Deltek Ajera vs. ERPNext

For small to medium engineering and architecture firms, Ajera appears to be the right size. Beyond the engineering software, Deltek Ajera has all the features a small to medium firm will need for smooth operation. AR, AP, Payroll, reporting, project management are all in one package. We chose to self-host because the licensing was more cost effective for us, but cloud hosting is also available.

Incentivized

It is so flexible and configurable that it can be fairly easily adapted to most situations.

• Widgets are the best feature of Ajera. Designers can make tiny reports for the entire company, or for one or two individuals. These little reports are the first things that the employee sees when they log in. Viewers of the reports are able to filter, sort, group, print or export the widget without impacting the other users. Deltek has been releasing new features that allow the editing of data in widgets. You can now create new projects or edit timesheets from the widgets.
• Credit card importing and credit card reconciliation in Ajera has greatly decreased time spent by administration. You can import credit card transactions from your credit cards. It saves on data entry, and it is easy to see what receipts you are missing when you get the statement.
• Mobile timesheets and expense reports help engineers or other users enter their time and expenses as they are on the go. They can take pictures or receipts or submit their timesheet from home.
• The Project Command Center is a one stop fountain of information. Everything the project manager wants to know about a project can be found here. You can also add custom fields that allow you to tract addition information.

• Locally hosted, so it is very fast
• Help documents are pretty good
• Lots of flexibility in configuration

• Would be nice if the reports would have more creativity with the ability to add more charts and graphics.
• The user interface for time sheets could be more user-friendly.
• The user interface for expense sheets could be more user-friendly.

Incentivized

• Random errors (seem to be related to python) can be very difficult to troubleshoot.
• Creating reports and print/email documents is very cumbersome and confusing. Needs to have a WYSIWYG editor.

Overall good, but needs some training to get people to be proficient in the system.

The previous systems were essentially timesheet systems only with very basic accounting. It's mostly the accounting subsystem that made us select Ajera.

Incentivized

Wanted something flexible and with the ability to self-host. Open source is also nice.

• Made accounting and payroll's jobs harder.
• Improved visibility on project cost management and profit.

Incentivized

• Neutral, needed to find a new system as the current system is being retired.