Choosing Between P21 and Rootstock: A Practical Guide for Distributors

Selecting the right ERP system is a major decision for any distribution company. The two compared are Epicor Prophet 21 (P21) vs. Rootstock. While both platforms offer strong cloud capabilities, they are built for very different operational priorities—and the right choice depends on your business model.

At Scaled Solutions Group, we help distributors evaluate these systems every day. Here’s what you need to know—and how we guide you toward the best decision.

🏗️ Core Purpose & Ideal Fit

P21 (Epicor Prophet 21)

• Designed for inventory-heavy, order-driven, and warehouse-centric businesses.
• Offers out-of-the-box workflows minimizing customization.
• Excels in replenishment, pricing, warehouse efficiency, and counter sales.

Rootstock

• Strong for manufacturing, project-driven, and mixed-mode businesses.
• Leverages Salesforce CRM, but requires configuration for distribution depth.
• Best for organizations already committed to the Salesforce ecosystem.

🔑 Feature-by-Feature Comparison

1. Inventory & Warehouse Management

• P21: Advanced replenishment, demand forecasting, automated purchasing, vendor scoring, and distributor-focused warehouse tools.
• Rootstock: Good inventory functionality but oriented toward manufacturing workflows and requires customization for distribution-specific logic.

2. Order Management & Purchasing

• P21: Fast, intuitive order entry, counter sales, CPQ integration, and robust purchasing automation.
• Rootstock: Strong for manufacturing/job-based operations; distribution order flows often require more configuration.

3. Reporting & Analytics

• P21: Distributor-focused dashboards providing margin, inventory, vendor, and purchasing insights.
• Rootstock: Strong analytics through Salesforce, but distribution KPIs require setup and customization.

4. Customization & Integrations

• P21: Works well out of the box for distribution with minimal customization.
• Rootstock: Highly customizable through the Salesforce ecosystem but requires expertise and can increase costs.

5. Scalability

• P21: Ideal for small to mid-sized and growing distribution companies.
• Rootstock: Scales well within Salesforce for organizations with manufacturing or project-based operations.

⭐ Why P21 Is the Better Choice for Most Distributors

P21 provides a stronger fit because it delivers deeper distribution functionality right out of the box, reducing customization, speeding up implementation, and enabling faster, more intuitive daily workflows than Rootstock’s broader, Salesforce-oriented architecture.

🤝 How Scaled Solutions Group Helps You Decide

At Scaled Solutions Group, we specialize in helping businesses not only compare platforms, but understand which solution supports their long-term strategy.

Our goal is to help you make a confident informed decision, not sell you a system that isn’t the right fit. We’re here to guide you every step of the way, from evaluation to implementation and beyond.

Ready to See Prophet 21 in Action?

Make your ERP decision with clarity.
Experience a personalized walkthrough based on your distribution workflows.

👉 Request a Demo