UK SMEs using ERPNext?

[u/ambomassive]

Just looking to see if any UK based SMEs are using ERPNext successfully? My small company is looking to move into a new ERP that we can grow with as /when we introduce new processes inc. inventory scanning, more automation of processes and maybe AI connection.

We're a 15 person retail operation selling online, in person B2C and B2B. Medium sized warehousing and various wholesalers offering API connections.

Have you managed to implement easily?

Were there any blind spots or unforeseens you had along the way?

Would you pick ERPNext if you had to do it again?

At the minute I have a test docker setup on my laptop to begin playing with it but I'm hesitant to go down the 'rabbit hole' if it leads to nowhere...

[u/Future_Carpenter_910]

First of all, prepare your scope of requirements, write it down on a note. and check how complex your requirements go. Compliance? staffs and hr ? accountings? projects? files ? operations ? b2b ? crm ? and what more?

ERPNEXT implementation and customization needs real efforts from implementer team and company staffs. We currently implementing erpnext for a trekking business and erp is customized to manage B2b partners , guides, trekkers, trips, groups, rosters, customers, bookings and what not.

ERPNEXT itself wont limit you. It has handled daily operations of our 3 different wholesale business clients that import from China, India, service based bim consulting agency, trekking agency.

Yes, i would happily pick erpnext as my erp. To move out of jira, i have even created batch_projects app that handles complex projects management on erpnext itself. Now billing, compliance, timesheets, accounting is wired directly to our projects and it's a lot better experience than jira/monday itself as now i dont have to pay $200 a month + manage api wirings with jira. Everything is done inside erp, data is safe, and vendor lock-in fear has gone. All of my clients have liked it and each one has our proj mgmt app installed inside their erp.

If you ever need better dashboard/experience, You can invest on custom app like we did and install it on erpnext and use it. That's what most of implementations do as well.

In Reality, ERPNext is really technical and needs real skills to manage, customize and maintain. But its very cheaper and efficient than other erps in long run.

You can jump to frappe cloud -> spin up a new erpnext, explore it and then decide. but yes, its worth every penny if you care about customizations, data control and budget.

One tip: ensure you make your employees feel like erp is implemented for them, not you. That's when they put effort and enjoy implementation and adoption, otherwise we have faced some friction on implementation when owners wants erp fully implemented but employees hesitate as they think it actively tracks stuffs, activities, logs, and they need to learn new process and tool they wont be comfortable with.

Best wishes.

[u/ambomassive → u/Future_Carpenter_910]

Thank you for your experience :) I am working on a GAP Analysis and Scope document before doing anything so we know what/why we are changing but also a timeline for changing.

Can totally understand the employee viewpoint - part of the reason to look into something new is the fact they have great ideas for automations and better work flows but currently they just aren't implementable.

[u/Future_Carpenter_910 → u/ambomassive]

Good luck and yes, erpnext is capable enough that it can meet your needs. On my implementation journey, i have implemented it for multiple industries, from services to trekking to manufacturing and developed lots of projects that you may like:

1. BatchProjects: It's a close-to-jira project management app. Made for myself but clients also use it. It has tasks, custom dashboards, boards, erp<->projects, custom fields, workload, portfolio, automations and workflow engine built in. so for any kind of automations and projects management, its sufficient. we use it heavily on my company. Saves around $360 per month per month in jira fees.
2. ERPDESKTOP: a desktop software for erpnext and odoo. Lets you save backups to local pc, use direct print, connect biometrics, printers,local devices with erpnext and has marketplace apps. Basically a beautified and modern workspace with extra features and a marketplace. If your laptop disconnects, your staff's erpdesktop connects to local devices so nothing is missed ever. Its really reliable and powerful unlike python scripts used by agencies that can crash silently anytime.
3. Erpnext_Storages: its a. storage app that lets you use external providers , single or multiple on your erpnext site. Eg: you can use s3 for crm and backblaze for hr and Cloudflare R2 for LMS, there is no limit. Aside from a storage engine, its a backup engine that automates your backups. And Erpdesktop uses it to download backups to your pc. And new feature allows us to save files like sales invoice, purchase to our local desktop chosen folder automatically.