ERPNext Users Module: Manage Your Team and Access Efficiently
The ERPNext Users Module is a powerful tool that lets businesses control their internal teams, access rights, login security, workflow roles, and the whole system. Anyone who uses ERPNext—including employees, managers, accountants, HR officers, and project leaders—is registered as a User.
This module ensures that only authorised team members can access your ERP system, keeping it safe, organised, and easy to manage. ERPNext helps businesses run their daily operations smoothly by giving them full visibility and control through features like:
- User Creation
- Role Assignment
- Permission Settings
- User Groups
- Email Notifications
- Activity Logs
1. Getting to Know the Users Module in ERPNext
The Users Module is the most important part of your ERPNext security system. It lets businesses choose:
- Who can use ERPNext
- What information each user can see
- What each user can do
- Which modules are open to certain groups
Goal: Keep sensitive information safe, give controlled access, and maintain an organised workflow. ERPNext ensures that employees only have access to the tools they need, reducing mistakes and confusion.
2. Making and Controlling Users
Creating a user in ERPNext is quick and easy. Companies can add users and provide information like:
- Complete Name
- Email Address
- Login Name
- Password
- Role (admin, HR user, accountant, etc.)
- Access to Modules
- Status (active or inactive)
Every new user receives an email with their login information and can start using ERPNext immediately, based on their permissions.
This feature is useful for:
- Companies that are growing and hiring new staff
- Companies adding multiple departments
- Groups that require different access levels
3. Giving Users Their Roles
ERPNext allows you to set user roles, which define what a user can do.
Common roles include:
- Manager of the System
- HR User
- User of Accounts
- User of Sales
- Buy User
- User of Stock
- Project User
- User in Manufacturing
Each role has its own set of permissions and access levels. Companies can assign:
- One job
- Multiple roles
- Custom roles
Role-Based Permissions ensure:
- Accountants handle only financial tasks
- Salespeople manage leads and quotes
- HR departments access employee records
- Warehouse teams manage stock
This keeps data safe and prevents unauthorized changes.
4. Role Permissions Manager (RPM)
The Role Permissions Manager allows companies to define:
- What each role can see
- What each role can write
- What each role can delete
- What areas each role can access
Examples:
- HR cannot access accounts
- Sales cannot view salaries
- Warehouse employees cannot change financial records
The RPM lets companies create security policies tailored to their structure.
5. User Permissions for Certain Records
ERPNext allows User Permissions to control access to specific records. This is useful when different workers are in charge of different:
- Customers
- Tasks
- Storage locations
- Areas
- Items
- Departments
Example:
- A sales agent sees only assigned customers
- A purchase officer sees only specific suppliers
- A project manager sees only the projects they manage
This maintains data privacy and keeps workflows organised.
6. Access for User Groups and Teams
Companies can create User Groups to organise employees, such as:
- Sales Team
- Accounts Department
- HR Team
- Warehouse Staff
- Customer Support Team
User Groups help with:
- Workflow tasks
- Task distribution
- Document sharing
- Role-based automations
Companies can manage entire teams with a single click rather than assigning permissions individually.
7. Sharing Documents and Controlling Access
ERPNext allows users to share documents like:
- Purchase Orders
- Quotes
- Plans
- Tasks
- Sales Invoices
- Stock Entries
Users can define:
- Read-only access
- Write access
- Shared access
This simplifies collaboration and reduces reliance on external file-sharing tools.
8. Settings for Logging In and Security
ERPNext offers advanced login and security features:
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
- IP Address restrictions
- Login limitations
- Password policies
- Session timeouts
- User activity logs
Strict security helps protect the ERP system from unauthorized access.
9. Settings for Users’ Email
Each user can configure:
- Email inbox
- Email templates
- Automatic replies
- Alerts
ERPNext automatically sends email alerts for:
- Assigned tasks
- Agreements
- Project updates
- Document submissions
- Workflow status changes
This ensures communication is fast, organized, and integrated with ERP workflows.
10. Keeping an Eye on the System and Activity Logs
ERPNext logs user activity, including:
- Logins
- Document changes or deletions
- Status updates
- Transactions
This is important for:
- Audit trails
- Data security
- Accountability
- Policy compliance
Managers can track who made changes, when, and why, keeping the system secure.
11. User Restrictions Based on Departments and Branches
ERPNext allows restrictions based on:
- Department
- Branch
- Business Unit
- Project
- Cost Centre
Examples:
- Karachi branch cannot access Lahore branch data
- HR Karachi cannot see Accounts Lahore
- Stock cannot be altered by Sales Islamabad
This is particularly useful for multi-location businesses.
12. Making User Dashboards Unique
Each user has a dashboard showing:
- Tasks and To-Dos
- Agreements
- Alerts
- Assigned documents
- Fast actions
- Module shortcuts
Admins can customize dashboards for:
- HR
- Accounts
- Warehouse
- Sales
- Project Management
This improves productivity and departmental focus.
13. Working with Other Modules
The Users Module integrates with all ERPNext modules:
- HR (linking employees to users)
- Projects (assigning tasks)
- CRM (lead ownership)
- Accounts (financial permissions)
- Stock (warehouse access)
- Purchase (RFQ and PO access)
- Sales (quotes and orders)
- Manufacturing (work orders)
This ensures ERPNext is a secure, fully integrated management system.
Final Thoughts
The ERPNext Users Module is crucial for securing the system, organising departments, monitoring activity, and ensuring smooth access control. It provides advanced features like:
- Role Assignment
- User Permissions
- User Groups
- Login Security
- Activity Logs
- Document Sharing
- Module Access
ERPNext ensures every user has the right access level, resulting in:
- Better control
- Improved collaboration
- Stronger security
- More efficient operations