Learning from Failure: My Journey Implementing ERPNext

Introduction: As an ERPNext implementer, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of rolling out systems for businesses across various industries. While many projects have gone on to be successes, some didn’t turn out the way I hoped. However, these “failed” projects taught me invaluable lessons. In this blog, I’ll share one such experience from 2015 when I worked with a musical  instrument manufacturing company in Kuwait. The Project: ERPNext for a Musical Instrument Company In 2015, I had the opportunity to implement ERPNext version 6 for a company in Kuwait that owned five retail outlets. They were looking to streamline their POS, Purchase, Accounts, and Stock Management systems. On paper, everything seemed straightforward, but as with many software projects, reality turned out to be much more complicated. The Challenge: Split Payment Option At the time, ERPNext did not support split payment options in POS or sales invoices. However, the client needed this functionality to match the real-world transactions in their outlets. I  took on the task of modifying the system to allow split payments. After hours of custom coding, we got split payments working, but the ledger was inaccurate, leading to serious financial discrepancies. Friction with the Client As the project dragged on with inaccurate data in the system, tension began to build with the client. Despite my efforts to make things work, the solution was not optimal. I realized I had taken on too much and should have sought help from the Frappe team earlier. But, the client believed I was the “Superman” who could fix it all on my own, and I fell into that trap. Cheap Hosting: A Costly Mistake One major concern for the client was cloud security and cost. Looking for a budget-friendly option, I chose VPSCHEAP, a cloud server provider offering low-cost hosting. Everything seemed fine until December 2015, when disaster struck. The servers crashed, and to our horror, there were no backups. The entire system was lost, and the client was understandably  furious. With no other option, we had to discontinue the project and refund the money. Key Learnings from the Project 1. Cheap is Not Always Better: Choosing a low-cost hosting provider cost us dearly. In retrospect, I should have invested in a more reliable service with robust backup and security options like Frappe Cloud or AWS. You get what you pay for, and compromising on critical infrastructure is a recipe for disaster. 2. Ask for Help: I wasted precious time trying to solve the split payment issue on my own. Had I reached out to the Frappe team earlier, I could have avoided the mistakes that led to inaccurate data.  Clients may expect you to be a one-person army, but it’s important to ask for help when needed. 3. Backup, Backup, Backup: This project made me realize the importance of backups. Without proper backups, the entire project was at the mercy of the cloud server’s stability. Today, having a solid backup plan is non-negotiable for any implementation I undertake. Conclusion: This project was one of my early failures in ERPNext implementation, but it set the foundation for many of the best practices I follow today. Learning from failure is just as important as celebrating success, and this experience taught me the value of reliable infrastructure, seeking help, and always having a contingency plan in place. Whats your Learning Story?

How can ERPNext give your e-commerce platform a competitive edge?

The massive presence of e-commerce platforms Locally and worldwide, e-commerce is at an all-time high and constantly expanding. Due to the current crackdown forcing store closures, consumers were forced to purchase online because the biggest retailers worldwide embraced e-commerce platforms. Every retailer implemented such transaction channels as more individuals became aware of online commerce and the constant development of digital payment networks. The eCommerce industry is currently at its pinnacle during the epidemic days and is anticipated to expand quickly in the years to come. To make E-commerce stores more advanced, there are numerous innovative techniques on the market. ERPNext integration with an online store aids in efficient data flow and effective stock management. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) can record all company transactions in one system with the aid of ERPNext, a fully-featured business management solution. Furthermore, it is open-source. Giant online retailers may easily monitor cash flow across numerous cities, nations, and businesses thanks to ERPNext Services. Even now, both small and large businesses are happy to use ERPNext software in their businesses. ERPNext Service benefits for eCommerce stores: Helps in maintaining accounts to track sales and purchases. Remits taxes to the governmental sector. Aids in paying monthly salaries to their staff. Maintains deliveries within the time frames specified. Delivers high-quality products and services to their valued clients. Engages with customers, addresses their issues, and maintains their satisfaction. How ERPNext Integration Aids in the Growth of E-Commerce Businesses E-commerce has completely transformed the way that products are now sold at comparatively low prices. Many companies have chosen in recent years to maintain an online presence in addition to their physical stores. It is difficult to manage both platforms since many businesses view an e-commerce platform and ERP software as two distinct components. Business organizations lose out on the benefits of an integrated ERP system if there is no connectivity across the platforms. One can manage web sales and effective internal business functional management with the integration of the ERP system in e-commerce businesses. The following are some benefits of integrating ERPNext with an online store: Enhances Functionality: The incorporation of an ERP system starts the real-time data supply to the storefront, enabling customers to view and access information about the available inventory, order status, and shipment tracking details using the lot/serial or other tracking numbers. This aids in lowering the cost of operations and enhancing consumer satisfaction along with your storefront. Reduces Operational Costs Updating sales data is simple to manage with ERPNext connectivity. An ERP system provides all the information about web sales data as well as updates on online transactions. The updated web sales data and inventory specifics enable more accurate forecasting and planning of the purchase, which lowers the cost of operational inventory. Real-time inventory tracking is simple, as is predicting the amount of stock you’ll need in the future. Financial report generation A sales-related financial report can be swiftly produced by an e-commerce application. Via combines an ERP and e-commerce. As ERP software ensures transparency about online transactions and financial information across the firm, the top user can advance because it gives records, P/L Statements, balances, Cash Flow, etc. Integrated ERP software increases productivity and saves time By streamlining various company processes and minimizing the participation of human resources. The workers don’t have to manually input files (such as shipping information, inventory levels, or product information) from one platform to another because communication happens automatically. Time and money are preserved, and employees are given the freedom to be productive in other ways as a result. Additionally, the ERP system will promptly integrate all of the online sales orders. Also, an ERP user can immediately trace the order and start processing it further. The cycle time for order fulfillment is decreased with ERP software integration. Reduces Data Redundancy and Error The integration will allow all data, including web customer information, web order details, payment, and shipping information, to be incorporated into ERP software. Furthermore, it is frequently the case that the item and inventory details are posted from ERP to the e-commerce gateway, removing the need for re-entering the data. Therefore, combining the two platforms lessens human participation, data duplication, and inaccuracy. Increase Customer Contentment By offering up-to-date, real-time product information, inventory availability information, order tracking functionality, etc. within E-commerce using ERP software, one may easily increase the amount of customer satisfaction. Additionally, one can be informed automatically when a cargo is sent, allowing them to follow the delivery’s progress. The customer experience is enhanced by the availability of real-time information. Even if there is trouble, such as a delay or a shortage of inventory, understanding the situation helps lessen any unhappiness. Better Business Control By integrating eCommerce and ERP business processes, business owners can control every aspect of their operations from a single spot. Additionally, it integrates the eCommerce system with the manufacturing, CRM, financial, and other systems. The communication between the interior departments becomes better as a result. Finally, integration enables you to have a single, comprehensive image of your sales if you generate income both online and offline. SMB Solutions offers technologically advanced Smart Business Solutions in Kuwait. We support the growth of new enterprises by helping them implement comprehensive solutions we have developed specifically for their needs. To learn more, get in touch with us.

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