A Multinational Company’s Strategic Bet on Odoo Over SAP

S2, #31: What does a billion dollar multinational company like Allnex and Portcities have in common? We both support Australian surfers. Read on to find out how.

Let's face it: the ERP world can be a bit of a name game. Ask the Faceless Man of Westeros. He’ll know. 

Big companies need big-name solutions, right? Not necessarily.

In this issue, I'm calling BS on that stereotype with the story of how the Australian and New Zealand arm of Allnex, a €2.1 billion global resin coating manufacturing giant, unexpectedly thrived by using...Odoo. 

Yeah, THAT open-source ERP suite marketed for “small businesses and startups.”

Intrigued? Good, because this implementation was wilder than you think.

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A Leap into ERP Flexibility

First, some context: Allnex is a worldwide leader in making coating resins and additives across over 100 countries. 

But when their Australian and New Zealand branches needed to replace their decrepit Microsoft Dynamics AX system, the corporate SAP template was a total overkill for their quirky B2C retail division spanning 10 trade stores.

See, this niche operation combined Allnex's usual industrial manufacturing WITH  their new retail model, which sells resins and gel coats to surfers and tradespeople. 

That’s why they needed retail smarts like point-of-sale alongside traditional manufacturing/distribution ERP capabilities.

And here is where the “scrappy” Odoo suite surprisingly emerged as the perfect underdog fit. It offers similar ERP might as SAP but with integrated retail tools—all unified on one lean platform tailored to Allnex's needs.

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Customization for Compliance and Efficiency

But implementing Odoo as Allnex's ERP wasn't always smooth sailing. 

The project manager, Charles Pierrard, admitted, "One mistake our team made was underestimating Odoo's standard planning functionality initially." They had to heavily customize the manufacturing module, with Pierrard noting they "stayed transparent about the issues and worked together to define and test the custom developments needed."

Beyond manufacturing, they rolled out a full 8-app Odoo suite covering everything from sales and purchases to quality control and accounting across both countries. They even built a multi-instance environment separating Allnex's Odoo retail business from their SAP-run construction operations.

Fun fact: Using two ERPs can be a good financial decision for companies looking to save costs but still benefit from both systems.

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A Surprisingly Collaborative Implementation

The implementation's success stemmed from a strategic approach of meticulous analysis and aligning Odoo's functions with Allnex's priorities through collaborative proof-of-concept testing. 

As Pierrard highlighted, "The customer's ERP implementation experience with great change management and risk communication helped. We worked as partners, looking for solutions together."

Pierrard also commended the "professionalism in project management and reporting" from both teams, which was crucial for rolling out the systems to 10 locations for around 160 users each. 

Not bad for an open-source suite typically deployed at small fry operations, no?

Allnex's project team offers this advice for other big companies considering lean ERP alternatives:

• Ensure the chosen software seamlessly fits your processes to avoid costly redevelopment

• Partner with experienced ERP experts who actually understand your unique needs

• Dedicate sufficient time to process optimization and organizational change management

By taking this strategic approach with Odoo partner Portcities, Allnex transformed their retail operations. They now have an agile system automating workflows across manufacturing, distribution, and retail - improving productivity and customer experience.

The takeaway? 

Even giants can pivot to modern, lightweight platforms when bloated legacy systems clash with new business realities. Odoo proved a surprisingly nimble alternative for Allnex's B2C retail needs.

You can read more implementation details in the full case study. I hope you learn a valuable lesson: Allnex's unconventional ERP choice shows big doesn't always mandate an über-suite.

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