It was about three years ago, while driving to the airport. The Epicor customer account manager on the other end of the call was facing a challenge with a customer who wanted to move to the cloud, but required specific hosting solutions that made it difficult. Customers often choose hosting options based on their unique requirements, such as hosting their entire infrastructure in a central location, geographic challenges, or the need for direct access to their data for a variety of purposes. In this particular case, the client needed a solution that we did not have and ran the risk of losing the account. To solve the problem, I called Mark Jamiesonof 2WTech. His team was able to deliver a customized cloud solution that met the customer's specific needs. Today, and hundreds of customers later, this partnership allows us to offer a private cloud solution with subscription pricing, making it more cost-effective for customers while providing them with the flexibility they need. A competitive advantage Innovation and adaptation are critical to success. One way to achieve this is to harness the power of partnerships through a deliberate channel strategy. By collaborating with our partners, we leverage their expertise, resources and networks to ultimately deliver greater value to our customers and prospects. This approach not only helps us expand our relationships at the pace of our customers' growth, but also fosters innovation and drives industry advancements. Our partners are much more than resellers of our technology. They offer the innovative solutions, vertical expertise and geographic expansion needed to drive mutual success. Vertical experience: Aerospace and defense Our partnership with Cre8tive Technology and Design is an excellent example of vertical expertise in niche markets. Aaron Continelli and his team have built a practice around the aerospace and defense industry, dedicating their resources to understanding and meeting the unique requirements of this sector. In doing so, they create tailored solutions that address the specific needs of aerospace and defense customers, setting them apart from their competitors. One example is Enjet Aeroa manufacturer of precision machined and fabricated components for commercial and military aircraft engine OEMs. With Cre8tive, we were able to help Enjet become more agile, proactive and reliable, while supporting growth and operational excellence in several areas:

• Supply chain management: Improvements through real-time data exchange and coordination between sites.
• Operational efficiency: Improved scheduling, planning and purchasing.
• Mergers and acquisitions: Ability to scale mergers and acquisitions and have acquired companies operational in a matter of days.
• Data insight: Develop transparency that helps Enjet react quickly to market changes.

Geographic expansion: Latin America As a global company, we must be aware of the need to create innovation in the markets we serve, as well as in those where we prioritize growth. Latin America is no exception. Our partnership with Technology Coast Partners in LATAM demonstrates the importance of understanding and addressing regional and country-specific complexities in the plastics, industrial machinery and automated manufacturing sectors, among many others. Technology Coast Partners has developed solutions that address the unique needs of customers in South America, such as integration with local CRM and e-commerce solutions. This approach allows us to maintain a strong presence in the region, while providing customers with tailored solutions that meet their specific needs. A useful example is Cerrey, a world-leading boiler manufacturer that was struggling with outdated technology that caused problems with material traceability. We provided the necessary flexibility by adapting the screens to existing applications, resulting in greater data transparency, among many other benefits:

• Growth: By integrating with existing technologies and providing the necessary tools and support, the addition of Epicor created opportunities rather than obstacles.
• Streamlined processes: Cerrey now maintains the integrity of information from creation to completion.
• Competition: Cerrey maintains its advantage in saturated markets by moving faster and with greater flexibility.

"There are several high value factors, but I think the most important is how hard Epicor has worked over the last few years on building channel trust, in sales, marketing, technology, support, customer focus, as an Epicor partner there is a sense of certainty and visibility that gives us confidence to invest and grow our alliance."

Iván Rebolledo

CRO │ Partners of the Technology Coast.

Overcoming Challenges and Building Trust In recent years, we have embarked on a journey to strengthen our partner ecosystem. We are committed to empowering our partners to deliver exceptional value to our customers. By fostering a collaborative environment, we enable our partners:

• Expand your reach: Access new markets and customer segments.
• Improve your offering: Offer comprehensive solutions that respond to a wide range of customer needs.
• Accelerate growth: Increase revenues and profitability through innovative partnerships.

But if I am to be transparent, we have faced some obstacles in our path, and it has been a brick-by-brick effort to create the thriving channel program we have today. By steadily increasing the importance of our channel in sales, innovation and subject matter expertise, we have demonstrated our commitment to collaboration and the success of these partnerships. This has allowed us to build trust and attract new partners willing to invest in both their business and ours. As such, we are pleased to expand our channel partnerships into vertical distribution. We see great opportunities for organizations to join us and be part of an industry-changing drive to deliver 10x greater value to our customers." Learn more about becoming a partner here or make an appointment for talk to us directly.