be on your side.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    SQL Server mostly 'just works' or generates error messages to help you sort out the trouble. You can usually count on the product to get the job done and keep an eye on your potential mistakes. Interaction with other Microsoft products makes operating as a Windows user pretty straight forward. Digging through the multitude of dialogs and wizards can be a pain, but the answer is usually there somewhere.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Reliability and Availability
    Epicor Software
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    Its does not have outages.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Performance
    Epicor Software
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    SSAS data cubes may some time slow down your Excel reports.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Epicor Software
    If the answer to your problem is not readily available in an answer book, your response or solution will take months, if you get one at all. Problems need to be sent to support and duplicated by them before they try to fix it. This is extremely frustrating because you have to prove to Epicor that you are having an issue. If by some miracle you get by this barrier, your problem is submitted to development for review. You can't speak to them or communicate in any way directly. This group appears to be completely unconcerned about user issues or customer service. Our experiences have been negative across the board.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    We managed to handle most of our problems by looking into Microsoft's official documentation that has everything explained and almost every function has an example that illustrates in detail how a particular functionality works. Just like PowerShell has the ability to show you an example of how some cmdlet works, that is the case also here, and in my opinion, it is a very good practice and I like it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    In-Person Training
    Epicor Software
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    It was good
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Online Training
    Epicor Software
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    very hands on and detailed training
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Epicor Software
    No answers on this topic
    Microsoft
    Other than SQL taking quite a bit of time to actually install there are no problems with installation. Even on hardware that has good performance SQL can still take close to an hour to install a typical server with management and reporting services.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Epicor Software
    Most of my histories with SAP directly. I didn't really have any negative experiences. The only thing I could say is that I always had to go to somebody else to solve the problem that I can solve first person now with Epicor Kinetic.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    [Microsoft] SQL Server has a much better community and professional support and is overall just a more reliable system with Microsoft behind it. I've used MySQL in the past and SQL Server has just become more comfortable for me and is my go to RDBMS.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Scalability
    Epicor Software
    Using the word Scalability usually implies an increase of use, or adding the use of other features. Making the product put to good/proper use for small companies without the need for full-time support, whilst integrity is maintained it is an entirely different topic. In my view, the current company may have acquired a full truck with options, where initially a small pick-up may have been better suited.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    SQL server does handle growing demands of a mid sized company.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Epicor Software
    • We have increased our lead time of orders by about a week.
    • We have increased our output of product by 10% with the same amount of staff.
    • We were able to leverage Kinetic to optimize our business while moving two facilities.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Microsoft
    • Increased accuracy - We went from multiple users having different versions of an Excel spreadsheet to a single source of truth for our reporting.
    • Increased Efficiency - We can now generate reports at any time from a single source rather than multiple users spending their time collating data and generating reports.
    • Improved Security - Enterprise level security on a dedicated server rather than financial files on multiple laptop hard drives.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Epicor Kinetic Screenshots

    Screenshot of Production ManagementScreenshot of Role-Based Analytics and Business IntelligenceScreenshot of Planning and SchedulingScreenshot of Shipping and ReceivingScreenshot of the General LedgerScreenshot of Training and Development