6+ Advantages of Open Source ERP Software

Software Open Source ERP is an enterprise resource planning system released with open source code. Users (businesses or programmers) are free to access, customize, upgrade and deploy according to the specific needs of the business, not bound by exclusive licenses from the software vendor.

Index

What is open source ERP software?

ERP Software Open Source ERP is an enterprise resource planning system whose source code is publicly available and allows users to freely access, use, modify, and redistribute it.

This software is built to quickly respond to different business needs and can be installed in multiple environments such as Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS X.

Open source ERP software is comprehensive, covering and integrating most of the requirements and processes in a business, such as accounting, human resources, sales, CRM, purchasing, manufacturing, service management, project management, and marketing campaigns.

Open Source ERP software has its source code publicly available, allowing users to freely access, use, modify, and redistribute it.

Key Differences Between Open Source and Closed Source ERP Software

Unlike traditional ERP software with closed source code, open source ERP software does not require licensing fees, providing flexibility and initiative for businesses in adjusting the system.
Closed source ERP is copyrighted, protecting the source code, but the cost of use is high and depends on the supplier when changing data. In contrast, open source ERP is often royalty-free and the initial implementation cost is significantly lower.

Open source ERP does not require licensing fees, giving businesses flexibility and initiative in adjusting the system.

Outstanding advantages of Open Source ERP Software

Below are the outstanding advantages of Open Source ERP software - an increasingly popular choice for businesses looking for an efficient, flexible and cost-effective solution:

Cost effective

Open source ERP software eliminates the need to pay expensive licensing fees, significantly reducing the total cost of ownership, especially suitable for small and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets.
Businesses only need to invest in deployment, customization, and user training. Maintenance and upgrade costs can also be lower or negligible if businesses do it themselves.

Highly flexible and customizable

The source code is accessible and editable, allowing businesses to tailor the software to specific business processes and needs, add or remove features, or integrate with other systems.
The software acts as a standard framework, helping users change according to their needs without programming, supporting flexible module management and easy system upgrade and migration.

Transparency and Security

Using open source ERP software means that the source code is publicly available, allowing users to examine the inner workings of the software, understand how it works, and verify security and reliability.
The collaborative nature of open source development encourages a community-based approach to security, which helps vulnerabilities to be discovered and resolved quickly.

Continuous improvement and large support community

Open source ERP software benefits from contributions from a global community of developers, resulting in faster innovation and frequent updates, with new features and improvements constantly being added.
A large community of users and developers is always available for support, making it easy for businesses to find documentation, sample code, and solutions to common problems.

Free to use and redistribute

Open source ERP software grants users the freedom to use, copy, distribute and modify the software as per their requirements, providing autonomy and control over the software.

Supplier Independence

Open source ERP software frees businesses from the constraints of a single vendor. Users can choose from a variety of service providers or support their own, promoting competition and greater control over their software ecosystem.

Open Source ERP software is an increasingly popular choice for businesses looking for efficient, flexible and cost-effective solutions.

What are the limitations and challenges of implementing open source ERP?

When ERP implementation Open source, besides the benefits such as low cost, flexibility, easy customization, businesses will also have to face some limitations and challenges that cannot be ignored. Below is a detailed analysis:

Requires specialized resources for implementation and support

Implementing and maintaining an open source ERP system requires highly technical staff or support from outside experts/consultants. This can put pressure on recruiting and training staff, especially for small businesses.

Potential customization and maintenance costs

Although royalty-free, customization costs can be quite high if a business needs extensive adjustments to fit its unique processes. Developing custom modules requires significant technical resources and time.
Upgrading to a new version can be complicated and expensive when the system has been heavily customized.

Limited user-friendliness and lack of advanced features

Some open source ERP software may not have a user-friendly interface or intuitive workflow compared to proprietary solutions. This can result in a steeper learning curve for end users.
Some systems may lack advanced or industry-specific features, such as production management, planning, advanced predictive analytics.

Security and compatibility risks

The openness of source code can create potential security vulnerabilities if not managed properly. Businesses need to regularly update their systems and adhere to security measures.
Can be difficult to integrate with other systems, especially those that are not open source, or when linking other software features.

Lack of direct support from the supplier

Open source ERP software is often developed by the community, so there may be a lack of direct accountability from a specific vendor regarding support and functionality guarantees.
It may take longer to resolve errors or receive emergency support.

Limited scalability

Although many open source solutions have a modular architecture, adding functionality or extending the system may not be as easy as with commercial solutions.
For fast-growing companies with large volumes of data and complex business operations, performance and scalability can be issues.

Optimize Open Source ERP Performance with Add-On Solutions

While open source ERP solves many core problems, changing or upgrading the system after launch can be time-consuming and costly, and can even cause conflicts or disruptions to workflows. In some cases, the overall ERP may not fully meet specific needs or small emerging processes, requiring a more flexible solution.

Using a combination of open source ERP and third-party support software is an ideal solution for a comprehensive management system that is both fully responsive and flexible to customizations and upgrades.

Bizzi is a comprehensive financial automation platform, designed to seamlessly integrate with ERP systems

Bizzi: Comprehensive financial automation solution integrated with open source ERP

Bizzi is a comprehensive financial automation platform, designed to Seamless integration with ERP systems. Bizzi acts as an AI assistant for the finance and accounting department, helping businesses streamline and automate the process of cost management, debt collection, and B2B payments.

Processing, reconciling and managing input invoices (IPA + 3way)

Automatically process input invoices: Use RPA and AI technology to upload, check and reconcile invoices.
Automatic invoice reconciliation – PO – GR: Reconcile invoice details with purchase orders (POs) and warehouse receipts (GRs) in real time to detect discrepancies.
Verify valid supplier: Check tax code (MST) and status of operation on the tax system.
Store invoices: Automatically record and store input invoices for a minimum period of 10 years.
Risky Invoice Warning: Detect invoices from suppliers that show signs of risk.
API Integration with ERP & Accounting Systems: Synchronize data with accounting software and business management systems.

Business Expense Management (Bizzi Expense)

Set and monitor budgets: Allocate budget by department/project and monitor spending against budget in real time, alert when budget is exceeded.
Automated expense approval system: Speed up the approval process for spending requests with flexible approval flows by level, department, or spending type.
Track and report expenses: Provide up-to-date spending information and generate detailed reports by category, department or project.
Spending policy and warnings: Establish and enforce spending policies, notify when there are new requests, budget overruns or unusual transactions.
Request and track spending status: Employees can submit spending requests in advance, check status, and attach spending to specific projects/tasks.

Business Travel Management (Bizzi Travel)

Automatic flight booking: Integrate with ticket booking services so employees can book tickets quickly according to budget criteria.
Manage and report business expenses: Track all business expenses (airfare, hotel, transportation, food) and provide overview reports.
Work approval process and limits: Set spending limits and require pre-approval for business trips.
Over budget warning: Send notification when business expenses exceed limit.

Electronic invoice (B-invoice)

Create electronic invoices according to prescribed standards: Meet tax authority requirements, XML/PDF format.
Custom invoice templates and mass export: Allows designing invoices according to brand and supports issuing multiple invoices at the same time.
Authentication and storage: Connect directly to the tax system to authenticate and store invoices for a minimum of 10 years.
Look up and manage invoice status: Easily search, download, print invoices and track status (issued, sent, paid, canceled or adjusted).
Integrates with accounting & ERP software.

Accounts Receivable Management (ARM)

Automatic debt reminder: Create debt reminder process according to script via email, text message.
Track and reconcile debt: Automatically record, track customer and supplier debts, and reconcile debt balances.
Debt due warning: Provides warnings when debt is nearing maturity or shows signs of being overdue.
Debt report: Create detailed reports on the company's debt situation.

Bizzi Business Credit Card and Capital Connection

Bizzi Business Credit Card: Spend now, pay later with 0% interest rate up to 45 days, integrated with cost management application to control spending effectively.
Connecting capital sources: Facilitate business access to capital through supply chain finance and working capital financing options with fast processes and competitive rates.

Conclude

Choosing the right ERP system depends on many factors such as budget, IT resources, customization needs, data control, and business size. Open source ERP is an attractive option for businesses with limited budgets and a high level of customization, especially if they have a strong in-house IT team.

Within the ERP ecosystem, specialized solutions like Bizzi complement open source ERP by providing a deeper level of automation in specific financial processes (invoice processing, expense management, receivables) that general ERP financial modules may not be able to provide.

The integration between open source ERP and specialized complementary solutions helps businesses build a comprehensive management ecosystem, where ERP solves core problems and complementary tools handle arising issues or optimize specialized processes, bringing higher efficiency.

In particular, the integration of specialized solutions such as Bizzi.vn Integrating into an ERP ecosystem can help businesses further optimize financial processes, improve performance and control spending, thereby creating a sustainable competitive advantage in the market.

Link to register for a trial of Bizzi products: https://bizzi.vn/dang-ky-dung-thu/
Schedule a demo: https://bizzi.vn/dat-lich-demo/