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SimpleERP vs Marg: a Marg alternative for small business
Marg is desktop accounting and inventory software popular with pharma and FMCG distributors. SimpleERP runs billing, stock, books, CRM and payroll in the browser. Here is how to choose.
In short
SimpleERP is browser-based ERP for Indian small businesses with GST billing, stock by warehouse, purchase, accounting, CRM, HR and payroll on one ledger. Marg suits distributors who need batch and expiry tracking on the desktop; SimpleERP does not track batches.
Illustration of stock on hand by warehouse at average cost, with a low-stock row highlighted and a movement ledger.
What Marg is good at
Marg ERP is desktop accounting and inventory software, widely used by pharma, FMCG and other distributors and retailers in India. For a distribution business that lives by batches and expiry dates, that focus is a real strength.
- Batch and expiry handling. Stock by batch and expiry date is central to how pharma and FMCG distributors work, and Marg is built around it.
- Made for distribution. Accounting and inventory sit together for wholesalers, stockists and chemists.
- Familiar in its trades. Many distributors, operators and their accountants have used it for years.
- A partner network. Local dealers help with installation, training and support in many towns.
Side by side
Where the fit breaks: the jobs, side by side
The same daily jobs, described as work rather than features. The Marg column says how businesses on Marg usually get each job done, which depends on the edition, add-ons and setup you choose.
| Job | In SimpleERP | Typical with Marg |
|---|---|---|
| Raise a GST invoice | Keyboard-first line editor; the place of supply picks CGST and SGST or IGST | Desktop billing, usually by an operator at the counter or office |
| Track stock by batch and expiry | Not tracked: stock is held per product and warehouse at weighted average cost | A natural fit: batch and expiry handling is a core strength |
| Stock across warehouses | Stock by warehouse, transfers and a movement ledger, moved by every invoice and bill | Handled in the desktop product, depending on edition and setup |
| Bill from the road or a second branch | Every screen works in a phone browser; each branch prints its own GSTIN and address | Depends on the edition, licences and remote access you set up |
| Leads and follow-ups | CRM pipeline and today's follow-ups on the same customer list as your invoices | Usually handled outside the books, in a spreadsheet or chat |
| Attendance, leave and payroll | Attendance and leave feed payslips with PF, PT and TDS, posted to the same ledger | Depends on the edition and add-ons; many run payroll separately |
| Staff self-service | Employees see their attendance, leave, payslips and claims on a phone | Usually shared by the office on paper or chat |
| Receivables follow-up | Ageing by customer, statements and receipts allocated to invoices | A natural fit for distribution-focused accounting |
| E-invoice, e-way bill and GST filing | Registers and HSN summary export; no IRN, e-way bill or filing | E-invoices, e-way bills and GST return filing workflows in the product |
| Get your data out | CSV export of every report, products, stock and the ledger; invoices print as A4 or PDF | Depends on the reports and export formats you use |
Verdict
Choose Marg if… choose SimpleERP if…
Both are sensible choices for different businesses. Here is the honest split.
Choose Marg if
- You sell medicines, food or other goods where every unit must be tracked by batch and expiry date
- Your distribution business runs from one office with an experienced operator at the desk
- A local Marg partner already supports you and your accountant knows the software
Choose SimpleERP if
- You do not need batch or expiry tracking, and want stock by warehouse at average cost
- Your salespeople, store staff and accountant all need their own login and role
- You want CRM, HR and payroll on the same ledger as your invoices, in any browser or phone
Honest limits
What SimpleERP does not do yet
Worth knowing before you switch.
- GST return filing: registers and the HSN summary export to CSV for whoever files your returns
- E-invoice IRN and e-way bill generation through the government APIs
- Batch, lot, serial or expiry tracking, and multi-currency
- Bank feeds: bank entries are recorded and reconciled by hand
- Historical vouchers are not imported; the old system stays your archive
Getting started
Moving from Marg to SimpleERP
Pick a cut-over date
There is no direct import of a Marg data file today, so you start from opening balances on a chosen date. Pick the first day of a financial year, quarter or month; 1 April is best.
Import your masters
Tally Masters XML, Zoho exports or spreadsheets, checked before anything is written: accounts, customers, suppliers and products with opening stock per warehouse. See the help centre.
Bring balances and open bills
Import opening balances for bank, cash, loans and the rest, and each unpaid invoice and bill with its own number and due date. A wrong import can be undone.
Run both for a month
Bill in SimpleERP and keep the old books open. Compare receivables, stock and the trial balance at month end, then set the lock date.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Is SimpleERP a good Marg alternative?
For businesses that do not track batches, it can be. SimpleERP covers GST billing, stock by warehouse at average cost, purchase, receivables and books, and adds CRM, HR and payroll on one ledger in the browser. If you sell medicines or other goods by batch and expiry, Marg is the better fit today.
Does SimpleERP track batches and expiry dates?
No. Stock is tracked per product and warehouse at weighted average cost, with a movement ledger for every invoice, bill, transfer and work order. There is no batch, lot, serial or expiry tracking, so a pharma or food distributor that depends on it should stay with a tool built for it.
Can my accountant keep working with me if I move from Marg?
Yes. Invite your accountant by phone or email with the Accountant role. They get journals, bank and cash registers, the trial balance, P&L, balance sheet, GST summary and the lock date, and can export any report or register to CSV for their own tools.
Does SimpleERP file GST returns?
No. SimpleERP prepares what filing needs: the sales and purchase registers for GSTR-1 and GSTR-2B checks and the HSN summary, all exportable to CSV. Filing itself stays with you or your accountant on the GST portal. E-invoice IRNs and e-way bills are not generated through the government APIs today.
Related
Keep reading
SimpleERP vs Tally
Desktop accounting your CA knows well, or one browser-based system for billing, stock, CRM, HR and payroll on one ledger.
Read moreSimpleERP vs Zoho Books
Cloud accounting inside a larger suite, or one ERP where inventory, manufacturing, HR and payroll share the same ledger.
Read moreMoving from Tally or Excel
Import masters, balances and open bills from Tally or Excel, checked first and undoable, then run both systems for a month.
Read moreWholesale & distribution
Keyboard-first GST billing, stock across warehouses at average cost, party ledgers and receivables ageing.
Read more
Try SimpleERP next to Marg.
Seven days free, no card. Run both side by side and keep the one that fits.
Marg is a trademark of its owner. Details change; check their site for current features and pricing.