Classic Sunset Officially at 2026.1

Kinetic ERP
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@klincecum → Edit: This thread was split from here:

That looks like it is beginning now to finish in 2026.

Will the browser client continue to support classic customizations (it currently does) though it requires a lot more work from an IT team to handle it. You have to install Edge client which plays havoc with updates.

Speaking from the IT side of things, even years may not be enough to move from classic forms to studio. We have some crazy customizations and not all who worked on them are around. I can’t even imagine what my old workplace with hundreds of customizations would do.

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From Epicor just now…

Feature Sunset Announcement: Epicor Kinetic Smart Client (classic forms)

Sunset Date: Release 2026.1 of Kinetic, May 2026

Impact: Starting with the 2026.1 release of Kinetic, the classic forms will be fully replaced by the browser user interface. Users will only be able to use the browser user interface when using Kinetic.

How You Will Benefit: The Kinetic browser experience is optimized, complete and ready for your adoption. It now delivers greater access to ERP, the forms are optimized for better workflow, greater performance, and a more efficient configuration toolset. Concerns around readiness of the browser have been addressed and hundreds of customers are benefiting from the switch to the new browser user interface.

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Specific benefits include:

    1. Flexibility to make decisions and take action where you need to, without being tied to a physical desk or office.
  2. Access to new features such as New Explorer views and BAQ as a source for another BAQ, and enhanced MRP performance.
  3. Easier to use Modern UI.
  4. Greater efficiency in ERP configurations with a no/low code toolset.
  5. Better performance.
  6. Easier to move to the cloud when the time is right.

If now is a good time for you to migrate to the Kinetic browser interface, contact your customer account manager to learn about attractive programs and incentives in a direct move to the cloud.

Next Steps: If you aren’t at release 2023.2 of Kinetic or later, you will want to upgrade before you start your transition to the browser. There are significant advancements and optimization that your users will appreciate if you upgrade first. If you have already upgraded to release 2023.2, you are ready to get started.

You can access help from Epicor for user adoption and training, to uplifting customizations to the browser, to change management and services support. Speak to your customer account manager for guidance on your transition to the browser. More self-help resources including an FAQ, Services Offerings, and Epicor Learning Center resources are available on the Kinetic UX Resources page.

What other customers are saying:
Many Kinetic users have already transitioned to the browser and are experiencing increased productivity as they leverage ERP technology optimized to their workflow. According to a recent survey of Epicor customers, below are the leading benefits of the browser, in order of value to the business.

Benefits

  1. Unlock Innovation: By moving to the browser, your business can unlock over four years of new capabilities added by Epicor to the browser experience. Everything from New Explorer views and BAQ as a source for another BAQ to enhanced MRP performance are included among these new features.
  2. Modern UI: Staying competitive in tight labor markets is easier by positioning modern user interfaces with the access, insights, and efficient workflow your workers expect.
  3. Anywhere Access: Users agree that having greater access to ERP where they need it helps them break the traditional tether of sitting in a chair at a computer and make informed decisions or take action wherever they are. No longer will your administration team need to download the client at each workstation after an update.
  4. Speed and Performance: Businesses need greater performance and speed from their ERP. The new browser UX delivers this with optimized forms and fast browser response. One user states:
    5.“Our users have found that the browser UX is much faster than classic, especially on cloud. They’ve found that the screens are easier to navigate, they’re more intuitive and they’re less clicky.”*
  • Bryan DeRuvo, Vice President of ERP and IT The VMC Group
  1. Efficient Customization: Available with the browser, Epicor Application Studio is a rich no/low code toolset for creating and maintaining your own configurations in the browser UI. Users have found that it reduces the effort and time needed from your IT staff to configure solutions.
    7.“Since adopting Application Studio, this intuitive useability coupled with its low code nature has enabled us to significantly reduce our internal development lead times. We have a firm commitment to the Kinetic UI and are extremely excited about the features and functionality that is being and will be introduced along the journey ahead.”*
  • Alex Ridge, Epicor Developer Progressive Technology Limited
    Move to the Cloud More Easily
    Moving to the browser now prepares your Kinetic system for the cloud by leveraging a cloud-based configuration toolset. The Kinetic tools of Application Studio, Automation Studio, SDK, BPMs, BAQs, and Epicor Functions are all solutions built to enable you to tailor your ERP in the cloud. This provides greater choice in the future – with ease to move to the cloud when your business demands it.
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The way it reads is the sunsetting of the Epicor Kinetic Smart Client
So the Edge Agent won’t be able to launch a client.

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But you’ll still be able to print. :slight_smile:

A lot can happen between now and 2026…hopefully to all our benefits.

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:pray: may the Kinetic gods hear your words.

We’re planning to go full Kinetic UI in 2025 so hopefully we’ll be completed in plenty of time.

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Note this post started two years ago and there will be 16 more months after that if you’re a SaaS user. On-prem users can add another 18 months before going onto sustaining support. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. @timshuwy has been dropping hints that we should start moving business logic out of our customizations and to the server (UBAQs/Functions/Directives) for well over a year. Well, the practice of putting business logic into customizations has been shunned for years. Like Protomatter, code in customizations made things work but in the end, will prove to be problematic.

Maybe someone cool like @klincecum, @jgiese.wci, @hkeric.wci, etc. will create a quick tool to identify these problems so one knows where to start. :popcorn:

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Thanks for the reply. Thats very unfortunate. When I bring this up the higher ups will be recommending a new ERP. We can use our customizations now through Edge.

If that is taken away then we will lose a lot of valuable automation and functionality. I don’t think the IT team can replace that by 2026. Even just the labelling customizations alone make this a deal breaker. It would have been hard enough in 2020 but with us being 24-7 now…

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You could move to on-prem, but as it sounds your organization has minimal staff for anything IT. A third party hosted solution could work maybe.

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Yeah, not the ideal time to move to ERP and labeling systems either…

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That’s us…and it’s been pretty good overall. I know that feeling about minimalism. We have an IT staff of three here…me, myself and I.

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That makes it a LOT easier. When ONE of you is dealing with Kinetic issues, the other two can be taking care of your day job.

It does make department Christmas parties a bit dull though.

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Is there anyone that can comment on how/when/if Service Connect will be phased out? Today’s announcement is silent on the subject. Since it uses the smart client business objects what is the path forward? REST?

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with the release of 2026.1, the smart client will no longer be updated and distributed with the software, so it will not be compatible for 2026.1 and beyond. The edge agent has been updated and will be updated more to be a smoother transition in how it launches and updates.
the Edge agent will still be available with 2026.1 and beyond to continue to meet those “edge” cases such as drag and drop file attachments, easier printing, Excel integration,etc.

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Har-har, har-dee-har-har…

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Oh, I’ve been there and done that. :people_hugging:

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Noted.

Epicor has now put out official guidance and Jose said we could open up discussion once that happened. Give me a minute to split the thread.

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To help you all better understand the Smart Client Sunset announcement: please make sure that you visit the resource page as well as the FAQ page on our websites:

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I got the tshirts too. I laugh that I will not cry…

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Will any non-browser solutions still be needed to run Kinetic

Yes, we are delivering a series of power tools to run key functions of Kinetic ERP. Those include the Data Management Tool (DMT), Epicor Functions, Advanced Print Routing, and Service Designer for SDK. At some point in the future these may move to the browser.

Very interesting.

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The labelling systems were made because Epicor and Bartender do not work well together. We had so many issues with permissions issues on the FTP folders alone (that Epicor made for us) and Epicor blaming Seagull and Vice versa that it was easier to get a programmer to write a customization over the course of a few days. I honestly do not think Studio can do it - unless it can call Epicor functions directly.

I am decent at C# and have worked on customizations - I could conceivably do that. However having to spend months doing that instead of my real job is not going to predispose people here towards Epicor.

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