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Epicor CMS

Epicor CMS at a glance
VendorEpicor Software Corporation
HeadquartersAustin, Texas, USA
OwnershipPrivately held; Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (since 2020)
DeploymentOn-premises; hosted options
Target marketNorth American tier-1 and tier-2 automotive suppliers
IndustriesAutomotive components: stamping and metal forming, electronic assembly, fasteners and springs, plastics
PricingNot published; quote-based
Websiteepicor.com/en-us/products/enterprise-resource-planning-erp/cms

What Epicor CMS is

Epicor CMS is an ERP built for one industry: automotive supply. Where general-purpose manufacturing ERPs treat automotive requirements as add-ons, CMS is organized around them. OEM electronic data interchange, release accounting, serialized inventory, and sequenced just-in-time shipping are core functions here, not extensions. In Epicor's portfolio it stands next to the flagship Kinetic ERP as the dedicated automotive specialist.

Vendor, history, ownership

The product started at CMS Software, a Toronto-based vendor focused on ERP for automotive parts manufacturers. CMS Software merged with the UK firm XKO Software in 2007 to form Solarsoft Business Systems. Epicor acquired Solarsoft from Marlin Equity Partners in September 2012 and has sold the automotive system as Epicor CMS ever since.

Epicor Software Corporation is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has been owned by the private-equity firm Clayton, Dubilier and Rice since 2020. The CMS product page is still maintained and marketed, and a third-party support ecosystem serves the product's long-standing installed base.

Core functionality

Built-in EDI covers major automotive OEMs and supplier networks, including customer-specific formats such as Honda MPR, and the system supports the MMOG/LE supply chain assessment used across the industry. Release accounting is tied directly to production reporting, keeping cumulative ship quantities aligned with customer releases.

Beyond that: serialized inventory tracking, inline vehicle sequencing for just-in-time programs, customer-compliant labeling and shipping, production and materials management, quality compliance, multi-company and multi-currency financials, and IoT-based shop floor visibility.

Who buys it, and how it is sold

The buyers are North American tier-1 and tier-2 automotive suppliers across metal processing, forming and stamping, electronic assembly and components, fasteners and springs, and plastics. They ship against OEM release schedules with strict delivery windows, and they face customer EDI and labeling mandates as a condition of doing business at all.

Deployment has historically been on-premises, with hosted arrangements available. Epicor's product page does not spell out deployment packaging in detail, so confirm current options with the vendor rather than assuming. Pricing is not published; quotes are built per project from modules, users, and services.

Editorial verdict

CMS exists for a reason, and the reason holds up. Automotive EDI and release accounting of this depth is what generic ERPs reach only with bolt-ons and customization. For an automotive-only supplier under heavy OEM compliance pressure, CMS belongs on the shortlist.

Suppliers with a diversifying order book should look elsewhere. This is an established specialist, not a fast-evolving cloud platform, and the mature installed base plus the third-party support market around it point to long-lived deployments rather than rapid product motion. Anyone considering Epicor should put CMS and Kinetic side by side, and should ask direct questions about the CMS roadmap, release cadence, and cloud direction before committing new investment. Build those questions into a structured selection process instead of leaving them to the demo.

What the Epicor CMS website looks like

Current view of the vendor homepage, captured by our editorial team.

Screenshot of the Epicor CMS vendor homepage

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Frequently asked questions

Is Epicor CMS still actively sold and supported?

Epicor maintains a current product page for CMS and continues to position it for automotive manufacturers, so the product remains part of the active portfolio rather than a retired legacy line. An ecosystem of third-party firms also offers CMS application support, which reflects a long-standing installed base. Prospective buyers should still ask Epicor directly about the product roadmap and release cadence compared with Epicor Kinetic.

How does Epicor CMS differ from Epicor Kinetic?

Epicor Kinetic is the company's flagship manufacturing ERP for a broad range of discrete industries, while CMS is a specialized system built around the requirements of automotive suppliers. CMS concentrates on OEM EDI, release accounting, serialized inventory, and sequenced just-in-time shipping — disciplines that general-purpose manufacturing ERPs often cover only through add-ons. Automotive suppliers evaluating Epicor should compare both products against their customer mandates before deciding.

What automotive-specific capabilities does Epicor CMS include?

CMS provides built-in EDI support for major automotive OEMs and supplier networks, including customer-specific requirements such as Honda MPR, along with support for the MMOG/LE supply chain assessment. Release accounting is linked to production reporting so that cumulative shipment quantities stay aligned with customer release schedules. The system also covers serialized inventory tracking, inline vehicle sequencing for just-in-time delivery, and labeling and shipping compliance driven by OEM requirements.

Where did Epicor CMS originally come from?

The product originated at CMS Software, a Canadian vendor based in the Toronto area that specialized in ERP for automotive parts manufacturers. CMS Software merged with XKO Software in 2007 to form Solarsoft Business Systems, and Epicor acquired Solarsoft from Marlin Equity Partners in September 2012. The automotive system has been sold as Epicor CMS since that acquisition.

How is Epicor CMS deployed and what does it cost?

CMS has historically run on-premises, and hosted arrangements are available; Epicor's public product page does not detail deployment packaging, so current options should be confirmed with the vendor. Pricing is not published and is quoted individually based on modules, user counts, and implementation services. Automotive suppliers should request a scoped proposal and compare total cost across all automotive-capable systems on their shortlist.