SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume I, Issue 1 (1), 2013 Bogdan MICU GHILIC George STANCU ADAPTING OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE FOR ENTERPRISE Keywords Open-source Software enterprise CRM ERP OFBIZ JEL classification M15 Abstract Low developed companies do not use ERP solutions for resource management, they don't have CRM systems for tracking customers, online presence is low and consequently they are selling low volumes. Their work does not generate enough capital to buy specialized software and the local community is too small to create open-source software for them. When adapting an open-source enterprise solution, from a certain level of integration, it is necessary to align to the Romanian legislation. For this you need more than a simple translation. For example, in accounting, the Romanian chart of accounts should be used, the local fiscal calendar, the rules of the Romanian legislation and the specific identifiers for Romanian companies. The solution: Open source applications can be localized. A small community cannot create complex system starting from nothing, but they can adapt existing ones already created and used all over the world. Given the individual characteristics of the Romanian market, open source ERP, CRM and e-commerce will be integrated by specialized consultancy agency in Romania just as is done in France (Compiere), Spain (Openbravo), Belgium (OpenERP) or the United States (Apache oFBiz). This will not generate license costs for the companies, only the expenses for hardware and implementation consultancy. If we can create a common infrastructure, hardware cost will be waived for cloud SaaS offering, in opposition with the on-premise option. 348 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume I, Issue 1 (1), 2013 OPEN SOURCE TRENDS Open source applications can be localized. A small community cannot create Low developed companies do not use complex system starting from nothing, but ERP solutions for resource management, they they can adapt existing ones already created don't have CRM systems for tracking and used all over the world. customers, online presence is low and Given the individual characteristics of the consequently they are selling low volumes. Romanian market, open source ERP, CRM Their work does not generate enough capital to and e-commerce will be integrated by buy specialized software and the local specialized consultancy agency in Romania community is too small to create open-source just as is done in France (Compiere), Spain software for them. (Openbravo), Belgium (OpenERP) or the When adapting an open-source enterprise United States (Apache oFBiz). solution, from a certain level of integration, it This will not generate license costs for is necessary to align to the Romanian the companies, only the expenses for hardware legislation. For this you need more than a and implementation consultancy. If we can simple translation. For example, in accounting, create a common infrastructure, hardware cost the Romanian chart of accounts should be will be waived for cloud SaaS offering, in used, the local fiscal calendar, the rules of the opposition with the on-premise option. Romanian legislation and the specific identifiers for Romanian companies. Choosing the right enterprise open-source The solution: solution Enterprise open-source IT platforms Language Developer ERP Package License Other Info Base Country ERP for Public Sector, Campus Management, A1.iO Java ATOL Worldwide Healthcare, Logistics A1.iO Integrated ERP built Australia/New Adaxa Suite Java GPL on Adempiere Zealand Started as a fork of Adempiere Java GPL Spain Compiere Acquired by Consona Compiere Java GPL/Commercial US Corporation in June 2010 Dolibarr PHP, MySQL GPL EpesiBIM PHP, MySQL MIT license Web based application Poland, USA Brazil, France, Python, Zope, ERP5 GPL Based on unified model Germany, Japan MySQL Sénégal Python, ERP for small and medium ERPNEXT JavaScript, GPL India businesses MySQL Ruby, ERP for Fedena Apache License India MySQL Schools/Universities FrontAccounting PHP, MySQL GPLv3 Web-Based system GNU Python GPLv3 Enterprise HeliumV Java AGPL ERP for small and Austria, 349 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume I, Issue 1 (1), 2013 Language Developer ERP Package License Other Info Base Country medium businesses Germany JFire Java LGPL Kuali for higher education, by Java ECL Foundation higher education Perl, started as a fork of SQL- LedgerSMB GPL Worldwide PostgreSQL Ledger in 2006 ERP for small and medium OFBiz Apache, Java Apache License 2.0 businesses Openbravo Public License (OBPL), a free Openbravo Java software license based Spain on the Mozilla Public License (MPL) OpenERP version 7.0 was Python, released on 12/21/12, Belgium, India, OpenERP AGPLv3 PostgreSQL OpenERP was formerly USA known as Tiny ERP PHP, Expanded from Phreedom Javascript, GPLv3 Phreebooks accounting USA MySQL engine C++, Produced by XTuple, Postbooks JavaScript, CPAL uses Qt framework PostgreSQL Perl, SQL-Ledger GPL PostgreSQL Started as a fork of Tryton Python GPLv3 OpenERP LAMP based system WebERP PHP, MySQL GPLv2 Source: Wikipedia 01.06.2013 enterprise applications. This makes it possible http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ERP for the creators and maintainers of the project _software_packages to quickly release new functionality and maintain existing functionality without APACHE OPEN FOR BUSINESS extensive effort. It also makes it easy to PROJECT customize and extend existing functionality when there is a specific need. About Apache Open for Business project The architecture alone makes it easier to Open for Business (OFBiz) is a suite of customize the applications for a particular enterprise applications built on a common need, but many of the best flexibility points in architecture using common data, logic and the system would be meaningless and even process components. The loosely coupled impossible if the system was not distributed as nature of the applications makes these open source software. OFBiz is licensed under components easy to understand, extend and the Apache License Version 2.0 which grants customize. anyone the right to customize, extend, modify, The tools and architecture of OFBiz make repackage, resell, and many other potential it easy to efficiently develop and maintain uses of the system. 350 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume I, Issue 1 (1), 2013 No restrictions are placed on these MAJOR APPLICATION activities because they are necessary for COMPONENTS effective use of this type of software. Unlike other open source licenses, such as the GPL, Through collaboration in a large your changes do not have to be released as community and an on-going development open source. There are obvious benefits to effort OFBiz hopes to include features that contributing certain improvements, fixes and automate every aspect of enterprise additions back to the core project, but some information and knowledge. Early in the changes will involve proprietary or development and design of the project the confidential information that must not be creators were searching for a good initial data released to the public. For this reason OFBiz model to use as a foundation for the system. uses the Apache License Version 2.0 which They researched other ERP and CRM does not require this. systems and looked at various general and Another benefit of this open source system specific books. The most used book model is that constant feedback it is received was The Data Model Resource Book, Revised from those who are using the software. These Edition, Volumes 1 and 2 by Len Silverston. way, there are sent countless bug fixes, After a few weeks of translating the logical improvement suggestions, and best-practice data models described in these books into business advice from users and potential users flexible and normalized physical data models of OFBiz. Many of the greatest features in the Apache they had their initial system project were inspired by some comment or organization. Since that time the initial data suggestion sent to the mailing lists associated model has gone through hundreds of revisions with the project. and refinements based on real-life use of the To make sure OFBiz functionality is system and compatibility with dozens of timely and useful the development team existing public standards. Because of the always start by researching public standards flexible system architecture it is easy to make and common usage for any component they changes to the data model. This is necessary are working on. This helps them support and for the on-going improvement of the project use common vocabularies and gives them an and makes it easy for users to make changes instant breadth of options and features that can that suit their specific needs. only be achieved through standards processes The top level applications and application and other group efforts. It also opens doors in logic components are organized in almost the the future for flexible communication with same structure as the data model. Once the other systems that are built around the same organization of one level of the system is standards, both inside system and in partner or understood moving to other levels in the other organizations. system takes very little effort. The applications and application The following is a brief overview of the components that come with the system provide major functional areas of the system. Many of a broad and flexible basis that can be used as- these have functionality that exists now and all is with the best-practices based designs, or have data elements defined that cover the customized to a special needs. The needs of that part of the system. As further applications facilitate management of functionality is implemented the team everything from parties and products to continually refine the data model, but all of the accounting, customer service and internal major data element definitions are in place. resource and asset management. 351 SEA - Practical Application of Science Volume I, Issue 1 (1), 2013 Figure 1 - OfBiz Runway for content and data resources that can be used Common Data to implicitly organize and explicitly describe The Common Data in the system includes the information.