Why We Chose Odoo: Our Journey to an All-in-One ERP System

The ERP Landscape: From Complexity to Simplicity 

ERP systems traditionally started as systems of records, primarily within manufacturing to lower the cost of production. 
Over the years, the functionality within these systems has grown – so has the complexity. 
Traditionally, over the past 20 years, customers have selected an ERP based on what it could do. They would often start with a list of requirements, perhaps in Excel, with columns outlining the requirement, who needs it and if it’s mandatory or nice to have.  

The problem with these larger, complex ERPs is that not everyone likes using them. They often force users into their way of doing things.

Systems of record vs systems of engagement 

At the same time, users and people have become familiar with systems of engagement, which allow for direct messaging with files. For example, MS Teams allows users to have conversations regarding an invoice. The file can be shared within Teams and any number of people can discuss the invoice. 
The problem arises when there’s a change to the invoice – for example, a partial credit. This doesn’t update in Teams. Also, the finance department don’t know about the conversion between the sales team and the project team. 
So, we have ended up with these large, complex ERPs, which are slow to implement, change and don’t get used for engagement. 

Why not have both in the one system?

Our belief, at Advance, is that conversations and engagements need to be viewed within a context. If an invoice needs to be discussed, let’s put a conversation thread right there with the invoice, or any other transaction for that matter. 
But what if users don’t want to use the Odoo system? 
Well, that’s not a problem anymore either. Say, for example, your users love to live within HubSpot and that’s where all the marketing, sales and support occurs.  Using a Customer Data Platform and our KPI Pulse integration engine, we can allow the engagement that’s occurring within HubSpot to be recorded and visible to everyone within Odoo. 
As we watched this evolution unfold, we recognised that many businesses were trapped between two unsatisfactory options: either settle for a patchwork of disconnected tools or invest in an enterprise solution that was overkill for their needs. 

Why Odoo Made Sense: Three Core Advantages 

1. Broad Functionality - Everything in One Place 

Odoo has such broad functionality that everything can be done within Odoo, if it makes sense, or it can be done elsewhere and just recorded within Odoo. Odoo doesn’t force you to adapt, but rather it can adapt to the way you want to work. 

2. Right-Sized Depth with Smart Extensions

One criticism often leveled at all-in-one solutions is that they're "jack of all trades, master of none." We see this differently. While Odoo may not have the deep, specialised functionality of industry-specific platforms, much of that deep functionality can be replaced by either an integrated specialist solution, or an AI solution. 

This approach offers several advantages:

• Flexibility: Your system can evolve with your business rather than locking you into rigid functionality 

• Cost efficiency: Instead of paying for complex features you rarely use, you can either integrate to a solution, use a pre-built Odoo application (there’s thousands of them within the Odoo app store), build a solution using AI, or just get AI to do the work. 

• Future-proofing: As AI capabilities evolve, many traditional "deep" features become obsolete. 

The key is having a foundation platform robust enough to integrate seamlessly with these specialised solutions—which is exactly what Odoo provides. 

3. Ease of Use and Flexibility (AI version) 

Perhaps most importantly, Odoo is very easy to use and flexible. In our experience implementing various ERP solutions over the years, user adoption often makes or breaks a project. The most feature-rich system in the world is worthless if your team won't use it. 

Odoo's intuitive interface and modular approach mean businesses can start with core functionality and expand organically. Training and change management becomes easier. 

The Future is Integrated 

The ERP landscape has come full circle. After decades of increasingly complex and expensive solutions, the market is returning to what businesses need: simple, integrated, affordable systems that they can adapt and mould as needed. 

Cloud computing has made enterprise-grade functionality accessible to businesses of all sizes, while AI and automation are eliminating the need for many traditional "deep" features. Odoo which focuses integration, usability, and flexibility over feature bloat represents the evolution of business management software. 

Making the Right Choice 

Choosing an ERP system is one of the most important technology decisions a business can make. At Advance Business Consulting, we chose Odoo because it aligns with our philosophy of building practical technology advantages for our clients. 
Ready to explore how Odoo could transform your business operations? At Advance, we would love to discuss your specific needs to see if we can help. ⁂