Frequently asked questions about Odoo​​

Odoo ERP is an open-source Enterprise Resource Planning-software that provides a range of business applications to manage and integrate various business processes. Think of modules for CRM, accounting, inventory management, production, project management and much more.

Why is it important for companies? Well, in today's competitive market, managing several separate systems can be very inefficient. Odoo offers an integrated solution that helps you to make all business processes run more smoothly and efficiently. This not only saves time but often also money, which can be a great benefit for both small and large companies.

Odoo has an open-source version which is indeed free. This version, called the Odoo Community, offers a lot of basic functionality that can be enough for many small and medium-sized businesses. However, if you need more advanced features, specific modules or technical support, you should consider upgrading to Odoo Enterprise. This is the paid version, and costs may vary depending on the number of users and the modules you choose. So yes, there is a free version, but depending on your needs, a paid option may be more suitable.

We as Odoo Experts only implement Odoo Enterprise, on Odoo.sh.

Look here for the price of Odoo Enterprise.

Odoo is an open-source business management software that includes a variety of applications and Odoo Apps for different business needs. From customer relationship management (CRM) and e-commerce to accounting, inventory management and human resources, Odoo has a solution for almost every aspect of your business. The idea is to provide an integrated system that allows you to seamlessly coordinate different departments and processes. This allows you to work more efficiently, save costs and improve your customer service.

Read also: What is Odoo? 

Odoo is used by a wide range of companies, from small start-ups to large multinationals. The platform is very versatile, so you can find it in various industries such as manufacturing, retail, services, and even non-profit organizations. Because it is modular and adaptable, practically every company can design it according to its needs. So whether you have a small business with a few employees or a large enterprise with multiple departments, Odoo probably has solutions that can work for you.

Take a look at our references

By mid-2023, Odoo had more than 7 million users worldwide. However, this number is constantly changing given the growing popularity of the software. For the most current figures, it is best to go directly to the Odoo-website or official press releases.

Sure, Odoo has a pretty good reputation when it comes to reliability. Many companies, large and small, rely on this platform for their day-to-day operations. The great thing is that because it's open-source, there's a whole community behind it that quickly finds and fixes bugs. In addition, there are regular updates to keep the software up-to-date and secure.
The security of your data is also something that Odoo pays a lot of attention to. There are several layers of security built in to ensure your data is safe.
So yes, overall, you can say that Odoo is a reliable platform for your business management.

Also read our blog: How safe is Odoo?

Odoo is popular for several reasons:
 

1. Modularity: It offers a wide range of apps and modules that businesses can choose based on their specific needs.
2. Cost: Odoo has an open-source version that is free to use, making it accessible to smaller businesses on a budget.
3. Scalability: The platform is designed to easily scale with your business, from startups to large enterprises.
4. Ease of use: The interface is intuitive and easy to use, which reduces the learning curve.
5. Flexibility: Being open-source, Odoo can be customized to meet specific business requirements.
6. Community and Support: There is an active community around Odoo, as well as plenty of tutorials, documentation and third-party apps.

Odoo can really be a game changer for your business. It ensures that all your different departments, from sales to inventory management, are on one platform. That makes everything a lot more efficient.
 
Automation is also a big plus. You can automate many tasks that normally take a lot of time. This not only saves you time, but also reduces the risk of errors.
 
You also get real-time insights into how your business is performing through dashboards and reports. This way you can make faster decisions based on current data.
 
What's also nice is that you can completely customize Odoo. It's flexible and adaptable, so it adapts to your specific business needs.
And speaking of customer service, by using the CRM and sales modules, you can manage your relationships with customers a lot more effectively. This can significantly increase your customer satisfaction.
 
Finally, Odoo can also scale as your business grows. So you don't have to worry about "growing out" of it at some point.
In short, Odoo can help you streamline your business processes, save costs and increase your customer satisfaction.

Odoo's core modules cover a wide range of business applications. Some of the most commonly used modules are:

• CRM (Customer Relationship Management): For managing customer relationships and sales processes.
• Inventory Management: To manage product inventory, warehouse locations, and logistics operations.
• Accounting and Finance: To perform all accounting operations such as general ledger, balance sheet and financial reports.
• Sales and Purchasing: To manage quotes, orders and invoicing.
• Project Management: For planning and tracking projects and tasks.
• Ecommerce: For managing an online store and integration with other modules.
• HRM (Human Resource Management): For managing employees, salaries, and recruitment.
• Production: For managing production processes and work orders.
• Website Builder: For easy creation and management of corporate websites.
• Marketing Automation: For automating marketing tasks such as email campaigns.

Odoo ERP is highly scalable which is one of its strengths. It can be easily adapted to the size and needs of your business. Whether you're a small startup with a handful of employees or a large enterprise with hundreds of employees, Odoo offers the flexibility to grow. You can start with just a few Odoo Apps and add more later as your business grows. The open architecture and modularity make it easy to add new features and integrations.

Yes, Odoo is definitely suitable for small businesses. Thanks to the modular structure, you can start with only the Odoo Apps you really need, keeping costs low. As your business grows, you can easily add more Odoo Apps and functionalities. This makes it a flexible and cost-effective solution for small businesses looking for an integrated management system to streamline their operations.

Odoo differs from traditional ERP systems such as SAP and Oracle on a number of important points. Firstly, it is much more cost effective, especially for small and medium sized businesses. You only pay per user and can use everything for that one price per user. Second, Odoo is more user-friendly and easier to implement.

While traditional ERP systems are often complex and time-consuming to set up, Odoo is designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. Third, Odoo is open-source, which offers more flexibility and customization options. You are not bound by what the software can do out of the box; you can adapt it to your specific needs.

The costs of implementing Odoo can vary depending on several factors. If you use the community version, there are no license fees, but you can still pay for customization, implementation and any additional Odoo Apps you may need. The Enterprise version has license fees based on the number of users. In addition, the costs for advice, training and maintenance can come. You may also need to upgrade hardware or infrastructure, which incurs additional costs.

For more information, you can contact us for a detailed cost estimate.

To implement Odoo in your organization, you have a number of options. You can opt for an in-house implementation, where your own IT team installs and configures the software (but this is of course not our advice 😉). The best option is to outsource this to a certified Odoo partner (and that's what we are 😉) who has experience in setting up and customizing the system. The basic steps are usually:

1. Analysis: Identify which Odoo Apps you need and what your company-specific requirements are.
2. Installation: Install the base software and the modules you have chosen.
3. Configuration: Set up the software to meet your needs.
4. Data migration: Move existing company data to Odoo.
5. Testing: Run tests to make sure everything is working correctly.
6. Training: Train your employees to use the new system.
7. Deployment: Launch the system and make it accessible to all users.

Odoo is mainly developed in Python. For the front-end it uses HTML, JavaScript and XML. By using these technologies, Odoo provides a flexible and customizable platform where developers can create modules or modify existing modules to meet specific business needs.

Odoo takes security seriously and has several measures in place to protect users' data. They use up-to-date encryption and other security protocols. Access to data can be restricted and regulated at various levels within the organization. In addition, they also offer options for backups and data recovery. However, as with any software, it is important to practice good security practices yourself, such as using strong passwords and updating the software regularly.

Also read our blog: How safe is Odoo?

Yes, Odoo offers mobile accessibility. You can easily access the web version of Odoo through the browser on your mobile device, and dedicated mobile apps are also available. These apps are optimized for mobile use and offer many of the core features you'd find on the desktop version. This allows you to efficiently manage your business processes on the go.

Yes, you can certainly integrate existing systems with Odoo. Odoo offers APIs and other connectivity options that make it relatively easy to link it to other software and systems you already use. This makes Odoo flexible and adaptable to your specific business needs.

Odoo is known for its user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation. The software is designed with ease of use in mind, which reduces the learning curve for new users. Thanks to the modular structure, you can start with the functions you really need and add more later, making it even more accessible.

Odoo is versatile and can be used in a wide variety of industries. Whether you're in manufacturing, retail, services, healthcare, or any other industry, Odoo has modules specifically designed to meet the unique needs of your industry. Its adaptability and scalability make it a good choice for many different types of businesses.

To develop custom modules for Odoo, you need some knowledge of Python and Odoo's own development framework. Odoo's framework provides a set of tools and guidelines to ease the development process. Usually, you follow these steps:

1. Create a new module directory within the Odoo addons folder.
2. Use XML files to define new models or changes to existing models.
3. Write Python code for your module's back-end logic.
4. Optionally add front-end elements with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
5. Thoroughly test your new module before deploying it to production.

Yes, Odoo provides extensive training and technical support to its users. You can access online documentation, video tutorials and forums. In addition, Odoo offers special training sessions and workshops. For more complex implementations and additional technical support, it is recommended to work with certified Odoo partners such as "Odoo Experts". They have the expertise to guide you through the entire process, from implementation to adjustments and support.

Key features of Odoo's CRM system include lead tracking, sales process automation, and customer segmentation. You can also manage opportunities, generate reports and use analytics to measure performance. The system is designed to streamline the sales process and increase efficiency, helping you improve customer relationships and boost sales.

Odoo can boost your business growth by streamlining operational processes and increasing efficiency. Thanks to the modular design, you can choose only the tools you really need, from CRM and e-commerce to accounting and inventory management. This makes it easier to manage your costs and use your resources optimally. In addition, Odoo's user-friendly interface helps improve customer satisfaction, which can lead to more sales and long-term growth.

Everyone is always a little curious about the big companies and how they generate their income. Odoo earns its money by making and delivering the software Odoo, the affiliated partners and by offering various services. We have made an overview for you of the different sources of income from Odoo.

• Odoo Enterprise: This is the paid-extended version of Odoo, with additional services from Odoo.
• Odoo Online: Odoo Enterprise as a SaaS solution
• Odoo.sh the hosting and development platform for Odoo Enterprise
• Consultancy: Online consultancy for Odoo customers
• Custom development: creating custom apps
• Partners: Odoo uses a partner network

The Odoo Experience is the Odoo event that is organized every year by Odoo. During this event, Odoo launches the latest version every year and all new functions and possibilities are demonstrated to the public. The event is visited by partners, customers, and other Odoo enthusiasts from all over the world. 

If you are working with Odoo yourself or if you are interested in it, then that is really 'the place to be'!

Yes, Odoo usually has a development roadmap, but it is not always publicly available to everyone. The roadmap contains an overview of new features, improvements and other changes they plan to implement in future versions of the software. Odoo organizes annual events such as the Odoo Experience, where they present new features and plans for the future. 

If you want specific information about the roadmap, it's a good idea to contact Odoo or Odoo Experts. It may also be helpful to follow the community forums and blogs for updates and announcements.

Odoo's Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) may vary depending on several factors such as the number of users, chosen modules, customizations and any additional services such as training or technical support. Odoo has both a free "Community" version and paid "Enterprise" versions, so costs may vary. In addition to licensing costs, you also have to take into account implementation costs, maintenance and any costs for updates and migrations. It is best to request a detailed quote to get an accurate estimate of the TCO for your specific situation.

To use Odoo Enterprise you only pay an amount per user. It is nice to know what is meant by 'user'. A user in Odoo is a person who has access to Odoo. Can anyone log in to Odoo? Then that is a user.

The only exception to this are so-called portal users. A portal user is (often) a customer who accesses the Odoo portal to e.g. orders and invoices. They are therefore not counted as users.

Yes, the administrator is also a paying user. We do not recommend using this user as a 'normal' user. The administrator has all rights and is therefore not suitable for daily use. We recommend using the administrator only to perform administrative tasks on Odoo.

If the accountant has access to Odoo, then the accountant is also a user. You can, of course, share your own data with your accountant to get around this. However, we do not recommend this for two main reasons:

• You cannot trace back and see what the accountant has done because all activities are registered under one user.
• You can set other (restricted) rights for the accountant so that you determine and manage what he/she sees.

No, Odoo has only one type of user. Odoo has chosen to keep the price per user as low as possible and also has the lowest price on the market. This also makes the software less complex!

Odoo is released in two versions: Odoo Community and Odoo Enterprise.

Odoo Community is a free Open-Source version and Odoo Enterprise is a paid version with extra functionalities. Odoo Enterprise is not open source, but is also referred to as an 'Open Core' application. This means that the base, or Core, of the paid version is the same as the free version.

This means that the basis of the Odoo Enterprise version (paid) is the same as the Community version (free), but the Enterprise version has been further expanded with additional functionalities. The Odoo Community version is therefore still 100% Open Source. The Core of the Enterprise version is also 100% Open Source (since it is the same as the Community version), but all the extensions here are Closed Source. 

According to the definition of Open Source, these Enterprise functionalities are no longer Open Source, because the source code can no longer be freely distributed. However, the source code is still open and readable, but may only be used and modified with a valid license agreement with Odoo.

The Odoo Community version is released under the LGPLv3 license. The additional Enterprise features are released under a Proprietary license, OEEL-1.

Third-party apps may be released under different licenses. Then it can be an open source license, such as AGPLv3 or LGPLv3, but it can also be a (own) Proprietary license from the maker of the software.

Odoo is produced by the creator Odoo S.A. Up to 3 versions are supported. Odoo calls this the LTS (Long Time Support) versions. Odoo aims to release a new version every year, which means support is guaranteed for up to 3 years. 

There are possibilities to extend this period with Odoo, but you will have to make separate agreements with them for this. It is often also possible to arrange a longer support period with an Odoo partner.

An Odoo upgrade or migration means that you switch to a newer version of the Odoo software. This is important to take advantage of the latest features, security improvements, and optimizations that have been made. Depending on how much customization and which modules you have in use, an upgrade can range from relatively simple to complex. It is often advisable to carry out such an upgrade in collaboration with certified Odoo partners to ensure a smooth transition and that all data and functions are preserved.

Odoo releases a new version every year. Odoo does this during the Odoo Experience: an event that is held every year in October/November.
 
Odoo Online is an exception to this: intermediate versions appear periodically.