Choosing an LMIS for a small NGO or clinic network: ten questions to ask
Ten questions for choosing a logistics management information system for a small NGO or clinic network, with OpenBoxes' honest answer to each, gaps included.
Topic
Getting started
8 articles on this topic, newest first.
Importing your product list from a spreadsheet without reshaping it
What the OpenBoxes Lift import wizard handles in a messy spreadsheet, and what to clean first: codes, names, categories, units, quantities and dates.
Self-hosted or managed OpenBoxes: a total-cost worksheet
The line items to compare running OpenBoxes yourself with a managed host: server, database, backups, upgrades and staff hours, against published plan prices.
When a spreadsheet stops being enough for your stock
Seven signs a stock spreadsheet is costing you (several sites, lots and expiry, no audit trail, late stock-outs) and what switching to OpenBoxes involves.
Moving a self-hosted OpenBoxes to Lift: what comes across
Moving a self-hosted OpenBoxes to OpenBoxes Lift: what you hand over, what comes across, what does not, what happens to passwords, and planning the switch.
OpenBoxes backups: what to back up and how to test a restore
How to back up a self-hosted OpenBoxes database, how often, how to prove a restore works, and what OpenBoxes Lift backs up on Shared and Dedicated.
Why is my OpenBoxes slow? Five causes on self-hosted servers
Five common reasons a self-hosted OpenBoxes is slow (Java memory, database memory, background jobs, restarts, long queries) and how to spot each.
OpenBoxes upgrade checklist: before, during and after
What to check before upgrading a self-hosted OpenBoxes: release notes, database version, a tested backup, a rehearsal on a copy, and the migration lock.
