According to Reuters: “Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of economies across the world, with the 1.15 million SMEs in Malaysia comprising more than 97% of the nation’s businesses and delivering 38.2% of GDP.”
However, these SMEs are still facing a big challenge in managing their business activities.
How can we manage our business more comprehensively and effectively? Is there a solution to optimize corporate governance? Does this solution cost a lot? Or can I use full management features at a limited cost?
The answer to all issues is the Odoo ERP solution. So, what is Odoo? Why can Odoo ERP solve these challenges? Let's find out with A1 Consulting in the article below!
Definition: What is Odoo?
Currently, Odoo is very popular, with more than 12 million users in the world, more than 5,000 installations, 32 supported languages, and 39,000 applications. But what is Odoo? It is no longer a strange concept to many people.
Odoo ERP is an enterprise resource planning system with a suite of interconnected applications to help businesses manage resources, track and promote business growth. Users can access applications from any device with an internet connection and tailor applications to the specific requirements of their business.
Furthermore, Odoo is an open-source ERP software, thus the software only has the bricks that the company needs. And when your business requirements evolve, just install a new application from the thousands available.
If the application is not available, simply create and install it. More specifically, in addition to basic Odoo subsystems or modules such as POS, CRM, Warehouse management, Human Resources management, Odoo allows you to completely edit or add or remove features or create subsystems you want.
Besides, modules of Odoo, still in the answers of what is Odoo, are all integrated into one software. Through that, businesses can manage all their activities with just one platform. This integration saves businesses time and costs by automating business processes, letting users to focus on their core tasks and increasing engagement and efficiency.
What is Odoo: Primary Features Odoo and How It Helps Businesses Optimize Operations
Finance Module
It is integrated with many powerful features, helping businesses manage finances effectively, save time, and increase accuracy in financial activities.
Sales Module
Still in the answer of what is Odoo, this module supports the sales team in effortlessly handling sales tasks from order creation steps to issuing invoices and viewing order reports.
Using the Odoo Sales module, businesses can track order status such as: Packaging or Delivery. From there, employees can manage conveniently and control orders with a few mouse clicks.
Website Module
With this module, businesses can easily build, manage, and optimize their website, thereby enhancing their online presence and enhancing customer experience.
Supply Chain Module
Supply chain functions support business management to deliver efficiently, maximize workflows, and reduce operating costs. Furthermore, it is sequentially integrated with other modules, allowing businesses to track and govern the entire response supply process chain from start to finish.
Human Resources Module
Human Resources module lets businesses oversee important employee aspects and details. For example: Skills, Contact information, Working hours, Insurance numbers, etc., and providing an Employee roster (with the ability to categorize, tag, etc.) to support HR management.
Marketing Module
Using features of the Marketing module on what is Odoo, you can deploy multi-channel marketing campaigns, automate marketing processes, and track performance in detail. Through that, improving customer experience and revenue growth.
Services Module
The service module is designed with many compatible features, providing management operations and prioritization for service customers.
Productivity module
Productivity module helps businesses improve work processes, support the connection between departments, and increase the efficiency of time and work management.
Pros and cons of using Odoo ERP solution
Pros of Odoo ERP
Odoo ERP is one of the best full-featured ERP software that offers a wide range of business applications and the ability to support almost every business administration activity. ERP systems respond to ever-changing market demands and eliminate human labor, promoting SMEs to thrive in today's competitive market.
User friendly
Odoo 17 has been designed to create a user experience that is friendlier and easier to use than previous versions. The Odoo 17 interface in what is Odoo is laid out and easy to understand, with logically arranged icons and navigation buttons.
Besides, this cloud ERP solution provides internal instructions and notifications to support users during use. These tutorials help users understand how to use Odoo features and tools quickly and easily.
In particular, Odoo 17 integrates different modules and features into a single platform, helping users access all the tools and services they need without having to switch between applications.
Comprehensive management solution for businesses
If you’re asking what is Odoo, we can answer that this is a business management software suite that can meet all organizational needs. The software operates based on specialized modules including Inventory, Sales, CRM, Accounting, Production, Human Resources, etc.
Odoo's current application store has grown with 16,000 applications from suppliers, so even specialized needs within the organization's field of activity can be met.
Increase performance, reduce costs
Business processes are automated and optimized to reduce work and save time for businesses. Odoo provides Task management tools, Schedules and Reminders, helping employees track and manage work effectively.
Automating processes such as Order processing, Payments and Reporting reduces manual work and decreases the risk of errors. This allows employees to focus on more important tasks and improve overall productivity.
Flexible for customization
Odoo is built on open-source programming languages and frameworks. Not only that Odoo itself is open source as an answer of what is Odoo. This gives implementers to customize modules or functions as needed.
On top of that, Odoo business edition offers Odoo studio. With Odoo studio, users can create code-free applications and showcase the customization of out-of-the-box modules.
Easy integration
In addition to customization, Odoo is also API friendly and integrates easily with 3rd party applications. So, if your business is using QuickBooks, Amazon Connector, DHL Express or another software that If businesses find it beneficial, the implementing units can integrate it with Odoo ERP system.
This benefit reduces the number of behavioral changes a company needs to make when an enterprise adopts a new ERP system. In addition, departments will get specialized tools for each aspect of operations. Businesses will improve operational efficiency, increase customer responsiveness and make a difference in their management methods.
Make decisions quickly
Real-time data produced by the Odoo ERP system can be valuable for decision makers. It supports them to act on time and reduces additional deadline costs.
Odoo app provides reports like Inventory valuation, Accounting reports, HR reports, etc. Such types of operational reports enable management to make quick decisions and adapt to the ever-changing business environment.
Cons of Odoo ERP
First, we need to be frank: No ERP system is perfect. Every ERP system from every vendor will have some issues. The same goes for what is Odoo. It still has some Cons.
Difficulties in setting up Odoo ERP
In fact, not only Odoo ERP, all ERP systems require support from a technical team during the setup and installation process. Businesses implementing Odoo ERP need to have a good programming team or need installation assistance from specialized programmers as part of the implementation order.
As the Top partner of Odoo in Malaysia, A1 Consulting advises businesses to have an IT team that learns and researches Odoo. Or find Odoo's official partners like A1 Consulting to deploy and set up Odoo. This will ensure successful software deployment.
Because Odoo allows software customization and integration with third parties, many businesses will want to design their own software to use. However, not all businesses have enough capacity to customize Odoo. So, allowing customization is both an advantage and a disadvantage of Odoo.
To solve challenges when customizing and integrating, the best way is for businesses to find Odoo partners. Odoo's official partners will have software experts directly trained by Odoo. Businesses can be assured of successfully deploying software that is suitable for their operations.
Lack of support from Odoo
With a user base of more than 7 million, Odoo will not be able to support all issues. Many businesses understand clearly what is Odoo, but still do not know how to handle issues related to system integration, customization and operation.
What is the solution? While lack of support is an Odoo drawback, it's not really a big deal. Odoo has developed a team of official partners around the world. Through these partners, all system protection issues of the business will be handled.
As Odoo's Golden partner in Malaysia, A1 Consulting has implemented many successful Odoo projects and helped businesses solve many challenges when using Odoo. We believe that with our team of experts and our dedication in training and consulting about what is Odoo, we can best meet all your needs.
Which types of business would benefit from using Odoo?
Nowadays, the concept of what is Odoo known by many enterprises. This success is not only due to its powerful modules, but also because of its ability to adapt to all industries and sizes.
So which companies and sectors are currently leveraging Odoo ERP to optimize their management operations? Below are the suitable listings for you:
- Manufacturing business
- Field service
- Mechanism of making machines, equipment, carts, engines, etc
- Dealer of cars, motorbikes, bicycles, trucks, bus and equipment manufacturers
- Commercial businesses
- Healthcare and hospitality sectors
- Education industry
- Marketing and promotional business
- Real estate business
- Energy comes from natural resources, solar panels, and most businesses rely on renewable energy
If your business belongs to these fields, do not hesitate to convert to Odoo ERP to maximize business management and performance.
What is Odoo Pricing: Affordable with any business
As an Odoo ERP has two versions: Odoo Community and Odoo Enterprise.
- Odoo Community is the free version, users can download and deploy this version without paying any costs for using the software.
- On the contrary, when using Odoo Enterprise, you have to pay a fee. The cost of Odoo Enterprise depends on many factors.
The first is the number of users and apps. Second, is the cost of hosting and the deployment service you choose. In addition, linking Odoo with third-party systems such as shipping systems, e-commerce platforms, email marketing will also cost extra.
At A1 Consulting, we offer you 4 detailed Odoo pricing packages in the answer of what is Odoo with different services to suit your needs: Odoo License Package, Odoo.SH Package, Odoo Implementation Package and Odoo Maintenance Package.
Based on the prices of the packages provided by A1 Consulting, hopefully your business will have the correct choice.
>>> In-Depth Comparison of Odoo Community vs Odoo Enterprise: Which Differences?
How to implement Odoo ERP system step by step
For Odoo to be deployed successfully, it is necessary to approach the following steps:
Research thoroughly the field of activity
The first step in implementing Odoo or any other software is analyzing the needs and development trends of the organization. A thorough analysis of the business needs of the enterprise will help the organization choose the right ERP solution. From there, businesses have a clear view of the software's features and goals when applying any management software.
Furthermore, this will help the organization create a detailed Odoo software implementation plan as well as have estimates to allocate resources appropriately. Researching and surveying businesses is the first step and also the step that lays the foundation for the success of the Odoo ERP implementation project.
Planning
When you have identified the requirements for Odoo ERP software, the next step is to create an implementation plan. At this stage, organizations should coordinate with Odoo implementers such as A1 Consulting to develop a detailed ERP system implementation project plan.
The content of the plan on what is Odoo usually includes: Timeline, goals, expected costs, training plan, etc.
Test the developed platform
For implementing Odoo ERP, A1 Consulting provides test versions for customers. Based on the Odoo demo, businesses will have a realistic view of the effectiveness of applying Odoo software in management.
Testing can be done in small parts, then businesses and suppliers will evaluate the suitability of the platform. The purpose of software testing is to develop the system so that it is suitable and operates smoothly with the customer's business requirements on what is Odoo.
Moreover, after changes and upgrades, another round of testing will take place to evaluate the effectiveness of Odoo ERP software.
Implementing Odoo platform
After the beta evaluation is complete, the Odoo platform will be deployed to manage the company's operations. This version has been developed through tests with almost absolute accuracy and guaranteed operating performance. In addition, during the process of implementing Odoo for businesses, A1 Consulting will also support the organization in integrating third-party software into the system besides explaining in a detailed way what is Odoo.
With the advantage of connectivity, organizations can easily integrate Odoo with other applications to serve their resource management and control needs.
Training
When the Odoo ERP system has been deployed successfully, so that the organization can master the platform, A1 Consulting will conduct training sessions on using Odoo ERP. Businesses can send employees of departments to participate in Odoo training courses to perform tasks related to their operations at the company.
In addition, to make the software training process more convenient, businesses can discuss with A1 Consulting about operations on the system through a dedicated training module. This feature is built into the Odoo system platform.
A1 Consulting- Your Trusted Partner for implementing Odoo ERP for your business
Evidence shows that millions of users are using Odoo. Knowing clearly what is Odoo is helping many businesses successfully break through, grow revenue and affirm their position in the market.
Overcoming Odoo shortcomings is not difficult. Through Odoo's official partners, businesses can successfully deploy Odoo at optimal costs.
As the Top partner of Odoo in Malaysia, A1 Consulting is always a pioneer in providing and supporting businesses to apply Odoo ERP solutions, supporting to optimize resource funds, cut investment and operating costs, and accurately meet the requirements of each business.
Contact us immediately for more detailed information about what is Odoo and all the related information about this exclusive module!
