Dolibarr ERP/CRM is a robust and modular open-source solution for business management. However, as data volumes grow, you may encounter slowdowns or performance issues. Optimizing Dolibarr is essential to ensure smooth and efficient use. Here are 10 best practices to improve and maintain the performance of your Dolibarr instance.

1. Use the Latest Version of Dolibarr

Dolibarr developers regularly release updates with performance improvements and security fixes. It is crucial to:

• Update Dolibarr whenever a new stable version is available.
• Check the release notes to identify optimization improvements.
• Perform a full backup before any update to avoid data loss.

2. Use a Recent Version of PHP

Dolibarr works best with recent versions of PHP. By using an optimized version, you benefit from:

• Speed improvements: New PHP versions offer better performance.
• Enhanced security: Security fixes protect your data.
• Compatibility: Dolibarr is optimized for the latest PHP versions (e.g., PHP 8.x).

Check Dolibarr compatibility before updating PHP.

3. Enable Caching to Speed Up Queries

Using a caching system reduces page load times and lightens the server load. Here are some options:

• OPcache: Caches compiled PHP code.
• Memcached or Redis: Caches frequently accessed data.
• Configure caching through your server control panel or directly in Dolibarr.

4. Optimize Database Configuration

A poorly optimized database can slow down Dolibarr. Here are some tips:

• Clean old data: Delete obsolete quotes, invoices, or logs.
• Optimize tables: Use commands like OPTIMIZE TABLE to reduce storage space.
• Add indexes: Improve query performance by adding indexes to frequently used columns.

5. Disable Unused Modules

Every active module consumes server resources. To improve performance:

• Disable modules you don’t use from "Setup" > "Modules/Applications".
• Regularly review and identify unnecessary modules.
• Limit features to your business's actual needs.

6. Enable GZIP Compression

GZIP compression reduces the size of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files sent to the browser. This improves page load times. To enable it:

• Modify the .htaccess file if you use Apache.
• Enable GZIP via your hosting control panel.

7. Optimize Images and Documents

Large files can slow down page loading. To address this:

• Compress images before uploading (tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim).
• Use appropriate image formats: JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics.
• Store large documents on an external server or cloud solution.

8. Schedule Automated Maintenance Tasks

Automate maintenance operations to keep Dolibarr performing well:

• Log cleanup: Schedule a cron job to delete old logs.
• Regular backups: Automate backups to avoid data loss.
• Archiving: Archive old data to lighten the database.

9. Monitor Performance with Monitoring Tools

Use monitoring tools to identify bottlenecks:

• New Relic, Zabbix, or Nagios: To monitor server resource usage.
• SQL Query Analysis: Identify slow queries with tools like MySQL Slow Query Log.
• Alerts: Set up alerts to be notified of performance issues.

10. Optimize Your Web Server

Your web server configuration (Apache, Nginx) plays a crucial role in Dolibarr’s performance. Here are some optimizations:

• Enable HTTP/2: For faster simultaneous requests.
• Adjust PHP settings: Modify memory_limit, max_execution_time, and upload_max_filesize as needed.
• Use a high-performance web server: Nginx often handles static content faster than Apache.

Conclusion

By applying these 10 best practices, you will optimize Dolibarr's performance and ensure smoother business management. A high-performing ERP/CRM solution increases productivity, improves user experience, and reduces the risk of errors.

Feel free to share your own optimization tips in the comments!