About Erdikon

Erdikon is an open source business software suite for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). My aim is to give them easier access to software that meets the same standards I apply when choosing software myself.

Business software should be simple and practical. It should support everyday work without adding unnecessary complexity and be usable by everyone without extensive training. It should also be open source, give companies control over their data and software, limit dependence on individual vendors, and leave room to adapt the software to their needs.

SMEs often depend on software that does not adequately address their requirements. Some tools are too complex, others too rigid. Many create dependence on a single vendor and leave companies with limited control over their data, limited flexibility, and little room to grow on their own terms.

This can become a serious problem over time. Erdikon therefore focuses on simple, open, and adaptable software.

Digital sovereignty means being able to make your own decisions about data, systems, and processes while remaining able to act when providers, products, or circumstances change. It does not require complete independence or self-hosting every application, but dependencies that remain controlled.

Erdikon supports this goal through open source, portable data, open interfaces, and the ability to change the software and its operating model. The software must also remain practical enough for everyday work and simple enough to stay manageable.

I first used the name Erdikon many years ago for one of my earliest web projects, a digital lexicon about the Earth. It combines the German words Erde (Earth) and Lexikon (Lexicon). The original project was intended to structure information clearly and make it easier to access.

Although today's software suite serves a different purpose, it builds on the same idea. I liked the name, so I kept it and later used it again. Today, Erdikon stands for software that reduces complexity and helps companies structure their digital work while retaining control over their systems and data.