Odoo Implementation Tips

Implementing a business management system (ERP) is a process that takes at least several months, so anyone who believes an ERP system can be deployed in a month is mistaken. In theory, a system, like any piece of software, can be installed in an hour or less – but a newly deployed business management system has to be understood by the company's staff, who must learn to use it in practice.

A few things help shorten the deployment time: a thorough analysis of the company's needs, making full use of standard system features, removing redundant data, and leveraging the system's data export functionality.

1. Run a thorough Gap-fit analysis together with an Odoo consultant

Gap-fit is an analysis of the client's needs that captures the system features which will be delivered through custom (non-standard) solutions. Such an analysis takes anywhere from 2 to 5 weeks, so it is not cheap – yet it is essential. Once it is done, you will know the cost of your business management system rollout far more accurately.

2. Changing a business process is cheaper than reprogramming Odoo

There are cases where a client wants to reprogram how the system works from the ground up. Try to look at it as impartially as possible and ask yourself this question – if the majority of companies worldwide use this business management system and that way of executing the process works for them, perhaps your own process could be adjusted instead? Every change to the standard system functionality means a more expensive system upgrade in the future.

3. Do not migrate old accounting data into the new Odoo system

Clients often want to move their old accounting data into the new system, but unfortunately, experience shows that nobody ever looks at that data in the new system. Data migration significantly increases the cost of an Odoo project, so you should clarify and assess the real need for this data right from the start.

If you decide not to migrate the old data, I recommend doing two things: obtain a copy of the old system's database and keep one user's login to the old system for a year.

4. Make the most of the data export functionality

Clients often want the newly deployed system to include everything, even though certain functionality is only needed once a year or even less frequently. I do not recommend building a dedicated module for every specific piece of functionality.

The data export functionality built into Odoo lets you download data in various breakdowns based on the existing information fields, and review and edit it in MS Excel.

A business management system should not only be an effective process management aid, but also an investment that is used to the fullest.

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