Tools that replace Expensive Software

What if you can lower your company IT expenses just by installing Open source Alternate Software which allows you to reduce your cost by 40% with more flexibility? Not convince with the statement! Yes, As per Gartner, 2009 report approximately 85% of companies surveyed are already using Open Source Applications in 2008. The other 15% surveyed have plans to incorporate Open Source Strategies within their Enterprise incoming years, we also done some of our recent posting where Russia will go Open Source by 2015.  Whether you’re a small business, or you are looking to minimize costs – attached are some of the most cost effective applications on the market that can easily replace some of your more expensive Enterprise solutions and functions.

In 2011, Gartner refers to open-source software as OSS.My, how times have changed. Less than 10 percent of IT organizations used open-source software five years ago. The number rose to 30 percent three-and-a-half years ago. Gartner noted a proportional drop in commercial software usage, which surely is no coincidence.

Most organizations now use commercial and open-source software side by side, particularly for home grown projects. Here we come up with a list of Open source software which can be replaced by the Expensive licensed software.

Open Office – One of the excellent and free alternative to replace the Microsoft Office Suite. The suite provides you with functionality that even Microsoft’s Office suite does not ship with like the ability to convert files to PDF.

Customer Relationship Management

Sugar CRM or vTiger – A highly recommended CRM packages which is Free of cost and Easy to customized.

Content Management Systems & Community Software

Alfresco Open Source Content Management & OpenCMS – Another Content Management application with great promise, and free to utilize.

Web Analytics

Google Analytics – One of the best free analytic dashboards for your web site, which provide you with every details of your website performance

Server Software
Linux – Linux will be one of the most important platform in coming days, I covered this in one of my posting that Dell Says – Linux has a powerful booster in the never-ending debate over what OS is safest from malware and spyware: Dell. “The vast majority of viruses and spyware written by hackers are not designed to target and attack Linux”

Database Software

MySQL – The best and most cost effective choice for a free SQL/Database environment that needs to be hosted in the cloud.

Screen Sharing Software

Join.me – Free, simple, fast online meetings. Share your screen instantly with anyone. Also client is not require to download any plugins.

The Above list is just the basis list of software that can be replaced with the high cost Proprietory software. The list can go on endless.

Note: This is not Ranking

ERP & Data Migrations – Experts Inputs

ERP Migration

Planning to migrated from Existing ERP solutions to New ERP solutions, or planning to upgrade old ERP version to new let’s see what industry experts say on the Migration of an Enterprise Resource Planning Software.

  • “Raghuraman Ramamurthy, an operational excellence leader at software firm Barry-Wehmiller International Resources, states that switching to a different ERP system requires just as much forethought as a new implementation”.
  • “This means considering how underlying business processes will change as a result of the new system, as well as assessing any potential compatibility issues between the software and existing infrastructures”.
  • “ERP software cannot be considered as a standalone piece of software, but as a complete system that will have a major influence on the way businesses operate”.
  • “Drive the decision to migrate bottom-up, rather than top-down. If people are bought in you can be sure that your migration will be successful,”  

Data Migrations

Data migration is one of the most important and crucial part of any ERP Migration which needs a proper analysis.

Some of the Data migration strategy/step consists of the following:

  • Identification of Data
  • Master and child record entries – Material Master, Customer Master etc
  • Transaction Data – Every day transaction data
  • Set of Data – Data for different countries
  • Setting up of tools for data migration
  • Data achieving
  • Security

For more information kindly visit www.bistasolutions.com

Purpose & Advantages of an ERP system

Explore the Purpose & Advantage of ERP Solution 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a comprehensive and integrated system that aims to unite all business processes and sub-processes under one roof. It serves as a centralized hub, seamlessly merging data from various departments, offering organizations a real-time and holistic view of business operations. With the right ERP solution and a meticulously planned implementation strategy, businesses can gain a competitive edge and unlock a multitude of Advantages from ERP. To fully harness ERP capabilities you must first need to understand the Purpose of an ERP solution.

What is the Key Purpose of an ERP solution?

While it is true that increasing profitability is a key objective of implementing an ERP system, the main purpose behind the existence of an ERP solution goes beyond just financial gains for a business.

  • Centralize and integrate Business processes
  • Facilitate collaboration and communication across departments
  • Improve decision-making through access to real-time data
  • Increase transparency into different facets of the business
  • Reduce manual data entry by automating routine operations.
  • Give a comprehensive overview of the organization’s operations.
  • Assist with regulatory compliance and audibility.
  • Increase productivity by making more time available for value-added activities.
  • Reduce operational expenses by optimizing resource allocation.
  • Enhance data security and safeguard important information
  • Improve inventory management and buying.
  • Make strategic planning and continual development easier.
  • Assist with data-driven reporting and analytics.
  • Improve your forecasting and demand planning abilities.
  • Enhance your cash flow management and financial visibility.
  • Drive organizational efficiency and long-term growth

What Advantages does an ERP system offer?

Data Security: ERP software safeguards your critical business data by centralizing it in a secure location. There will be no more dispersed spreadsheets or emails, lowering the danger of unauthorized access and data breaches. Standardization: All vital information is saved in a standardized format with ERP, making it easy to access and analyze. Say goodbye to inconsistencies in data and the problems of locating the information you require.
Increased Productivity: ERP automates tedious operations, allowing staff to concentrate on more worthwhile projects. Processes are streamlined and the entire business is visible thanks to this, so there is no longer any need to constantly look for information. Compliance Management: ERP systems give accurate and up-to-date information that is easily searchable, making industry compliance easier. Customizable reporting features make it simple to track and change compliance needs.
Enhanced Visibility: ERP provides visibility into numerous facets of the business to everyone in the organization, allowing for faster and better decision-making. Managers can have real-time visibility into inventories, orders, and other vital data, allowing them to take more informed decisions. Scalability for Growth: Leading ERP systems like Odoo ERP can grow and expand with your organization. You can begin with the capability you require and easily add more features and users as your company grows.
Mobility and Accessibility: Employees can access dashboards and reports via smartphones and tablets using modern ERP systems like Odoo ERP. This allows remote professionals and field workers to stay connected while performing vital tasks. Cost Savings: Through automation and enhanced planning, ERP lowers costs. Administrative and operational costs can be decreased or eliminated, and system insights help pinpoint opportunities for cost savings and more efficient resource allocation.
Real-time Reporting: Key performance indicators (KPIs) can be measured and tracked using ERP’s configurable and real-time reporting across all functions. A fast-paced business environment can be navigated with the aid of current insights, which can help in decision-making. Better Customer Service: ERP centralizes customer data, enabling more efficient and customized customer care. The total customer experience is improved by accurate inventory and order management, which lowers errors and guarantees on-time deliveries.
Flexibility: ERP systems provide the ability to customize the software to your individual needs, accommodating unique procedures and analytics. As your company grows, the system may adapt without requiring a complete replacement. Accurate Forecasting: ERP systems generate more accurate projections by utilizing comprehensive and dependable data. This enables better planning and decision-making, as well as resource optimization and cost-cutting.

 

Points to Remember Before ERP Implementation 

Despite the various benefits of ERP, its implementation requires a major time and cost commitment. Therefore, it’s crucial to remember a few points to guarantee a successful outcome from your chosen ERP.

  • Ensure clear communication and understanding of ERP project goals and objectives between business and IT teams.
  • Obtain top-level management support to demonstrate the project’s importance and allocate necessary resources.
  • Involve departmental leaders to provide insights and ensure the ERP system meets specific organizational needs.
  • Collaborate with experienced ERP Implementation partners for their expertise, guidance, and support in navigating technical complexities and best practices for successful ERP Implementation.

 

Experience Collaborative Excellence with Bista Solutions

  • 3 Decades of ERP implementation Experience
  • Multiple Awards for “Best Odoo Gold Partner” (2022, 2021, 2018, 2016 & 2014)
  • 200+ Successful Custom App developments
  • 250+ Expert Developers at your service
  • 350+ Successful Project Implementations Completed
  • One of the Most Trusted Odoo Gold Partners
  • Global Presence in 10+ Countries
  • 24/7 Support Available

If you’re considering implementing or migrating from a legacy system to an ERP Solution, here’s a crucial reminder: without an Agile ERP solution and the guidance of an expert, you may not achieve the success you desire. That’s why it’s essential to have a comprehensive checklist before selecting your ERP. Take a proactive step and consult with our Expert Today!

Shipping Management in Odoo Open Source ERP

Reports before Shipping

A warehouse manager requires following reports before it ships the package.

1) Packing Slip –

It contains name of product, quantity and amount of every item inside the package. Finally, it shows the total. The Packing Slip is generated for every order being shipped in a given batch.

This slip is placed inside the package before shipping which acts as an invoice for the customer.

2) Master Picking Slip-

It contains a product description and its location (row-rack-shelf) of every product being dispatched in a given batch. This slip, in turn, is hand over to the warehouse boy who brings all the products and places at the shipping area.

Following screenshot shows links to the above reports-

Odoo ERP Delivery Order

The link on right hand side under Action tab shows links to these reports.

Packing Slip –

Odoo ERP PackingSlipThe wizard comes up when Packing Slip button is clicked

The packing slip wizard gets the batch number automatically and asks for the shop and category (Simple or Complicated Order). Once you select it and click on Apply, it generates all the Delivery Order Slip for that batch which can be placed inside the package before shipping. This packing slip might also act as an invoice for the customer.

Note- There can be different application of simple and complicated orders. Here, we assume that Simple Orders are those which have only one line item whereas Complicated Orders are those having multiple line items. Organisation have different sections for shipping these type of orders, hence the separation.

Master Picking Slip –

Odoo ERP Master Picking Slip

The wizard comes up when Master Picking Slip button is clicked

Next step is to hand over list of all the products to be shipped in a given batch to the warehouse boy to fetch the products from correct Row-Rack-Shelf. This is what Master Picking Slip does.

Reprint Packing Slip –

Odoo ERP Reprint Packing SlipThe wizard comes up when Reprint Packing Slip button is clicked

Alternatively, if the printer goes down, then the warehouse manager can reprint all the packing slip again. Here, there is an additional option to specify the state (All, Ready to Ship, Completed) and only Packing Slip belonging to that state will be printed.

For a live demo, please contact sales@bistasolutions.com or Click Here

ERP eCommerce integrated software

We all know that today Internet is getting bigger and bigger day by day across the world, people started searching for products and services with the help of the internet, the Incoming year this would be huge as the initiation of buying of any products and services will start from the Internet. Also, we have seen that before buying any products people searches the review on respective forums or put status messages on Facebook and other social media. This phenomenon is called by various names such as online buying, website, electronic commerce, e-business, e-commerce, online stores etc.

There are any online stores available on Internet today which provides best deals in different products and services whether it is electronic goods or fast moving goods. There are websites such as eBay.com, Amazon.com, Alilbaba.com which connects buyers and seller to assist with the business (Externally). And to assist business internally we all know that the activities such as selling & marketing consist of various backend such as accounting, CRM, Warehousing, Inventory etc. Use of ERP or business software is a must.

Our offering of Business software / ERP software integrated with your eCommerce website make simpler your operations and selling of goods and services. eBay, Amazon Sellers who are looking out for a single Business Application integrated with the eCommerce, products, inventory, warehouse etc can take the advantage of this software as its a packaged offering which integrates with your shipping system such as UPS, USPS, FedEx, web-store, eCommerce websites.

About Our Package offering

This packaged offering is an integration between your e-commerce website using Odoo (previously known as OpenERP) one of the leading Open source ERP software which consists of more than 500+ modules

What is the Need of this Packaged offerings:

We are offering this package of Odoo and eCommerce integration because of the problems faced by the eCommerce Sellers which is stated below:

  • Having a single back-end system to process orders for eBay  stores, multiple Magento webstores, osCommerce webstores, Amazon MarketPlace stores etc.
  • Be able to have a single system to manage inventory & warehousing for all the multiple sales channels in one system.
  • Also to be able to configure advanced Inventory rules for the various webstores.
  • Have a full-fledged warehousing system integrated with UPS, USPS and FedEx.
  • To have a fully-featured accounting system integrated with the Order processing and Receivables & Payables, not having to do manual re-entry into Quickbooks.
  • Handle Purchasing from the same system and set advance stock rules and pricing policies.
  • Handle Returns processing from the ERP system.
  • Get Reports & Analytics about the performance of various Products, Categories, and Stores etc.
  • Be able to handle a multi-company scenario in a seamless fashion.
  • Be able to handle multiple currencies.

Advantages of moving to an ERP system:

  • Integration of eCommerce with ERP system provide eCommerce Sellers to have an integrated and consolidate view of their businesses
  • Seller can manage the entire operation with this single system
  • This system helps you to increase the Inventory, Warehousing & Accounting operations by having all operations managed from a unified system.
  • Eliminate duplication of efforts which normally happened during handling multiple CMS systems, Accounting & Inventory software.
  • Configure advanced inventory & stock rules to improve profitability.
  • Handle the distinct operations of multiple companies, yet have a high-level view of the performance of your business.

The above eCommerce integration with Odoo is currently supported for Magento, Other platforms are also supported as per the requirements.

other advantages of this package software is that it is built on Open source platform which gives you an advantage of unlimited users, cost effectiveness, further future modification is possible and much more.

You can have a check onto the features and pricing of this e-commerce ERP package at www.bistasolutions.com

For Pricing and Online demo, kindly contact sales@bistasolutions.com

Open Source ERP for Manufacturing Industry

Open Source ERP

Open Source ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) for the manufacturing industry:

Manufacturing is a dynamic and competitive industry, so having an integrated solution that can improve productivity, reduce costs, increase sales, and be profitable is important. All of these problems could be solved with an enterprise resource planning solution. It allows the company to make correct, educated, and strategic decisions.

The Benefits of Choosing an ERP System in a Manufacturing Industry-

  • A comprehensive ERP solution streamlines business operations and fosters automation.
  • Real-time data analysis assists firms in better estimating, planning, adjusting, and responding to changing market requirements.
  • Provides insight and visibility across the organization and assists the organization in making educated, precise, and timely business decisions.
  • Replaces the time-consuming manual process with an automated, streamlined method that incorporates real-time business data.
  • Increases coordination with distribution channels and regulates process scheduling, which helps deliver products on time, leading to more customer satisfaction.

Manufacturing automation and the use of open-source ERP technology are sweeping the sector. An open-source ERP system is one with source code that is freely available for anyone to use. Due to the open-source model, companies can access the ERP software’s code and adapt it using their own IT staff. In today’s dynamic business environment, every firm requires optimal synergy between divisions, from input to output.

Open-source ERP offers a variety of benefits to the enterprise, including lower costs and greater customization options. As a result, open-source ERP is essential for integrating inter-and intra-departmental processes unlike traditional ERP software, which has high development and deployment costs as well as several constraints.

If a manufacturing company is on the edge of implementing an ERP system. Here are some of the challenges that an Open-source ERP addresses in the manufacturing industry:

  1. Tracking and Tracing- Open-Source ERP allows businesses to readily access and update their databases, making inventory management considerably easier. You may acquire 360-degree visibility and control over all inventories and their movements with an Open-source ERP solution. Each unit is tracked from start to finish with the help of an integrated database, which gives real-time data and reports.
  2. Developing the strategy – Open-source ERP helps planning by anticipating demand and sending out timely signals. Careful planning helps to reduce slowdowns and promptly respond to shifting trends. Open-source ERPs like Odoo have specific modules for planning material requirements, production planning, and scheduling, supporting producers in decreasing losses and additional costs.
  3. Change Reluctance- The ERP implementation consultant must connect with the employees’ primary demands and ERP Software expectations while establishing an ERP solution for a manufacturing organization. The main advantage of using an open-source ERP is that it is highly flexible and adaptable to the manufacturer’s changing demands.
  4. Transactions- Manufacturers engage in a huge number of transactions on a daily basis. Manufacturers might find the sheer amount of daily transactions daunting. Large volumes of data can be input, reviewed, and tabulated using Open-source ERP, leading to detailed transaction reports that ensure everything has been properly managed.
  5. Insight and Evaluations- Monitoring market trends and resource utilization can help in remaining competitive in business-to-business manufacturing. An open-source ERP assists in anticipating potential bottlenecks and enables managers to make necessary stock or production modifications ahead of time, providing them more control over the manufacturing process.

Open Source ERP for Manufacturing Industry

The ERP that answers all these questions will help the manufacturer select the best open-source ERP solution for their company. In today’s complex and highly competitive economy, Odoo Manufacturing ERP can make a difference for manufacturers searching for an all-in-one solution to survive and thrive. Odoo is an open-source framework that provides incredible flexibility for implementing customized workflows that meet the specific needs of a manufacturing firm. Odoo provides precision, efficiency, sustainability, and the capacity to deliver on time and with fair quality, all of which are crucial in today’s manufacturing industry.

Bista Solutions will help you reach new heights of success as an Odoo Gold partner, helping in the implementation of Odoo ERP for years in the Manufacturing Industry. To learn more about Odoo Open-source ERP, connect with our team here.

How to create a lead in CRM – CRM for Education – vTiger

  • by bista-admin
  • Apr 04, 2011
  • 0
  • Category:

How to create a lead in CRM – CRM for Education – vTiger

This video gives you an overview on how a lead can be created in Education CRM and all the available features of a lead. This Education CRM is been implemented using vTiger CRM.
For more information, get in touch with us at Bista Solutions.

Bista Solutions releases ERP packaged solution for eCommerce sellers

ERP packaged solution

Bista Solutions, based in California, US,  a provider of ERP, CRM & BPM implementation services announced its ERP package for eCommerce sellers on eBay, Amazon & branded websites.

Today, eCommerce sellers are selling on multiple channels to maximise their revenue & profitability. Though there are custom applications for select channels like eBay, Amazon and various eCommerce systems like Magento, osCommerce etc; what is lacking is a consolidated system to manage all the channels and provide strong functionality for Inventory, Warehousing & Accounting all integrated into 1 system. Bista has built a packaged solution to address this need by using the popular open-source ERP – Odoo (previously known as OpenERP).

Odoo is a full-fledged, feature-rich open-source ERP with modules to manage Sales, Purchase, Inventory, Warehousing, CRM, Manufacturing, HR & Accounting. Odoo has a very modular architecture and a rich-set of 500+ modules for various industries and verticals.

Some of the salient features of this ERP-eCommerce package includes

  • Integration with Magento webstore, eBay & Amazon
  • Completely integrated with UPS, USPS & FedEx for shipping
  • Inbuilt multi-company, multicurrency features.
  • Advanced stock rules, separately customizable per store.
  • Updating of Order & Shipping status back to the eCommerce webstore.
  • All the benefits of a web-based, full-feature open-source ERP system.
  • Package includes training, support & Odoo warranty.

Bista Solutions which is an official partner of Odoo in the US, has done numerous implementations for eCommerce sellers.  After having gained a lot of experience in implementing Odoo for various eCommerce vendors, Bista designed this implementation package to roll-out an ERP system in a short time and within budget.

For more information please email sales@bistasolutions.com

UPS, USPS, FedEx integration with Odoo

integration with OpenERP

UPS, USPS, FedEx integration with Odoo (previously known as OpenERP) Steps :

The following steps explains how shipping module works with Odoo v6.0.1

Step 1 – Configuration:

All configuration setting can be done from Warehouse Management -> Configuration -> Shipping Service Management.
Feed in the data which you get from the respective site after creating a developer’s account.

UPS

USPS

FedEx

Step 2 – Shipping Address Checking:

When a sales order is created, the shipping address is validated. If not valid, then Invalid Address checkbox is checked.

With this checkbox, we can create a new filter, notify the manager, put up a notification on dashboard or send an email to concerned user.

Step 3 – Shipping Information:

In Delievery Order, new tab is added called as “Shipping Info” which keep track of shipping services.

In this tab, user can select the service whose quotes is required – UPS, FedEx, USPS or All. Also, the net weight is considered which comes from the Products page. If the weight is not specified in the master or it is incorrect, then the user can enter the weight in Package Weight field.

Step 4 – Generating Quotes :

The available options are as follows –

Once the user has selected the service to go for and all its associated parameters, he can click on “Generate Quotes”, to get the quotes

Step 5 – Getting Tracking Number :

The user then has to select the service with which the package will be shipped by clicking on Accept button. Once the button is clicked, Tracking Number is updated on Delivery Order and Sale Order.

Step 6 – Label :

On clicking Accept button, you also get the label in 2 places – (i) As an attachment; (ii) The quotes table gets replaced by field with widget=image which contains the label

Contributed by

Aasim Ansari, Project Lead, Bista Solutions

www.bistasolutions.com | sales@bistasolutions.com