ERP for Small Businesses

Overview:

What is ERP? ERP, is an abbrivation for Enterprise Resource Planning. It is an Integration of Business Management Practices and modern technology. It combines functions of all departments of an enterprice together into a single, integrated software program that runs off a single database so that the various departments can more easily share information and communicate with each other.

ERP software is flexible enough that you can install some modules without buying the whole package.People in different departments all see the same information and can update it. When one department finishes with the order it is automatically routed via the ERP system to the next department. To find out where the order is at any point, you need only log in to the ERP system and track it down.

Advantages of ERP Systems:

There are many advantages of implementing an EPR system. A few of them are listed below:

➢ A perfectly integrated system chaining all the functional areas together

➢ The capability to streamline different organizational processes and workflows

➢ The ability to effortlessly communicate information across various departments

➢ Improved efficiency, performance and productivity levels

➢ Enhanced tracking and forecasting

➢ Improved customer service and satisfaction

What is Open ERP?

OpenERP is one of the leading Open Source ERP Systems. It is a comprehensive suite of business applications including Sales, CRM, Project management, Warehouse management, Manufacturing, Financial management, Human Resources etc.,

Small businesses and startups should start with ERP Systems as early as possible to organize their business professionally, avoiding paperwork and redundant information distributed in various documents and databases. With Open Source, a business does not need an IT staff to manage a website.

Small and medium-sized businesses can afford to have all of the business tools available to them that the much larger organizations have. The greatest advantage of Open source ERP application is that it is available at free of cost.

In open source ERP everything is decided by the code .Therefore companies can do the necessary modifications in code and without much support from the vendor. Another advantage of open source is that it does not interfere with the regular schedule of the company during the implementation stage.

Benefits:

Modular : OpenERP unique modular approach allows customers to start with one application and to add other modules later on.

Flexible : OpenERP allows you to customize the user interface and manage your business processes in only a few clicks.

No Lock-in: The same version of OpenERP can be used either On-site or Online. Allows customers to choose what is best for them.

Affordable : The absence of license fees makes OpenERP very affordable.

Key Modules:

Manufacturing :

• Manages Manufacturing resources

• Creates multilevel bill of materials (BoM)

• Provides scrap management. Partial production is also possible.

• Creates Production/Procurement orders and manages repairs.

• Organises manufacturing orders based on priorities

• Launches purchase orders for missing components and assigns products in stock.

Purchase Management:

• Allows to organize entire company’s purchases by enabling you to manage the entire process.

• Allows you to request a quote from the supplier for the list of products that need to be purchased.

• All Purchase Orders can be viewed according to the state they are currently in.

• Contact information of all suppliers including the address, price lists and other

details are maintained in centralized address book.

• Generates supplier invoices automatically on purchase and send them for approval

to the finance department

Warehouse Management:

• Allows multi warehouse management, based on hierarchical locations structure.

• Double entry inventory system, allows to manage internal as well as external locations.

• Allows to manage back orders.

• Automated inventory valuation, serial numbers, quality control etc.,

• Automatic Procurements, helps you to avoid out of stock situations.

• Allows to trace all inventory transactions made.

Finance Management :

• Fully integrated accounting module that covers financial accounting, analytic accounting, third party management, taxes management, budgets, assets, etc.

• Multi-company, multi-currency, multi-analytic axes

• Real-time consolidation of multiple charts of accounts

• Very good agronomy for fast encoding of entries and invoices

• Integrated analytic/cost accounting

CRM

• Manages meetings and the company calendar

• Manages pre-sales and after-sales service

• Manages phone calls and/or a call center

• Manages employment offers

• Manages technical service

• Tracks bugs and new functional requests

Human resource Management :

• Management of staff and the holiday calendar

• Management of employment contracts

• Management of holiday and sickness breaks

• Managing claims processes

• Management of staff performance

• Management of skills and competencies