If running a single business wasn't difficult enough, commercial pressures and the expectation of customers often puts you in the situation where you may be selling through a number of different channels:- Each of these brings it's own issues around stock control and order managment. We are well versed in all and can help bring together the different parts of your operation to help you improve your customer satisfaction.

Open Source Software:

Software solutions for your business do not have to be expensive. There is a plethora of FREE or low cost software developed by the Open Source Community.

Open Source Software means software who's underlying programs are available to change should you so desire, and any changes you make should be delivered back to the community. Most packages are free for single or low numbers of users and may have additional features and support that can be turned on for a fee. The most famous open source package is probably Linux - the operating system that powers the majority of web servers. Other packages of note include Open Office and Firefox - A Web browser to rival (beat) internet Explorer.

Unfortunately Free doesn't necessarity mean no cost. The software will be free in the sense that you don't have to pay for it, but often it will come with a steep learning curve, little or no support and you will require your own 'tame' developer to integrate additional features that you require. At E4-consulting, we are great advocates of Open Source software for the small but growing enterprise who perhaps cannot afford to spend thousands of pounds on a software package but likewise does not have the time or expertise to implement a package internally; therefore we have made it our business, not only to know and understand the 'commercial' solutions for multi-channel businesses, but to also become experts in the Open Source solutions available. Some of the packages we have experience in are:

• Turbo Cash - Fully featured accouinting system
• 12Pay - Payroll
• OS Commerce - Web Store builder
• Code Igniter - PHP solution for rapid development of Web Sites
• MySQL - Databases for office and web
• Open Office - Word Processing and spreadsheet solutions
• Open Bravo - ERP
• Open Taps - ERP
• FreeCRM - Contact and Sales Manager
• ERP5 Express - ERP

If you are interested in hearing how Open Source software could solve some of your business headaches, please get in touch.

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