Review of Compiere, an Open Source ERP and CRM Solution for SME

Dip

November 10th, 2008

Overview:

Compiere is a model driven architectural development and deployment framework for integrated CRM and ERP applications which is targeted mainly for distribution, retail, manufacturing and service businesses. It contains tools for Purchasing , Materials Management, Manufacturing, Order Management, Sales, Service, E-Commerce, Financial Management and Performance Reporting functions. The solution provides multiple views of business information based on the detail of the actual transactions.

Compiere is fully compatible with Oracle. The project has released a Database Kit for porting Compiere to multiple database since version 2.5.2. PostgreSQL, MySQL and Sybase ports are in Beta status. The web architecture is based on AJAX and J2EE technology. The application and source code is provided according to GNU Public License.

Features:

Order Management: This function covers the business process for creating a quote for a prospect or customer, order management, invoicing and cash receipt. The functionality is integrated with Supply Chain Management and Customer Management. In traditional systems, you find this in modules like order entry and accounts receivables.
Warehouse Management: Improves warehouse productivity by automating inbound and outbound logistics.
Material Management: This supply chain Management function covers inventory receipts, shipments, moves and counts within a client and its organizations and to suppliers and customers.
Manufacturing Management: It is capable of multi-level Bills of Material, work-in-process tracking, completion of final assemblies to shipping, work order costing, create work orders and select customer specific options at order entry time, and integration with Compiere’s existing materials management, purchasing, sales order management and financial systems.
Sales Management: This function provides automated solutions for customer request for a service, requests to reimburse costs, request for customer or vendor order, shipment, invoice or payment, warranty and helpdesk.
Web Store: Compiere Web Store can be run with rest of the ERP data without the effort of synchronization. The store provides different facilities like On Line Product Catalog, On Line Pricing and availability, On Line Sales Transaction, Customer Management etc.
Performance Management: Generate reports and manage the performance of your enterprise business solutions.
Purchase Management: Automate different value chain from procurement to payment.

Disadvantages:

Compiere solution is missing an important part of business processes ie. Human Resource Management System.
There is no listing of clients that supports the solution except the company partners.
Although, Compiere is gradually moving towards Database Independence, but, still it is fully compatible on Oracle Database as the choice. Since, Oracle is a proprietary software, the database maintenance cost is significantly higher.

Conclusion:

Quick implementation, support for multiple users, languages, currencies makes Compiere a good choice for small and medium enterprises.

Filed under Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Open Source Platform | Tags: Ajax, CRM, ERP, Erp applications, E_Commerce, GNU, J2ee, MySql, Oracle, SME, Supply Chain Management, Sybase | 2 Comments

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2 Responses to “Review of Compiere, an Open Source ERP and CRM Solution for SME”

anon Says:
November 11th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Have you checked the database choices?

Compiere website says “Compiere software is certified to work with Oracle (Express, Standard, Standard One and Enterprise Editions) and EnterpriseDB Postgres Plus Advanced Server” These are all proprietary database products.

Compiere does not say the app works with Postgres, mySql and Sybase.

Adempiere, the community supported fork of Compiere works with same databases as Compiere and also standard (free) Postgres and has HR.
Dip Says:
November 11th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Hi,
Thank you for the comment. I realized that it is true that Compiere is not fully compatible with mySQL or PostgresSQL. But, I am quoting their statement under Database Independence section. It says ” The project has released a Database Kit for porting Compiere to multiple database since version 2.5.2. PostgreSQL, MySQL and Sybase ports are in Beta status. Compiere can also be run under the Firebird database using the Fyracle extensions, without porting.”
Rgds,

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