Most Logistics Management Information Systems (LMIS) in low-income countries are paper-based systems that require manual data collection at almost every point in the supply chain. An electronic LMIS automates this process, reducing manual data entry and hand calculations. The result is more complete, accurate and timely data for decision-making— essential to reducing stockouts, managing waste and losses, and operating an effective and efficient supply chain.
OpenLMIS is a state-of-the-art, web-enabled, enterprise class electronic LMIS solution that facilitates the requisition and resupply process in low-resource settings for health commodities. OpenLMIS automates the LMIS system throughout the supply chain and supports interoperability through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which allow implementers to send and receive data between Health Management Information System (HMIS) visualization software, mobile data collection platforms, and warehouse ERP systems. OpenLMIS supports the Supply Chain Operations Reference Model (SCOR), facilitating users to plan, source, manage, and deliver stocked products to clients.
The OpenLMIS Version 3 series is the current release series of the OpenLMIS software.
This version provides better support for customization and extensions than previous versions through a service-based API-driven modular software architecture. This approach enables multiple OpenLMIS implementations in different countries while still sharing a single, global open source code base. Implementers are able to choose the services that fit their unique requirements, while contributing newly developed services back to the OpenLMIS community.
OpenLMIS was designed by a community of countries and international stakeholders who believe in working together to solve common challenges. Countries and donors pooled resources to create a non-proprietary product built on shared user requirements across countries. The end result is a more flexible and powerful information system than what any one country or organization could create individually. As an open source software, the OpenLMIS software is available free of charge, and enhancements made by individual countries are contributed back to the community for others to use.
With OpenLMIS, users don’t have to pay to build a solution from the ground up, or reinvent one that already exists. The modular architecture and collective user requirements of OpenLMIS ensure that development in one country or program can be shared globally, increasing the return on investment for donors and users alike.
Enhancements and customizations made by individual countries can be contributed back to the OpenLMIS core codebase for others to access and use. Countries and implementing partners alike can share open source software tools and methodologies in order to develop and deploy their electronic LMIS.
Because OpenLMIS is open source, there are no licensing fees typically associated with proprietary software development and maintenance. The software is freely available to download and build from.
OpenLMIS benefits from a community of highly skilled partners working toward a shared goal of supporting and extending the reach of OpenLMIS globally. This community was created to establish a shared repository of valuable information and tools for technical agencies, NGOs, countries, donors and system developers. Creating a common framework for sharing supply chain resources for both creating LMIS solutions and encouraging integrations of LMIS solutions with other health information system domains. The OpenLMIS Community provides ongoing direction to product development, support to existing implementations, ensuring the software is up-to-date and meets the real needs of users in the field.
File and flag issues in the OpenLMIS JIRA
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