Enterprise Resource Planning, commonly known as ERP, usually refers to a software package which helps your organization with accountability of people, processes, inventory, finances, and more. Some of the larger players in providing ERP software include SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, and Infor, but if you are starting a business and want to account for everything in one place without spending a lot of money, the ERP offering from Dolibarr might be what you are looking for.
Introducing Dolibarr ERP
This Free Open-Source Software (FOSS) is available for install on a local computer or on a hosted web server. Go with the hosted web server option if you are using Dolibarr operationally. Otherwise, if you are testing the software, a local install will do just fine. If you are running a small business out of your house, you could also opt for a local on-site server, which could be as simple as an old computer tied into your network, running all the time to support the requests of the Dolibarr software.
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| The administrator home screen of my local Dolibarr installation. |
Limitations up front
After experimenting with Dolibarr for a few weeks, some drawbacks I notice are:
- Product/sales forecasting: if you are a manufacturer and rely on forecasts to drive production, the off-the-shelf solution of Dolibarr will leave much to be desired.
- Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP): if your business requirements involve managing capacity on manufacturing work centers, you might be on your own for finding a way to solve this problem.
Attractions
Despite some limitations I observe from my supply chain planning and scheduling expertise, there are some reasons you might find Dolibarr attractive.
- Free: while there are some services Dolibarr and solutions provides on the Dolistore monetize, you can use this ERP software for your business completely free if you wanted to.
- Ease of use: I have found the interface to be relatively easy to use. Of course, if you are switching over from another ERP solution, it could take some getting used to as with any transition, but the interface is graphical and easy to figure out.
- Ease of transition: if you are already using another solution, it is easy to import your data from your legacy solution (if your legacy solution offers easy ways of exporting your data).
- Tip: create an export from Dolibarr first. This will generate a blank file for you to populate with existing data, making the import a breeze.
- Serves 95% of your business needs: “don’t let ‘perfection’ be the enemy of ‘good.'” This has been said in many variations by many people throughout time. If you are looking for the perfect solution, you will never get to the point where you are simply running your business, delivering for your customers, and making money. Commit and advance!
My honest opinion
I would absolutely use Dolibarr if I were starting up a business today (as of the writing of this post). Even though this lacks some functionality I might find important, I can hire out the creation of a sales forecasting and CRP module if my business requires it to grow. The intuitive interface is easy to follow, and I can account for my business activities, generating reports to satisfy auditors and provide history of operations, if necessary.
Interested in more information?
Check out the Dolibarr YouTube channel for training videos on specific modules in several languages.
