Odoo vs. SAP: Giants are Making the Switch.

#12 - Myths and tips of implementing Odoo for corporate clients

Hi,

Welcome to issue #12 of Odoo Trailblazer, our journey to become the #1 Odoo partner!

TL;DR:

• Debunking myths: Odoo is a viable option for corporations, can be used alongside SAP, and can address various functionalities based on project scope.

• We shared how large corporations implemented Odoo with us in diverse industries, such as cosmetics, chemical production, and FMCG, for different business functions.

• Corporate sales and implementation require longer sales processes, compliance checks, sufficient team size, proper skill set, and premium support.

Did you know that we implement Odoo not only for small companies with 10 employees but also for businesses of up to 10,000 employees, including subsidiaries of large corporations? Many people are surprised to hear this, as they often expect large corporations to use SAP exclusively.

In this week's issue, we'll explore the world of implementing Odoo for corporate clients. We'll debunk some common myths, share a few captivating case studies, and discuss what it takes to succeed in corporate sales and implementation.

In case you missed it, you can discover;

• The previous issues of this newsletter

• How we help companies to use Odoo

• How we help other Odoo partners implement complex projects.

• Subscribe

Let's get started!

Agenda

1. Debunking Myths: Implementing Odoo for Corporate Clients

2. Fascinating Use Cases and Backstories

3. Unlocking Success: Mastering Corporate Sales and Implementation

Debunking Myths: Implementing Odoo for Corporate Clients

Let's tackle some common misconceptions about implementing Odoo for corporate clients head-on:

Myth #1

"Corporations use SAP, so they don't need Odoo."

While SAP might be the go-to choice at the corporate level, Odoo can be an excellent fit for subsidiaries or specific departments. In fact, about 30% of our corporate relationships started with a small project for a subsidiary. Many corporations implement SAP accounting and procurement globally but allow subsidiaries to choose their main software, providing flexibility and options.

Myth #2

"Corporations decide their ERP at the HQ, so if we don't speak with the HQ, we can't sell Odoo."

Increasingly, IT decisions are decentralized, with corporate or group teams playing an advisory or audit role. This means that even without direct contact with the HQ, Odoo can still be a viable option.

Myth #3

“Odoo misses some critical functionalities."

As a general statement, this is misleading. While Odoo may have some weaker functionalities for corporate use, its cost, ease of use, integration, and flexibility often outweigh these drawbacks.

Fascinating Use Cases and Backstories

Our experience with large companies choosing Odoo has been diverse and insightful. Here are some highlights:

Case #1 - A cosmetics giant streamlines operations with Odoo

Our first large customer, a cosmetics firm with 5,000 employees, used hundreds of Excel files to manage inventory and accounting. They chose Odoo for its cost-effectiveness and open-source nature, which allowed them to internalize competencies.

Case #2 - Mitsubishi Chemical integrates Odoo with SAP

Mitsubishi Chemical initially implemented SAP R/3 for some factories, but the inflexibility and high cost posed challenges. They began implementing Odoo for non-central functions and gradually replaced some SAP functions, integrating both systems.

Case #3 - A billion-dollar FMCG company leverages Odoo accounting

This client used Odoo Community accounting for several businesses across two countries. We upgraded their solution, allowing them to use Odoo as the primary accounting software for some subsidiaries while integrating with their corporate SAP system for consolidation.

We implemented Odoo for 12-15 companies worth a billion dollars or more, and all cases are a bit different.

Unlocking Success: Mastering Corporate Sales and Implementation

While implementing Odoo generally requires skilled consultants with strong functional knowledge and committed customer leaders, addressing corporate clients demands extra capabilities:

1. Time: Brace yourself for a longer and more meticulous sales process. While SME deals typically close in 2-4 months, corporate deals can take anywhere from 6-15 months.

2. Compliance: In addition to subsidiaries assessing your offer, expect to pass multiple checks with the HQ. Showcase your company credentials and advanced technical expertise to meet infrastructure, performance, security, and legal requirements.

3. Sufficient team size: Ensure you can onboard 3-10 people swiftly, if necessary. A healthy consulting business maintains a relatively high occupancy rate (70-90%), so having only 20 consultants might make it challenging to start a large project requiring 5-10 full-time equivalents.

4. Proper skill set: While small Odoo projects demand skilled functional consultants and some project management, larger corporate projects require excellent project management practice, change management experience, and in many cases, senior development teams, infrastructure, and data engineering expertise.

5. Premium support: Many corporate clients have higher expectations in terms of support (functional, technical, and infrastructure maintenance).

Port Cities is organized with Centers of Excellence to meet skill and team size demands, enabling rapid large project staffing with the right skill set, anywhere in the world.

Conclusion

Midmarket clients are crucial for Port Cities, accounting for over 60% of our revenue. As we witness a growing interest in Odoo from large enterprises and corporations, we're receiving more large projects.

Our strategy is to remain a leader in the high-end segment, continuously enhancing our competitive advantages:

• Infrastructure & data engineering teams

• Proprietary large data solutions for Odoo

• Global standardization of training and methodology

That's all for this week's Odoo Trailblazer issue! We hope these insights on implementing Odoo for corporate clients prove valuable.

Stay tuned for more stories and tips as we strive to become the #1 Odoo partner.

If you have any questions or feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out. Have a fantastic week ahead!

---

Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates: Gaspard (Founder & CEO) or Port Cities (our company page).

To learn more about Port Cities and how we help companies use Odoo (business software), visit our website.