What Eclipse Users Group, UFO does

The Eclipse Users Group, UFO (User Friendly Organization), is an independent membership organization founded in 1994 that serves distribution companies using the Epicor Eclipse ERP software across Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, and adjacent trades. Its stated base covers 400 member companies representing approximately 30,000 users, primarily in the United States. UFO is legally distinct from Epicor — it is not owned, controlled, or operated by the software vendor — but operates a mutually recognized strategic alliance with Epicor's management, developers, and support staff, giving members a formal channel to influence Eclipse's product direction.

UFO's product surface is a bundle of member services rather than a software product: unlimited on-demand video training across Eclipse functional areas, peer-to-peer bulletin boards for Q&A, a Vendor Partners directory of third-party add-on solutions, in-person and virtual roundtables, regional and annual meetings, and the IDEAS platform — a voting and idea-submission tool where Epicor selects the top member-submitted ideas for inclusion in future Eclipse releases. Operations are run by volunteer member officers and directors with a small paid staff led by an Executive Director.

The business model is subscription-based membership dues billed annually; specific tier pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is primarily self-serve via the eclipseuser.com website, supplemented by member referrals and word-of-mouth within the Epicor Eclipse distribution community. UFO generates no funding from external investors, has no parent company, and operates as a small, member-governed non-investor-backed entity.

Name

Eclipse Users Group, UFO

Legal name

The Eclipse Users Group, UFO (User Friendly Organization)

Website

https://eclipseuser.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Eclipse Users Group, UFO is an independent, member-governed organization serving 400 US distribution companies (Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, and related trades) that use Epicor Eclipse ERP, providing training, peer forums, vendor partnerships, and roadmap influence via the IDEAS platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The organization generates revenue through membership dues from distribution companies using Epicor Eclipse software. Members pay to join and receive access to training, roundtables, bulletin boards, vendor partners, and the IDEAS platform for software improvement input.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Eclipse Users Group (UFO) is an independent membership organization for distribution companies that use the Epicor Eclipse ERP software. It provides members with unlimited video training, peer-to-peer bulletin boards for problem solving, vendor partner directories, localized training sessions, roundtables, annual meetings, and the IDEAS platform through which members submit and vote on software improvement ideas that Epicor incorporates into its development roadmap.

Product overview

The Eclipse Users Group (UFO) is a membership-based organization for companies using Epicor Eclipse ERP software. It is not a software vendor itself but provides a suite of member services centered around the Eclipse platform. The core offerings include: Unlimited Video Training for functional areas of Eclipse; Bulletin Boards for peer-to-peer Q&A; a Vendor Partners Directory of third-party add-on solutions; the IDEAS Platform for collaborative software improvement suggestions; Roundtables for peer networking; and access to localized training sessions and annual meetings. Members represent 400 companies with 30,000 users across industries including electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and more.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Unlimited Video Training Unlimited online training library for member companies covering the functional areas of Epicor Eclipse ERP software.
• Bulletin Boards Forum Peer-to-peer Q&A forum providing a community space for Eclipse users to share knowledge, shortcuts, and answers.
• Vendor Partners Directory Directory of third-party vendor partners offering companion product add-ons that add value to Epicor Eclipse implementations.
• IDEAS Platform Website where UFO members log ideas on how to improve Eclipse software; other members comment and vote, and Epicor selects top-voted ideas for future development.
• Roundtables In-person or virtual roundtable discussions where members share experiences and practical ideas for their companies.
• Localized Training Sessions Training sessions held regionally to help members increase efficient and productive use of Eclipse software.
• Annual Meetings Annual gatherings where members network, share ideas, and learn about Eclipse software developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members report significant productivity gains; increasing Eclipse utilization from 20% to 30% represents a 50% gain in software usage

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EpicorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Eclipse Users Group (UFO) was founded to create a strategic alliance with Epicor Eclipse management, developers, and support staff. This partnership allows UFO members to help direct and enhance the Eclipse software package. UFO provides constructive feedback and guidance for future product development, giving members a formal voice in Eclipse's development roadmap.
• Epicor (IDEAS Platform)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUFO has partnered with Epicor to provide all members with access to IDEAS, a website where members can log ideas for improving Eclipse software. Other members can comment and vote on these ideas, and Epicor selects the top-voted ideas for future software development, giving members direct influence over product improvements.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Infor: Infor is a major mid-market ERP vendor with a strong distribution footprint (Infor Distribution SX.e). It is comparable as a competing ERP platform whose user communities target the same mid-market distribution customers UFO serves.
• NetSuite (Oracle NetSuite): NetSuite is a leading cloud ERP with an active user community and SuiteWorld event. It competes with Epicor Eclipse in mid-market distribution and represents the cloud-first trajectory that could erode UFO's underlying member base.
• Acumatica: Acumatica is a cloud-native mid-market ERP with a growing independent user community. It is a comparable because its user base overlaps UFO's target buyer (mid-market distributors) and its community structure competes for similar attention and mindshare.

Regional players

• NAED (National Association of Electrical Distributors): NAED is the trade association for the electrical distribution industry — UFO's largest vertical. It is comparable as a member-funded organization providing education, networking, and advocacy to the same distribution buyer UFO serves with software-specific content.
• HARDI (Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International): HARDI is the trade association for HVACR distributors — another core vertical for UFO members. It is comparable as a vertical-specific membership body delivering training, conferences, and peer engagement to UFO's customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• Epicor Software Corporation: Epicor is the ERP vendor whose Eclipse product UFO's entire membership depends on. It is the most relevant comparable because UFO's value proposition is built around its strategic alliance with Epicor and its ability to channel user feedback into Epicor's roadmap.

Direct peers

• ASUG (Americas' SAP Users' Group): ASUG is the largest independent community of SAP users in the Americas. It mirrors UFO's model — an independent user-run organization providing training, peer networking, conferences, and a collective voice to influence SAP's product direction.
• OAUG (Oracle Applications Users Group): OAUG is an independent, volunteer-led user community for Oracle applications customers, offering education, networking events, and advocacy to Oracle. UFO is the equivalent independent voice for Eclipse users.
• Epicor Prophet 21 Users Group: Prophet 21 is Epicor's other major distribution-focused ERP, with its own independent user community. It is the most structurally analogous peer to UFO — same vendor family, same distribution vertical, same user-group model — making it a direct benchmark for membership engagement and value proposition.
• Dynamic Communities (Microsoft Dynamics user community): Dynamic Communities is an independent, member-driven organization serving Microsoft Dynamics users with peer networking, education, and an annual summit. It is structurally analogous to UFO for the Dynamics ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eclipse-users-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eclipse Users Group, UFO