Open Source ERP to merge into Web Office?

A bit over three months old, and I am already questioning if the Open Source ERP is the way to go.

My recent work on Web Office suggest me that the best path to roll out an OS ERP on a company is to start with the Web Office, and from there build the ERP.

What do you think?

Google Code - Updates: Now Accepting Student Applications for Google Summer of Code 2007

Google Code - Updates: Now Accepting Student Applications for Google Summer of Code 2007

"Father of Java" James Gosling: Openness breeds more trust

Sylvia Carr conducted a very interesting interview with James Gosling, aka the "Fater of Java".


The bit I wanted to share is this piece of encouragement for OS ERP developers:

Do you think we'll see more use of open source in the enterprise as time goes on?
Gosling: Yeah. It's sort of gotten to the point where it's hard to imagine people using more because so much already is (used)--everything from open-source operating systems to databases to programming languages to development tools. It's getting to the point where there's not much left. There are some areas like large-scale databases and ERP (where) there aren't any really serious open-source ERP (enterprise resource planning) solutions. They're getting there.

Of course I fully agree. It's just good to hear a geek celebrity say it every once in a while.

The blog is not abandoned

I'm just spending too much time on the OpenGoo.org project.

I'll be back soon with OS ERP news.

Open Source Enterprise Systems coming together

Sure enough, there had to be something going on. Stephen Shankland just published a very interesting article at cnet news on the topic. It covers the creation of Open Solutions Alliance, which brings together many OS EIS projects.

I believe this is an interesting and promising venture. I will closely follow its moves.

How are ERP, CRM, BI and CMS merging?

It seems to me that ERP, CRM, BI, and CMS should tend to merge into single framework systems.

What is being talked about this subject? What examples are already popular. I am sure SAP, Oracle, and the big players are aware of this. But what about the Open Source Community?

What is the name for such a framework or system? I guess it should be something like EIS (Enterprise Information Systems), or something like that.

Wikipedia's definition of EIS is quite vague for the term, so I think it could easily be adapted.

I would like to name it, to facilitate the discussion.

Opportunity for Open Source ERP?

The Register had an interesting article today, from Quocirca's Sharon Crawford, about a recent high merger and acquisitions activities of traditional ERP suppliers.

It does not mention the possibility of considering an OS solutions, which, as an IT director, I certainly would.

But it does make some very interesting remarks:

"If you think your supplier is ripe for takeover, or if it has already been bought, you might be considering a change to another supplier"

Although it continued to mention only big vendors, it says later:

"There must be a well-defined product roadmap and it is important you can see and influence the continued development plans."

I totally agree with that, and I believe those are two strong arguments for considering an Open Source solution.