Epesi

Epesi is an open source, PHP/Ajax framework for rapid development of web based, database driven applications. The framework includes the Epesi CRM (customer relationship management) multiuser application. It requires PHP 5.x and MySQL or PostgreSQL database server on the server side and can be accessed using any modern browser. Epesi framework and Epesi CRM application are released under MIT license.

EPESI
Stable release
1.8.2[1] / April 30, 2017 (2017-04-30)
Repository
Written inPHP 5.x
Operating systemOS platform independent
TypeCRM, ERP
LicenseMIT
Websitehttp://epe.si/

History

Between 1995 and 2006, Teknaspan Corporation, a small IT consulting company run by Janusz Tylek, was providing computer-related services in the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. Many of its customers - mostly small, local companies - were looking to share easily information especially in remote offices. Setup based on Microsoft's Exchange Server, Outlook and Sharepoint was too expensive and difficult to set up and manage and did not meet with a good response.

In the same time period, Internet connection became a norm and mature, free and open source software like Apache, MySQL and PHP became available. Teknaspan started offering open source solutions to its customers, among them SugarCRM. This application was difficult to set up, upgrade and most of all - difficult to extend its functionality. After experimenting with a number of other solutions like dotproject, mantis, and many other open source solutions, it became clear that there is a need for a modern framework with a set of reusable components upon which an application can be developed.

At the beginning of 2006, Teknaspan Corporation was acquired by another IT consulting company. Janusz Tylek left Teknaspan and formed Telaxus LLC, a small software startup company focusing on development of web-based applications. The framework using latest standards like AJAX, HTML5 and CSS3 was born.

The original requirements were:

  • 100% web based (no client installation needed)
  • run on any web server (Apache, IIS, Windows, Linux - LAMP/WAMP stack)
  • use the most popular web scripting language supported - PHP
  • provide a database abstraction layer - AdoDB, which has drivers for MySQL, PostgreSQL and many others
  • include authentication and permission library - phpGACL
  • have a set of reusable components (modules)
  • use of other open source application (for example Roundcube as e-mail client)

In the summer of 2006, the work on the framework started after a meeting of Tylek (jasiek) and Pawel Bukowski (shacky), who designed the first set of modules. By the end of 2006, the first commercial application was released - a warehouse management system. In May 2007, the core of Epesi framework was released as open source software and published on SourceForge. It included Record Browser - CRUD engine, designed by Arkadiusz Bisaga (ethnar), which is a high-level database abstraction layer, handling not only Create/Read/Update/Delete operations, but also automatic pagination, lazy delete, full record history, sorting, filtering and more. During the next twelve months, the application was expanded with customer relationship management (CRM) functionality and this package is now available as EPESI, an alternative to products like SugarCRM or vtiger.

From November, 2012 Epesi can be installed with Softaculous Autoinstaller [2]

In August 2013 EPESI was added to Enterprise-Ready Open Source Projects on SourceForge [3] and ranks as one of the top CRM and ERP applications with 5 star rating.

In media
  • Top Open Source Customer Relationship Management Software for Small & Medium Business [4]
  • Best Open Source CRM Systems, Prices & Tools [5]
  • Epesi is one of the top 12 open source CRM software by "Cost Effective Software Reviews"[6]

Screenshots

Dashboard[7] Calendar[8] Record browser[9]

Features

EPESI framework takes advantage of some third party libraries like database driver ADOdb or jQuery. The framework allows development of new modules, especially when utilizing Record Browser - a module that automatically generates views, limits queries, stores historical data, etc.

The dashboard approach allows every user customize his or her workspace using applets - mini view of data stored in the module. For example, an applet may show only phone calls to be returned today.

A distinct feature is the Watchdog utility, which allows a user to subscribe to a record (or category of records) and have the system monitor it for you. This way a user receives a notification (Subscriptions applet) when a record was changed by another user - a meeting was canceled, a phone number or an address was updated, a project status changed from Completed to Billed or even when a note was attached to a record.

Every record can have an unlimited number of notes or attachments in any possible format.

EPESI incorporates Roundcube IMAP e-mail client and provides single instance message archiving. When a user receives an e-mail it can be archived into epesi system. An e-mail message is extracted from e-mail client and stored in the database in e-mails table. Attachments are stored as files with reference links. Then a link to this e-mail (or e-mail with attachments) is created under history of two contacts: a sender and a recipient. This way the e-mail becomes a public note for all users to see. This reduces e-mail traffic - instead of forwarding coworkers an e-mail with attachment resulting in wasted space a single instance of this e-mail is sufficient. Additionally, reference links can be created in as many modules as needed (for example, a meeting or a task can have reference links to this e-mail).

Versions

EPESI is available as open source application and distributed free of charge. The base version includes the Epesi framework and set of modules providing CRM functionality:

  • Dashboard
  • Shared addressbook (Companies and Contacts)
  • Shared calendar
  • Task list (To Do)
  • Phone Call tracker
  • Project tracker with Bugtracker
  • Sales Tracking
  • Integrated e-mail client (Roundcube)

The functionality of Epesi can be extended with Custom modules (created by end-users for example) or by installing additional Premium modules. Most Premium modules are commercial and require a license fee.

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See also

References
  1. Official Website
  2. epesi Softaculous Autoinstaller
  3. Sourceforge Enterprise Directory - CRM
  4. Top Open Source Customer Relationship Management Software for Small & Medium Business
  5. "Best Open Source CRM Systems, Prices & Tools". Archived from the original on 2014-09-17. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
  6. Top 12 Open Source CRM Software
  7. http://epe.si/images/screenshots/dashboard_1.png
  8. http://epe.si/images/screenshots/calendar.png
  9. http://epe.si/images/screenshots/records_browsing.png
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