The big picture: Modernizing legacy ERP workflows requires a fundamental shift in user interaction. We tackled one of the most tedious processes in manufacturing (the Request for Quote) to lay the architectural groundwork for Epicor's unified AI ecosystem.
Why it matters: Procurement teams were trapped in an endless loop of jumping between disconnected systems, chasing suppliers, and manually tracking dozens of emails. By homologating this scattered data into a single source of truth, we created a competitive advantage that drastically improves decision-making and slashes the learning curve for new hires.
Comparing multi-item quotes is a logistical nightmare. Each supplier offers different pricing structures, pros, and cons. Before Prism, this comparison happened in a chaotic environment of spreadsheets and emails.
The business mandate was clear: centralize the chaos. Designing another convoluted dashboard with endless filters was out of the question. The solution needed to reduce cognitive load while handling highly structured data.
Collaborating closely with the engineering team, I architected a UX model where Prism operates as an intelligent, proactive agent rather than a passive chat window.
Prism is not just a feature. It serves as the master ecosystem for all future AI capabilities within Epicor.
With Prism Business Communications, we produced a brand-new, marketable product tailored for manufacturing companies relying on continuous purchasing. We empowered users with AI tools to automate the exact processes they already managed inside the Kinetic framework. This effort transformed a functional prototype into a robust, outcomes-based solution that drives direct revenue.
The RFQ agent's success proved the immense value of conversational ERP. Our focus now centers on driving UX governance for the entire Epicor AI product suite through comprehensive design audits.
The bottom line: By forging a unified version of Prism across all agents and portfolio, we are improving our internal design standards. This architectural groundwork accelerates the implementation of new business cases within Kinetic and expands these tools to new products, optimizing operations for users worldwide.
