Linux Means Business – Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) – Best Free Software

Best Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software

This section covers Enterprise Resource Planning software. There are many advantages to implementing an ERP software solution. Some of the key benefits include improvement to workplace productivity, increased efficiency, a reduction in the business’s costs and streamlined processes. The software is useful for businesses whatever their size.

There are strong proprietary ERP solutions from the likes of Oracle, Microsoft, and SAP. But they are very expensive and overkill for many businesses. The issue facing many companies is that many popular ERP systems are very expensive and difficult to implement. If your firm’s needs are a bit simpler, the following open source solutions should meet your requirements admirably.

ERP software overlaps with many other categories of ‘Linux Means Business’.

ERP - Best Open Source Software
	ERPNext is our winner in this section. We are particularly impressed with its ease of use and wide range of features including project management, human resources, and inventory management. It's an admirable solution for any small or medium business. Self-hosting removes any cost, but if you don't want to self-host, the pricing plans are fairly competitive. https://erpnext.com/ License: GNU General Public License v3
	Odoo (formerly OpenERP) is a suite of open-source business apps written in Python. The main Odoo Apps include an Open Source CRM, Website Builder, eCommerce, Warehouse Management, Project Management, Billing & Accounting, Point of Sale, Human Resources, Marketing, Manufacturing, Purchase Management, and more. https://www.odoo.com/ License: GNU Lesser General Public License, Version 3
	opentaps is a strong ERP and CRM system that is renowned for being simple and intuitive. http://www.opentaps.org/ License: GNU Affero General Public License, v3

About ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning manages the information and functions of a business. It provides an integrated system by which the entire business can be managed. Not only does ERP improve the efficiency of an organisation it also serves to help the firm’s management make more informed decisions.

ERP software is an integrated suite of applications which commonly cover areas such as distribution, accounting, inventory, invoicing, shipping, logistics and manufacturing. This software is not only beneficial for large multinational organisations, as small and medium size enterprises can gain significant improvements in their efficiency by deploying ERP software.

Businesses constantly face a moving target. With globalization, competition from emerging countries, and technological improvements, organisations need to change. Traditional communication tools such as the facsimile have long been replaced by email. The internet has meant that information needs to be available at all hours of the day, not merely the working day. A modern business system needs to adapt accordingly. ERP software helps firms to rise to this challenge.

Back to Linux Means Business Homepage