On-Demand Open Source popularly known as Odoo, it is an open source application with the customization possibilities from Enterprise Resource Planning to Customer Relations Management. It is a large collection of business-related applications and modules like CRM, Sales management, E-commerce, Warehouse management, Purchase management, Accounting suit, Manufacturing management, HRMS etc. Odoo is an extended form of open source ERP suite with integrated and customized features catering to all the above business needs and applications. Initially, the basic level of Odoo Implementation was confined to accounting, inventory and manufacturing field. Latter Odoo got incorporated into E-commerce and data analysis creating a new legroom in the Software market. It is widely considered as one of the most downloadable and easily installed Open source ERP solution. It serves as an alternative to other ERP solutions like SAP, Oracle, E-Business Suite, and Microsoft Dynamics etc. It was founded by Fabien Pinckaers in 2005.
Odoo is embedded with a server, 300 core modules and 5000 plus community modules, and is preferred over strong community modules and domain-specific apps.
The nine core modules are Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, Sales and Purchase, Warehouse Management, E-commerce, Customer Relationship Management, Manufacturing, Project Management, Point of Sale in addition supported with 14,000Apps and Plugins from Odoo App Store. Odoo is now widely implemented across many business circles ranging from SMEs to big MNCs in manufacturing, trading and other service industries.
Every coin has two sides and its inevitable side of any subject matter. Open ERP software also has its advantages and limitations in their reach. Some of the major attractive elements that make Odoo preferable in the community base is that they are highly customizable. Open ERP is an open source, they can be customized with the help of Odoo developer as per the requirements and business needs of the potential clients. Odoo customization is highly flexible and provides you with the functionality that a business network requires. If your business is dynamic in the process then Open ERP customization is best to meet the short-term and long-term goals. Secondly, along with customization, you can integrate your Open ERP software with a 3rd party software. Customization can reduce the duplication of entries and remove unnecessary fields making it technically ease. Being an Open Source ERP software it can be tailored as per the needs of the client due to easy code availability which is yet another attraction of Odoo.
But there are certain disadvantages of customization that can be ignored by reducing the customization for unimportant processes like customizing Open ERP as compared to out of the box implementation can cost your higher. Upgrading to the newer version is another problem with customized Open ERP until you are covered under Open ERP warranty. Customization of Open ERP can take more time and resources.
Despite the technological challenges, Odoo is feathered as a proven product with about 3 million customers grow their business including Business Tycoons ranging from Toyota, Hyundai, PCJ etc.
Odoo e-Commerce solutions are fully integrated with other business apps like CRM, Accounting, Logistics, and Point of Sale etc. As a result inventory and sales can easily be maintained via automatic stock adjustments and reporting.