Evaluating ADempiere

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(Just starting this page. Please add info if you have it. MJMcKay 11:38, 5 July 2010 (UTC))

Evaluating ADempiere for use in an enterprise will be a major task for any new user. There are a number of levels of evaluation that should be considered:

• Hardware system requirements;
• Supporting software requirements;
• Personnel requirements - how many IT staff will be required to support the software;
• Information Technology compatibility with existing systems;
• Level of complexity and implications for training and support;
• Fitness for the intended purpose:
  • Included functionality;
  • Extendability - can new required functionality be added;
  • How much "new" functionality must be developed;
• Business process mapping - can current business processes be "mapped" to the application processes or will the business have to adopt new processes to suit the software;
• Are support and consulting services available;
• Maturity of the software;
• Availability of documentation - both technical and end-user;
• Availability of the source code;
• Cost and fees - ADempiere is free but licensing costs may be only a small portion of the overall cost of an ERP implementation;
• Risks of adoption;
• Change management implications;
• Implementation process and support for legacy systems and data;
• Time to implement;

Due to the complexity of the application, you should consider finding a business or management consultant versed in ADempiere to assist with this task.

If you are going to proceed alone, you can follow the steps below:

• To get started and explore the application, try the Sandbox at Idalica (Login/pass = GardenAdmin/GardenAdmin). This will give you insight into the application and a place to try out functionality.

• Next, install a local copy. If you have Windows, there is an excellent installer. You can also try a ADempiere Virtual Appliance based on VMware player or download and install download latest releases and resources.

• Learn about the application dictionary and all the ways you can modify and configure the application without needing any software.

  • Try to develop a few scripts as callouts and processes.
  • Set up a custom report using Jasper Reports.
  • Explore the workflow and request systems.

After you are comfortable with the application on a local machine, set up a development environment using Eclipse, get the latest release from the source repositories and explore the source code.