Introduction

Welcome to your October issue of Openbravo Vision! Since July's issue, we are pleased to have made a lot of progress in both our technology and our business.

We are incredibly excited about the recent launch of our brand new Openbravo QuickStart ERP. This entry-level, pre-configured commercial ERP package was designed so that simple Openbravo ERP implementations could be conducted more easily and with a predictable cost. We are proud to be able to offer this flexible solution to provide a 'quick win with high return' to forward-looking small companies.

For all the Ubuntu fans out there, we have now extended our product offering with Openbravo Professional Subscription for Ubuntu. An even more recent development is the first release of our Spanish Professional Localization, which has been enhanced with a whole range of exciting new features.

In the business arena, several innovative initiatives and movements have taken place, ranging from the Monetizing of the Ecosystem, and the Growth of the Ecosystem with Modularity, to our successful "Hello India" and forthcoming 360° Business Tour in Germany.

So as you can see, it's all 'GO' for us at Openbravo and for our community. There's never been a better time to get involved and join us as an invaluable part of the Openbravo movement.

Keep reading for more information on our range of educational Webinars and Live Product Demonstrations, Training, Events and Certification. We are delighted to have such a broad range of facilities at our disposal to make your Openbravo journey a successful one!

Manel Sarasa, CEO, Openbravo

We're always interested in hearing what you'd like to read in Openbravo Vision. If you have any suggestions please send them to: vision@openbravo.com. Past newsletters can be found here.

 Product Updates

Openbravo QuickStart at your service

Openbravo has been quick off the mark with its cloud-ready open source ERP and Life Value Proposition for SMBs. Launched in September, Openbravo ERP QuickStart Edition offers small, progressive companies a fixed-price ERP implementation (up and running in 40-80 hours) on top of a robust core ERP platform that will ensure seamless growth when economic conditions improve. This innovative ERP model, which requires an Openbravo Professional Subscription, satisfies a demand for a more cost-effective solution for SMBs during difficult times.

Read more about the innovative Openbravo ERP QuickStart Edition here.

Full support for Ubuntu with a new integrated offering.

Openbravo is steaming ahead with Openbravo Professional Subscription for Ubuntu. Our broadened offering includes full support across the entire application and technology stack. In response to growing Ubuntu user demand, this ERP package for Ubuntu Server comprises an easy-to-deploy, standards-based, open source stack that is fully tested and supported, easily maintainable and extendable.

Read more here.

Spanish Professional Localization enhanced

We have recently released a new, enriched Spanish Professional Localization. This new release is enhanced for professional subscriptions and is available at no charge to Spanish companies who upgrade to Openbravo ERP 2.50 MP7 and who activate their professional subscription. Offering a whole range of new and exciting features, it will be available to partners at the Openbravo Central Repository.

Buy a professional subscription to benefit from this new, enriched Spanish Professional Localization!

 Business News

The Monetizing of the Ecosystem

Openbravo provides more than just an ERP System. We provide a global business platform, ready to host and distribute your commercial modules through the integrated Central Repository. Here are the program highlights:

• Authors set their pricing model (one-time or subscription) and price, and Openbravo takes care of the rest, with revenue split as follows:
• Author 50%
• Selling partner 30%
• Openbravo 20%
• Openbravo ensures that:
• Money is collected and royalties are disbursed
• Commercial modules can only be installed for production use after payment has been received
• Commercial modules can only be installed into activated professional subscription instances, protecting author IP and providing clear support for the commercial ecosystem
• Openbravo business partners have easy access to all commercial modules for evaluation, testing, and demonstration purposes, supporting transparency, interoperability, and code reuse by the commercial ecosystem
• All modules distributed through the Central Repository are compatible from a legal perspective, through use of the Openbravo Commercial License
• Authors enjoy public visibility for their commercial modules through listing on Openbravo's website

So come build and sell with us. Now is the time for people with Openbravo ERP and business expertise to work together, use the Openbravo Forge, and create high-value commercial modules to sell to the world.

For more details about publishing your Openbravo commercial module for sale on the Central Repository, please email Busdev@openbravo.com with 'Selling Commercial Modules' as the subject line.

Ecosystem growth and modularity

Openbravo ERP 2.50 introduced modularity support to enable our community to develop and distribute extended functionality independently from Openbravo itself. This mechanism is at the center of the Openbravo ecosystem and is the engine behind its impressive growth: at the end of September, less than six months after the initial release of 2.50, there were 62 extension modules published in the Central Repository and available to our users. The month of September alone witnessed an increase of almost 50% in comparison with the previous month.

With the release of 2.50 MP6, in October we reached another important milestone: support for commercial modules. This is a response to the many demands of our partners who have expressed a strong interest in developing advanced functionality and distributing it with a commercial license that allows them to monetize their R&D investment and protect their intellectual property. Both of these goals are now possible through commercial modules.

Have you developed additional functionality and are you now interested in generating additional revenues? You can learn how others did it by attending the Bi-weekly extension modules demonstrations. These sessions and related resources are available in Developers Guide at Openbravo wiki.

Consultants and engineers demonstrating their Openbravo expertise

In June 2009, we launched our online certification program, which was designed to set the benchmark standard for consultants and developers working with Openbravo ERP. The two types of exam (Functional and Technical) of the Foundation level were released in June and August this year and have already proved a roaring success. The Graduate level is due to be released soon too. Customers globally can be assured that when working with partners who have certified personnel, the job is guaranteed to be of a high standard.

Anyone wishing to broaden their knowledge of Openbravo ERP and prove their expertise, just click here.

Openbravo said "Hello India!"

In July and August this year, Openbravo successfully launched an India-wide campaign in response to increasing demand for its solutions across the region.

The 360° tour really demonstrated that India is geared up to venture into Open Source technology. Approximately 100 companies participated and new partners signed up from Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Gujarat. The tour was followed by a training program in Hyderabad, which numerous people attended from different parts of India.

Raju Paul, general manager of Starlite Infotech commented: "We are a start-up IT company with our parent company being one of the largest organizations of eastern India. We wanted to partner with the right product to promote it to the SMB segment of the market. We evaluated Microsoft and SAP but finally decided to partner with Openbravo. We felt this is the best product to suit the complex, yet cost-sensitive requirement of the SMB segment in India."

Look out for forthcoming Openbravo seminars and road shows to be held throughout India.

Read more about events in India here.

Openbravo excited about its 360° Business Tour in Germany

Following the success of the "Hello India" campaign, Openbravo will travel around Germany in October and November, once again with the aim of satisfying the growing demand for its ERP solutions. Germany has made huge strides in the open source arena and for those who wish to take their business to the next level, this event will be crucial. We are looking to recruit committed partners who are ready to invest a practice around Openbravo Solutions.

Calling all SIs, ISVs and VARS with knowledge of the mid-market ERP sector - this is an enticing opportunity for you!

Read more about the event here (the language of the event will be German).

 Corporate News

Openbravo shows who's boss by taking away a Bossie Award!

Who provides the 'Best of Open Source Enterprise Software' in 2009? Need you ask? It's Openbravo all the way! IDG and InfoWorld recently recognized Openbravo and its community as the most innovative products and broadened range of applications, in its Bossie Awards 2009.

Read more about InfoWorld's Best of Open Source Software Awards here.

© 2009 Openbravo