Open Source software is software in which the source code is released under a license in which the software developer grants users the rights to modify the software code.
CRM Software is business software that enables a company to store contacts, convert leads, manage sales pipeline and close deals.
Some of the most popular CRM Software's are open source solutions. Open source CRM Software is often used as an alternative to proprietary CRM software like Salesforce.com
There are several benefits of using Open source CRM:
- Company has full control over their data
- Open Source Software is free so no license fees
- No vendor limitation in terms of number of users
- Create your custom modules in CRM as per organisation requirement
- Change the design and user interface
- Add specific features in CRM Software as per your company requirement
- Host the software on your in-house server or managed webhost
- Participate in developer community
- It is more cost effective than a proprietary solution
The Leading Open Source CRM Software's are:
Odoo
Odoo is a suite of open source business apps that cover company software needs including CRM, eCommerce, accounting, inventory, point of sale, project management, etc. Odoo CRM is one of the most installed CRM software in the world. It is used by over 3.700.000 users worldwide ranging from start up companies to large enterprises.
Vtiger
Vtiger CRM enables sales, support, and marketing teams to organize and collaborate to measurably improve customer experiences and business outcomes. Vtiger CRM also includes email, inventory, project management, and other tools, providing a complete the business management suite. Vtiger CRM is built using the Apache web server (Apache license) open source software and license. Vtiger is supported by an active community of users, developers, and partner networks in more than 110 countries and our portfolio of products are used in more than 300,000 businesses worldwide
SugarCRM
SugarCRM is a software company based in Cupertino, California. It has the web application Sugar, a customer relationship management (CRM) system. Sugar CRM is deployed by more than 2 million individuals in over 120 countries and 26 languages. SugarCRM provided a community edition, Sugar CE, previously known as Sugar Open Source. It is available free of charge alongside paid editions until version 6.5
Mautic
Mautic provides free and open source marketing automation software. Mautic Inc., an Acquia company, the world’s only open marketing cloud. Mautic enables brands to integrate and personalize all their digital properties and channels into a seamless customer experience. Mautic’s suite of tools enables marketers to deliver higher performing campaigns and content and achieve superior results.
SuiteCRM
SuiteCRM is a free and open source Customer Relationship Management application. SuiteCRM is a software fork of the popular customer relationship management (CRM) system from SugarCRM. SuiteCRM has been downloaded more than 800,000 times since the original release. A community of nearly 90,000 developers and collaborators have joined the project.
EspoCRM
EspoCRM is an Open Source CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software that allows you to see, enter and evaluate all your company
relationships regardless of the type. In CRM, you can view people companies or opportunities – all in an easy and intuitive interface. It’s a web application with a frontend designed as a single page application based on backbone.js and a REST API backend written in PHP.
CIVICRM
CiviCRM is an open source CRM built by a community of contributors and supporters. It is specifically designed for the needs of non-profit, non-governmental, and advocacy groups, and serves as an association management system. CiviCRM is designed to manage information about an organization’s donors, members, event registrants, subscribers, grant application seekers and funders, and case contacts. Volunteers, activists, voters as well as more general sorts of business contacts such as employees, clients, or vendors can be managed using CiviCRM.
Zurmo
Open Source CRM application that is mobile, social, and gamified. Written in PHP utilizing jQuery, Yii Framework, and RedBeanPHP Zurmo provides an easy-to-use, easy-to-customize CRM application that can be adapted to any business use case. Zurmo has an international footprint with contributors and end users all over the world
TRYTON
TRYTON is business software, ideal for companies of any size, easy to use, complete and 100% Open Source. Tryton CRM modules provide a coverage of the following functional fields: Accounting, Invoicing, Sale Management, Purchase Management, Analytic Accounting, Inventory management, Manufacturing Resource Planning, Project management, Lead and Opportunity Management
Opentaps
opentaps Open Source ERP + CRM is an open source Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. The system is designed to bring together all aspects of a company, from customers to inventory to accounting, from online stores to the shop floor to the warehouse, so that everyone in the company works together as part of one coordinated process.
X2CRM
X2CRM is an enterprise CRM, Marketing Automation and Workflow solution that supports every aspect of your customer engagement.
Using X2CRM you can develop effortless customer experiences by enabling the most optimized process and interactions. X2CRM provides companies with speed and control in a complete, secure and highly configurable CRM suite.
openCRX
openCRX is a professional Open Source Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System featuring rich and intelligent functionality in the area of Sales Force Automation (SFA), Customer Service and Support, Marketing automation, and analytics. Furthermore, openCRX delivers a rich groupware feature set, including e-mail, contacts, and calendaring.
SplendidCRM
SplendidCRM produces open source Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software developed in C# for the ASP.NET framework
SplendidCRM targets companies with Microsoft-based servers. SplendidCRM is a web-based application, so it can be delivered as an on-site application or as an on-demand service. We will be engaging with partners that will customize SplendidCRM for highly-specialized vertical markets.
Concursive
Concursive, is a software company that offers the ConcourseSuite product, a customer relationship management application, and ConcourseConnect, a social software application, both based on Java/J2EE. Concursive products are used by large enterprises and thousands of small businesses alike and our thriving developer and user community has approximately 20,000 registered community members.
ConcourseConnect, an integrated web-based software platform that brings together Social Business Software, Corporate Social Networking, Online Community, Business Directory, and CRM capabilities. ConcourseSuite is a dedicated Enterprise-Class CRM Solution with a single, easy to use web application.
Secretica CRM
A free and open source customer relationship management application. Features include documenting customer-related communication; Email campaigns, Task management with email notifications. Management of connections between communications, tasks, documents, etc.
Download Secretica CRM
The most remarkable part is that all the above Open Source CRM Software’s are free.
But using Open source CRM has its own complexities. There is a steep learning curve and you will have to hire experienced developers for installation, hosting, modifications and support
However Open source is the future of software industry. More and more software companies are developing their software on open source framework.