What is our primary use case?
As a customer, I use Odoo for various purposes in my company, ranging from accounting to sales. I use it as accounting software, CRM, and sales software. I also host my website on it and manage product and service offerings, primarily selling services.
I utilize the social media applications and note mailing address feature for marketing purposes and maintain records through a Wiki-like feature. For document management, I employ the scanning and automatic OCR task functions.
Overall, I use almost all the functionalities except for the warehouse feature because I don't handle tangible products. As an integrator, I assist clients with warehouse solutions, implementing tools to monitor stock and other modules among the sixty available in Odoo.
What is most valuable?
All modules in Odoo are integrated together, providing seamless transitions across various functionalities. This integration allows me to create a product once, making it available across accounting, marketing, and websites. This interconnectedness is the most beneficial aspect.
I find the accounting feature very mature, with localization for several countries, including Cyprus. The CRM and sales tools are highly effective, with customizable proposal templates aiding client interactions. I spend most of my time using the accounting and sales features.
What needs improvement?
Odoo's documentation needs improvement, as there are areas that are not well-documented.
Additionally, some underlying technologies need refactoring to more modern structures. Although it's not immediately necessary since the system works, changes to the architecture would be beneficial.
From the transition from version 17 to 18, it appears they are aware and have begun addressing some of these concerns.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Odoo for a year and a couple of months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Odoo is quite stable, and I would rate it eight to nine out of ten. I have not encountered any serious stability issues. Stability is very important because any software that supports your business must be available consistently, and disruptions cannot last long.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the scalability of Odoo as eight to nine out of ten. While the architecture makes some changes challenging, they are typically achievable because of the solution's flexibility.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support from Odoo is available and eager to help, however, they sometimes take time to respond. I've found it necessary to follow up with calls to speed things up. I would rate the support service as six to seven out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before Odoo, I worked with HubSpot for CRM. While I did not implement other ERPs, I have experience with SAP, Oracle ERP, and Microsoft Dynamics. The change to Odoo was because it offers the best value for money, flexibility, and an integrated suite of applications priced lower than giants like SAP, Microsoft, or Oracle. Despite potential advantages from those alternatives, Odoo delivers significant benefits at a lower cost.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup with Odoo is straightforward if you are content with its default processes. It's easy to configure within seconds. Customizations vary in difficulty based on complexity and may require developers for more in-depth changes.
Overall, I would rate the ease of setup as five to six out of ten.
What about the implementation team?
I handled everything myself, from deployment to maintenance, owing to my technical background and partnership with Odoo. This involves understanding the product and the specific configurations needed. For someone not familiar with Odoo, training would be required, and depending on the configurations, it could take from an hour to several weeks.
What was our ROI?
Without Odoo, I would need additional help for bookkeeping and administrative tasks. Currently, I manage those tasks independently, which is a significant cost-saving measure for my small business. This solution has allowed me to avoid hiring extra help and handle everything on my own.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing for Odoo is affordable, with the solution being significantly cheaper than its competitors like SAP, Microsoft, and Oracle, while offering a comparable range of services. Thus, in terms of pricing, I would rate it around a two or three.
What other advice do I have?
On a scale from one to ten, I rate Odoo as an eight.
It's crucial to have a stable product, as any software vital to your business should be consistently available. Technical support could improve their response time. Prepare for configurations that require additional developer involvement so that the setup aligns perfectly with your needs. The overall product rating is eight.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other