International Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyAuthors: Bhargav Thakkar
Abstract: The growing demand for affordable, flexible, and scalable customer relationship management (CRM) solutions has led small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to adopt open-source tools built on Linux platforms. This review explores the strategic shift away from proprietary CRM systems towards community-driven, cost-effective alternatives such as SuiteCRM, ERPNext, Odoo Community Edition, EspoCRM, and Dolibarr. These platforms leverage robust Linux-based stacks like LAMP, Docker, and RESTful APIs to enable deep customization, seamless integration, and control over data sovereignty. The paper analyzes the market challenges SMBs face in CRM adoption including high licensing costs, vendor lock-in, and scalability constraints and presents how Linux-based tools overcome these limitations. It further explores customization strategies using frameworks like Django and Flask, real-world implementation case studies, and the measurable benefits observed, such as improved ROI and vendor independence. The review also addresses common pitfalls, including technical skill gaps and documentation hurdles, and provides actionable recommendations for successful adoption. Finally, it looks ahead at emerging trends like AI-driven automation, mobile-first design, privacy-centric architecture, and integration with modern communication platforms. By providing both strategic and technical perspectives, this review highlights how Linux and open-source CRM frameworks are empowering SMBs to modernize their customer engagement strategies without compromising on control or cost.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16880790
