Knowledge Base

ERPNext on Google Cloud, answered.

Straight answers to what buyers actually ask about open-source ERP, cost versus NetSuite and SAP, implementation time, data ownership, and security.

ERPNext Basics

What is ERPNext?

ERPNext is a comprehensive open-source ERP (enterprise resource planning) system built on the Frappe framework. It covers accounting, inventory, manufacturing, CRM, HR, projects, and more in one platform. Infinary deploys and manages it on your own Google Cloud project.

Is ERPNext really free and open source?

Yes. ERPNext is licensed under GPLv3 with no license fee and no per-user cost. You pay for the cloud compute it runs on plus implementation and management — not for seats. Adding users does not increase your software bill.

Does ERPNext support unlimited users?

Yes. Because there is no per-seat license, you can add every employee, crew lead, and back-office user without increasing software cost. You only scale the underlying compute, which is far cheaper than per-user licensing.

Can I self-host ERPNext on Google Cloud?

Yes — that is exactly what Infinary does. We provision a single-tenant ERPNext deployment inside your own Google Cloud project using Terraform, so you get full root access, a real SQL database, and complete data ownership.

Cost & Comparisons

How does ERPNext cost compare to NetSuite or SAP?

Legacy ERPs charge a recurring fee per user, so cost scales with headcount. With Infinary you pay a flat management retainer (from $500/mo) plus at-cost Google Cloud compute, with unlimited users. Most teams see a 40–70% lower 5-year total cost of ownership.

What does Infinary’s pricing include?

The base Sovereign Cloud Guard retainer (from $500/mo) covers 24/7 monitoring, Google Cloud governance, managed security patching, disaster recovery, and expert engineering hours. Compute is passed through at cost; AI modules and endpoint management are added as needed.

Do you offer a free assessment?

Yes. We offer a free 30-minute architecture review with a Principal Architect — no SDRs and no obligation. You get a 5-year TCO comparison and a 90-day migration roadmap tailored to your systems.

Implementation & Migration

How long does an ERPNext implementation take?

Most deployments go live in about 90 days — an 8–12 week roadmap covering data extraction and VPC hardening, ERP core deployment and model grounding, then go-live and user onboarding.

Can you migrate us from NetSuite, SAP, Odoo, or QuickBooks?

Yes. We build secure ETL pipelines to extract data from legacy SaaS platforms (NetSuite, SAP, Odoo, Salesforce, Zoho, QuickBooks, Dynamics 365, Sage Intacct, Frappe Cloud) and map it into clean ERPNext records with a zero-downtime cutover strategy.

Ownership, Security & AI

Who owns the data and the system?

You do. ERPNext runs inside your own Google Cloud project, you hold the Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK), and if we ever part ways you take your data and codebase with you. There is no vendor lock-in.

What does “sovereign” or data-sovereign ERP mean?

It means your operational data and infrastructure live in your own cloud tenancy — a single-tenant VPC you control — rather than in a vendor’s shared multi-tenant cloud. You control access, encryption keys, and residency.

How is the system secured and is it compliant?

Deployments use single-tenant VPC isolation, CMEK encryption, IAM/zero-trust identity, and immutable audit logging. We build validated architectures to support frameworks such as FDA 21 CFR Part 11 and ISO 13485 for regulated industries.

What is Vertex AI used for in the ERP?

Google Vertex AI and Document AI power embedded modules: accounts-payable automation and OCR, demand forecasting, predictive quoting, visual quality assurance, and predictive maintenance — all running inside your own cloud perimeter, so your data never leaves.

Still have questions?

Talk to a Principal Architect directly — no SDRs, no obligation. We reply within 24 hours.

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