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G. Wibisono

ERP : Let’s learn the basic to Build ERP

Basic Knowledge about ERP

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an enterprise-wide information system designed to coordinate all the resources, information, and activities needed to complete business processes such as order fulfillment or billing.

In short we see ERP as an application. But if we see deply. We can see a big system work together. In company like Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Financials, Projects, Human Resources and Customer Relationship Management we can see there more one departemen work together, some departement will work when other departemen done.
 Example : purchased, put on storage and sale it. It can be work by one person/departemen! but if we look closely, 3 action have different step inside

Element

before we build the ERP. We need few element to build the ERP…

  • communication
     since technology make us simple. We don’t need this communication inside our ERP. But we should add the communication element. If you have done your work (ex: purchased), you need to inform other departemen (or same) what have you done and open request for them to continue the work. Ex: receive and check the merchandise.
     You can use BBM, WA or Telegram.. soo you can inform other! You can’t put this outside your ERP! but it will lost main element for ERP..
  • Transaction
     ERP talked about transaction. But not all transaction needed for other departement. You should create a scheme about transaction data, from start to end. From the first input until show as report to higher departement.
     Transaction is about history.. You should create transaction history or we can say a log! not only log/history, we need to things about how to validate the data and how to receive the transaction. The transaction is not always have same scheme.. like the transaction have code, list of item, price etc. Some transaction don’t have anything that able to calculate like information about service that already done!
     In the end, is about how to handle transaction and history. Then tried to validate the transaction before approve.
  • User
     Is about login! in ERP is not wise to make account with full Auth. You should tried not make superadmin able to perform anything!! control your account and member account permission. And remember to put log while you handle anything.. Just like Transaction does.
  • Database
     for short.. tried using better DBMS. Mysql perhaps you will thingking right now.. but I don’t try to suggest using Oracle or something big!! Actualy I was suggest to use all your DBMS power until it limit.. Like using clone database, trigger or put strict join when you manipulated data.
     By the time you read .. put your DBMS to the limit.. you will realize something.. That is Security!!
  • Security
     as write above. Control member permission and put database to the limit is something related to security. for member permission is for limit their action ! Database is where you hold your log and transaction. But if the DBMS work hard (since you put on limit).. tried to put security action for the database!! In short you can use clone database (i forgot the real name), that make sure anything update to real database will be clone to other database (in other server).
     There soo many way to secure our system.. I just explain 2–3 point here.. so we can tried to search other related to security.. like validate input and output (include processes)
  • ETC
     there soo many element, like
     * interface (GUI) where you must understand there were some people (in work) are not in front of pc.. Perhaps there using mobile.
     * logic. some departemen have different logic for their work.. is not easy because this logic is not easy to understand..
     * Report. not all need table report, some need graphic.
     * time. you can say is bout how many time do you need to accomplish one work!! the time sometime crucial.. like you baked something. and you want to have information about the cake in 20–30 minutes after input into ERP/System!! Or you have to detail when the work have done.. because everyone input the data into the system is not update like the real work have done.. Ex: you send email yesterday and input today.. the time you working that is today not yesterday.
     * work appraisal. since you have logged everything.. you have logged people work! Is mean you can evaluate worker activities based what he/she done! In short, don’t forget about log their activities include when they are idlle (if able)

above element are more and more.. I think is logical to make a simple argument.. ERP is how to build system that join all element on the company!! is not easy task but is something valuable if you can handle it!

After a while learning and created ERP.. You will realize.. the ERP is not about how to connect all element.. is about how to solve problem during connect all element and process the element..

How to build it

you can use framework like Laravel or YII2.. but I suggest you focus how to solve the problem.. not to build the ERP! you can use Free and Open source below.. but remember.. you have to know.. there is no end to solve problem.. We don’t know what is the problem until we face it.
 Free and Open Source ERP software

  1. Adempiere, a Java based ERP-System which started as a fork of Compiere
  2. Compiere, a Java based ERP-System
  3. Dolibarr, a PHP based ERP system
  4. ERP5, a Python based ERP system
  5. GNU Enterprise
  6. GRR (software), a PHP/MySQL -based, web-accessed free ERP system
  7. JFire, a Java based ERP-System from NightLabs
  8. Kuali Foundation
  9. LedgerSMB
  10. OFBiz
  11. OpenBlueLab
  12. Openbravo, a Java based ERP-System
  13. OpenERP (formerly Tiny ERP)
  14. Opentaps (Java based)
  15. OrangeHRM
  16. Postbooks from XTuple
  17. SQL-Ledger
  18. Stoq
  19. WebERP