The Most Advanced Open Source ERP and CRM Tool: OpenTaps

What is Opentaps?

Opentaps is the most advanced open source ERP+CRM solution. Opentaps Open Source ERP + CRM is a fully integrated application suite that brings together top-tier open source projects to help you manage your business more effectively.  Today, opentaps supports ecommerce, Customer Relationship Management, Warehouse and Inventory Management, Supply Chain Management, and Financial Management to Business Intelligence and mobility integration out-of-the-box.

Opentaps: free Software

Opentaps is a free ERP+CRM tool. Being open source, its source code is freely available to be modified/ built upon. It's also "free" as in "free lunch," so you can freely download and use a production-ready, enterprise-grade ERP system.  If you are technically knowledgeable or have unique needs not covered by our expertise, this is probably your best option.

Obviously if you are not really technically oriented and are a business view person, you can always have a technology team to architect a powerful fully customized open source ERP+CRM tool for your business. Any ERP or CRM application must ensure that it meets the various business objectives which are related to the business and for which the application is being created for.

Who all are using Opentaps?

There are many organisations which have been using Opentaps, the most of the industries include:

• Industrial machinery manufacturers
• Online goods retailers
• Online content distributors
• Telecommunications companies
• Independent software vendors
• Hosted service providers

What features does opentaps provide?

• As a fully integrated ERP and CRM suite, handling everything from leads, order management, and customer service to purchasing, production planning, inventory management, and manufacturing, to shipping and accounting.
• As a specialized production and purchasing planning and scenario analysis tool
• As a CRM tool for sales force and customer service automation
• As an inventory, order, and accounting back end application for PHP front end stores
• As an ecommerce platform supporting multiple online stores with special offers, promotions, and gift certificates
• As a specialized vertical industry billing solution
• As a hosted ecommerce product offering

Source: http://www.opentaps.org/sites/default/files/images/OrderFulfillment.jpg

The CRM dashboard of the system looks like the following:

Source: http://www.opentaps.org/sites/default/files/images/CRM_Dashboard.preview.png

The financial Dashboard looks like the following:

Source: http://www.opentaps.org/sites/default/files/images/Financials_Dashboard.preview.png

Is there a services support for Opentaps?

Yes, being open source and the code being free and the software essentially being free for a download, Opentaps has a strong services-support system. Being open source the biggest advantage is the community driven support. Users create new used cases and include them online for everyone's benefit.

Opentaps has the following different versions:

• Update Service
• Professional Edition
• Professional Evaluation
• Professional Implementation
• Training
• opentaps In The Cloud

You can also access the services an support by directly navigating to the following URL: http://www.opentaps.org/services-support

How do I get Opentaps for my business?

You can get in touch with any of the following Opentaps partners who will help you in customizing and implementing Opentaps for your business. These partners are business associates for opentaps who understand your business and act as direct opentaps vendors to you. They also extend personal service and support for your business.

All you need to reach out to these partners is to follow the following URL: http://www.opentaps.org/partners

Where can I learn more about opentaps before taking a business call?

While you can always get in touch with a partner, you can also get to know more about opentaps with the opentaps shop which is available through this URL: http://shop.opentaps.org/ 

There are many such online platforms available, which are benefiting the Small and Medium Enterprise segment. To know more, get in touch with the experts at IndiaMART Knowledge Services. Do drop in a comment to this post to let us know what else would you want us to share about!

Open Source, Low Cost ERP Solution: Compiere

Compiere is an Open source ERP and CRM solution for the small to medium sized enterprises, built on a powerful Model-driven Application Platform. Compiere helps in integration of various business processes like Finance, Administration, Sales and Distribution etc. Compiere is Easier to Acquire, Implement, Extend and Change.

What is an ERP?
Enterprise Resource Planning: ERP is a software application which is modeled around, creating a smooth business management process flow, adding to the operational capability of a business. ERP affects a business across the business value chain. Putting simply, ERP amalgamates the various points of business information available into a more cohesive, readily available online resource, which is available on demand to business users across the various functions as: HR, Marketing, Finance, Administration etc.


But its a software: it will cost a lot?!
Now this is where education comes in handy. ERP is a software but burns no hole in your pocket. Compared to a proprietary software the free and open source ERP projects available for download online are a far cheaper and better option. All that you then require is the help of an Open Source evangelist who can help you install and customize the ERP according to your business processes.

Compiere
Compiere is a modern, highly adaptable, enterprise-class business solution - that can be deployed on-premise or on the Cloud - for a fraction of the cost of traditional ERP systems. Improve agility and dramatically lower cost of ownership with Compiere.You can Use Compiere business solutions software to automate all of your financial, distribution, sales and service processes.

Features of Compiere:

Though being an ERP software, unlike traditionally freely available ERP softwares, there are several features part of Compiere:

• Performance Management & Reporting — Report and manage the performance of your enterprise business solutions.
• Purchasing — Automate the steps from procurement to payment.
• Materials Management — Manage inventory receipts, shipments, moves and counts across your warehouses, suppliers and customers.
• Manufacturing — Control Manufacturing operations with material planning, production scheduling and shop floor execution capabilities.
• Order Management — Create quotes, book orders, manage materials, generate invoices and collect cash.
• Sales — Control your valuable customer relationship management solutions.
• Service — Manage the entire Service delivery lifecycle.
• E-Commerce — Create and run a secure web store front.
• Point of Sale — Automate cash sales and inventory management.
• Financial Management — One system automates the processes of your business solution and manages your financial records.
• Projects — Project management, planning and execution. Track costs associated with multi-phase projects across your business solution.

Compiere essentially comes in Professional and Enterprise editions for your business, hence you can choose the software as per your business requirements.

How do I download or try Compiere before buying?

You can try Compiere before actually making a buy decision on the software. The website offers a free 30 day trial version of both their online and downloadable versions.

And what about the TCO: how does Compiere benefits my business?

In technology every business wants to reduce down the total cost of ownership. To understand the total cost of ownership and how using Compiere it is reduced for your business, while comparing with traditional ERP's you have to fill in the required form:

There are many such online tools available, which are benefiting the Small and Medium Enterprise segment. To know more, get in touch with the experts at IndiaMART Knowledge Services. Do drop in a comment to this post to let us know what else would you want us to share about!