Look no further for an open source ERP. Today, we'll discuss the top 2 in the market: ERPNext and Odoo.
First off, what is "open source"?
"Open source is a term that originally referred to open source software (OSS). Open source software is code that is designed to be publicly accessible—anyone can see, modify, and distribute the code as they see fit." - definition from redhat.com
1. Truly open source
Because of the way Odoo promotes itself, many people believe it is open source. Odoo has an Open Core model, which means that only the core modules are open source. If you're wondering what's not open source, Odoo has decided to keep the following items closed:
Upgrade Scripts
Financial Accounting
Payroll
2. 20,000 apps
While Odoo has dozens of apps, ERPnext provides a single platform to meet a variety of purposes. You choose which one sounds more manageable. There's also no need to keep track of which apps/parts you bought or need to manage. Other issues include:
Not all their apps are open source
Many apps are not cohesive
App integrations are nearly impossible
3. Easy customization
ERPNext is designed to be modular. The ‘DocType' architecture is used to arrange everything internally. In layman's terms, this means that any level of customization from simple to moderate may be accomplished with relatively little coding. In just a few hours, you can do things like create new forms to record different types of data, automate, link different forms, create custom workflows, and more.
Customization is easily done through the Frappe Framework.
To learn more about ERPNext and its features, click here.
4. Less resource-intensive
ERPNext uses a minimal amount of system resources. If you prefer to host on your own servers, this becomes even more essential. ERPNext is built using the Frappe open-source JavaScript framework, which is also the name of the firm that created it. With multi-tenancy, hundreds of ERPNext accounts and users can run on a single server. On virtual private servers, ERPNext functions flawlessly (VPS).
5. All features out of the box
There are no pricing limits or features hidden behind paywalls in ERPNext. Everything is ready to use as soon as it is installed. Accounting, manufacturing, inventory, HRMS, CRM, asset management, and many other modules are included. To learn more about ERPNext's full features, click here.
6. Better value for money
When you build on a thousand apps rather than a single platform, you're more likely to save money if your ERP supplier doesn't charge you more for each addon and app. In ERPNext, even the most popular connectors are free.
ERPNext: ₱95/day for 3-user Accounting & ERP System
Odoo: Complex pricing that considers apps, users and regions + additional success packs
7. Can work offline, kind of
How many times has a lack of internet caused a transaction to be halted in the middle? To work, most SaaS applications require constant internet access. Despite the fact that we live in an internet-rich world, connection issues are widespread in rural and small communities.
Multiple "sites" or accounts in ERPNext can communicate with one another even if the internet is unavailable. If you have POS systems in remote areas or some branches that experience regular internet outages, ERPNext gives them the ability to work even when the internet is down. When you reconnect to the internet after working offline, your data is synchronized.
8. Simpler to use
ERPNext's light and simple user interface makes finding anything and starting transactions a breeze. You can rapidly locate necessary functions thanks to clearly accessible menus and menu elements. If this wasn’t easy enough, the global search bar or the ‘awesome bar’ as we call it, lets you find any feature or any specific document inside a feature.
Conclusion
We've listed 8 reasons we call ERPNext the best open source ERP system. It's truly a great Odoo alternative.
Some of the arguments were philosophical, while others were based on features or better value for money. ERPNext is ideal for most small, medium, and big enterprises, with advantages such as better UX, more functionality, and a distinct value proposition.
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