Tired of painful P21 upgrades, Epicor support queues, and waiting for features that never come? Ximple is the cloud-native ERP electrical distributors are switching to—with automatic updates, responsive support, and AI capabilities P21 can’t match.
Prophet 21 has a long history in distribution, but since Epicor acquired it, many distributors have grown frustrated with the direction of the product and the challenges of staying current.
P21 upgrades are major projects requiring planning, testing, downtime, and often regression fixes. Many distributors are 2-3 versions behind.
Every modification requires Epicor consultants at premium rates. Simple changes cost thousands and take months.
P21 requires Windows clients and servers. Remote access means VPN or Citrix—neither works well from the field.
Epicor manages multiple ERPs (Kinetic, Eclipse, P21). P21 development feels slower as resources spread thin.
Long ticket queues, callbacks that never come, offshore support teams unfamiliar with distribution. Getting help feels like a battle.
As data grows, P21 slows down. Reporting grinds, searches lag, and month-end processing takes longer each year.
Connecting a web store requires middleware and custom development. Inventory and pricing are never quite in sync.
P21 lacks built-in demand forecasting, margin AI, and real-time dashboards. You’re stuck exporting to spreadsheets.
The Epicor Acquisition Effect
Since Epicor acquired Prophet 21, many distributors have seen support quality decline, upgrade complexity increase, and development pace slow. Meanwhile, maintenance fees keep rising. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
See how Ximple compares to P21 across the capabilities that matter most to electrical distributors.
| Capability | Prophet 21 (P21) | Ximple ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Windows servers (on-prem or hosted) | Cloud-native; no servers needed |
| User Interface | Windows desktop application | Modern web interface; any browser |
| Updates & Upgrades | Major projects; downtime required | Automatic; zero downtime |
| Remote Access | VPN or Citrix required | Browser-based; works anywhere |
| Support | Epicor ticket queue; often slow | Direct access to engineers; fast response |
| Matrix Pricing | Supported but complex setup | Supported with modern UI |
| SPAs & Rebates | Available with configuration | Built-in with automated tracking |
| IDW / Trade Service | Integration available | Native integration with auto-sync |
| B2B eCommerce | Third-party; middleware required | Built-in contractor portal |
| PunchOut & EDI | Supported via partners | Native support; no middleware |
| Warehouse Management | Basic WMS; advanced is extra | Full barcode WMS included |
| Real-Time Dashboards | Limited; often requires BI tools | Built-in role-based dashboards |
| AI Demand Forecasting | Not available | Built-in AI forecasting |
| AI Margin Protection | Not available | Automatic leakage detection |
| Industry Focus | Multi-industry (diluted focus) | Built for electrical distribution |
| Implementation Time | 6-12+ months typical | 12-16 weeks typical |
Built for Electrical Distribution: Ximple was developed with input from NAED, IMARK, and AD members specifically for electrical wholesalers. Unlike P21 which serves many industries, every Ximple feature is designed for how electrical distributors operate.
Epicor offers hosted P21, but hosting isn’t the same as cloud-native. Here’s the difference:
Same Windows application, just on Epicor’s servers
Still requires the same upgrade cycles
Still Windows-dependent with remote desktop access
Adds hosting fees on top of maintenance
Same support experience
No architectural improvements
Built from scratch for cloud architecture
Automatic updates with zero downtime
Browser-based; works on any device
All-inclusive subscription pricing
Direct support from distribution experts
Modern tech stack with AI capabilities
Don’t Be Fooled by “Cloud” Marketing: Moving P21 to hosted servers doesn’t solve the fundamental challenges. You still face upgrade projects, Windows dependencies, and the same support experience—just with extra hosting costs.
Zero
Upgrade projects
<4hr
Support response
60%
Less IT overhead
Built-in
eCommerce & AI
Updates happen automatically in the background. You’re always current without projects, testing, or downtime.
Talk directly to engineers who know electrical distribution. No ticket queues, no offshore handoffs, no 48-hour callbacks.
Work from any browser on any device. Branch staff, remote workers, and road warriors all get fast, reliable access.
Contractor portal with real-time pricing and ATP. No middleware, no sync issues, no separate platform to manage.
Demand forecasting, margin protection, and proactive alerts that P21 simply doesn’t offer.
Ximple focuses exclusively on distribution. Every feature and enhancement benefits your business directly.
We needed an ERP that could support multiple companies without adding layers of complexity. Ximple made that easy. We now operate three companies on one platform, and our team moves between them with confidence. Shared accounting and effortless cross-coverage have improved our efficiency and reduced downtime. It’s a straightforward system that delivers meaningful operational value.
John Thomson, First Electric Supply
Ximple has brought clarity, consistency, and efficiency to our operation. The system is easy for our team to use, reduces manual work, and gives us the real-time visibility we need to make confident decisions. It’s a modern ERP that delivers value without adding complexity.
Geoff Calhoun, President, House Electric
Moving from P21 doesn’t have to be disruptive. Ximple’s team handles the technical heavy lifting while your business continues operating normally.
Discovery
Map data, review customizations, plan migration
Configuration
Factors in lead times, promotions, price changes
Data Migration
Move masters, history, open transactions
Testing & Training
Validate data, train teams by role
Go-Live
Cutover with on-site support
Customer and vendor master data
Item master with attributes and UOMs
Pricing matrices, contracts, and SPAs
Inventory by location and branch
Open orders and purchase orders
AR/AP open items and history
Historical transactions (configurable)
We inventory every P21 customization during discovery
Many P21 customizations aren’t needed—Ximple includes the functionality
Unique requirements are evaluated for alternative approaches
Critical customizations are rebuilt or replaced
You won’t lose functionality that matters
Run Parallel If You Want: Many distributors run P21 and Ximple in parallel for 1-2 weeks before full cutover. This builds confidence and allows final validation before retiring P21.
Ximple supports matrix pricing, customer contracts, SPAs, rebates, and complex pricing rules. Many distributors find pricing easier to manage in Ximple’s modern interface.
Historical data migrates based on your needs—often 2-5 years of transactions. Older history can be archived for reference without cluttering your new system.
Ximple’s modern interface is more intuitive than P21’s Windows screens. Most users become productive within days. The learning curve is shorter than you’d expect.
Most P21 customizations solve problems Ximple handles natively. During discovery, we identify what’s truly needed and ensure you don’t lose critical functionality.
Yes—and more capable in many areas. Ximple matches P21’s distribution functionality while adding built-in eCommerce, AI analytics, and true cloud architecture.
That’s actually a good time to evaluate. You’ve invested in staying current, but will you want to do another upgrade in 2-3 years? Cloud ERP means no more upgrade projects.
Common reasons include painful upgrade cycles requiring months of planning and testing, Epicor support frustrations with long queues and slow responses, expensive customizations, SQL performance degradation as data grows, and lack of modern features like built-in eCommerce and AI analytics.
Most P21-to-Ximple migrations complete in 12-16 weeks, including data migration, configuration, testing, and training. Complex implementations with many customizations may take longer, but Ximple’s team manages the timeline to minimize disruption.
Yes. Ximple supports complex matrix pricing, customer contracts, SPAs, and rebate programs. Your pricing structures are mapped and migrated during implementation, often with improvements to how rules are organized and maintained.
Epicor’s hosted P21 moves servers to their data center but doesn’t change the underlying application. You still face the same upgrade cycles, Windows dependencies, and support experience—just with hosting fees added. Ximple is truly cloud-native, built from the ground up for modern architecture.
Ximple provides direct access to support engineers who specialize in electrical distribution. No ticket queues, no 48-hour callback promises, no offshore handoffs. Support is included in your subscription—not an extra cost tier.
Ximple uses predictable subscription pricing with no server costs, no upgrade fees, and no surprise maintenance increases. When you factor in IT overhead, upgrade project costs, and customization expenses, total cost of ownership is typically lower than P21.
Ximple provides intensive support during the first 30 days after go-live, with on-site presence if needed. Ongoing support is responsive and included in your subscription. You won’t be left waiting in a ticket queue.
Absolutely. We offer personalized demos configured for electrical distribution, showing your types of products, pricing scenarios, and workflows. Request a demo to see exactly how Ximple would work for your business.
Easier matrix pricing than P21
Built-in portal without middleware
Analytics P21 doesn’t have
See how Ximple compares for your specific situation. We’ll configure a demo around your product mix, pricing complexity, and operational requirements—no generic presentations.
Considering a P21 alternative?
Cloud ERP for wholesale distributors. Modern UX, reliable operations, and scalable performance.
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