Cloud ERP or desktop software: which suits a Tunisian SME?

To manage invoices, stock and accounting, two families of software compete: the cloud ERP, used from a browser, and business software installed on a computer. Neither is better in absolute terms. It depends on your team, your connection and your needs. Here are the criteria that decide.

The differences at a glance

• Access: a cloud ERP is used from any browser, at the office, on the road or across several sites; desktop software is used on the computer where it is installed.
• Connection: the cloud needs internet; desktop software can keep working offline.
• Users: the cloud is designed for a team working at the same time; desktop software suits one or two people.
• Scope: a cloud ERP usually covers more modules (HR, payroll, production, CRM); desktop software focuses on the essentials: invoicing, accounting, bank and stock.
• Maintenance: in the cloud, the vendor runs servers, backups and updates; on desktop, the computer and its backups remain your responsibility, even if updates can be automatic.

Choose desktop software if…

• you are a small business, a shop or a freelancer, and one or two people invoice;
• your internet connection is unstable and you can't stop invoicing during an outage;
• your needs are invoicing, accounting, bank and stock.

Choose a cloud ERP if…

• several people or several sites work on the same data at the same time;
• you need advanced modules: payroll, production, CRM, projects, point of sale;
• you want to see your figures from anywhere and leave server management to the vendor.

Three questions to decide

• How many people will use the software every day?
• Do you need to work without internet, even for a few hours?
• Do you need HR, payroll or production?

These are exactly the three questions of the short quiz on our Mini ERP Nexora page.

What about data security?

In the cloud, your data is backed up by the vendor and protected by a password, ideally with two-factor authentication. On a single computer it doesn't depend on the internet, but theft or a hardware failure can put it at risk unless it is backed up regularly or synced to the cloud. Either way, ask where backups are stored and test a restore at least once.

Our two answers

Mini ERP Nexora is our desktop software for small businesses: invoicing, double-entry accounting, bank reconciliation, financial reports, multi-currency, taxes and stock. It keeps working for up to 24 hours without internet, then syncs as soon as the connection returns. The licence is tied to your device, data saved on disk is encrypted, and the subscription is monthly, per device (Professional for one computer, Enterprise for several).

Nexora ERP is our cloud platform for teams: 12 modules, unlimited users, a French and Arabic interface, Tunisian tax rules and Fatoora TTN included, hosted in an ISO 27001-certified datacenter (Netcup, Germany). You can try it free for 14 days without a credit card.

Still unsure? Describe your business on our contact page and we will tell you honestly which one fits.