Re: 'Solidarity Economy' Information Systems

[Jean Louis]

* Yasuaki Kudo <yasu@yasuaki.com> [2021-10-19 06:07]:
> Hello!
> 
> I remember that last time I asked about Free Software "CRM" systems
> and we had a valuable discussion.

Do you mean Customer Relationship Management system? I am using since
years the self made RCD Notes for Emacs:
https://hyperscope.link/3/7/1/5/5/RCD-Notes-for-Emacs-37155.html

with PostgreSQL database. Emacs is interface, but there may be other
interfaces like GeDaFe - PostgreSQL Generic Database Interface
http://gedafe.github.io/doc/gedafe-sql.en.html 

It is very dynamic evolving system and I am willing to help with ideas
in implementation of other or this CRM.

There are several free software CRM systems, like Dollibar, also
SugarCRM free software edition, and various others.

> At this time (it will probably still evolve 😅), I think that we
> ought to have an IT System (I call it something like Solidarity
> Economy Information Systems) with the following characteristics:

It is good. 

What I find most important in such systems is the database design, as
database allows multi user access and various interfaces.

> * The system will be minimalist and constructivist - the use of
> * complicated external libraries are generally discouraged and if we
> * must, to be done in a controlled fashion.

My database tables are not minimalist: RCD Notes - Database Tables:
https://hyperscope.link/3/7/1/5/6/RCD-Notes-Database-Tables-37155.html

System shall be designed by the principles of GeDaFe, referenced
above, so that every organization may create their own database
tables. A system like that cannot possibly fit every organization's
needs. If however, system allows administrator to create new database
table then it becomes self-expandable without programming, and users
may relate new table information to other tables and other
informations. 

Example would be cooperative that deals with precious metals, there
are such in East Africa. One particular table that cannot possible
apply to other organizations would be daily or weekly price of
precious metals that has to be tracked and related to sales of
products (also metals).

> * There will be shared services such as database and messaging for
> * the network, accessible by API

Database should always be multi-user one with concurrent access. 

I don't think messages should be automatically stored in such system
and that CRM system should have messaging feature, but chat logs,
emails, phone calls can be by users' decision related to such system. 

> * All participants, including "Producers" and "Consumers" are
> * co-developers of the system

People should be able to report the demanded feature so that
administrator or programmers may add it.

> * Primary target customers are those in what I call 'Solidarity
> * Economy' sector - such as worker coops and other cooperatives.

Those are "special features" that I have mentioned before.

In my system I could implement 3000 members of the cooperative that I
know and most probably I would need to include the table of "lands" as
it is agricultural cooperative where each member has agricultural
land, its assets, produces crops and one could or should track their
production and provide sales, equipment, so that each villager
benefits from the organization. Thus tables like "Agricultural Lands"
and periods of equipment being borrowed, needed or returned to/from
such lands would be special tables.

Every organization needs its modifications.



Jean

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