Project
The goal of the project openCRX:
It is our goal to establish openCRX as a reference server for
relationship management and collaboration
enterprise resource planning
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The history of openCRX
After careful analysis of the market for Customer Relationship Management
(CRM) software we came to the conclusion that
the world needs a professional enterprise-class Open Source
CRM solution for several reasons:
Spending
millions on a commercial CRM solution to get an "intelligent
data warehouse" with
a few business rules simply does not seem justified - with
a professional Open Source CRM solution you can spend your money
on company-specific features and integrating CRM with the rest
of your business (systems and processes)
instead of financing the marketing machinery of the typical CRM
vendor. It is just a fact that the true value
of any CRM solution can only be unlocked with proper customization and integration ,
regardless of what you read in glossy brochures.
The cost-advantages of rented/hosted CRM applications over commercial
solutions may materialize - or not (and yes, the marketing machines
of many CRM providers are really outstanding...); far more important,
however, is the fact that neither
rented/hosted CRM solutions nor commercial CRM solutions can
beat the total
cost of ownership (TCO) of a well-designed Open Source CRM solution
like openCRX .
While it is very smart to let somebody else do the work
for you (e.g. running your CRM application) it
is definitely not so smart to trust your most valuable data (information
about
your customers) to
just anybody. In particular, handing
over all your valuable customer data to a company under foreign
jurisdiction
is a substanial
business risk .
So, when you looked at those hosted/rented CRM applications,
did you ever ask yourself where exactly they would
store your data and how much better you would feel about staying
in control?
We are strong believers in platform-independence .
And honestly, is it not great to know that you can decide
for openCRX without committing to a particular
platform ? openCRX is deployable on any
J2EE-compliant application server and you can use a wide
range of major database management systems (Open Source and commercial).
Hence, back in 2003
we started modeling the core of a reference CRM-application.
The tool of choice
for
developing an open
source CRM solution was openMDX ,
the leading open source MDA platform (MDA = Model
Driven Architecture ). In February 2004
we already released an initial version of the core models. The first
public version of openCRX was released on 1-August-2004 and we admit
that we have been totally overwhelmed by the interest in openCRX
ever since.
Some of the openCRX milestones:
Date
Milestone
01-Aug-2004
initial launch of openCRX v1.0.0
09-Aug-2004
made the Top100 on Sourceforge for the first time ("most active" ranking)
04-Sep-2004
openCRX v1.1.1 (support for additional DBs and language localization)
06-Sep-2004
reached 1,000 downloads
20-Sep-2004
reached 3,000 downloads
25-Sep-2004
made the Top20 on Sourceforge for the first time ("most active" ranking)
29-Sep-2004
made the Top10 on Sourceforge for the first time ("most active" ranking)
21-Oct-2004
reached 5,000 downloads
8-Nov-2004
openCRX v1.2.0 (multi-entity, security, workflows, es_MX, zh_CN, etc.)
1-Dec-2004
First openCRX-based ASP offering launched
09-Dec-2004
reached 10,000 downloads
15-Dec-2004
openCRX v1.3.0 (BEA Weblogic, IBM WebSphere, etc.)
14-Jan-2005
openCRX v1.4.0 (Security, MySQL, DHTML Calendar Control, HTML 4.01)
28-Feb-2005
openCRX v1.5.0 (MS Word Integration, E-mail Notification, Audit Trail, ...)
1-Jun-2005
openCRX v1.6.1 (Activity Mgmt, Issue Tracking, UI enhancements, cs_CZ, nl_NL, pt_BR)
1-Aug-2005
more than 85,000 downloads in year 1
17-Aug-2005
openCRX v1.7.1 (Depot Mgmt, Booking Engine, RAS, UI enhancements, etc.)
25-Sep-2005
reached 100,000 downloads
11-Oct-2005
openCRX v1.8.1 (Product/Contract Extension, Single Sign-On, Perfomance Tuning...)
31-Jan-2006
reached 125,000 downloads
02-Apr-2006
openCRX v1.9.1 (Activity Processes, Pricing Models, E-Mail Adapter, Perfomance Tuning...)
10-Sep-2006
reached 150,000 downloads
23-Feb-2007
openCRX v1.10.0 (DB2 support, Enhanced GUI, AJAX-support, ...)
01-Aug-2007
reached 180,000 downloads
26-Aug-2007
openCRX v1.11.0 (JDO/JPOX compatible DB schemas, data bindingds, grid drill down, es_CO, ja_JP, ...)
25-Feb-2008
openCRX v2.0 (Groupware Functionality (ICS/iCal, LDAP , IMAP, Wiki, index-based search, ... )
29-Feb-2008
reached 200,000 downloads
06-Mar-2008
MS Outlook ICS Adapter for openCRX v2.0
10-Jul-2008
openCRX v2.1 (Reporting, Mail Merge, Social Networks, Groupware, in-place editing, ...)
21-Sep-2008
openCRX v2.2 (Enhanced GUI, support for iPhone and Google Chrome, enhanced performance, ...)
11-Oct-2008
reached 225,000 downloads
16-Oct-2008
openCRX v2.2.1 (enhanced stability and performance, new locale ro_RO)
17-Dec-2008
openCRX v2.3.0 (REST service, various UI features, Mail Merge Wizard, Work Report Wizard, JBOss 5 support)
10-Mar-2009
openCRX v2.4.0 / openCRX v2.4.1
AJAX Forms and Wizards, Mandatory Attributes, Scheduling/Polling Wizards,
vCard/iCal Exporter, OpenJPA, OpenEJB, Thunderbird 3 Add-on, IE8
15-Jun-2009
openCRX v2.5.0
Enhanced GUI / new Icons, Enhanced Work/Expense Records with wizards to easily create them,
Wizard to create work/expense reports, Excel account importer, new openCRX plugin, OpenEJB 3.1.1
22-Jun-2009
reached 250,000 downloads
01-Aug-2009
openCRX v2.5.1
1-August-2009 marks 5 full years of openCRX!
Enhanced GUI / new Icons, Enhanced Work/Expense Records with wizards to easily create them,
Wizard to create work/expense reports, Excel account importer, new openCRX plugin, OpenEJB 3.1.1,
InfoVis Tookit v1.1.2, WYMeditor v0.5RC1, SIMILE Timeline v2.3.0, iPhone iCal support, Birthday calendar
14-Sep-2009
openCRX v2.5.2
CalDAV Server, Wiky, enhanced performance und simplified architecture
with new openMDX Entity Manager (i.e. no more EJBs)
02-Nov-2009
openCRX v2.5.3
openCRX PDA GUI, Search Forms, Dashboard / Dashlets
25-Apr-2010
reached 280,000 downloads
01-May-2010
openCRX v2.6.0
AirSync Server (ActiveSync compatible) - OTA synchronization openCRX ⇔ Mobile Phones / PDAs
LDAP Server, CalDAV Support for Mozilla Calendar 1.0, Thunderbird 3 Address Book Connector,
Shop Adapter (for service oriented access to openCRX), Support for Eclipse Modeling Framework EMF,
Support for Java 6, Support for HSQLDB 2.0, Upgrade to OpenEJB 3.1.2, Extended Service
07-Sep-2010
openCRX v2.7.0
AirSync Client (ActiveSync compatible) - backend synchronization openCRX ⇔ MS Exchange
28-Dec-2010
openCRX v2.8.0
WebDAV, CardDAV, Twitter, IMAP IDLE, Party Status, etc.
07-May-2011
openCRX v2.8.5
Workspace GUI Extension, Activity Replication, Shop Front End, Apache TomEE, etc.
8-Jan--2012
openCRX v2.9.0
Customer Care Wizard, Enhanced Business Processes (SCXML), Business Process Importer/Exporter
DB Copy and DB Schema Validate Wizards, Contract Groups/Creators, Address Authority, Apache TomEE,
RunAs Permissions, GUI Element-Level Security, Grid Actions, Support for OpenJDK, etc.
24-Aug--2012
openCRX v2.10.0
CardDAV support, XMPP (Jabber), Field Localization (advanced multi-language features), File Browser,
JSP Tag Library,
Timers, Support for Outlook MSG-Format (incl. X.500 Addresses), many new Wizards
18-Apr--2013
openCRX v2.11.0
GUI: Rework of Operation Dialigs and Inline Wizards, Support for IE8, IE9, IE10, Workflow Structuring
and Monitoring, Bulk Activity and Follow-Up Creation, BPI Adapter (Business Process Integration Adapter),
openCRX remote with minimal set of JARs, Refactoring (Wizards, Business-Logic, Backend),
openCRX Server Installer (IzPack5, TomEE 1.6)
^top
... and the current road map of openCRX
openCRX was released into the public domain on 1-August-2004 and has been under active development ever since. With every new release a whole range of new features and enhancements are added (see also this comprehensive feature
list for an overview):
Release Notes
New Features / Enhancements explained
openCRX v1.2.0
multi-entity, security, workflows, es_MX, zh_CN, etc.
openCRX v1.3.0
support for BEA Weblogic, IBM WebSphere, etc.
openCRX v1.4.0
Security, MySQL, DHTML Calendar Control, HTML 4.01
openCRX v1.5.0
MS Word Integration, E-mail Notification, Audit Trail, ...
openCRX v1.6.1
UI Enhancements, Activity Mgmt, Issue Tracking, ...
openCRX v1.7.1
Depot Mgmt, Booking Engine, RAS, Mantis Adapter, ...
openCRX v1.8.1
Product/Contract Extension, Single Sign-On, Perfomance Tuning...
openCRX v1.9.1
Project/Resource Management, Price Lists, Wizards, E-Mail Adapter, Performance Tuning, ...
openCRX v1.10.0
DB2 support, Enhanced GUI, GUI modularization, AJAX-support, Report Generation, ...
openCRX v1.11.0
JDO/JPOX compatible DB schemas, data bindingds, grid drill down, es_CO, ja_JP, ...
openCRX v2.0
Groupware Functionality (CalDAV, ICS/iCal, LDAP , IMAP, Wiki, index-based search, ...)
openCRX v2.1
Reporting, Mail Merge, Social Networks, Groupware, in-place editing, ...
openCRX v2.2
Enhanced GUI, support for iPhone and Google Chrome, enhanced performance, ...
openCRX v2.2.1
Enhanced Stability and Performance, new locale ro_RO
openCRX v2.3.0
REST service, various UI features, Mail Merge Wizard, Work Report Wizard, JBOss 5 support
openCRX v2.4.0
AJAX Forms and Wizards, Mandatory Attributes, Scheduling/Polling Wizards,
vCard/iCal Exporter, OpenJPA, OpenEJB, Thunderbird 3 Add-on, IE8
openCRX v2.5.0
Enhanced GUI / new Icons, Enhanced Work/Expense Records with wizards to easily create them,
Wizard to create work/expense reports, Excel account importer, new openCRX plugin, OpenEJB 3.1.1
openCRX v2.5.1
Enhanced GUI / new Icons, Enhanced Work/Expense Records with wizards to easily create them,
Wizard to create work/expense reports, Excel account importer, new openCRX plugin, OpenEJB 3.1.1
InfoVis Tookit v1.1.2, WYMeditor v0.5RC1, SIMILE Timeline v2.3.0, iPhone iCal support, Birthday calendar
openCRX v2.5.2
CalDAV Server, Wiky, enhanced performance und simplified architecture
with new openMDX Entity Manager (i.e. no more EJBs)
openCRX v2.5.3
Enhanced PDA/MOBILE GUI, Search Forms, Dashboard/Dashlets
openCRX v2.6.0
AirSync Client (ActiveSync compatible), LDAP Server, Shop Adapter, Eclipse EMF, Java 6, ...
openCRX v2.7.0
AirSync Server (backend synchronization with MS Exchange)
openCRX v2.8.0
WebDAV, CardDAV, Twitter, IMAP IDLE, Party Status, etc.
openCRX v2.8.5
Workspaces GUI Extension, Activity Replication, Shop Front End, Apache TomEE, etc.
openCRX v2.9.0
Customer Care Wizard, Enhanced Business Processes (SCXML), Business Process Importer/Exporter
DB Copy and DB Schema Validate Wizards, Contract Groups/Creators, Address Authority, Apache TomEE,
RunAs Permissions, GUI Element-Level Security, Grid Actions, Support for OpenJDK, etc.
openCRX v2.9.1
various technical enhancements
openCRX v2.10.0
CardDAV support, XMPP (Jabber), Field Localization (advanced multi-language features), File Browser, JSP Tag Library,
Timers, Support for Outlook MSG-Format (incl. X.500 Addresses), many new Wizards
openCRX v2.11.0
GUI: Rework of Operation Dialigs and Inline Wizards, Support for IE8, IE9, IE10, Workflow Structuring
and Monitoring, Bulk Activity and Follow-Up Creation, BPI Adapter (Business Process Integration Adapter),
openCRX remote with minimal set of JARs, Refactoring (Wizards, Business-Logic, Backend),
openCRX Server Installer (IzPack5, TomEE 1.6)
The current roadmap looks as follows:
openCRX Release
Target Release Date
Feature
v2.0
25-Feb
2008
v2.1
10-Jul
2008
v2.2.1
16-Oct
2008
v2.3
17-Dec
2008
v2.4
10-March
2009
v2.5
02-Nov
2009
v2.6
1-May
2010
v2.7
7-Sep
2010
v2.8
28-DEC
2010
v2.8.5
7-MAY
2011
v2.9
9-JAN
2012
v2.10
24 -AUG
2012
v2.11
18 -APR
2013
tbd
tbd
CalDAV Server
ICS/iCalendar Server
FreeBusy Server
LDAP Server
IMAP Server
Wiki
Index-based Search (PDF, DOC, XLS, ODS, ...)
Usability: User Settings Wizard
Usability: Address Book
Support for Safari Browser
SDK (Software Development Kit)
Installers
AJAX in-place Editing
Deep Relationships / Social Networks
Admin Tool: Segment Setup Wizard
Spreadsheet-based Report Generation
Mail Merge Wizard
Groupware VCF Servlet
Support for HSQLDB
New Layout / Enhanced GUI
Support for Mobile Devices (incl. Apple's iPhone)
Support Google Chrome
Document Scanner Servlet
Enhanced iCal Servlet
MS Outlook ICS Adapter
Enhanced Performance
WYMeditor with support for Opera and Safari
Inline Flash Media
New Locale sk_SK (Slovak)
New Locale ro_RO (Romanian)
REST Servlet - openCRX as a REST service
UI Enhancement - Composite Object DataBinding
UI Enhancement - UI Perspectives
Wizard Monthly Work Report
Wizard Mail Merge
Support for JBoss 5
Thunderbird Add-on to sync openCRX Contacts
Advanced Forms and Wizards
Mandatory Attributes
Advanced Scheduling/Polling and Voting
vCard Exporter
iCal Exporter
RSS Feeds
Migration from JPOX to Apache OpenJPA
Migration from openMDX LWC to Apache OpenEJB
Migration from RSM 6 to RSM 7.5
Enhanced Mobile Support
Support for IE8
Enhanced GUI with new Icons
Enhanced Work / Expense Record
Wizard to create Work Records
Wizard to create Expense Records
Wizard to create Work / Expense Reports
Excel Account Importer
openCRX Application Plugin in openMDX 2 Architecture
Upgrade to Apache OpenEJB 3.1.1
Upgrade to InfoVis Toolkit 1.1.2
Upgrade to WYMeditor 0.5RC1
Upgrade to SIMILE Timeline 2.3.0
iPhone Support for iCal Servlet
iCal Servlet can generate Birthday Calendar
CalDAV Support
Wiky - a WYSIWYG Editor for Wiki-style text entry
Performance Tuning - new openMDX Entity Manager
PDA GUI (iPhone, Android, ...)
Search Forms
Dashboard / Dashlets
ActiveSync Server (OTA Sync openCRX ⇔ PDAs)
LDAP Server (native)
CalDAV Support for Mozilla Calendar (TB3/Lightning1)
Thunderbird 3 Address Book Connector
openCRX Shop Adapter
Support for Eclipse Modeling Framework EMF
Support for Java 6
Support for HSQLDB 2.0
Support for OpenEJB 3.1.2
Extended Service for easy openCRX/Tomcat Mgmt
ActiveSync Client (Backend Sync openCRX ⇔ MS Exchange)
WebDAV support
CardDAV support
E-Mail Import with Auto Assign
Support for Party Status of ActivityParties
Extension Sales Volume Budgets
Connector for Twitter
IMAP Adapter supports IMAP IDLE
Workspaces GUI Extension
Activity Replication
Shop Front End (Presta Shopt)
Customer Care Wizard
GUI ELement-Level Security
Enhanced Business Processes
Wizard Business Process Manager
Wizard Bulk Create Activity
Wizard Bulk Activity Follow up
Model Extension: Contract Creators
Model Extension: Contract Groups
Model Extension: New Contract Types
Reporting and Output Management
Grid Actions (XML Export, Excel Export)
Move Address
Address Authority
Search Criteria for Group Membership
Wizard DB Copy
Wizard DB Schema Validate/Upgrade
Apache TomEE
RunAs Permissions
Support for OpenJDK
CardDAV support
XMPP (Jabber) Notifier
Field Localization
File Browser
JSP Tag Library
Timers
Support for Outlook MSG-Format
Many new/enhanced wizards
GUI: Rework of Operation Dialigs and Inline Wizards
GUI: Support for IE8, IE9, IE10
Workflow Structuring and Monitoring
Bulk Activity and Follow-Up Creation
BPI Adapter (Business Process Integration Adapter)
openCRX remote with minimal set of JARs
Refactoring (Wizards, Business-Logic, Backend)
openCRX Server Installer (IzPack5, TomEE 1.6)
various features under consideration
Integration with Zimbra
X
Blog Server (e.g. Apache Roller)
X
Live Chat / Instant Messaging
X
FAQ Extension
X
Additional UI Languages
X
Customer Service / Knowledge Base - FAQ
X
Customer Service / Self-Service
X
Customer Service / FAQ Extension
X
Marketing Campaigns (Web)
X
Advanced Analysis and Reporting
X
Dependency Diagrams (Organizations, etc)
X
CTI Integration (e.g. Asterisk)
X
Guide: "Technical Overview openCRX" *call for donation
X
Guide:"openCRX Modeling Guide" *call for donation
X
Guide: "openCRX User Guide" *call for donation
X
*donation this feature is accelerated by a donation to the openCRX project - thank you!
*call for donations we are looking for additional sponsors to fund this feature
If you want to propose new features please post your request to the forum Feature
Requests .
^top
The driving force behind openCRX
Werner Froidevaux and Chris
Mueller have been the main drivers behind the development
of openCRX; in total there are 4 people working on the project
(each spending about 20% of their time on this project). Most of
the resources have been donated by CRIXP
Corp. and OMEX
AG .
Localization is done by a dedicated team of translators who contribute their valuable business and language know how to the project - a list of available locales is available here .
The
task of building a CRM suite with such limited resources is doable thanks to MDA (MDA = Model
Driven Architecture ), which makes our team roughly
10 times more efficient than typical development teams. Our
development platform - openMDX -
is also playing a major role. We spend virtually no time programming
as all the main patterns (persistency, security, etc.) are readily
available. Our focus is on analyzing business processes and
modeling.
It is the hope of the openCRX team that lots
of bright people join the effort to make openCRX the tool of choice
for limitless relationship management.
If you can contribute or want to co-operate
please enable JavaScript to view e-mail address . Any kind of support is appreciated.
^top
The openCRX project is registered with SourceForge:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencrx/
^top
openCRX mailing lists and forums:
All the mailing lists and forums related to openCRX are listed here .
^top