About Epicor
Epicor is a global leader delivering business software solutions to the manufacturing, distribution, retail, and services industries. Founded in 1972, Epicor serves 33,000 customers in more than 150 countries, providing solutions in more than 30 languages.
Financial Reporting
Comparison Matrix
(Epicor Product Lines)
Overview
Accurate financial reporting is of vital importance to all businesses and Epicor currently offers a range of financial reporting options. Microsoft FRx has been the standard in financial reporting for many years, but in light of Microsoft’s decision to retire FRx and its replacement Management Reporter, businesses are now reviewing their options with regards to their go forward financial reporting strategy. In response to this Epicor released two new products in the form of, Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) and XL Connect. Each offers a unique set of features, functions and user
experience.
The Purpose of this document is to enable a quick and easy comparison between the various financial reporting tools currently available to Epicor customers and the legacy financial reporting tools they are used to in order that they can make the right decisions on their go forward financial reporting products. The Financial Reporting tools being evaluated here are:
GL Financial Report Writer (FRW)—The Embedded standard
report writer that ships with General Ledger
Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR)—Multi-company,
multi-national advanced reporting. Replacement for FRx and MMR. Designed, and developed by Epicor.
Microsoft FRx—Long term standard for financial reporting. Now
in maintenance mode. Limited support.
Microsoft Management Reporter (MMR)—Designed to replace
FRx. Now in maintenance mode. Limited support.
XL Connect—Add-in to Microsoft Excel. Supports financial
Product Availability GL Financial Report Writer (FRW) Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) Microsoft FRx Microsoft Management Reporter XL Connect Epicor ERP 9.05.XXX X X X X X Epicor ERP 9.04.XXX X X X Vantage 8.03.4XX X 2011 X 2012 iScala 2.2 SR2 X iScala 2.3 SRX 2011 X X 2011 Enterprise 7.X 2011 X X
iSolutions (ManFact X.X &
DataFlo X.X) 2011
Supported Functions GL Financial Report Writer (FRW) Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) Microsoft FRx Microsoft Management Reporter XL Connect Multiple Company
You can display the financial results from multiple companies together on the same report
X X X X
Multiple Books
You can display the financial results from multiple books (Epicor9 feature) together on the same report
X X X X
Consolidate companies from multiple databases
X X X
Direct Data reporting with inherited security
X
Direct Data reporting security defined in the application
X X X
Replicated Data reporting support with full security
X
Replicated Data reporting security defined in the application
X X X
Integrated security X X X (Enterprise
7) 2011 (Epicor
ERP)
High Performance (Server based generation, client publication)
X
Automatic creation of PivotTables for detailed analysis
X
Supported Functions (Continued) GL Financial Report Writer (FRW) Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) Microsoft FRx Microsoft Management Reporter XL Connect
XBRL Reporting Via 3rd Party X
Report Preview X X X X X
Language Globalization The Report Designer interface can be modified to display different languages
Report Designing GL Financial Report Writer (FRW) Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) Microsoft FRx Microsoft Management Reporter XL Connect Row sets X X X Column sets X X X X Reporting trees
Used to create reporting hierarchies by company and chart of accounts. You can further define reporting trees by account ranges, account categories, and dictionaries you define
X X X Manual
Dictionaries
Contain reusable definitions for groups of accounts, row expressions, column expressions, and reporting tree hierarchies
X X
Putting the report elements together and creating .rdl
X X
Use .rdl as a source for creating functions
via MS BIDS *
X
Suppress Zero Rows via MS BIDS
*
X X Can be done
with moderate Excel skills
Option for Separate Debit & Credit Columns
X X X X
IF Function
In certain cases, the calculated values are to be shown in different places depending on the sign or other conditions.
X X X X
Report on unposted transactions
X X X
Exception Reports via MS BIDS
*
X X
Report Header and Footer X X X X
Updated Availability of Report Parameters
The option to use report parameters in Column Period From and Period To expressions
X
Drag-and-drop report creation X
Flexible grid for report layout via MS BIDS
*
X X X
Define look of the report with MS BI Development Studio
X X
Report Designing (Continued) GL Financial Report Writer (FRW) Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) Microsoft FRx Microsoft Management Reporter XL Connect Conditional formatting X X X X
Combine multiple reports in a single file
via MS BIDS *
X X X
Use functions that reference data across multiple reports
via MS BIDS *
X X X
Include graphs in reports via MS BIDS
*
X X
Include unrelated documents in report
via MS BIDS *
X
Include hyperlinks for navigating around single and multiple reports
via MS BIDS *
via MS Studio X
Include non-Epicor data in functions
via MS BIDS *
X via MS Studio X
Potential for reporting on more modules than GL via MS BIDS * via MS Studio X (Already have AP Content Pack for Enterprise and more planned)
Skills required for designing reports
Medium Basic Basic Basic Excel
This document is for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. This document and its contents, including the viewpoints, dates and functional content expressed herein are believed to be accurate as of its date of publication, July 2011. However, Epicor Software Corporation makes no guarantee, representations or warranties with regard to the enclosed information and specifically disclaims any applicable implied warranties, such as fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, satisfactory quality or reasonable skill and care. As each user of Epicor software is likely to be unique in their requirements in the use of such software and their business processes, users of this Worldwide Headquarters 7683 Southfront Road, Livermore, CA 94551 USA Toll Free: +1.888.448.2636 Direct: +1.925.449.0606 Fax: +1.925.373.2075 www.epicor.com
Latin America and Caribbean Blvd. Antonio L. Rodriguez #1882 Int. 104
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, CP 64650 Mexico
Phone: +52.81.1551.7100 Fax: +52.81.1551.7117
Europe, Middle East and Africa No. 1 The Arena
Downshire Way
Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1PU United Kingdom
Phone: +44.0.1344.468.468 Fax: +44.0.1344.468.010
Asia
238A Thomson Road #23-06 Novena Square Tower A Singapore 307684 Singapore
Phone: +65.6333.8121 Fax: +65.6333.8131
Australia and New Zealand Level 34 101 Miller Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Australia Phone: +61.2.9927.6200 Fax: +61.2.9956.8976 Reporting Outputs GL Financial
Report Writer (FRW) Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) Microsoft FRx Microsoft Management Reporter XL Connect XML X X X HTML X X X CSV X X X X Acrobat (PDF) X X X Microsoft Word X Microsoft Excel X X X X X TIFF X X X SharePoint 2010 X Email distribution X X
Commercial Arrangements GL Financial Report Writer (FRW) Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) Microsoft FRx Microsoft Management Reporter XL Connect
Epicor Version from V8.03.40x 9.05.600 9.04 9.04 9.05.603
Pre-Requisites None Replication
Server; SQL Server
None None MS Excel
Other Components None Sonic; SSRS None SSRS SSRS
Additional Server Needed No Recommend
ed
No No No
Pricing (USD - 1 designer + 4 viewers) incl with GL $4,480 AFR Designer 2-User and 5 Viewers $4,590 FRx Desktop 2-User and 5 DrillDown Viewers $1,580 $6,500 1 designer 2 power users 4 drill down users
Licensing Concurrent Concurrent Named Named Named
