Choosing Between P21 and Fishbowl: A Practical Guide for Distributors

Selecting the right ERP or inventory management system is a critical decision for any distribution business. The two compared are Epicor Prophet 21 (P21) vs. Fishbowl. While both solutions support inventory operations, they differ greatly in depth, scalability, and long-term capability.

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 right choice.

🏗️ Core Purpose & Ideal Fit

P21 (Epicor Prophet 21)

• Designed for inventory-heavy, order-driven, and warehouse-centric operations.
• Includes complete distribution workflows with minimal customization required.
• Excels in purchasing automation, replenishment, pricing, and counter sales.

Fishbowl

• Primarily an inventory and warehouse management system.
• Often used as an add-on to QuickBooks or other accounting platforms.
• Best suited for small businesses with basic operational needs.

🔑 Feature-by-Feature Comparison

1. Inventory & Warehouse Management

• P21: Advanced forecasting, automated purchasing, vendor scoring, bin replenishment, and strong distributor-focused logic.
• Fishbowl: Solid inventory and warehouse tools, but limited forecasting and replenishment intelligence.

2. Order Management & Purchasing

• P21: Fast order entry, counter sales, CPQ support, dynamic purchasing automation, and advanced pricing tools.
• Fishbowl: Basic order entry and purchasing; not built for high-volume wholesale distribution.

3. Reporting & Analytics

• P21: Distributor-focused dashboards for margins, turns, fill rates, buyer performance, and vendor analysis.
• Fishbowl: Simple reporting; lacks depth for complex KPI tracking.

4. Customization & Integrations

• P21: Strong integration options with enterprise-grade capability.
• Fishbowl: Integrates well with QuickBooks but limited for large-scale distribution needs.

5. Scalability

• P21: Ideal for mid-sized to large distributors and businesses expecting to scale.
• Fishbowl: Best for small companies that need inventory control but not full ERP functionality.

⭐ Why P21 Is the Better Choice for Most Distributors

P21 is typically the superior choice because it provides full ERP capability with deep distribution workflows, while Fishbowl is primarily an inventory add-on. P21 offers stronger replenishment, pricing, automation, and scalability—making it the better long-term solution for distributors looking to grow.

🤝 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