3 Ways to Increase Trust in Your Epicor Data

Epicor's ability to provide industry-focused, scalable, and customizable ERP solutions has made it a popular choice for organizations across the globe. Epicor's built-in reporting capabilities are useful for standard reports but can be limiting for organizations that require more advanced analytics. Without deep technical knowledge of Epicor’s data structures, attempting to manually create custom reports can create serious roadblocks to data trust within your organization.

Delays in generating custom reports leave your leadership with outdated information, hindering informed decision-making. Additionally, disconnected data forces manual verification, raising doubts about accuracy and eroding trust. But the biggest hit to trust comes from the lack of agility. Imagine your employees asking data-driven questions and facing week-long waits for answers. This frustration and lack of autonomy quickly disengages them from using data altogether. Don’t let these limitations become your Epicor data’s downfall. By addressing these challenges, you can create a culture where data empowers everyone to make faster, more informed decisions.

1. Fill in Ad Hoc Reporting Gaps

For basic reports like general ledger reports, trial balances, and financial statements, Epicor’s built-in reporting tools have you covered. But what happens when leadership approaches you with a more intricate question that requires a custom report?

If you’re not lucky enough to have expert Epicor knowledge on your team, then IT will need to step in. Already tasked with maintaining critical business infrastructure, IT will prioritize other urgent needs over the report, often leading to lengthy delays. By the time the report is delivered to leadership, the information is days-old and no longer relevant. When critical business decisions are made based on outdated information it can damage trust in your team’s future insights.

For rapid insights into your leadership’s pressing questions, seek a reporting solution that offers intuitive report building capabilities. Epicor technical skills are in short supply and a no-or low-code reporting solution bypasses this limitation, allowing your team to autonomously generate value from your ERP data with self-service report creation. With actionable insights in hand within hours, not days, your leadership will be confident they are working off the latest information and trust in your data analysis will grow.

2. Combine More Data With Less Risk

Epicor works best with its own data, and things get complicated when you need to bring external data sources into your analysis. Manual processes breed errors, and if you are using static spreadsheets to generate business insights, it’s just a matter of time before inconsistencies bleed into your reporting. “Trust takes years to build, seconds to destroy, and forever to rebuild” is an idiom you will come to know well if your Epicor reporting carries constant risk of error.

Forget data-chasing and siloed spreadsheets. A robust financial reporting tool seamlessly connects your Epicor data to sales, marketing, and even external benchmarks. This unifies information, eliminating discrepancies and boosting trust in report accuracy. No more manual checks or second-guessing numbers. The finance team confidently presents insights based on a single, reliable source, eliminating the need to defend data validity. Trust skyrockets, enabling informed decisions and collaboration. Stakeholders see the finance team as strategic partners, not just number crunchers, empowered by connected data. It’s a clear win-win, building trust, and elevating the finance team’s impact.

3. Transparent Reporting for Better Decisions

Traditional financial reporting leaves a lingering question: “Where did this number come from?” Reports present figures without context, leaving stakeholders guessing at their origin. Was it a hidden calculation, a manual adjustment, or something else? This lack of transparency creates doubt, hindering informed decision-making and trust in the finance team.

With a reporting tool offering transparent audit logs and version control, those doubts disappear. Users can easily trace any changes to Epicor data, understanding the “why” behind adjustments and following the journey from raw data to final report. This transparency eliminates suspicion and builds trust in both the data’s integrity and the finance team’s expertise. Forget hidden formulas and spreadsheets shrouded in mystery – clear documentation empowers the finance team to move beyond number-crunching and become strategic partners. Informed decision-making across the organization thrives when everyone trusts the data and understands its story.

It’s a shift from opacity to clarity. And the result? Enhanced trust and collaboration, fueling better business outcomes.

Build Epicor Data Trust With Spreadsheet Server

Traditional Epicor reporting can leave you frustrated and unsure of the data’s true story. Spreadsheet Server from insightsoftware tackles these challenges head-on, building trust and transparency through specific features:

• No more struggling with new interfaces. Spreadsheet Server seamlessly connects your Epicor data with Excel, your existing go-to tool for analysis. Create reports that span departments and dig into specific questions, without relying on IT for basic insights.

• Tired of waiting on IT for critical reports that impact decisions? Spreadsheet Server empowers your team with self-service reporting. Build custom reports without technical expertise, saving time and fostering data ownership. No more waiting and wondering – take control and answer questions instantly.

• Eliminate the “black box” of data manipulation. Spreadsheet Server offers detailed audit logs and version control, allowing everyone to trace changes and understand the rationale behind adjustments. No more hidden formulas or guesswork – just clear, documented data journeys that build trust.

• Go beyond basic reporting and uncover hidden gems. Spreadsheet Server unlocks powerful analytics capabilities. Slice and dice data, identify trends, and reveal hidden patterns invisible in standard reports. This deeper understanding empowers informed decisions and confident business strategies.

• Break down information silos and foster teamwork. Share reports, discuss findings, and make data-driven decisions together. Spreadsheet Server promotes data accessibility and analysis across departments, building trust and collaboration throughout your organization.

• Extend reporting beyond finance with connected solutions. Spreadsheet Server is now on the insightsoftware Platform, an AI-enabled integrated solution that empowers you to save time and get a much more streamlined user experience. Using Spreadsheet Server on the Platform gives you the operational simplicity of single sign-on, the peace of mind of automatic security updates, and puts the revolutionary power of a built-in AI assistant at your fingertips.

Spreadsheet Server turns Epicor into a reliable resource for generating business value. Gain time, empower your team, and make informed decisions based on clear, trustworthy insights. It’s not just a reporting tool, it’s a foundation for data-driven success.

Ready to learn more? Watch this on-demand webinar to see firsthand how Spreadsheet Server empowers you to elevate Excel-based reporting with live Epicor data.