Introduction
Welcome to the March issue of our newsletter created exclusively for every member of the Openbravo community. This is the perfect opportunity for us to share all the exciting news that has taken place since the last edition of Openbravo Vision.
First, we launched Openbravo Network, the commercially supported subscription service for our award-winning ERP. Openbravo Network packages the complete software stack (operating system, database and application server) required to operate Openbravo ERP in a production environment, and expert levels of support for not only our software but for the entire stack.
Next, this past January we announced the localization of Openbravo ERP in French at the Solutions Linux 2008 exhibition in Paris. Also, we are serving our global partner community with our 360° Business Tour across Latin America, which will feature meetings with our executive team. Trainings and Get Togethers will be taking place in Barcelona and Miami from March 31-April 18 and June 9-29 in Miami.
On February 14, we achieved 500,000 downloads of our ERP solution on SourceForge.net. This was an important and exciting milestone for all of us, and one that we could not have reached without you, our dedicated community members. We first published our software in April of 2006. Not long after that, we were in the top ten of all categories of software, averaging over 1,000 downloads per day. We are extremely happy with this measurable growth in such a short period of time, and will immediately turn our attention to the one million download mark!
We have many new success stories to share, and have achieved growth in new markets, such as Public Administration.
As part of our continuing innovation, we published Openbravo POS v. 2.0 on SourceForge on February 26. This first release of Openbravo POS produced internally since our Librepos (formerly Tina POS) acquisition includes several key enhancements in usability, configuration and localization capabilities which will enable improved operational efficiency across demanding retail and hospitality environments.
We're always interested in receiving your feedback so that we know what you'd like to read in Openbravo Vision. If you have any ideas or suggestions for your newsletter please send them to: vision@openbravo.com.
If you are looking for a past newsletter they can be found here: http://www.openbravo.com/about-us/press-room/newsletter
With thanks and warmest regards,
Manel Sarasa
CEO, Openbravo
Product Updates
Openbravo POS v. 2.0
Openbravo POS v. 2.0 debuted in February when it was published on SourceForge. It represents the first version of Openbravo POS since we acquired Librepos in October 2007. Updated features include easy-to-use buttons, new reports for the restaurant module and a simplified sales process for weighted products. Users can now select colors and aspects to meet their individual requirements. Localization has been simplified to make it even easier to install a new language.
Developers can use the new build and project files to easily edit the source code to add new features to Openbravo POS. The new version includes increased integration with Openbravo ERP.
Openbravo Network
January saw the launch of Openbravo Network, a new subscription service combining software and support. It provides customers with support contracts for Openbravo ERP as well as the rest of the stack (operating system, database and application server), plus all further licenses required for third-party proprietary components, including technology from Oracle and rPath. Rapid deployment, simplified maintenance, and automated mechanisms for backups and system updates coupled with professional support make Openbravo Network ideal for SMEs seeking absolute peace of mind.
The benefits of Openbravo Network include:
- An included and fine-tuned environment - all components of the stack have been included and fine-tuned for Openbravo ERP so that no superfluous software consumes background system resources.
- Fast deployment - suitable for bare metal or virtual environments. Packaging is available on bootable DVDs and in virtual images for VMWare, Xen or Amazon EC2.
- Simple maintenance - a custom web-based administration console performs all tasks including scheduled back-ups and system updates.
- Peace of mind - a support contract guarantees systems as current and bug free with system updates delivered dynamically on-line once tested by Openbravo's QA team.
- Professional support - expert service is provided by a dedicated team at Openbravo.
- No commitment - contracted on an annual basis with no obligation to renew.
Product Localization
Also in January, we announced that both Openbravo ERP and POS were available in French. This localization provides a full version of our open source software to French SMEs. We debuted our latest localization at Solutions Linux 2008 in Paris, France.
Openbravo ERP is now available in more than 15 languages, and our community is working on 40 more localization projects. Openbravo POS is now available in five languages.
See detailed Localization Projects
Openbravo Development Environment
In December 2007, we launched what we call the Openbravo Development Environment (ODE), dramatically improving the efficiency and quality of our code management. ODE is the framework of tools, methodologies and processes that help our developers create new functionalities, debug, test and deploy in the most efficient way for core contributions, custom code and functional modules, while making it easier for developers to contribute to our projects. The main benefit from ODE is that all the code is managed in the same way using standard tools: just one integrated repository of plain text files for all the code, including database schema objects and metadata. By using these standard tools, barrier to entry have been lowered, while code management - reporting, monitoring, tracking - has been highly improved. It also has fully enabled PostgreSQL as a development environme nt.
The most important challenge for ODE was that of database code management. Our team based its solution on DdlUtils, an Apache project with which Openbravo has been collaborating. All database code - schema objects and metadata - is transparently managed as XML files that can be easily stored and managed in a version control system with the same granularity as with Java files. This tool automatically does reverse engineering to create the XML files reading from the database. It also automatically updates the database - keeping custom data intact - from changes applied to the XML files coming from source code updates. The model in the XML files support multiple databases, Oracle and PostgreS included. There is a code converter to transform PL/SQL code to the database target. We have a unique code repository for both databases. Database code is managed in the same way as standard Java or HTML code.
Partner News
Openbravo continues to expand its worldwide partner network
With 65 partners in more than 40 countries, our partner network has experienced unprecedented worldwide growth with the recent incorporation of companies in the following countries: France, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Egypt and Kenya. New partners in all countries recently started taking advantage of the business opportunities presented by us.
From Australia to Finland to Ecuador, the best ideas stem from diverse groups of people working towards a common goal. We strive to harness our global presence to continue to innovate the world of ERP and POS systems.
We have presented details of our New Global Partner Program, comprising a wealth of exciting new tools, support and benefits, at CeBIT 2008 in Hanover, Germany, March 4-9.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to join our Partner Network - fill out an application today!
New partners
We would also like to welcome our new partners from all parts of the globe who have joined us since our last newsletter edition!
 | SupERP - Egypt |
 | Sriram Automation - India |
 | Global Comarca - Argentina |
 | GCEIS - Mexico |
|
| Qualian Tech - India |
 | Sysnova - Bangladesh |
 | NobaInfo - Spain |
 | Soluciones Tecnologia Aplicada - Guatemala |
 | Kruger - Ecuador |
|
| Prak Tecnologies de la Informació - Spain |
 | Equasian - Vietnam |
 | Epon Business Applications - Romania |
|
| Estrasol - Mexico |
 | Kenzo Associates & Company - Saudi Arabia |
 | Smile - France |
You can visit our partner map for detailed information.
Open source applications arrive in Latin America with summit series
We have recently announced our first Latin American tour to Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru and Chile.
The Openbravo 360° Business Tour will introduce any company interested in building a professional business practice around Openbravo's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Point of Sale (PoS) solutions.
Attendees will meet members of our executive team, learn about the benefits of partnering with us, how to capitalize on business prospects for open source applications and receive advice and recommendations on how to launch a new practice.
"These objectives reflect Openbravo's commitment to continuously improving its unique value proposition with partners worldwide. The 360° Business Tour is an opportunity for any company looking to either start, expand or enhance an open source business practice," said Lluis Llavina, our channel management director.
After the presentation, Openbravo executive team members will meet current and potential partners. These meetings must be booked in advance. If you are interested in attending, or for more information, send an email to partnership@openbravo.com with the subject '360° Business Tour' or apply to be a partner through Openbravo's website.
We look forward to seeing you from 9 am to 11 am local time in the following locations:
- April 1 - Mexico D.F., Mexico
- April 3 - Bogota, Colombia
- April 3 - Sao Paolo, Brazil
- April 7 - Quito, Ecuador
- April 7 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
- April 8 - Lima, Peru
- April 10 - Santiago de Chile, Chile
More 360° Business Tours will follow during the year where different regions will be covered.
Upcoming Trainings
Openbravo teams up with Kesdee to offer e-Learning courses
Our community, specifically SME members, has been requesting training in finance and accounting. Often SMEs find it difficult to navigate the complex systems in place for finance and accounting, and so to address those needs we have announced a partnership with leading e-learning provider Kesdee to provide a cost-effective solution for our entire community.
Six internationally-focused courses designed by Kesdee, the largest provider of eLearning courses in banking and finance, will teach fundamentals to support Openbravo training and personal implementation efforts.
Community members who are interested should visit our website for full course descriptions: www.openbravo.com/services/by-service/training/elearning
Buy our eLearning courses, education made available anytime, anywhere!
Training Conventions and Get Togethers - 2008
This year we are offering Training Conventions starting in Barcelona and Miami. Each Convention will consist of three weeks of live training sessions that encompass all of our individual training offerings. The first two Conventions will be held in Barcelona in April and Miami in June, and will be available in both English and Spanish. Trainings will be held from March 31-April 18 in Barcelona and June 9-29 in Miami.
For more information on training please visit: http://www.openbravo.com/services/by-service/training/scheduled-training
Following the success our Get Together held last October in Spain, we will be holding more editions this year. For those of you not familiar with our Get Together, it is a chance for Openbravo community members and partners to meet in an informal setting and exchange ideas and experiences. The first two Get Togethers will be held:
- April 12 - 13, 2008 - Barcelona, Spain
- June 21 - 22, 2008 - Miami, US
To get detailed information on Openbravo Get Togethers, please visit: Get Together Program
Don't miss the opportunity to attend!
Community Information
Plans for 2008
During 2008 we will be working on providing a better framework for those people developing Openbravo ERP and POS, as well as those working on projects such as plug-ins, verticals and localization. Our plans include:
- Improved Wiki - Building on the current Wiki, we plan to add functionality that will allow users to rate and comment on articles. In addition to a better category system, the Wiki will better integrate with other Openbravo news sources using RSS
- New forums - It has long been a request from our community to have a better and more powerful forum system, which we have now added
- New bug tracking system - Our current bug tracking system from SourceForge has many limitations and we've been evaluating different solutions
- Single sign on - This will allow users to authenticate once and gain access to the resources of multiple community systems
- Openbravo Forge - Starting with the Openbravo ERP R2.4x series it will be easier to develop and deploy plug-ins, verticals and extensions. The objective of Openbravo Forge is to provide hosting services for projects of Openbravo contributors, and to boost collaboration between the different efforts. Services like forums, source control, bug tracking, news publishing or file downloads would be provided
Statistics
Our community experienced tremendous growth during 2007, doubling the number of monthly downloads on SourceForge year-to-year from 18,882 in January 2007 to 37,158 in January 2008.
The Openbravo Wiki, repository for all Openbravo documentation, debuted at the beginning of last year and its activity had already grown to 15,186 unique visitors and 130,325 page views by the end of 2007.
News
On March 25, 2008, Paolo Juvara, our Chief Product Officer, will be participating in a panel discussion on open source communities during the Open Source Business Conference 2008 in San Francisco.
Since the launch of the Openbravo project in April 2006, we have gained invaluable experience working with our strong community. Through learning from different building efforts and policies, we have identified the necessary key success factors and principles which define open source communities, and we will be sharing our knowledge during the Open Source Business Conference.
Success Stories
We're happy to announce that we have our first customer success stories in the Public Administration arena, a sector where we previously weren't present. The first customer is a City Hall- from the North of Spain- that manages a warehouse that provides the different public utilities that the city requires daily and uses Openbravo's ERP to track employee hours and material costs.
Our next success is a R&D Group belonging to the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, focused in areas such as applied acoustics and advanced instrumentation systems. They also deliver commercial services around legal metrology and accredited laboratories.
Finally, we are also set to announce a new customer that is a public foundation promoting open source software, championed by the Spanish Industry and Tourism Ministry.
You can find more information about all of these customers in the success story section of our website: www.openbravo.com/customers/success-stories
Success stories and customer testimonials perfectly demonstrate the real-world benefits of adopting Openbravo. We really appreciate it when any of our satisfied customers share their Openbravo experience with the wider community. Please send us your own stories so that we can publish them on our website: customers@openbravo.com
Events
Past Events
CeBIT 2008 (Hannover, Germany) - March 4-9, 2008
Solutions Linux 2008 (Paris, France) - January 29-31, 2008
ATI Conference (Barcelona, Spain) - January 29, 2008
Open Source Meets Business 08 (Nuremberg, Germany) - January 22, 2008
SME and Free Software Day (Barcelona, Spain) - December 18, 2007
Asociación de empresa de Navarra TIC (Navarra, Spain) - December 14, 2007
II Jornada SOURCEPYME (Valencia, Spain) - December 13, 2007
Upcoming Events
Open Source Business Conference (OSBC) - March 25, 2008: We'll be participating in a panel called "The Community Imperative: Building and Leveraging Community into IT." The panel will look at how companies can maximize the interactions between their core engineers and their developer communities.
OSCON - July 21, 2008 and LinuxWorld, San Francisco - August 4, 2008 - We're still finishing up the details of our participation in these conferences and we will have more information for you in our next newsletter.
Awards
In January, while attending the Open Source Meets Business conference in Germany, we were awarded second place in the Open Source Business Award for our ERP and POS products.
The award is presented annually to entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, promising business plans and conceptual brilliance. An expert jury comprised of prominent venture capitalists and LBCN campus coaches examined the nominated ventures in-depth.
The biggest force driving open source adoption globally is entrepreneurialism, that is why the Open Source Business Award is so important to us since it's a recognition of that fact. We are very thankful towards our community for helping us innovate our product so we can continue building on our previous successes, which began last year when we took home awards at Red Herring, Linux World, InfoWorld and Project of the Month on SourceForge in September 2007.
Openbravo in the News
Open source ERP: the next big thing?
Do you know which stories from last year were the most widely read at the 451 CAOS Theory's blog? Find out!
Companies Set to Dominate 2008
The VAR GUY (TechIQ) has pointed out Openbravo as one of the top 10 open source providers and platforms that are set to succeed in 2008.
Videocast: Openbravo explica su ERP Open Source
Eugeni Vives, our chief consulting officer, is interviewed by IT-Spain to explain our product and the intersection of ERP and Open Source.
Avoiding the great open source blunder
How will open source applications become truly mainstream and compete with their larger competitors?
One big push for interoperability combined
Proprietary vendors are strongly endorsing the fact that business solutions have to be interoperable and have started working towards it. Though it is a small beginning a big push is required if more vendors are to pitch in.
Linux Magazine in Brazil walked through the features of Openbravo ERP.
Openbravo Releases Web-based Open Source ERP in French
David Sims from TMCnet wrote an article about our software being localized in French and examines its capabilities.
In this issue
