Epicor expands Ascend with AI for 90-day ERP go-live

Epicor has expanded its Ascend programme with new artificial intelligence tools for cloud ERP deployments, including a 90-day go-live target for qualified implementations.

First introduced to support cloud migrations for existing customers, the programme now also covers companies replacing legacy or non-Epicor ERP systems, as well as Epicor users integrating acquisitions or new business units.

The new tools are designed to automate some of the most time-consuming parts of ERP delivery, including auditing a customer's existing environment, extracting and organising data, and creating a migration plan before implementation begins.

The approach is intended to reduce manual discovery work, identify risks earlier, and limit disruption to day-to-day operations during a cloud move or system modernisation.

ERP implementations often involve lengthy data preparation, migration planning, and onboarding. Epicor said the expanded Ascend programme can cut implementation timelines by up to 90 days for qualified go-lives, while early deployments in some cases have shown reductions of up to 40 per cent.

That pressure can be especially acute during acquisitions, when businesses need to combine systems quickly to keep operations running. Epicor cited one customer deployment completed in two weeks during an acquisition.

"Innovation only creates value when customers can put it to work quickly inside their ERP systems," said Vaibhav Vohra, President and Chief Product and Technology Officer at Epicor.

"That's why Epicor is delivering industry‐first AI capabilities and applying AI across the implementation process. By working closely across our product and services teams, we're reducing complexity, accelerating adoption, and enabling qualified ERP deployments in as little as 90 days, without compromising the security and rigor ERP demands," Vohra said.

Broader scope

Ascend was initially launched to help existing Epicor customers move from on-premises software to the cloud. The latest expansion turns it into a broader implementation and migration programme for first-time Epicor users and organisations expanding through acquisitions.

That reflects a wider pattern in the ERP market, where companies are under pressure to replace older systems without causing major interruptions to finance, supply chain, manufacturing, and other core processes. Cloud ERP projects have often drawn criticism for long deployment times, difficult data migrations, and the operational risk of changing critical systems.

Epicor's strategy is to apply AI before the main implementation starts rather than only after a system is in place. The company said this lets teams assess source systems, prepare data, and map migration steps earlier in the process.

Ascend also focuses on optimising data during migration rather than simply transferring it from one system to another. That means information is prepared for use in the new environment from the outset, which may reduce the need for additional clean-up once the system is live.

Acquisition pressure

One of the clearest use cases Epicor highlighted is acquisition integration, where speed is often critical. In those cases, businesses may have only a short window to connect systems, preserve data, and maintain operational continuity.

Cornell Pump Company was cited as one example. It used Epicor Kinetic and Ascend's AI migration tools to move from NetSuite during a complex acquisition.

"Facing a complex acquisition, we had days - not months - to keep operations running," said Todd Arntson, IT Manager at Cornell Pump Company.

"With Epicor as our partner, we deployed Kinetic in just two weeks without losing a single piece of data from our previous ERP, NetSuite. Epicor AI migration tools that are part of the Ascend Program helped us minimise disruption and reduce risk, transforming a high-stakes moment into a confident go-live," Arntson said.

The expansion brings Epicor's implementation services and AI development closer together as it tries to shorten one of the hardest parts of ERP buying: the path from contract signing to a working system. For customers considering a cloud migration, the main test will be whether the promised speed can be repeated beyond qualified projects and early deployment examples.