| Stable release | 1.2.0[1] / August 1, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Written in | PHP 5.x |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Customer Relationship Management |
| License | MIT |
| Website | http://www.epesibim.com/ |
epesiBIM is an open source, web based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) multiuser application. BIM stands for 'epesi Business Information Manager' with the goal of providing functionality beyond the typical CRM. It is based on epesi framework and it's designed to work on any operating system with http server with php 5.x and MySQL or PostgreSQL database server.
Contents |
In the middle of 2006 company Telaxus LLC has started a project named TCMS (Time and Customer Management System). By the end of year 2006 first commercial application based on this product was released. By may, 2007 TCMS was renamed to epesi and core of this product was released as open source framework and published on Sourceforge[2]. During the next twelve months the application was expanded with CRM functionality and this package is now available as epesiBIM.
Since the first release published on Sourceforge, epesi was downloaded over 18,000 times (as of January 2011)[3].
Epesi is one of the top 12 open source CRM software by "Cost Effective Software Reviews" [4]
epesiBIM is based on epesi framework, which includes some third party libraries like database driver ADOdb or phpGACL permission system. Included framework allows rapid development of new modules, especially when utilizing Record Browser - an advanced 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.
One of the most advanced and powerful feature is a 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.
epesiBIM incorporates Roundcube IMAP e-mail client and provides true 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 receipient. 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 megabytes or gigabytes of wasted space a single instance of this e-mail is sufficient. Additionally any number of 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) and there is almost no overhead.
epesiBIM is available in two versions:
Open source version is a base, with basic CRM and bugtracker functionality. Premium version includes additional, commercial modules that automate business processes.