Exploring open-source tools for rural SMEs with Advance Insight

We are excited to partner with Advance Insight on a new feasibility study aimed at supporting African SMEs to improve their operational efficiency through digitisation. 

For many rural SMEs and cooperatives, managing operations presents a major constraint. Paper-based systems and basic digital tools limit visibility across finance, inventory, and day-to-day operations. These gaps make it harder for SMEs to improve operational efficiency or access finance.

While enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems can help address these issues, most are priced and designed for larger firms. The cost and complexity often outweigh the benefits for smaller organisations, especially those working in lower-resource environments.

With support from Small Foundation, Advance Insight is running a feasibility study to explore whether there is a viable alternative. The study focuses on AgriOS, a custom agri-SME ERP developed by Advance Insight on Odoo Community. Derived from tools originally developed for commercial customers, AgriOS has been streamlined to meet the needs and resources of smaller agri-SMEs and cooperatives. The team is testing its potential to improve operational efficiency and enhance access to finance for early adopters. 

Nine organisations will pilot the tool as part of the study. The aim is to surface actionable insights around usability, adoption barriers, and the support structures needed for long-term relevance. The work is exploratory, and the questions being asked, about fit, sustainability, and the potential for broader use, are central to the learning.

At Advance Insight, we’ve seen firsthand how digitisation empowers African SMEs – especially those serving smallholder farmers. Supported by Small Foundation, we’re equipping a cohort of budget-constrained, early-adopter agri-SMEs with a custom ERP solution while rigorously evaluating their outcomes. Armed with these insights, we will launch an enhanced AgriOS – a subscription-free, open-source, plug-and-play platform designed for scalable, sustainable impact across the continent.

 Bernard Wright, AgriOS lead at Advance Insight

This aligns with Small Foundation’s interest in early-stage infrastructure experiments that test practical ways to support rural enterprises. We’re backing this work for the learning it offers on how digital infrastructure can be made more accessible and useful to the organisations we work with.