Epicor ARM 2023.2.2 Release Guide

A first-time Python installation is a requirement with installing or upgrading to ARM 2023.2.

The relevant Python files (Dependencies) are included within the ARM package. These must be installed manually.

This software is used with the AI Matching functionality. tra

An updated Precise CAB installation is also required in order to obtain the latest BPMs, BAQs and UD fields.

Python installation is required for AI Matching. Refer to the Upgrade Eligibility section.

The new Matching engine extends functionality to operate across a larger scale, as opposed to the approach in place prior to this release.

It takes the whole data set of invoices and receipts into account and performs the matching process by attempting to link each invoice line with a list of all possible receipts. In this way, a list is generated whereby the best matching suggestions are identified for all input invoices.

There are 3 new thresholds introduced on the Company and Vendor level.

Customers or approved suppliers can send AP invoices to the ARM-AI OCR Inbox. ARM AI-OCR will regularly scan the Inbox, process incoming emails, and place them in a queue that ARM can monitor.

When new documents are detected in the queue, ARM will retrieve them, confirm their receipt to remove the processed documents from the queue, and then proceed with the standard processing to create Draft invoices using the original content of the attached PDFs.

Instead of disregarding the detected duplicate Draft invoice, ARM generates a Draft invoice record and automatically places it on hold with the reason.

The user has the option to ‘Release Hold’ and proceed from there.

Different countries have their own officially designated symbols for use as the decimal separator.

For example, European countries use the comma as a decimal separator instead of a point.

To accommodate this, a new setting called "Default Locale" has been introduced in the Company settings. This setting specifies the default locale that will be used when parsing numeric values.

You may override the Default Locale on Vendor maintenance if needed.

ARM now supports a new menu called ‘Draft Invoice’. Users can create a manual Draft invoice either via the main menu or the OCR Dashboard.

When Draft invoices are in a 'Saved' state, they can only be edited by their original owners. Validation and matching processes are now conducted separately. Matching will occur once all validation errors are resolved, and no warnings remain unacknowledged by a user.

Draft invoices may now be sent in bulk for review.

The ability to search by the error type is now available on the Draft Invoice dashboard.

The Packing Slip and Vendor code is now supported within Ancora’s XML. ARM AI-OCR does not support this functionality directly; however, users can manually enter the packing slip during Draft invoice creation.

Users can now search AP invoices by the entry person.

An update to the BAQ APInvoiceByLineItemSearch (APInvoiceByLineItemSearch-E10.1.x.baq) is required for this.

A new check box titled ‘Show Rejected’ has been added to the AP Invoices filter. Users now have the option to display or conceal rejected AP invoices.

Users can now filter the AP invoice by type, including 'Any,' 'Invoice,' and 'Debit memo.'

An updated BAQ called 'APInvoiceByLineItemSearch' has been modified to cater for this searching ability.

A series of new permissions has been introduced for AP Invoices:

Bank/Remit To and Bank Details are now accessible on the AP header. Users may edit this information only when they have the 'Edit AP Invoice Header Bank Information' permission.

Users may now create a (single) user-defined field for the AP header.

This optional field will not have any validation or logic within ARM. Its value will integrate into the APInvHed_UD field within Kinetic.

The GL distribution detail is now included in the email for the Approver’s reference.

The User Detail UI now has a new layout. Data is separated into tabs, these being:

Information, Roles, Assigned Permissions, Default Settings, Assigned Locations, Assigned Punchouts, Assigned AP Payment Methods, Assigned Vendor Groups, Assigned Category Groups, and Assigned GL Account.

Support for the ‘Delete User’ feature is now available. This allows you to delete any user who has not been involved within any workflows or created any requisitions.

When ‘Allow User Self Registration’ is enabled, new users can self-register upon their first login to the ARM system. An email will be triggered to ARMADMIN that provides the ability to grant the new user access to ARM.

Support for ISO country codes within the Punchout functionality is now available.

ARM now provides support for the following email sending options:

A new tab called 'Certificate Maintenance' has been introduced to manage the certificates that are uploaded for SharePoint and Microsoft 365.

ARM AI-OCR has added the raw terms read from the invoice into the JSON payload. This means ARM can now have its own Terms Code mapping feature added so that the raw values can be mapped to valid Epicor Terms Codes.

A new 'Terms Codes' menu item has been added to the Administration section for mapping purposes.

Job assembly filtering has been added to PO Suggestions:

Add Item from Job Material and Add Item from Job Operation.

ARM now supports the number of decimals defined in the currency settings of Kinetic. Users can specify the number of decimals that the currency will display for all unit cost amounts.

Support for the deletion of Purchase Order and Blanket Order Release/Receipts is now available.

A new 'Delete' button will be added to the Receipt history and Blanket Order Release for this purpose.

Additionally, two new permissions have been introduced to facilitate the deletion of PO receipts and Blanket order release.

ARM now displays the owners on the PFO and Blanket Order lines and enables users to replace the owner on these lines. An email notification will be sent to inform the new owner when a release is required from the Blanket Order for OCR matching.

Additionally, two new permissions have been introduced to facilitate the replacement of owners for both PFO and BPFO.

ARM now supports description or text box in Unicode characters. For example, users can enter part and vendor descriptions in Chinese characters.

Users can now include a product revision when making a purchase from the catalog. Purchase order suggestions will also display the product revision. Purchase orders with revisions will be updated in Kinetic.