Epicor’s Cloud-Only Roadmap: How to Evaluate Your Options Without Rushing the Decision

Epicor recently announced a pivotal shift in its product roadmap:

Going forward, all new features for Kinetic, Prophet 21, and BisTrack will be developed exclusively for the Epicor Cloud. While support for on-premises systems will continue for several years, innovation has officially moved to the cloud. 

This moment reflects a broader trend across the ERP landscape: vendors are consolidating development efforts in the cloud, and customers are being asked to re-evaluate long-standing IT strategies under new constraints. 

What Epicor’s Announcement Really Changes ​

After each product’s final on-premises release, no new features will be developed for on-prem versions. Customers will move into defined phases intended to maintain security and operational continuity, while new feature innovation shifts to cloud-only.

This does not mean your on-prem system becomes obsolete overnight. You will retain core functionality and continue receiving Active Support (ending between 2026 and 2029 based on the platform), followed by Sustaining Support (starting in 2027, 2029, or 2030 based on the platform).

However, it does mean the innovation gap between cloud and on-prem will widen. Features tied to AI, automation, analytics, and user experience will increasingly become cloud-exclusive. 

Strategic ERP capabilities—particularly those that enable faster decision-making, operational flexibility, and scalable growth—will continue to advance in the cloud. For organizations that treat ERP as a static back-office system, this might seem like a distant opportunity. For those who view ERP as a platform for transformation, it demands attention now. 

Three Potential Paths Forward

Our cloud migration strategy consulting team typically considers three different approaches for customers grappling with “software end of life” dates:

1. Remain On-Prem Temporarily ​

This path makes sense for organizations with stable operations, recent investments in infrastructure, or regulatory constraints around data residency. It allows time for you to prepare—to build internal readiness, clean up legacy debt, and start planning migration. 

Delaying a cloud decision can feel prudent, especially when the system “still works.” But executives should examine what they may be sacrificing by waiting too long: 

• Deferred Innovation: Core differentiators—like AI-powered eCommerce, outcome-based pricing, and integrated planning tools—will never be backported to on-prem. 

• Rising Technical Debt: Every customization, bolt-on, and workaround that accumulates between now and migration must be re‑engineered, retired, or replaced during migration.

• Compressed Timelines Later: Once Active Support ends, the transition window could narrow. Organizations may find themselves racing against support deadlines without the time to migrate on their own terms. 

2. Migrate to Epicor Cloud​

For organizations whose operations already fit well within Epicor’s industry-specific functionality, migrating to Epicor Cloud can be a practical next step with fewer functional disruptions and lower transition risk. Epicor’s “Ascend” program offers tools and support to help customers assess readiness, streamline data migration, and access new capabilities in the cloud. 

However, migrating “as-is” should never be the end goal. Leaders should seize this opportunity to rethink process design, enhance reporting, and strengthen internal governance.

3. Reassess the Broader ERP Strategy ​

Some organizations will see this announcement as a trigger to reevaluate their long-term technology direction. 

If your business has outgrown Epicor—or if your internal pain points stem from outdated configurations, fragmented integrations, or years of workarounds—this could be the right moment to step back and ask: Is this still the right platform for our future?  

How to Evaluate Readiness Without Vendor Pressure ​

No organization should migrate just because the vendor says it is time. Nor should they assume they are ready without verification. 

Before committing to a cloud migration—Epicor or otherwise—leaders should evaluate four critical dimensions: 

• Process Maturity: Are your current processes well-defined, consistent, and value-adding? Or are they outdated, inconsistent, and heavily reliant on tribal knowledge? 

• Data Quality: Can you trust your master data? Are data ownership, governance, and lifecycle practices in place? A cloud system will not fix bad data—it will only expose it faster. 

• Integration Landscape: How many other systems feed into or rely on your ERP? Will those integrations still function—or need to be rebuilt—in a cloud environment? 

• Organizational Readiness: Is your team prepared for the change? Have roles, resourcing, and executive sponsorship been defined? Are business users involved in shaping the future state? 

Our ERP consultants often conduct independent ERP readiness assessments that benchmark organizations across these domains. The goal is to evaluate whether the business has the structure, skills, and alignment needed to absorb and sustain change. That distinction determines whether a cloud migration creates measurable value or simply creates disruption.

A Disciplined Way to Migrate

Organizations that follow these steps are far more likely to emerge with a system that aligns with business goals—rather than reacting to a vendor timeline: 

1. Engage Independent Advisory

Look for unbiased ERP consultants who have no financial stake in your software selection. Independence ensures your best interest stays at the center of every recommendation. 

2. Prioritize Governance and Risk Reviews

Include CFOs, CIOs, and business unit leaders in a formal decision checkpoint that addresses software capabilities, readiness, risk exposure, and strategic fit. 

3. Use Phased Planning

Design a roadmap that allows for pilot phases, modular migration, and continuous feedback. Big bang migrations often strain internal teams and magnify disruption. 

The Real Decision Is Strategic

Epicor’s cloud-only roadmap is a signal that the ERP market is changing and that your organization’s ERP strategy must evolve with it. 

Whether you migrate to Epicor Cloud, pivot to a new platform, or take time to prepare, the right path forward begins with clarity. 

At Panorama, we work with clients to evaluate a variety of providers of ERP platforms, MRP solutions, and SCM systems. If your organization is contemplating a cloud transition for any type of software, contact us below before you commit.