Open-source software is not for businesses who
want out-of-the-box complete applications, but it makes sense for
companies that want to tailor every aspect of the CRM experience from
the ground up.
CRM buyers might have very few choices were it not for open-source applications. The CRM field is dominated by huge players such as Oracle Corp. and SAP, and the open-source model is perhaps the easiest way into the CRM market for new companies. Open-source CRM projects have been proliferating; SourceForge Inc. lists 369 active open-source CRM projects. The following 10 open-source CRM solutions have risen to the top of the list.
1. SugarCRM Inc.
The standard bearers for open source CRM, SugarCRM started in 2004, founded by John Roberts, Clint Oram and Jacob Taylor. Initially, its primary selling point was its open source underpinnings; the software is written in PHP and works with the MySQL and MS SQL Server databases. In recent years, however, the application has been refined to become not just as a competitor in the open source space but in the broader commercial CRM space as well. Recent improvements to the interface, mobile support, knowledgebase, self service portal, upgraded analytics and dashboards and several sales-oriented aspects of the Enterprise edition show how dramatically SugarCRM has focused on competing on the application, with open source as the secret weapon that could tip the scales with buyers.
The company’s newest thrust is around the idea of social CRM. “Because we’re open and flexible, it makes it easier to integrate social media sources and to do it quickly,” said Martin Schneider, director of product marketing at SugarCRM. “Instead of having rigid, pre-defined connections, we give you the ability to bring in social data and use it as you see fit. “ The ability to build connections into emerging social media channels could turn into a competitive advantage for those companies who recognize those channels first, he added.
This is not to say that Sugar is turning into a proprietary software company – far from it. The company nurtures its developer community, which now numbers over 22,000 developers, and its free version has been downloaded over 7 million times. Put simply, SugarCRM is the most significant open source CRM solution by a wide margin at this time.
.
2. SplendidCRM Software Inc.'s development team formed in November 2005. The application is built on the Microsoft platform (Windows, ISS, SQL Server, C# and ASP). Designed for system integrators, SplendidCRM allows administrators to add user-customizable features such as .NET 2.0’s Themes, Web Parts and AJAX. SplendidCRM is positioned as a competitor to SugarCRM, as the two applications share many of the same features. For instance, both offer an Outlook plug-in and the ability to add custom fields.
3. CentricCRM has been around for seven years and has achieved a great deal of stability and robustness. In June 2007, CentricCRM (renamed Concursive as of December 2007) received investment funding from Intel Capital, the venture capital arm of Intel Corp. CentricCRM is aimed at the small-business market, although it has scaled up within Fortune 500 companies. Its more complex features can be turned off if they are not needed, and the administrative console allows for a great deal of customization. The free version comes with five user licenses. Centric CRM is written in Java and is compatible with MySQL databases.
4. Hipergate bills itself as “the most complete open-source Java CRM and groupware.” That’s a lot to pack into a single package, but this enterprise-class application seems to have it all. Its functional modules include collaboration and groupware; contact management; project management and support-issues tracking; an e-shopping module with multiple catalogs and payment processing; a content -management module; mass email distribution and tracking; a corporate library; roles-based security; queries and reports; and more. Written in Java and JSP, hipergate is operating system-independent. Databases with which it is compatible include Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle and PostgreSQL.
5. Compiere Inc. offers a complete ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM application with support for marketing and sales, human resources, inventory control and more. There is even a full business-accounting package, something often seen in open-source software. Compiere received a $6 million injection of venture capital in June 2006. Compiere is written in Java, JavaScript and PL/SQL, and it is compatible with JDBC and Oracle databases.
6. Vtiger CRM is built upon the LAMP/WAMP (Linux/Windows, Apache, MySQL and PHP) architecture, with the main development team based in Chennai, India. Vtiger CRM includes SFA (Sales Force Automation), customer-support and -service, marketing automation, inventory-management, multiple database support, security-management, product-customization, calendaring and email-integration features. It also offers add-ons (Outlook Plug-in, Office Plug-in, Thunderbird Extension, Customer Self-service Portal and Web Forms) and support for other add-ons. Vtiger is written in JavaScript, PHP and Visual Basic. It is compatible with ADOdb, MySQL and PostgreSQL databases.
7. CentraView.'s offering is a combination of contact management, SFA and CRM functions. Its source code is J2EE-based and builds on the MySQL database. The first version of CentraView was released in November 2004, for the Linux and Windows 2000/XP platforms. Today, the software is offered in both hosted and downloadable forms. Centraview CRM is written in Java and JSP and is compatible with MySQL databases.
8. XRMS CRM is a Web-based application suite that incorporates human-resources management, SFA and CRM. It is an on-premise solution for the small to midsize company. XRMS CRM includes computer telephony integration and the ability to add plug-ins for programs such as Outlook. XRMS CRM is operating-system independent, and it is written in an interpreted language (PHP). Compatible databases include ADOdb, SQL-based, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL and other network-based DBMS.
9. Cream CRM is a multilingual application designed for media organizations. The application tracks sales orders, payments, shipments, services, online and print subscriptions, and the effectiveness of promotional campaigns. Modules allow communication with customers via newsletters, email and a Web interface. Cream CRM is an initiative of the Media Development Loan Fund's Center for Advanced Media in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Cream CRM runs on FreeDSB, Linux and Windows 2000/XP. It is written in Java and JavaScript.
10. Tustena CRM is a Microsoft-centric application written for enterprise-class organizations. It comes in three solutions: On Demand, Business and Open Source. On Demand is the hosted version, while the Business version is installed on clients' site and features tech support. Users who opt for the Open Source version get the source code and can modify it as they wish, relying on the community for support. Tustena CRM is written in C#, ASP.NET and JavaScript. It is compatible with Microsoft SQL Server.
11 .Xtuple
13. CiviCRM
CRM buyers might have very few choices were it not for open-source applications. The CRM field is dominated by huge players such as Oracle Corp. and SAP, and the open-source model is perhaps the easiest way into the CRM market for new companies. Open-source CRM projects have been proliferating; SourceForge Inc. lists 369 active open-source CRM projects. The following 10 open-source CRM solutions have risen to the top of the list.
1. SugarCRM Inc.
The standard bearers for open source CRM, SugarCRM started in 2004, founded by John Roberts, Clint Oram and Jacob Taylor. Initially, its primary selling point was its open source underpinnings; the software is written in PHP and works with the MySQL and MS SQL Server databases. In recent years, however, the application has been refined to become not just as a competitor in the open source space but in the broader commercial CRM space as well. Recent improvements to the interface, mobile support, knowledgebase, self service portal, upgraded analytics and dashboards and several sales-oriented aspects of the Enterprise edition show how dramatically SugarCRM has focused on competing on the application, with open source as the secret weapon that could tip the scales with buyers.
The company’s newest thrust is around the idea of social CRM. “Because we’re open and flexible, it makes it easier to integrate social media sources and to do it quickly,” said Martin Schneider, director of product marketing at SugarCRM. “Instead of having rigid, pre-defined connections, we give you the ability to bring in social data and use it as you see fit. “ The ability to build connections into emerging social media channels could turn into a competitive advantage for those companies who recognize those channels first, he added.
This is not to say that Sugar is turning into a proprietary software company – far from it. The company nurtures its developer community, which now numbers over 22,000 developers, and its free version has been downloaded over 7 million times. Put simply, SugarCRM is the most significant open source CRM solution by a wide margin at this time.
.
2. SplendidCRM Software Inc.'s development team formed in November 2005. The application is built on the Microsoft platform (Windows, ISS, SQL Server, C# and ASP). Designed for system integrators, SplendidCRM allows administrators to add user-customizable features such as .NET 2.0’s Themes, Web Parts and AJAX. SplendidCRM is positioned as a competitor to SugarCRM, as the two applications share many of the same features. For instance, both offer an Outlook plug-in and the ability to add custom fields.
3. CentricCRM has been around for seven years and has achieved a great deal of stability and robustness. In June 2007, CentricCRM (renamed Concursive as of December 2007) received investment funding from Intel Capital, the venture capital arm of Intel Corp. CentricCRM is aimed at the small-business market, although it has scaled up within Fortune 500 companies. Its more complex features can be turned off if they are not needed, and the administrative console allows for a great deal of customization. The free version comes with five user licenses. Centric CRM is written in Java and is compatible with MySQL databases.
4. Hipergate bills itself as “the most complete open-source Java CRM and groupware.” That’s a lot to pack into a single package, but this enterprise-class application seems to have it all. Its functional modules include collaboration and groupware; contact management; project management and support-issues tracking; an e-shopping module with multiple catalogs and payment processing; a content -management module; mass email distribution and tracking; a corporate library; roles-based security; queries and reports; and more. Written in Java and JSP, hipergate is operating system-independent. Databases with which it is compatible include Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle and PostgreSQL.
5. Compiere Inc. offers a complete ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and CRM application with support for marketing and sales, human resources, inventory control and more. There is even a full business-accounting package, something often seen in open-source software. Compiere received a $6 million injection of venture capital in June 2006. Compiere is written in Java, JavaScript and PL/SQL, and it is compatible with JDBC and Oracle databases.
6. Vtiger CRM is built upon the LAMP/WAMP (Linux/Windows, Apache, MySQL and PHP) architecture, with the main development team based in Chennai, India. Vtiger CRM includes SFA (Sales Force Automation), customer-support and -service, marketing automation, inventory-management, multiple database support, security-management, product-customization, calendaring and email-integration features. It also offers add-ons (Outlook Plug-in, Office Plug-in, Thunderbird Extension, Customer Self-service Portal and Web Forms) and support for other add-ons. Vtiger is written in JavaScript, PHP and Visual Basic. It is compatible with ADOdb, MySQL and PostgreSQL databases.
7. CentraView.'s offering is a combination of contact management, SFA and CRM functions. Its source code is J2EE-based and builds on the MySQL database. The first version of CentraView was released in November 2004, for the Linux and Windows 2000/XP platforms. Today, the software is offered in both hosted and downloadable forms. Centraview CRM is written in Java and JSP and is compatible with MySQL databases.
8. XRMS CRM is a Web-based application suite that incorporates human-resources management, SFA and CRM. It is an on-premise solution for the small to midsize company. XRMS CRM includes computer telephony integration and the ability to add plug-ins for programs such as Outlook. XRMS CRM is operating-system independent, and it is written in an interpreted language (PHP). Compatible databases include ADOdb, SQL-based, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL and other network-based DBMS.
9. Cream CRM is a multilingual application designed for media organizations. The application tracks sales orders, payments, shipments, services, online and print subscriptions, and the effectiveness of promotional campaigns. Modules allow communication with customers via newsletters, email and a Web interface. Cream CRM is an initiative of the Media Development Loan Fund's Center for Advanced Media in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Cream CRM runs on FreeDSB, Linux and Windows 2000/XP. It is written in Java and JavaScript.
10. Tustena CRM is a Microsoft-centric application written for enterprise-class organizations. It comes in three solutions: On Demand, Business and Open Source. On Demand is the hosted version, while the Business version is installed on clients' site and features tech support. Users who opt for the Open Source version get the source code and can modify it as they wish, relying on the community for support. Tustena CRM is written in C#, ASP.NET and JavaScript. It is compatible with Microsoft SQL Server.
11 .Xtuple
Another
customer relationship management open-source player that offers both a
free version and an enterprise edition, Xtuple sweetens the pot by also
offering versions optimized for distribution, retail, professional
services and manufacturing. Some might argue that this approach carves
into the traditional role of Xtuple’s open source partners, but more
sage thinkers would appreciate the inclusion of these general vertical
market elements as a way of luring CRM customers of various levels of
sophistication.
Besides,
it results in greater participation by users who are faced with
real-world business problems, meaning that customizations have greater
value, said Ned Lilly, president and CEO of Xtuple. “A meaningful
percentage of our users get involved in the operating system – not that
they’re thinking of doing that when they first sign up, but later when
they have a particular need,” he said. “We’ve even had a couple of
customers improve the OS for their internal projects, then turn around
and ask if they could hang out their shingle as Xtuple consultants.
While
it bills itself as an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software
provider, CRM is a key subset of the functionality, making it an option
for companies starting from scratch with their front office-back office
software ecosystem, or looking to make the jump to a more integrated set
of business applications. The various versions of Xtuple are all built
with the PostgreSQL database and the Qt GUI client framework.
12. Zurmo is an open source CRM that has been getting a good deal of
attention. Built on top of a PHP framework, Yii, and relying heavily on
test driven development, Zurmo is software engineering at its best.
Might be worth a consideration.
13. CiviCRM
Targeted
at non-profits, advocacy groups and political campaigns – all
organizations with budget limitations and frequent needs for unique
functionality – CiviCRM exploits the benefits of public sector CRM
particularly well. The application was licensed under GNU, and
integrates with the Drupal and Joomla! content management systems. The
web-based application is free and development is coordinated by the
non-profit Social Source Foundation in conjunction with the
application’s Community Advisory Board.
“The
open source route just made sense for what we were trying to do,” said
Dave Greenberg, one of the application’s developers. “We’re covering a
pretty small sector, but it has a really wide variety of use cases to
cover.”
The
lower cost of open source is also a factor in the application’s
widespread usage, but “there are always some costs to enhancing a
project,” Greenberg said. “You’ll have to have a system administrator,
or pay someone external to do that for you.” That hasn’t hurt the
popularity of the product; the software was downloaded 210,000 times in
2009, and the community forum has 11,500 members. “We’re growing like
gangbusters,” said Greenberg
14. Compiere crm
Acquired
by Consona in June of this year, Compiere offers a combined CRM/ERP
suite in three different flavors – a community edition, which is free,
and Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions, which go for $300,
$750 and $995 for a year, respectively. It survived a spin-off by
disgruntled users in 2006 called Adempiere, which was spurred by the
belief of some users that the company had ignored the contributions of
the community and product direction was driven mainly by the company’s
venture capital partners. The application is written primarily in Java,
and over 1.8 million users have downloaded the software since the
company’s founding in 1999. However, the focus of the company has always
been on ERP, with CRM a component of the larger system. If you’re
already happy with your ERP solution, it may not be worth your while to
go with Compiere since much of the application’s power is likely to go
unused. However, if you’re seeking enterprise-wide business systems and
are inclined to go with open source, it’s a definite option.
15.Opentaps crm
Another
CRM/ERP package, Opentaps is targeted at small to medium-sized
businesses and was built on Apache Open for Business. The application
provides basic functionality for sales, marketing and service. It also
offers built-in business intelligence tools and mobility integration,
including with Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar, and mobile phones. In
July, version 1.5M1 was released, offering easier ways to import data,
such as a new data import user interface. Again, if you’re looking for a
CRM point solution, Opentaps may not be for you, but if you’re a small
to medium-sized business looking to automate CRM and ERP business
processes, this may be a good option.
