Real-Time KPI Pop-Ups in Epicor: Inline Alerting via BPM & BAQ

Epicor ERP provides powerful reporting features, but traditional dashboards and reports are reactive. They show what already happened. In fast-paced manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain environments, this is not always enough.

That is why real-time, inline alerts custom KPI pop-ups that appear directly within the Epicor interface — are gaining traction. Powered by Business Process Management (BPM) and Business Activity Queries (BAQ), these real-time notifications transform Epicor from a reporting tool into a proactive decision assistant.

In this guide, Epicforce Tech explains how to create real-time KPI pop-ups using Epicor’s built-in features. We will cover the why, what, and how, with practical tips to make your alerts actionable, upgrade-safe, and performance-friendly.

What Are Real-Time KPI Pop-Ups in Epicor?

A KPI pop-up is a real-time, context-aware message or visual indicator that appears within the Epicor interface based on a condition defined by your business logic. These are not generic alerts. They are tied directly to user actions and data inputs.

Examples:

• Alerting a buyer when a PO exceeds a predefined budget

• Notifying the shipping team if an order’s ship date violates a customer SLA

• Warning finance when an invoice margin falls below a profitability threshold

Unlike batch reports or dashboards that require manual refreshes, these alerts are instant and embedded into the Epicor UI.

Why Use Real-Time Alerts Instead of Static Reports?

1. Proactive Decision-Making
   Traditional dashboards tell you what went wrong. Real-time alerts tell you as it happens, enabling immediate response.

2. Higher User Adoption
   Inline alerts support the user in their workflow with no need to switch context or check a separate report.

3. Fewer Errors
   Pop-ups can warn users before incorrect data is saved, reducing costly errors and compliance issues.

4. Scalability
   BPM and BAQ alerts can be rolled out across modules including finance, operations, inventory, and more.

Core Tools: BPM and BAQ = Intelligent Alerting

Business Process Management (BPM)
Epicor BPM allows you to inject logic into system events such as when a record is saved, a field changes, or a workflow is triggered.

With BPM, you can:

• Evaluate conditions

• Trigger pop-up messages

• Send alerts

• Modify data flow

Business Activity Queries (BAQ)
BAQs let you query live ERP data using Epicor’s no-code designer. You can create calculated fields, apply filters, and even build complex joins across tables.

BAQs can:

• Feed real-time data into BPM logic

• Detect trends or threshold breaches

• Segment data for specific users or roles

Combine them:
Use a BAQ to detect a condition and a BPM to trigger a user-facing pop-up at the right time.

How to Build Real-Time KPI Pop-Ups: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Define the Business Rule
Before writing logic, clearly define the KPI condition.
Example: “If order total is greater than $50,000, alert the manager before approval.”

Step 2: Create a BAQ for the KPI Condition

• Use calculated fields to define thresholds

• Join relevant tables (for example, OrderHed, Customer, PartCost)

• Filter for only actionable records such as open orders or today’s date

Step 3: Create a BPM on the Target Method

• Choose the relevant method (for example, SalesOrder.Update or Part.Update)

• Use a pre-processing directive to validate before saving

• Add a Query BPM Widget to call the BAQ

• Use a Condition Widget to check if the result matches your alert criteria

Step 4: Add a Message Box Widget

• Show a clear, concise message

• Example: “This PO exceeds $50,000 and requires secondary approval.”

• Optional: Make it a hard stop (prevent saving) or a soft warning (allow override)

Step 5: Test in a Sandbox

• Check that the pop-up only appears under valid conditions

• Validate the user experience to ensure it is helpful and not disruptive

Best Practices for Effective Inline Alerting

Keep It Role-Based
Do not show alerts to everyone. Use Epicor security to limit visibility to relevant users.

Avoid Alert Fatigue
Only trigger messages when truly necessary. Too many pop-ups can reduce effectiveness.

Use Clear Language
Avoid jargon. Your message should state what is wrong and what action is needed.

Log Key Events
Consider logging triggered alerts for audit or analytics purposes.

Align with Business Goals
Each alert should map to a measurable business objective such as profitability, compliance, or efficiency.

Real Use Cases We've Seen at Epicforce Tech

At Epicforce Tech, we have helped clients implement KPI pop-ups for use cases like:

• Finance: Margin check alerts before posting invoices

• Manufacturing: Warning when job cost variance exceeds a threshold

• Sales: Real-time alerts when quotes expire or pricing is outdated

• Inventory: Alerting when on-hand quantity drops below reorder level

• Compliance: Pop-ups for missing certifications or blocked vendors

These pop-ups not only improved compliance but also reduced decision delays by over 30 percent in some workflows.

Performance Considerations

Real-time alerts are powerful, but they must be designed for scale.

• Keep BAQs lean. Avoid unnecessary joins or subqueries

• Avoid running BAQs on every single save. Use conditions to limit execution

• Test with large datasets before deploying to production

• Disable or adjust alerts during DMT uploads or batch processing

How Epicforce Tech Helps

We do not just build BPMs. We optimize them for clarity, maintainability, and upgrade compatibility. At Epicforce Tech, our consultants help clients:

• Translate business rules into Epicor-ready logic

• Create modular, reusable BAQs

• Build multi-layered dashboards with real-time metrics

• Reduce technical debt by using Epicor’s native toolset

• Document customizations for long-term success

Final Thoughts: Smarter Alerts Mean Smarter Decisions

Inline KPI pop-ups are one of the most underused but high-impact tools in Epicor. By combining BAQs and BPMs, you can deliver contextual alerts where and when they matter most.

Whether you are in manufacturing, distribution, or finance, you can turn Epicor into more than an ERP. You can make it a real-time decision engine.

And if you need help planning, building, or optimizing these workflows, Epicforce Tech is ready to assist.

Contact Epicforce Tech

Want real-time alerts that prevent errors and drive better decisions?

Let us build smarter Epicor workflows together.
Call us at (888) 280-5585
Visit https://epicforcetech.com