Measuring the quality of a software product? It’s a difficult thing to do. How can you tell if a piece of software is good or bad if the market only allows you to use it for a short period? Paid software products have a time-limit, so it’s understandable that developers are hesitant about putting their money where their mouth is. But what about open source business management software? The ones without any time limit. Are they really free? And do they really work the way they say they do?
Alrighty, let’s get started with the major open source software list. Instead of using a raw list, I organized this major free & open source software list according to categories to help you compare and find popular free & open source operations management software easier.
Odoo
This is an integrated open source business software that includes modules for project management, billing, accounting, manufacturing, inventory management, purchasing and billing. All of these modules communicate with one another seamlessly to ensure easy information exchange.
Pros:
- It makes ERP simple
- The interface looks much like Google Drive which means anyone can use it
- It is a web- based tool which makes it accessible on any device
Cons:
- The download version needs to be installed via source code which can be a little bit intimidating
Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is a top-rated free and open source business management software that provides you over thirty-five tools. These tools include task management, document management, customer relationship management, project, time, and project management.
You also can unleash various other advantages such as automation of the business process, invoicing, email marketing, and team collaboration. Also, there is HRMS, virtual PBX, company directory, shared calendar, etc., to streamline all your business activities.
Source: Bitrix24
Features
- Bitrix24 is a top business management tool that does not require any system administrator. It provides unlimited users and is known for user-friendliness.
- Bitrix24 supports both iOS and Android platforms.
- The client management feature allows CRM, sales automation, email marketing, virtual call center, and more.
- You can manage the projects through Gantt charts, to-do lists, planning the work, preparing the reports, etc.
- Manage your communications through social media platforms, online telephony, video conferencing, email server, group chat, etc.
- The software enables you to manage your workforce effortlessly with best-in-class features such as creating a company directory, work reports, approving leaves, etc.
ONLYOFFICE Workspace
Open Source
Take your business to the cloud at the best price. 30-day free trial. No credit card required. You can choose 1-month, 1-year, or 3-year subscription. The subscription plan for ONLYOFFICE is based on the amount of active portal users, e.g. $40 per month (if monthly commitment) for 6-10 active users, what means $5 per user/month on average. If you pay for a year or for 3 years, the price per user/month will be even lower – $3 and $2 on average respectively. Note that subscription plans for 1-2 and 3-5 active users are available for annual subscribers only. Nonprofit organizations and schools can use ONLYOFFICE cloud service for free, while other educational institutions can get a discounted rate.
DOLIBARR
Open Source ERP CRM software – web business suite Dolibarr. Web based ERP and CRM Open Source software package to manage a professional or foundation activity (sme, freelancers, large companies): quotation or commercial proposals, invoices, products, contacts, agenda, orders, purchases, stocks, emailings,… Dolibarr suite works by modules addition like do SugarCRM, Odoo or OpenBravo but was designed to be more simple to use. Our Open Source and free model allows us to provide a competitive solution: Several thousand of developers, testers and translators works on the project. That’s why it’s possible to be always at the forefront of innovation.
SuiteCRM
A comprehensive CRM package is the one offered by SuiteCRM. A real-time dashboard shows you the latest, most up-to-date figures, providing insights into your business’ cash flow and the status of active projects. You can handle your sales, customer service and marketing together in one place and can customise the layout tools and modular format to suit your purposes.
It’s easy to set up and works on almost any operating system, including Windows, OS/X, Ubuntu, Android and iOS. Its intuitive interface is one of the best in the field, making it one of the most accessible CRMs.
ERPNext
This program was featured on Opensource.com as one of the best open source business software of the year. It is built specifically for small and mid-sized companies and comes with multiple modules that include accounting, managing inventory, purchase sales and project management.
Pros:
- It comes with numerous modules in one
- All the available modules integrate very well together
- The whole suite is very easy to use
Cons:
- Some modules are only available when you buy a subscription
Axelor ERP
There is one more option to choose from when you search for free and open source business management software. Yes, one is talking about Axelor ERP., which is known for its scalability, robustness, and best-in-class customization. It is a modular and smart business management solution that provides advanced business apps to streamline ERP, BPM, and CRM.
You can deploy this software tool both on the cloud and on-premise. It integrates with more than twenty-two tools that include purchase, sales, human resources, accounting, production, project, and more.
Features
- The BMS, in combination with the ERP tool, helps to surge business productivity, optimize tasks, and minimize costs.
- Enhance customer experience and satisfaction level by automating the sales force and scalable CRM.
- Make changes with ease and keep track of business apps in real-time.
- Axelor also provides a wide range of tools, each of which can be installed and used separately.
- It offers intuitive design and simple navigation.
- Teams can interact with each other in real-time.
OFBIZ.APACHE
The Apache OFBiz® Project. Apache OFBiz (The Apache Open For Business Project) is an open source enterprise automation software project licensed under the Apache License Version 2.0. Being open source under the Apache 2.0 license and driven by a community Apache OFBiz offers both flexibility by design and by access to code, and a solution where you’re not alone but rather can work with many others to get things done.
TaskJuggler
Easy to install and completely free, TaskJuggler offers a simplistic approach to complex projects. The project management tool comes with a set of libraries and command-line tools, capable of automatically planning individual tasks. It’s also particularly good at resolving conflicting situations, and you can enter specifications such as timelines for the project, resource assignment and a project budget.
It’s one of the more powerful software on the market, making it ideal for serious project managers. It includes a comprehensive range of features, including customisable reporting functions, cost and revenue planning and risk and communication management. The planning tools allow you to visualise a project before you begin and helps you map out the project based on time, cost and resources.
CUBRID
This is an open source business software that is optimized for use on web applications. It offers a number of different features, each designed to help with data organization on your business. It is particularly useful when you have to keep track of large amounts of data and it is very easy to use.
Pros:
- It comes with multiple granularity locking
- An online backup ensures the safety of your data
- It has GUI tools for drivers for developmental languages
- Comes with 24/7 support
Cons:
- It doesn’t work with Apple systems
- It also doesn’t have a script debugger
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for open source software, then download it for free. You can’t fix what you can’t see. Open source is a great way to get a good overview of the available options and the source code of the software. Thousands and thousands of developers around the world can help you find and fix bugs in your current project or take care of any problems while developing something new – all while freeing up your internal resources while saving money.