Open Source Invoice Software

You wound up on this page because you or your company are looking into the possibility of switching to open source invoice software. You are probably looking for software that doesn't include hefty licensing fees. However, you need to ensure that you don't do so at a loss of functionality or usability. The system needs to be able to handle all the tasks you are performing today, including importing and exporting large amounts of data when necessary. There is even a chance that you need to be able to integrate the software with 3rd party systems. You are asking yourself. Can open source software do that? This article will not direct you towards a specific open source invoice software system, but it will help you ask the questions you need to ask to get the system you need.

There can be little doubt that the cost of open source systems will entice many to consider them. Licensing costs can be a real burden and you don't get that with open source software. However, you need to be aware of the hidden costs. While open source systems are free to use there is still a price attached. You need to implement the system, which can cost far more than the licensing fees you are paying today. When it is first implemented, however, you will have a system that operates at a very low cost. Why not free you ask? Simply put you and your employees need to be educated in the use of the new system. The worst thing you can do is letting your employees loose on the system without being aware of the functionality of your new system.

Even Open Source Invoice Software Has The Functionality Of Enterprise Systems

One of the great fears when considering open source systems is functionality. Can you really expect an open source system to have the same functionality as an enterprise system. OpenOffice, a free office suite, is a great example of an open source system that does have enterprise systems. Indeed, several OpenOffice features have been adapted by, among others, Microsoft Office. It is proof that going open source doesn't necessarily mean sacrificing functionality. Having said that it is important that you test the features. Fortunately, it won't cost you a lot to test it since it is free. If you find that the current features are as you require it is worth checking things like feature update frequency and feature support. Since you are looking at open source invoice software there probably isn't an official support outlet, but it's worth looking for forums and communities supporting the system.

Considering how much time most of us spend in front of a computer each day it's important that we protect ourselves from computer related injuries. It's important to make sure that any system you use in your company takes this into account. Invoice software is often quite data entry intensive. Make sure data entry is as easy as possible requiring as few mouse clicks as possible. One of the things you should consider is the tab order of the fields. What that means is that each time you press the tab button to get to the next field it must take you to the next logical field. This is just another way to decrease the amount of mouse clicks you need to make. The system should be able to perform mass data entry, such as imports from spreadsheets or databases.

Open Source Invoice Software Integration

This is a really big deal. Working with invoices and other financial data you want to minimize the amount of manual data entry to an absolute minimum. First of all, automatizing it is better for your employees health. More important, however, is automatic data integration will minimize the human error factor. The last bit alone can save you a fortune. At a minimum any invoice software you choose should be able to import data from databases and spreadsheets. Third party system integration with CRM systems and other financial systems will be a huge bonus as well.

Switching to an open source invoice system is a very big decision. You are probably mainly considering it due to the serious costs associated with enterprise systems. Just make sure you remember the hidden costs of implementation and training. However, you should not consider switching before being absolutely certain the system will live up to your requirements. You can get open source systems that are as good or even better than enterprise systems. There is no reason to settle for anything less!