The Best Open Source ERP System
In recent years, startups have preferred to use an Open Source ERP solution to run their operations successfully. Because of their low cost and ease of modification, these platforms are quickly gaining popularity.
Larger organizations, on the other hand, look to big-game players like SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics to handle their business activities. However, the scene is steadily changing. Big businesses are increasingly turning to Open Source ERP systems to cut down on license, implementation, and maintenance costs.
What is Open Source ERP?
Open source ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) refers to software applications that are freely available for use and modification by anyone. These applications are designed to help organizations manage various business processes, including manufacturing, procurement, inventory, sales, and accounting.
Unlike proprietary ERP software, which is developed and sold by software vendors, open source ERP is typically developed by a community of developers and users who contribute to the software’s development, maintenance, and improvement.
Some examples of open source ERP software include Odoo, ERPNext, Dolibarr, and Apache OFBiz. These software applications are designed to be flexible and customisable to meet the specific needs of different organizations, and they offer a range of features and functionalities to support various business processes. Additionally, open source ERP software can be cost-effective, as there are typically no licensing fees or vendor lock-in associated with their use.
Pros and Cons of Open Source ERP System
Pros of Open Source ERP System:
- Customization: Open source ERP systems can be customized to meet the specific needs of an organization, allowing businesses to tailor the software to their specific requirements.
- Cost-effective: Open source ERP software is often less expensive than proprietary ERP software, as there are typically no licensing fees or vendor lock-in associated with their use.
- Community support: Open source ERP software is often supported by a community of developers and users who contribute to the software’s development, maintenance, and improvement. This can provide a wealth of resources and knowledge for users.
- Transparency: Open source ERP systems are transparent, allowing users to access and modify the source code to fit their requirements. This level of transparency also helps to ensure the software’s security.
Cons of Open Source ERP System:
- Limited support: Open source ERP systems may not come with the same level of support as proprietary ERP systems. Organizations may need to rely on community support or hire third-party consultants to assist with customization and troubleshooting.
- Implementation and Maintenance: Open source ERP systems can be more difficult to implement and maintain than proprietary ERP systems, as they may require more technical expertise and resources to configure and update.
- Integration: Open source ERP systems may not integrate seamlessly with other business systems, such as CRM or marketing automation tools, which can create additional complexity.
- Limited Features: Open source ERP systems may not offer the same range of features and functionalities as proprietary ERP systems, especially in areas such as industry-specific modules or advanced analytics.
What are the types of open source ERP?
There are several types of open source ERP software available, each designed to meet the specific needs of different types of organizations. Some of the most common types of open source ERP software include:
- General-purpose ERP: This type of open source ERP software is designed to support a wide range of business processes, such as accounting, sales, procurement, inventory management, and production.
- Manufacturing ERP: This type of open source ERP software is designed specifically for manufacturing companies, providing features such as production planning, scheduling, and resource management.
- Supply chain ERP: This type of open source ERP software is designed to manage the flow of goods and services from suppliers to customers, providing features such as inventory management, procurement, and logistics.
- Service ERP: This type of open source ERP software is designed for service-based organizations, such as consulting firms, providing features such as project management, time tracking, and billing.
- Retail ERP: This type of open source ERP software is designed for retailers, providing features such as point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management, and customer management.
- Healthcare ERP: This type of open source ERP software is designed for healthcare organizations, providing features such as patient management, medical records management, and billing.
- Education ERP: This type of open source ERP software is designed for educational institutions, providing features such as student information management, course management, and scheduling.
Note that some open source ERP systems are general-purpose systems that can be configured to meet the needs of specific industries, while others are designed specifically for certain industries.
Use of ERP system
Because of its great flexibility, minimal maintenance costs, and user-friendly interface, more firms are turning to Open Source ERP. After using an Open source ERP system, business owners, particularly those in the startup and mid-market, have seen a significant increase in earnings.
This notion is broadened by the Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning system, which provides a comprehensive economic solution to everybody. Everyone has access to the source code. As a result, this infrastructure enables businesses to have access to the ERP system’s code and adapt it to suit their needs. Furthermore, it does not necessitate the purchase of a licence or the ongoing maintenance of software.
Benefits of ERP system
- In the long term, it will be easier to customize and save your business costs
- Simple to comprehend and blends in seamlessly with business activity
- There is no reliance on the vendor because it contains the entire content
- It is simple to train staff and contribute to its improvement
- Compared to other commercial ERPs, upgrading the system is quite simple
1. WP ERP
WP ERP is the world’s first fully functional ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. It allows you to run your company from your WordPress dashboard. So that you can easily manage both your WordPress site and your business from one location. With sophisticated HR Manager, CRM, and Accounting features, WP ERP optimizes your small to medium organizations.
Features
- Support for 44+ currencies
- Complete control of all business operations
- HR, CRM, and Accounting are the three essential modules of a complete ERP system
- From the WordPress dashboard, you can manage all of your company’s details
- Create useful reports and receive a rapid overview of the business
- Premium subscriptions come with powerful extensions
2. Dolibarr
Dolibarr ERP is an Open Source business management software package for small, medium, and big businesses, freelancers, and foundations. It began its voyage in the year 2002. Dolibarr is written in PHP and uses databases from PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and MySQL.
However, in this day and age, the user interface of this system may not appeal to you. However, you feel its features to be beneficial to your company. CRM, sales, logistics, stock, projects, invoicing, accounting, human resources, manufacturing, and other modules are all supported by Dolibarr.
Features
- GPL3-licensed simple and user-friendly interface
- Freedom to enable only the functions you require
- The code for this cross-platform (Windows, Mac, and Linux)
- Web-based application is extremely adaptable or modular
3. ERPNext
ERPNext is free and open-source integrated ERP software developed by Frappe Technologies. The MariaDB database system serves as the foundation for this system. It is built with JavaScript and a Python-based server-side framework.
The popularity of the grows as a result of its simple and easy-to-use interface. It allows you to maintain inventory in multiple warehouses under control. With this sophisticated ERP solution, you can effortlessly manage your factory setup, customer relationships, and other tasks.
Features
- A simple setup system with an intuitive wizard-style UI that is quick, adaptable, and scalable
- At the same time, manage multiple user roles
- Forms in 70 different languages are available to collect information about your company.
4. ERP5
ERP5 is written in Python and distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3. The initial version of this sophisticated open source system was released in 2002. Since then, it has been employed in retail stores and government banks all around the world. It includes a vast number of modules that cover practically every aspect of a business. Banking, accounting, CRM, HRM, projects, inventory, e-Commerce, product data management, knowledge management, and other areas are just a few examples.
Features
- Supplies the SynchML data synchronization tool
- Multiple business templates, an ingestion system, and a web publication system are all supported
- A mobile-friendly open source ERP system
- Multinational corporations, small and large, private and public sector businesses all use it
5. Metafresh
Metafresh is a Java-based Open Source Software suite. It has the ability to respond to shifting market demands. It has lately added quality assurance, warranties, training, and planning to its list of services. They are dedicated to keeping their code clean and straightforward.
It runs on Linux, Windows, OS X, Android, and iOS platforms as a metas GmbH. It is licensed under the GPLv2/GPLv3 license. The source code is available on GitHub under the GPLv2 license, and the cloud version is licensed under the GPLv3.
Features
- For self-hosted customers, it’s absolutely free
- It’s simple to adapt to changing consumer requirements
- Java, JavaScript, XML, and SQL are all supported
- Profitable for small and medium-sized businesses
- It is open and transparent, and it provides a great opportunity for innovation
6. BlueSeer
BlueSeer is a sophisticated program that comes with a wide range of tools. For small and medium-sized businesses, it can cover almost all of the features. This open-source ERP software can be used to run manufacturing, warehouse, and transportation businesses.
Features
- Runs on a variety of systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux
- Supports the performance of the English language
- BlueSeer’s multi-user version is also available on SourceForge
- Inventory management, distribution, sales, warehouse management, and EDI are all included
7. MixERP
MixERP is a comprehensive package that includes all of the sophisticated features you’ll need to run a profitable business. The C#.net language was used to create this multi-platform solution. Having all of the necessary capabilities to meet your company’s goals and demands in the new era
Features
- Open source ERP software written in ASP.NET for free
- Modules for managing business activities are supported
- Users can avoid extra infrastructure costs by using a cloud-based solution
- All devices, including Windows, Mac, and Linux-based systems, as well as iPhone/iPad, Android, and web-based mobile platforms, are compatible
- The English language version is available
8. Apache OFBiz
Apache OFBiz has a basic structure that allows organizations to customize it to their specific needs. It is suitable for all sized businesses with the ability to integrate the system into their operations due to its adaptability. OFBiz is an advanced open source ERP system for managing a company’s different elements.
Features
- Key Features: Groovy is built on Java XML Freemarker
- Both the web-app-based operating system and the cloud-based deployment type are supported
- Performs well on a variety of platforms
- Offers a common data model as well as a set of business processes
- Combines a strong framework with a strong service-oriented approach
- Suited for SMEs, agencies, businesses, and other organizations
9. EasyERP
EasyERP is an open-source platform that includes a number of useful modules for managing your business. CRM, HRM, Purchases, Inventory, Expenses, Reporting, Account Management, and more are all included. This ERP solution includes all of the necessary CRM functions.
Features
- Small and medium-sized businesses will benefit from this design
- On dashboards, you can see all of the relevant data
- An easy-to-use platform that aids in the operation of your business
- Keep track of all incoming leads and how they’re turning into opportunities
10. Odoo
Odoo is a free and open-source ERP and CRM application. It has a solid technical backbone that allows all of the apps to run seamlessly. It was first released in 2005. The source code has been written in Python. Despite the fact that the system is licenced under the GPL 3, it also offers a proprietary SaaS (software as a service) for individuals who want to pay for the service directly.
CRP, accounting, invoices, website builder, eCommerce, email marketing, project management, inventory, and more user-friendly tools are all available through Odoo.
Features
- Provide a user interface that is simple and intuitive
- It has a Google Drive-like feel to it
- To work on, it provides a straightforward and modern UI design
- Supports 3rd-party apps created by members of the Odoo community
- Compliant with the new GDPR regulations
11. Tryton
Tryton is a one-of-a-kind ERP solution that includes some particular features to meet all of your business’s demands. It can be used by enterprises of all types and sizes. It is well-known for its ease of use and user-friendly interface. They began with the goal of providing the finest “modularity, scalability, and security.”
Features
- Tryton Database, Tryton Server, and Tryton Client are all part of a three-tier paradigm
- For desktop users, it is developed in Python and uses the GTK library
- There is a free demo, docker images, and prebuilt binaries available
- It runs on Windows, Linux, and MacOS without a hitch
- It’s available as a Python package that you can install with pip
