What is Odoo ERP ?
Odoo is an open-source ERP that is designed to provide a complete, professional and easy-to-use solution to businesses of all sizes and across all sectors. It allows all key business functions to be covered using its various modules. Nevertheless, there are many received ideas that people believe about it. Here is a brief insight into five of them.
Odoo is strictly for SMES
From the outset, Odoo's approach has been involved giving all businesses the option of having an ERP system from SMEs to major corporations. ERP was the preserve of large businesses for a long time: the smallest organizations couldn't risk launching that kind of project, put off by the changes it required. Odoo therefore appeared to be an ideal compromise, thanks to its ease of implementation.
However, this label of being an "ERP for SMEs" has stuck. That's unfair, because Odoo ERP now includes major corporations among its clients, such as Toyota (which uses it to manage stocks and invoicing for its "Material Handling" branch in France) and Sodexo (which uses it to implement a centralized management system in its vending machine division) to name but a few.
Odoo is free of charge
Odoo is an open-source ERP, therefore it must be free of charge. Not at all! Just like more traditional software publishers, Odoo is a professional solution that charges for its products.
Odoo Enterprise makes use of proprietary developments: from accounting through to sales, via project management and human resources, this version offers more comprehensive functional modules than the shared version to suit the needs of all businesses.
This should put an end to the low cost, low quality image that this ERP system has attracted for a few years. Instead, it should focus on a complete, modular system that adapts to any organization, with rapid growth rates thanks to a highly active community.
Odoo doesn't offer high-quality support
Many businesses think that open source software means depriving users of support. That's not true! There is indeed a publisher that provides first-line support (in the form of tickets). After that, your integrator becomes a true partner. If you experience difficulties, you can turn to this integrator to find an appopriate solution. Moreover, the
Odoo community often supplies solutions and updates that constantly enhance the ERP software. Finally, in the case of developing specific modules, you will also have the support of the company that implemented these features.
Odoo is not up to the job
In comparison to ERPs like SAP and Dynamics 365, people often think (wrongly) that there is no room for Odoo in the ecosystem. This is demonstrably, obviously wrong. Odoo now has nearly 3 million users worldwide, with an average of 69% annual growth over the last ten yeas.
Odoo also has 750 partners in 130 countries and 1,919 reference clients from SMEs to major corporations including WWF, Auchan, Bouygues and Danone.
Odoo is an inflexible "Off-the-shelf" system
Many people think that the offer is highly packaged and not very flexible. However, Odoo now supports over 10,000 applications that are available independently. A few years ago, there were no core offerings and an ERP could not be installed without an integrator.
Today, the ERP software offers an increasing number of packaged offerings, which has attracted this image of a solution that only works exactly as it came "in the box." However, in fact, these offers enable enterprises to benefit from a turnkey solution that retains all of Odoo's unique flexibility and custom developments.
In short, you can install modules and features of your choice whenever you want!