cc Chart 1 above indicates which industries these three ERP - distribution solutions support. What becomes readily apparent is that all three solutions are broadly based in terms of vertical markets. JDA Supply Chain Planning & Optimization Suite and Pronto Xi support all ten, with Epicor Enterprise supporting eight out of the ten, dropping off only in Food and beverage and Wholesale . However, this should not be taken to suggest that there aren't any important differences between these three vendor solutions.

Chart 2: Breakdown of market segments and geographical areas.

JDA Supply Chain Planning & Optimization Suite
JDA Supply Chain Planning & Optimization Suite is more of a best-of-breed solution, specializing in international trade and in logistics and transportation management, and is less of a full scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) system than the other two solutions. This is evidenced by its comparatively poor showing in back office functionality (a major part of what constitutes an ERP solution), and its relative strength in international logistics and transportation.

Also noteworthy is that JDA specializes in the high and middle end of the mid-market (as shown in Chart 2 above), deriving a full 50 percent of its revenues from companies in the $501 to $1 billion (USD) range, and a full 40 percent of its revenues from companies in the $101 to $500 million (USD) range. Only 10 percent of its revenues come from the low end of the mid-market segment ($51 to $100 million [USD]).

In terms of its customer base, JDA is very much North American–based, with almost 70 percent of its business coming from North American customers, with most of the balance in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and very little in Asia.

Pronto Xi
Pronto is an Australian-based ERP vendor, so it’s no surprise that 70 percent of its business is in Australia, with most of the balance in the Asian market, and very little in North America. Unlike JDA, Pronto specializes in the mid and lower ends of the market, with 60 percent of its revenues coming from these two segments, and only 10 percent coming from the high end of the market. Pronto offers a full ERP solution with strong back end functionality.

Epicor Enterprise
Epicor Enterprise falls right down the middle in terms of the market segment it most supports, with 45 percent of its business coming from the mid-level companies. Its next strongest segment of the market is the lower end, with 20 percent of its revenues coming from companies in the $51 to $100 million (USD) range.

Sixty-three percent of Epicor’s business is in North America, with almost all the rest in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

We’ve included information on the vendors’ market segments and geographical markets because we believe these are important factors to consider when selecting a software solution. Any vendor doing a lot of business with companies of your size and in your geographical market is likely to have the kind of knowledge and expertise necessary to understand and support your company’s special needs and problems.

cc Chart 1 above indicates which industries these three ERP - distribution solutions support. What becomes readily apparent is that all three solutions are broadly based in terms of vertical markets. JDA Supply Chain Planning & Optimization Suite and Pronto Xi support all ten, with Epicor Enterprise supporting eight out of the ten, dropping off only in Food and beverage and Wholesale . However, this should not be taken to suggest that there aren't any important differences between these three vendor solutions.

Chart 2: Breakdown of market segments and geographical areas.

JDA Supply Chain Planning & Optimization Suite
JDA Supply Chain Planning & Optimization Suite is more of a best-of-breed solution, specializing in international trade and in logistics and transportation management, and is less of a full scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) system than the other two solutions. This is evidenced by its comparatively poor showing in back office functionality (a major part of what constitutes an ERP solution), and its relative strength in international logistics and transportation.

Also noteworthy is that JDA specializes in the high and middle end of the mid-market (as shown in Chart 2 above), deriving a full 50 percent of its revenues from companies in the $501 to $1 billion (USD) range, and a full 40 percent of its revenues from companies in the $101 to $500 million (USD) range. Only 10 percent of its revenues come from the low end of the mid-market segment ($51 to $100 million [USD]).

In terms of its customer base, JDA is very much North American–based, with almost 70 percent of its business coming from North American customers, with most of the balance in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and very little in Asia.

Pronto Xi
Pronto is an Australian-based ERP vendor, so it’s no surprise that 70 percent of its business is in Australia, with most of the balance in the Asian market, and very little in North America. Unlike JDA, Pronto specializes in the mid and lower ends of the market, with 60 percent of its revenues coming from these two segments, and only 10 percent coming from the high end of the market. Pronto offers a full ERP solution with strong back end functionality.

Epicor Enterprise
Epicor Enterprise falls right down the middle in terms of the market segment it most supports, with 45 percent of its business coming from the mid-level companies. Its next strongest segment of the market is the lower end, with 20 percent of its revenues coming from companies in the $51 to $100 million (USD) range.

Sixty-three percent of Epicor’s business is in North America, with almost all the rest in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

We’ve included information on the vendors’ market segments and geographical markets because we believe these are important factors to consider when selecting a software solution. Any vendor doing a lot of business with companies of your size and in your geographical market is likely to have the kind of knowledge and expertise necessary to understand and support your company’s special needs and problems.