# ERP systems for businesses in Iraq

> An ERP (enterprise resource planning) system brings finance, inventory, purchasing, sales and HR into one unified database, so managers see accurate, real-time figures instead of late reports from scattered tools. At Al-Arjan we build and implement Arabic ERP systems supporting dinar, dollar and multiple branches, designed around how Iraqi companies actually work.

Source: https://www.al-arjan.com/en/services/erp · العربية: https://www.al-arjan.com/ar/services/erp.md

## What is ERP, and how is it different from accounting software?

**Accounting software records what happened financially. ERP runs the operations that produce those numbers — purchasing, stock, sales, manufacturing, payroll — and generates the accounting entries from them automatically.**

With accounting software alone, the accountant keys in the purchase invoice after receiving it from the warehouse, the storekeeper enters the quantity in another file, and sales builds its reports in Excel. Three people enter the same event three times, and the differences surface at month end.

In an ERP the event is recorded once, where it naturally happens: a purchase order becomes a goods receipt, the receipt posts the supplier liability, and a sale deducts stock and records revenue and cost at the same moment. The result is one correct number everyone sees.

## Which modules does an ERP include?

**You choose only the modules you need. The most requested in Iraq: finance, inventory, purchasing, sales and POS, HR and payroll, and management reporting.**

- Finance: chart of accounts, journals, receivables and payables, cash and banks, budgets — in two currencies with daily rates.
- Inventory: multiple warehouses, barcodes, batches and expiry dates, stock counts, inter-branch transfers.
- Purchasing: requisitions, quotations, purchase orders, approvals, and imports with landed-cost allocation.
- Sales: quotations, invoices, sales reps, commissions, credit limits, and connected POS.
- HR: employee records, attendance and biometrics, leave, and payroll.
- Manufacturing (when needed): bills of materials, production orders and product costing.
- Dashboards: real-time KPIs per branch and department.

## Should we choose a global packaged ERP or a custom one?

**Global ERPs are powerful but expensive to license and customise, and local experts are scarce. A custom or semi-custom ERP suits most mid-sized Iraqi companies because it matches their processes and is supported locally.**

We don’t sell one answer for every case. If your processes are standard and budget allows, a global product may be the right fit and we’ll say so. But when you need flexibility in pricing, approvals or official reporting, or Arabic support around the clock, a system built for you is cheaper and faster over the long run.

## How is an ERP rolled out without stopping the business?

**By phasing it: module by module, a pilot branch before full rollout, a short parallel run with the old system, and training for every role.**

- Analyse current processes and document improvements.
- Set up the chart of accounts, items and opening balances.
- Migrate data from legacy systems and Excel files.
- Pilot in one branch or department.
- Hands-on Arabic training and a user guide per role.
- Intensive support in the first weeks after go-live.

## Features

- **Dinar & dollar**: Every transaction in its own currency with revaluation and dual-currency reports.
- **Multi-branch**: Each branch runs independently while management sees the consolidated picture.
- **Approval chains**: Multi-level approvals by amount and department.
- **Real-time reports**: Profit, stock, receivables and KPIs without waiting for month end.
- **Audit trail**: Who changed what and when, for every document and field.
- **Integrations**: Connected to POS, biometric devices and your online store.

### Accounting software vs. ERP
| Criterion | Accounting software | ERP system |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Journals and financial reports | All operations: finance, stock, purchasing, sales, HR |
| Data entry | Manual, after the fact | Automatic, from the operation itself |
| Inventory | Limited or none | Warehouses, batches, expiry |
| Branches | Often one file per branch | One consolidated database |
| Best for | Small businesses | Mid-to-large and multi-branch companies |

## Technology

.NET, Node.js, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, React, Redis, Docker, Power BI

## Frequently asked questions

### How long does an ERP implementation take?

Core modules for a mid-sized company usually take 3 to 6 months, longer with more branches, modules and customisation.

### Does it work in branches with poor internet?

Yes. Offline mode can be enabled for POS and warehouses with automatic sync when the connection returns.

### Can we start with just one module?

Yes — we often recommend starting with inventory and sales, then adding finance and HR.

### Will you migrate data from our current software?

Yes. We migrate items, customers, suppliers and opening balances after cleaning and reconciling them.

### Is our financial data secure?

We apply fine-grained permissions, encrypted connections, scheduled and tested backups, and an audit log for every action.

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Contact Al-Arjan: +964 773 545 2792 (phone & WhatsApp, 24/7) — [Request a quote](https://www.al-arjan.com/en/quote)