Tag: Odoo CRM

A study by Havard Business Review reveals that one in every six projects costs over 200% of the estimated amount, and 70% of IT projects face delays. Despite the availability of flexible methodologies and multiple resources, companies are still struggling and wasting a lot of money every year to handle project management challenges.

While it is the project manager’s responsibility to ensure smooth working of all the processes, they are always loaded with tons of duties such as budgets, allocating resources, scheduling tasks, and more. Moreover, if there are several projects running, it can become overwhelming for the project manager to personally look into every collaboration happening in the business. This blog will take you through the major challenges faced in project management and how deploying Odoo technology can help you tackle these challenges and elevate your performance.

Read more: What’s New In Odoo 15: The Most Anticipated Upcoming Version Of Odoo

Challenges faced by the project managers

 1. Lack of communication

According to Deloitte, 32% of professionals believe that communication is the biggest issue of project management. A transparent method of communication will help build credibility amongst your stakeholders and involve them in the process. Miscommunication can affect teamwork and even cause conflicts among team members, causing a delay in the project. To avoid these pitfalls, project managers can rely on collaborative and project management software available in the market.

 2. Budgeting issues

Financial issues are one of the biggest hurdles of effective project management. Managers can avoid complications a project may likely face by efficient cost management and achieving quicker results.

3. Lack of clarity on goals and success

According to a study, 39% of projects fail due to a lack of project planning and defined goals. Hence, It is vital to set clear goals for the success of any project. Additionally, a project manager needs to set up milestones and quality tests to quantify the progress of a project. A predefined set of objectives and goals will help project managers defend their vision before the upper management and customers.

4. Scope creep

Scope creep, also known as requirement creep or even feature creep, refers to how a project’s requirements increase over a project’s life cycle. While scope creep can be beneficial in some cases, it can also have a negative impact on your business. Clients who have vague requirements and don’t know what exactly they want can be challenging for both managers and the project team.

5. Inadequate risk management

Typically, projects have several variables that create many possibilities and rarely go exactly the way it was planned. Not having the foresight to identify any critical situations or making up contingency plans can be a significant setback for any project. All these challenges demand the interplay of intuitive project management software to ensure real-time tracking and organizing of projects. Over 90% of high-performing companies are switching to project management applications to complete their projects professionally. Project management software helps automate time-consuming tasks and manage a large team of professionals working within. Additionally, the software can also help businesses put data straight and accomplish remarkable results without any delays.

Though you can find wide choices of project management tools in the market, you will have to pick the application that suits your business workflow. Make sure that the chosen project management software for your business includes the following features.

• Project Planning and Scheduling
• Project Budgeting
• Team Collaboration
• Time Tracking
• Reporting

While the project management tool may offer several other features too, the above said are essential for any project management. A perfect solution to all project management-related problems is Odoo. Whether you want to add tasks/subtasks under a project or assign tasks to your team members, Odoo helps you achieve it seamlessly.

Read more: How Odoo ERP Helps Leverage Business Intelligence and Data Analytics

Benefits of Odoo’s Project Management Module

1. Mobile friendly

Odoo can be installed on a mobile phone, making it easy to use while on the go. Given the pandemic situation, this feature is a boon. It allows team members and the managers to remain connected and track the projects from anywhere. That said, the Odoo project module allows you to get a large screen view along with a chatter facility using computers.

2. Customizable

Odoo allows you to customize your projects easily. From renaming projects to rescheduling stages, the Odoo module enables you to achieve it hassle-free. Additionally, its Filters and Groups features help you track the projects and tasks.

3. User-friendly

Odoo is highly user-friendly and provides a Kanban view to have a quick glance at the projects based on the tasks and stages. For example, to check the time and deadline, you can use the Gantt Chart, Graphic, and Pivot view.

4. Enhanced communication support

With Odoo, you can integrate email and use your email alias. This feature allows managers or customers to automatically create a task by simply sending emails to the specified alias. All those who receive the communication will become a part of the task. Additionally, it supports sending alerts to customers based on the activities. Odoo project also allows you to chat with the team members by just clicking on the team member’s image. It not only saves time but helps collect in real-time.

5. Improved customer management

Odoo project module helps you generate customer tickets which allows you to track the progress of the project and interact with the project team.

6. Report generation

Odoo generates reports in an easy-to-grasp format. Options such as Filters, Measures, and Group-by help the team to manage the reports.

7. Easy integration with other modules

The project module integrates easily with other modules such as Calendar, Timesheet, Accounting, Expenses, etc. It helps you to manage accounts, plan expenses, track working hours, and plan activities.

Read more: 6 Ways Odoo ERP Customization Can Benefit Your Business

How can Fingent help?

Undeniably, the Odoo Project Management module is a must-have solution for all businesses. We help businesses achieve their strategic goals and drive better revenue with our ERP development services. We have expertise in developing user-friendly applications for businesses across various industries.

If you’re looking to reduce your business complexities and drive growth with Odoo implementation, contact us.

Businesses today need a reliable, effective, and user-friendly support system to tackle the rapidly evolving market changes. Odoo ERP offers features and easy-to-use models that enable businesses to simplify their processes, reduce costs and improve efficiency. It also offers free and paid versions with an outstanding integrated system providing businesses with reasonable flexibility and scalability. With these and many other unique capabilities, Odoo ERP is turning into a hot topic amongst top companies today! With the release of Odoo 15, expectations have risen even more! Businesses are strategizing ways in which they can deploy the improved capabilities of Odoo 15 to enhance their business growth. This blog will take you through what’s new in Odoo 15 and how you can leverage these enhanced features for your business.

What is Odoo 15?

The all-new Odoo 15 is likely to launch in October 2021. It will be released in the Odoo Experience Meet which will be conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic prevalent in many parts of the world. Odoo 15 is expected to feature advanced tools that can help improve business performance and efficiency. Odoo 15 is believed to be the ultimate business solution with its latest web-based integration and superior architecture.

Read more: 5 signs which imply that your business needs Odoo ERP

A Look Into the Expected Features of Odoo 15

1. New import screen

Odoo 15 is expected to extend the experience with its new importing screen feature. This new import screen feature includes a menu to handle cash rounding making it seamless for accounting and generating the invoices.

This feature is expected to be available in all the required modules and functional tabs.

2. Capable options in Pivot and Graph views

Odoo ERP software provides data representation with Pivot and Graph views. The Odoo 15 version will most likely allow you to edit and adjust the graph using Odoo studio. With this, you can extend the representation of the data to valuable insights for improved decision-making and analysis.

3. New HTML Editor

Odoo 15 is expected to include an attractive new HTML editor. While it will be similar to text editors, it will include HTML codes. So, many developers are using it to extend productivity.

4. Coupon and Promotion Program in POS

While the previous versions of the Coupon and Promotions were exclusively for Sale and eCommerce websites, the Odoo 15 coupons is created to support both eCommerce as well as POS.

The feature will be available in the POS settings. While under the product menu you will have the option to create Coupons and Promotions based on your business needs for later use. The cashier can click on the Enter Code button from the POS and apply the Coupons for Point of Sale Order which will be reflected in the customer’s invoice.

Considering the previous trends of Odoo releases, Odoo 15 will have an enhanced user experience that is sure to blow your mind.

5. New command and command editor

Odoo 15 will include the new command and command editor. It will help handle invoices in accounting configuration.

Read more: How Odoo ERP Simplifies Sales Management in Your Organization

6. CRM

The new feature in the CRM is expected to improve managing leads and well assigning salespersons.

Using this feature, leaders can allocate the desired team members to activity or lead in the Odoo 15 CRM module. This will augment the organization’s sales activity and the team members’ collaboration for the leads.

7. Project burn down chart

This feature will be introduced in the Project section. Here, you will find an easy reporting tool to view the actual chart of the project’s progress phase-wise.

Additionally, the chart will help identify the current trend and any delay for the project deliverable.

8. Share buttons

The share functionality will be included in the customize section of the eCommerce website platform.

Typically, the share button allows the products to be shared on different social media platforms through the website portal. Using the new functionality, you can share the details on the platform to finalize the product.

9. Purchase dashboard

The purchase dashboard gives an amazing perspective for the dashboard comprising all the purchase values and graphs. The dashboard provides the needed information about the tax and untaxed-based total. A click on the reporting tab of the Odoo 15 dashboard will seamlessly get you a detailed report.

10. Website gift card

This option allows you to sell the card on eCommerce. This functionality creates unique codes for the sale of Gift Cards. These unique codes are given to the customers either via email or physically.

Odoo apps or modules help create multiple unique codes for the purchase of a gift card. Odoo 15 is likely to upgrade these features.

Additional features

In addition to the above-mentioned features, Odoo 15 is likely to incorporate these features as well.

• Business Intelligence Tools
• A newly designed eCommerce product page
• Formulas of BOM, %of final products, etc., to improve the process manufacturing.

Read more: Why Choose Fingent as Your Odoo ERP Partner

Conclusion

Odoo ERP implementation can help you manage your business seamlessly and with Odoo 15 you can enhance it further with customization. In general, Odoo 15 brings several opportunities to users and developers and helps them explore better opportunities.

At Fingent, we constantly indulge in building innovative modules for Odoo and other ERP platforms. The rising capabilities of Odoo are sure to unlock unique opportunities and we are preparing businesses to deploy the same.

If you think your business is ready to deploy the rising capabilities of Odoo, then connect with our experts today, and explore unlimited possibilities for your business!

Why Should Manufacturing Companies Leverage Odoo ERP?

As the manufacturing industry flourish, the need for a centralized control mechanism to ensure streamlined and effective operations is turning imperative. Processes like material sourcing, inventory, invoicing, purchase, order, accounts, and human resource management needs to be automated to make room for high-level practices and decisions. In such a scenario, how do you think Odoo ERP can help manufacturing companies accelerate efficiency and business success?

Odoo ERP can empower businesses with centralized management! From inventories to work orders, to customers and accounts, Odoo ERP enables streamlined management of the entire business processes, seamlessly. Leveraging Odoo ERP and using its open-source methodologies can enable manufacturing companies to derive the required speed, flexibility, and transparency to drive business growth and success.

Here at Fingent, we provide ERP solutions for various industries challenges including those of the manufacturing industry. But before we dive deeper into how Oddo ERP can simplify management for manufacturing companies, let’s take a look into the prevailing challenges of the industry.

Read more: Drive digital transformation in manufacturing

Challenges Faced By The Manufacturing Industry

From inventory to sales to the customer, the manufacturing industry deals with a huge amount of data, on a daily basis. As digitization is taking precedence, enterprises are looking for business models that are supported by intelligent systems. Therefore, companies must use an ERP system to manage their operations. Here are few challenges that organizations face without an ERP system in place.

• Forecasting demand – To avoid waste, spoilage or over/under production, businesses must gauge customer behavior and demands. As markets are becoming more volatile and unpredictable, it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict trends and plan production and distribution.
• Planning inventory – Inventory, if managed manually is bound to have errors that can cause inaccuracy of data, stock issues, and bad decisions, all of which can hinder returns. For the smooth functioning of a manufacturing company, data accuracy and consistency are important.
• Lack of skilled labor – To preserve the quality of services and reputation, manufacturing companies must hire and retain skilled workers. With fairly large applications and without a quick processing tool, HR may find it difficult to select suitable candidates.
• Minimizing costs and improving efficiency – One of the best ways to increase returns is to lower production costs while maintaining an efficient supply chain. However, this must not compromise quality. So, manufacturing plants need to automate their operations and management.
• Client Relationship Management(CRM) – Customer loyalty, though important does not come easy in today’s competitive business landscape. Businesses must invest in resources that help prioritize client data for current and potential customers and manage sales lead. A CRM will take into account the customer preferences and demands along with market trends.

Read more: Odoo Migration: Why Is It Crucial and How to Do It Seamlessly!

Top Features of Odoo ERP System

Manufacturing firms must implement customized software solutions with multiple functionalities that are tailored to the industry. Odoo is an open-source ERP software that acts as an effective business management tool with its robust functions. Here are a few highlighted features of Odoo ERP for manufacturing:

• Inventory Management
• Material Management
• Purchase Management
• Production Management
• Sales Management
• Quality Assurance
• Customer Relationship Management
• Accounting and Invoicing
• HR and Payroll Management

All these features can be customized based on your business needs.

In addition to the above features, Odoo ERP helps in automating the maintenance order for repairs and other preventive maintenance. It includes a scheduler functionality that uses statistical calculations to alert you in case of any failure.

Read more: 5 Salient Features of Odoo that Make it a Reliable ERP for Enterprises

6 Ways Manufacturing Industry Can Benefit From Odoo ERP

1. Automation

As digitization is gaining a lot of importance, companies must optimize workflows in the supply chain through automation. Processes such as inventory updates, payments and invoicing, tracking, distribution, and sales across different channels, even making decisions on high volume orders can be automated using Odoo.

Automation drives efficiency, productivity, accuracy, lowers operational costs, and ensures employee safety. All this helps in meeting the changing supply demands of a changing market.

2. Master Data Management

Odoo ERP comes with master data management capabilities that allow companies to incorporate business processes without duplication of data. The master data management ensures there is a consistent exchange of organizational data, eliminates redundancy, and simplifies business operations.

3.Quality Control

With Odoo ERP, companies can set quality checks for certain triggers. It can help schedule operations and even send maintenance requests automatically whenever needed.

The tool also allows enterprises to track different versions of a product(Product Lifecycle Management) and manage its routing accordingly.

4. Forecasting

Odoo ERP is equipped with analytical tools that locate patterns, observe huge datasets and forecast future trends, and enable manufacturing companies to create business strategies accordingly. These predictive capabilities allow companies to focus on production to meet customer demands and earn their loyalty.

Read more: How Odoo ERP Helps Leverage Business Intelligence and Data Analytics

5. Managing the workforce

Odoo’s HRM module automates the basic segregation process based on the required attributes for the post and enables better recruitment. It also includes training and development, capabilities and skills management, compensation records, and employee data.

Additionally, Odoo ERP comes with an employee scheduling feature that helps schedule and track tasks.

6. Returns

Odoo ERP helps businesses to maximize returns by improving operational efficiency, boost productivity and enhance customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

At Fingent, we maximize the potential of manufacturing companies with future-proof technologies. We develop ERP systems that integrate WFM, CRM, HRM, and accounting services for businesses of every size. For custom Odoo ERP development, talk to our experts.

Unlock the value of data analytics and business intelligence with Odoo ERP

From cloud computing to the Internet of Things, the fourth industrial revolution has brought about remarkable technological reforms in most business strategies across industries. Today, businesses strive to face competition with advanced software tools and cutting-edge technologies. Organizations are implementing data-driven methods to improve their product and service offerings and add value to their customers. Techniques like Business Intelligence and Data Analytics help companies survive the cut-throat competition, accelerate speed-to-market, retain customers, and innovate. Data analytics and BI unlock the door to several opportunities, enabling companies to expand, grow and stay relevant in the ever-changing technology landscape.

However, implementing Data Analytics and Business Intelligence features in your existing business model requires careful planning. Intelligent, digital core ERPs like Odoo have come up with specific tools and modules to simplify the entire implementation process and help businesses gain value. 

Read more: How Odoo ERP Enhances Retail Operations Management

Let’s cut to the chase first. Before we see Odoo’s tailored BI and Analytics offerings, it would be good to get the basics right. 

What is the difference between Business Intelligence and Data Analytics?

• Business Intelligence refers to the information required to augment business decision-making activities, while data analytics refers to changing the raw data into a meaningful format.
• Primarily, BI supports decision-making and helps companies grow. On the other hand, data analytics helps build a model, cleanse, predict and modify data based on business needs.
• Business Intelligence can be implemented using various BI tools. However, BI implementation is done only on historical data stored in data warehouses or data marts. Data analytics can be implemented using BI tools. However, the implementation will depend on the strategy designed by the organization.
• BI can be debugged only through the historical data supplied, while data analytics can be debugged through the proposed model to convert the data into a meaningful format.

Read more: How Data Warehousing Adds Value To Data Visualization & Reporting

A brief overview of Odoo ERP

At Fingent, we specialize in custom Odoo ERP implementation, Odoo ERP integration, Odoo ERP migration, upgrade, maintenance, and support. We help you tailor Odoo ERP features to match your specific business requirements. Odoo ERP customization helps enterprises solve complex business challenges, streamline operations and boost overall productivity. When you have all the required business data in one place, with personalized dashboards offering helpful insights, your decision-making and business strategy formulation become seamless. Being an Official Partner of Odoo, Fingent makes it a cakewalk for you. 

Read more: Why Choose Fingent as Your Odoo ERP Partner

With its vast suite comprising over 40 business productivity applications, Odoo provides a smoother and simpler way to run your business. The range of business apps offered by Odoo is highly comprehensive, fully integrated, easy to use, and supports numerous different industries.

Odoo offers over ten dedicated modules to effectively handle diverse business processes such as HRM, finance, CRM, manufacturing, accounting, inventory, and eCommerce. The most significant advantage of Odoo ERP is that you get a free and open-source community version under a general public license. This reduces the overall project cost significantly and so is exceptionally suited for small-to-medium enterprises.

Read more: 5 Salient Features of Odoo that Make it a Reliable ERP for Enterprises

Odoo ERP: Business Intelligence and Data Analytics 

Odoo ERP includes a comprehensive data visualization and analysis software interface that helps companies capitalize on their data sources. It has an in-depth dashboard interface and powerful Business Intelligence capabilities for data mining and secret meaning extraction.

Here the top five BI and Data Analytics features offered by Odoo ERP:

1. Integrated spreadsheets

Introduced by Odoo 14, this feature has been included to preserve the ease and comfort of users working in excel spreadsheets. Previously, users had to download the pivot view of every report initially for editing the excel spreadsheet.

This feature makes it easier to bind and store excel sheets in the ERP itself. While the integrated spreadsheets make it easy to review reports quickly, its dashboard pivot table link helps access live data.

Users can perform all possible acts and input formulas, add and delete columns, apply formatting, and do more like ordinary excel sheets.

2. Sales analysis

Odoo ERP offers an intuitive dashboard GUI that helps monitor sales data and keep sales records for future reference. To retrieve relevant data, all you need to do is apply different filters or divide it into various segments for easy access. You can use bar graphs, pie charts, and line graph analysis to get an organized view of your sales data.

Analyzing sales data helps you gain insights into the purchasing habits of your customers. Additionally, it allows you to refine the sales tactics to reach out and drive them down the sales funnel to the target audience.

Read more: How Odoo ERP Simplifies Sales Management in Your Organization

3. Employee performance tracking

The Odoo dashboards, along with your sales team’s performance, allow you to assess your CRM efforts quickly. This, combined with efficient resource utilization and task scheduling, can help you take adequate steps to improve your sales strategy.

4. Inventory analysis

The Odoo inventory module provides a comprehensive view of the inventory. It is equipped with all the important Business Intelligence tools and analytics features. This feature provides you with reports and insights into the inventory and warehouse data in real-time. Odoo inventory module enables you to monitor your stock movements, stock receipts, average delivery time, turnover of inventory, and valuation.

5. Lead nurturing

The Odoo CRM supports an exceptional and descriptive graphical view for monitoring and evaluating your lead data. You can then group your leads based on factors such as gender, age, location, business type, and several other segments. To retrieve the lead data easily, you can apply filters and set time ranges to compare the new leads with your old leads. Moreover, this enhances your CRM efforts and helps build a stronger relationship with your customers.

Read more: Odoo CRM vs. Salesforce CRM: How To Make The Right Choice

Become a data powerhouse

There’s no denying that BI and data analytics are helping businesses stay relevant and stay ahead of the competition by improving decision-making. BI tools help you analyze your customers’ preferences and buying habits. Powerful BI and analytics features offered by Odoo ERP help refine your marketing strategies at regular intervals.

Fingent provides end-to-end Odoo ERP consulting and implementation services for businesses across different industries, enabling them to resolve complex business problems. We have the expertise to formulate strategies through Odoo ERP solutions to achieve optimal results.

If you have overwhelming volumes of business data that you want to explore and exploit with advanced BI and data analytics tools, we’re here to help you with the same. Give us a call and discover the best plans to make your business truly data-driven. 

The Significance of Odoo Migration and How to Do It?

Odoo is an open-source ERP software that comprises an integrated suite of business modules such as eCommerce, accounting, warehouse management, project management, financial management, customer relationship management (CRM), manufacturing, and purchasing. These modules ensure seamless and efficient communication with each other to exchange information.

Read more: 5 Salient Features of Odoo that Make it a Reliable ERP for Enterprises

Odoo ERP can be used by businesses of all sizes and is available in both cloud or on-premise versions. Odoo is open source and highly customizable, allowing developers to access the code and make changes in the module based on their business needs. Odoo ERP can be easily integrated with payment processors and external shipping systems such as UPS, eBay, FedEx, Amazon, and QuickBooks.

Read more: 5 Reasons to Integrate Your E-commerce Application with Odoo ERP

So, if you are new and planning to implement Odoo ERP for your business, you should consider the most recent and latest version of Odoo, that is, Odoo 14.0. 

However, if you are already leveraging Odoo and thinking of migrating to Odoo 14, you need to assimilate the situation before migrating.

Odoo migration involves two parts:

• Data migration 
• Odoo apps migration 

You can migrate both your company data and the apps used in the older version of your ERP. This migration process requires expertise and an experienced Odoo ERP partner to achieve it. Your older data must be optimized for the newer version smoothly and is best done by a professional Odoo ERP implementation partner like Fingent.

Why migrate to the latest version of Odoo ERP?

Undeniably, the latest versions of Odoo include improved features such as security, speed, and stability. Migrating to the latest version indicates that you are ready to update your system and move forward. Moving forward does not mean that you lose your old data and turn to new data. Migration ensures that all the previous data is kept intact while stepping into the new one.

The latest version, Odoo 14 got released in October 2020. As businesses are ever-changing, the new version comes with many added or deleted features as found optimal by Odoo. This is needed to ensure the ERP keeps running at its best performance and also delivers high performance. It is considered to be four times faster than Odoo 13. So, if you are looking for speed, then you can switch to Odoo 14.

Top features of Odoo 14

Some of the features of Odoo 14 are:

1. Improved user experience

Odoo is a great competitor to big names like Oracle, Dynamics, and SAP. Odoo 14 has added more shortcut keys to control the system faster, improving the system speed and more on-click features to help you save time. There are more widgets in the list view that allows you to send messages directly to your colleagues within a single click.

2. Automated CRM

CRM is a powerful tool that provides your company with a better insight and focuses more on clients and not on the data input. The insight helps you forecast sales or find information about the clients easily. In the absence of a CRM, the salespeople can randomly fill the customer’s information, making it difficult for other team members to follow up or get complete sales information.

As Odoo 14 CRM is automated, you can add and search for customer’s data accurately and quickly.

3. Outlook plugins

This feature automates the communication logging and allows you to communicate with the clients automatically in the CRM. It also helps sales managers track the communication of their subordinates.

4. To-do activities list

Odoo 14 helps salespeople focus on selling instead of data input. The to-do activities feature allows the salespeople to quickly check the to-do list, the next activity, and its priority with its impact every day. This feature comes with an improved follow-up section that helps salespeople send an email or SMS to the potential client directly from the CRM.

Points to consider before Odoo migration

1. Performance

Odoo 14 is designed to deliver more both in terms of performance and features. It includes additional features that can benefit new businesses. The new features ensure the business processes are carried out as smoothly as possible. However, you must make sure to understand the purposes and needs of your business before you avail of the updated version. 

2. Deleting a few features 

While the new version includes new features, some of the old features have been revoked by Odoo. So, it would help if you had an idea about what features will be lost in the newer update. This is where an Odoo ERP implementation partner like Fingent can help you. Our Odoo consultants can help you migrate to the latest version of Odoo without losing your crucial company data. 

Read more: 6 Ways Odoo ERP Customization Can Benefit Your Business

3. Downtime

An update would mean that your business operations would be affected in the meantime. So, you must be prepared to overcome this downtime if you opt for migration. You can use the pilot version to run the platform with updates in the background. However, it is not possible in the live environment. You can discuss this in detail with the migration expert at Fingent.

4. Cost

The cost of the migration process may vary depending on your customized business requirements. Understanding the need for the latest update and knowing if the expense is the right investment for your company is essential. You can consult the experts at Fingent to get an estimate of the Odoo migration expenses for your business.

While migrating your old Odoo versions to newer and better ones is essential, it is a complex and tedious task. So, it is vital to have a good Odoo migration partner, which is why most businesses entrust us with Odoo ERP migration.

Read more: Why Choose Fingent as Your Odoo ERP Partner

Odoo migration: How to migrate to the newer version?

The Odoo migration process is done in two parts:

Part 1: Data migration

The company data present in the Odoo platform is of utmost importance and cannot be lost under any circumstances. This data requires some adaptation to work in sync with the new version. To make sure your data is suited for migration formulation, your information, such as charts, tables, contacts, etc., will be carried out.

Part 2: Odoo apps migration

The Odoo apps functional in the older version are used for specific needs and cannot be lost or compromised in the process of updating. Necessary changes to the existing applications or developing new ones will need to be done to meet the needs of your business.

The migration of applications and data will enhance the platform’s functionality without losing your company data.

To know more about Odoo migration and how we can help achieve it successfully, please contact us.

Odoo ERP implementation and maintenance enable businesses to handle critical business functions smoothly. Here are a few compelling reasons to choose Fingent as your Odoo ERP partner.

How Fingent’s Odoo ERP services benefit your business

If there’s ever been a lesson that history has taught us, it is to be prepared. Every business has its ups and downs, but the coronavirus took “down” to a whole new level for many organizations. While companies that adopted digital migration were prepared for the impending crisis, others faced a huge blow. 

Amidst all this uncertainty, preparation is one constant. Odoo is an excellent tool in your arsenal to prepare you for today and times to come. Odoo ERP implementation has helped many businesses transform their operations effortlessly, and it can help you too. This article helps you see why Odoo ERP is proving invaluable for current businesses and how you can choose the right Odoo ERP partner for seamless implementation.

Read more: What makes Odoo the best ERP solution for your business? 

Odoo ERP: The need of the hour

In the current situation, no one can tell when the pandemic and its effects will end. When the world is suffering from the loss of lives and finances, it is important to understand that we can perform only when we know how to live with technology. Given that, some organizations have opted for permanent work from home. With the help of Odoo ERP, companies can centralize their operations and integrate various important modules such as marketing, sales, and e-commerce.

Read more: 5 Reasons to Integrate Your E-commerce Application with Odoo ERP 

In today’s crisis, which has been brought upon by the pandemic, businesses can leverage many benefits with the help of centralized cloud ERP:

• Accessibility: Odoo ERP allows all your data to be stored in a centralized cloud source. Authorized users can use the data according to their requirements.
• Affordable: Odoo ERP can integrate over 35 modules, and all significant modules can be interconnected. However, the charges are nominal.
• Times-saving: Odoo ERP allows businesses to access data easily without any hassle saving a lot of time. 

How can the right Odoo ERP partner provide seamless transition?

Having the right Odoo ERP partner means having support and training from those who best understand Odoo ERP and your business. Each business is unique with unique process needs, so it pays to ensure that the Odoo ERP partner you select has substantial experience implementing Odoo ERP for businesses in your particular sector. As an official partner of Odoo, Fingent is primed to provide the best service you can get, but you don’t have to take our word for it. 

Here are a few questions that you can ask yourself before you make your choice, and some details that will help you see if you should consider us for your needs:

Question #1: What do they know about my business?

Different industries have different requirements. Choosing a partner who is not aware of the many needs of your business is like going to an orthopedic for your cataract issue. Make sure your ERP implementation partner has a strong track record in your industry. Good knowledge about your business will help your ERP partner smoothly accommodate the new software. This will avoid the need to make extensive changes to your business that can be costly and time-consuming. 

Apart from this, the partner will recommend specific Odoo ERP software features that will assist your particular business needs. They can also teach you how to make optimal use of the software. When your partner is specialized in your industry, they will be able to quickly modify according to changing industry standards, as happened during the pandemic.

Read more: 6 Ways Odoo ERP Customization Can Benefit Your Business 

Fingent has worked with many clients in finance, healthcare, education, real estate, retail, and other sectors, so we have the expertise in handling your specific needs, irrespective of the industry to which you belong. The best of our minds specializing in your sector will be selected to work on your project. 

Question #2: What kind of market reputation have they developed?

The Odoo ERP service provider’s reputation can give you a fair idea of whether it is worth investing in them. Go through their case studies of successful implements and testimonials. Ask for referrals and speak to those referrals to confirm the partner’s reputation. Doing so might help you find tips and advice on how you can work with your partner. Ensure the partner you are about to choose is reliable.

Check out the reviews and ratings given to us by our customers. We have received excellent ratings and many awards and recognitions globally. You can have a look at them on our About Us page. 

Question #3: Are they well-equipped or under-equipped?

One of the things that make a company unique is its size and budget. Hence, it is important to find out if your partner has the resources to handle businesses that are of your size and scope. If the partner you have identified is a global company, they must have hands-on experience with global ERP implementation. 

Question #4: How good are they at communication?

Even when you meet for the first time, do they answer your questions quickly and clearly? If you send them a query, do they take several days to respond? Is their website well-maintained? These are some questions that provide insights into their communication skills. An experienced ERP implementation partner will show interest in your company and the issues you are facing. That would mean they take time to ask you questions and analyze your business needs before providing a solution.

At Fingent, we are committed to providing a great customer experience for our clients. Here are some excerpts of testimonials about this from our client on Clutch. You can follow this link to see their detailed reviews: 

“Fingent’s flexibility and great communication stand out. We didn’t have a tech background, but the team made it easy for us to understand and work through everything.” – Owner of a Concierge Services Company.

“Their team is completely committed to our success as a client, and they do that with their dynamic team.” – Kristen Betts, Principal, Substantive Solutions, Inc. 

“I’ve never wondered if somebody else could have done it better, faster, or cheaper.” – Albert Navarra, Partner at Sapra & Navarra, LLP.

Read more: A 3 day Odoo CRM implementation story! 

Question #5: Which project methodology do they use?

The project methodology is a set of rules and deliverables that are followed during the implementation process. A project methodology explains how you will be informed about the progress, what is the payment method and time, and when you can find out about potential problems. 

When you initiate your project with Fingent, you get a dedicated and skilled team at your service that will guide you through the process. We start with an in-depth analysis of your requirements and walk you through the implementation process right through to post-launch support and updates. 

Read more: How to Select the Right Engagement Model for Business Software Development 

Question #6: Do I understand my business requirements?

It is crucial to know what your business requires. That will help you understand what kind of partner you should select. Hence, make an effort to understand what techno-functional needs you aim to achieve with the Odoo ERP implementation. Know which hardware and software technology you are currently using that may need replacement. Knowing your requirements will help you communicate them to your partner and receive an apt solution that fits those needs.

Our business technology consulting experts will be happy to help you identify and validate your technology needs by analyzing your current state of technology and desired business outcomes.

Test us out!

We understand that making decisions related to implementing new technologies is crucial, and an ERP platform will be the nerve center of your business operations. We are happy to sit with you and answer all your questions and allay your concerns about this. Please give us a call, and let’s discuss your project and needs.

How does Odoo ERP Customization Help Businesses?

In the current age of empowered consumerism, businesses should never underestimate the importance of customization in their strategy. Each company has its specific requirements, so customization has become increasingly significant to business growth in the past few years. As businesses wade through unprecedented times, customization emerges highly relevant in 2021. Enterprise systems like custom Odoo ERP solutions, in particular, witness an increasing market adoption. 

Undeniably, customized ERP software can unlock tremendous opportunities for businesses to grow and expand. However, do you feel that committing to a software vendor could mean you are relinquishing control of your business or that it might not be financially viable? If yes, we invite you to read this article and put your fears to rest as you discover the importance of Odoo ERP, especially as we approach 2021.

Read more: How Odoo ERP Simplifies Sales Management in Your Organization 

Does Your Business Need Odoo ERP Customization?

Every business has its requirements, and just because one methodology worked for a particular company, it cannot be a yardstick for all enterprises. Hence, it’s crucial to customize your business software to address your specific needs. The foremost reason for having customized Odoo ERP software is that it can address your specific business requirements. It is essential for businesses to wisely use this capability and customize their Odoo ERP software for an organized workforce and a highly streamlined workflow. 

Read more: 5 Salient Features of Odoo that Make it a Reliable ERP for Enterprises 

Consider a few reasons:

1. Process Extension

The productivity of any business depends on its work process and business forms. Each association has an alternative work process that may require customization to be more effective. To that end, business leaders may have to stretch out procedures to build new functionalities. In such situations, customizing Odoo ERP can improve collaborations within the work process. 

2. Increase application lifespan 

Applications are building blocks of any business process because they provide vital features and functionality while simplifying the business process. Given that, businesses cannot afford to lose applications at a critical moment. Companies thus need customized ERP solutions to increase the lifespan of business applications. 

3. Establish Unique Identity

Every business has specific objectives to accomplish, which sets them apart in the market. Online marketing activities and data reports of a business mirror its unique identity. Customization of Odoo ERP software can empower businesses to establish their unique identity despite challenging situations.

4. Mobility

With the changes brought about by the pandemic, the need for mobile ERP solutions has taken precedence. Odoo ERP customization can help organizations achieve the desired mobility.

5. Additional features

COVID-19 has redefined the way businesses function that necessitates improvements and upgrades in the business process for 2021. However, it would help if you streamlined each upgrade with the existing process. You can achieve this by incorporating additional features to improve the performance of the whole organization. Odoo ERP customization will help you include other features tailored for your specific business needs.

Read more: Fingent’s new plugin facilitates the scheduling of Zoom meetings from Odoo! 

6. Increased adaptation 

The pandemic has made it evident that an unprecedented event can take you completely by surprise and change the face of your business. Quick adaptation is necessary for businesses if they are to survive and thrive. However, it can be challenging to find new ways that align with your existing business process. Business systems that are not flexible to adaption can collapse, bringing a thriving business to a grinding halt. Odoo ERP customization enables companies to achieve flexibility, empowering them to adapt quickly as the need arises.

Benefits of Odoo ERP Customization

Odoo ERP customization offers businesses increased flexibility and better control resulting in increased sales and improved customer relations. Here are four main benefits of customized Odoo ERP software:

1. Flexible

Flexibility and better control over mission-critical business functions are two of the main benefits of Odoo ERP customization. The extent of that flexibility depends on the type of customization done by the ERP development company. Since Fingent is an official partner of Odoo, our team is fully trained in Odoo ERP development. Our projects are tailored for easy adaptability. 

2. Comprehensive

Odoo ERP covers a wide range of business needs, such as financial management, warehouse management, CRM, and human resource management. It can integrate almost all aspects of a business to improve overall efficiency. 

Read more: 5 Reasons to Integrate Your E-commerce Application with Odoo ERP 

3. Offers support and allows upgrades

Customized ERP applications give you complete control over their features. It also allows you to upgrade the applications when required. At Fingent, we offer user-friendly applications that help businesses achieve their daily organization and management goals. 

4. Development time

Development time might concern enterprises that need to deploy a customized ERP solution within a given time frame. The development timeline varies from project to project, depending on the requirements and expectations of an organization. However, it is a profitable investment considering the long-term benefits.

5. Cost-effective 

There is a misunderstanding that customization of the Odoo ERP system costs a fortune or might complicate the software system’s entire delivery. This has held back some businesses from investing in it. While it is true that customized ERP solutions require to be developed from scratch and tend to be more expensive than off-the-shelf systems, you must consider that the benefits and long-term savings far outweigh the cost.  

The development cost of customization depends on various factors such as the type of application, the number of features, and the time required for the development. However, Odoo offers a basic ERP system with a low-cost license fee. Hence, developing a simple enterprise application with basic features can be cost-effective in the long run. Organizations can maximize the budget on the customization of the platform. 

6. Security 

Odoo ERP is known to be secure by design. Being an open-source platform, Odoo is under constant scrutiny by its users. This ensures that it continually improves on bugs as soon as users report them. 

Easy Adaptability with Complete Control – Grab It Now 

Customization of the Odoo ERP system provides you with the functionality that your business requires. It eliminates any unnecessary features that could confuse a customer and allows you to customize the source code to suit your business needs and features. Customization can also reduce entry duplication and removes redundant fields, which enhances the efficiency of your employees. It can address your current business requirements while providing you with the opportunity to continually improve and refine your business processes as 2021 approaches with new challenges.

If you are worried that the implementation might be difficult, we want to assure you that it isn’t. Fingent’s Odoo implementation projects are tailored for easy adaptability and user-friendliness while ensuring that you have complete control over your processes. Give us a call, and let’s get talking. 

Fingent launches Odoo Zoom integration module in Odoo Apps Store

Are you managing your crucial business functions like ERP and CRM via Odoo and scheduling your online meetings via Zoom? 

Very often, you’d have faced this difficulty of logging into Zoom separately to join the meetings. Some of you would’ve even missed the appointments or run late to join, just because you got too busy to track your Zoom calendar. 

Spending your whole day on Odoo and switching to Zoom in between is annoying. Being an Official Partner of Odoo, Fingent has always catered to the needs of various customers and streamlined their operations thus saving their costs, time, and resources. Now you can easily schedule your Zoom meetings from Odoo using Fingent’s new plugin that integrates Odoo with Zoom, inclusive of updating Odoo based calendars. Participants can join the meeting using the meeting link and ID. Both the organizer and the participants need not require individual Zoom accounts as the meeting can be scheduled from within Odoo. 

Click here to check out our Odoo Zoom integration module launched in Odoo Apps Store. 

Features

• Easy flow between Odoo and Zoom
• Automatically syncs meetings scheduled via Odoo with Zoom
• Sets passwords to join the meeting
• Manages time-zone considerations
• Support for Zoom’s advanced meeting settings
• Multi-user and multi-company support

Want to integrate this custom business logic to extend and amplify the functionalities of your Odoo CRM/ ERP suite? Get in touch with us. 

Does your business require Odoo ERP? Look at these aspects and decide. 

Building a business is not an overnight endeavor. Spreadsheets and separate solutions may have worked years ago, but that is old news. In the current scenario, the business world is changing every second. It is important for businesses to make informed decisions quickly. Having up-to-date data can help businesses make these decisions that impact them for growth. However, as William Pollard said, “Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed, and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit.” To achieve that, businesses need Odoo ERP, a centralized information structure. 

Read More: 5 Salient Features of Odoo that Make it a Reliable ERP for Enterprises 

If you find that your business is experiencing difficulties in managing aspects such as finances, order volume, and customer satisfaction, then maybe it is time to invest in a workable ERP system.  Businesses must decide which ERP can solve the majority of their problems and empower their business to succeed in its growth strategy. Before we even get to that, you must know for sure if your business actually needs an ERP system or if you can do without it. This article points you to five distinct signs that show whether you need ERP software. If your business is facing any of these 5 problems, it may be a clear sign that it needs the efficiency introduced by Odoo ERP system. 

1. Accessing data related to your business is a horrendous task

Is it a time-consuming task to find out what your average sales margin is or the number of orders per day? Is your company totally dependent on separate systems and spreadsheets? Do you need to update them constantly and reconcile them manually? If your answer is YES to these questions, then this is a clear sign that you need an efficient ERP system to help you.

When your business experiences growth, you will notice that your employees need quick access to data at all times. You would not want your employees running around or calling each other across different departments until they find the information they are looking for. Also, business owners need a holistic view of business operations at any given point in time. Your sales representatives too should be able to view the full transaction history of your customers so that they can increase upsell and cross-sell opportunities. Odoo ERP system helps your entire staff get the necessary information more quickly and effectively. Odoo ERP system produces accurate and real-time data. This will save your staff the precious time that is otherwise used upon the duplication process. It can enable a seamless flow of information across all your departments.

Read more: Top 5 Open-source ERP Systems for Medical Equipment Suppliers

2. You have different software to manage different processes 

Do your accounting team and sales team use two different systems while your warehouse team uses the third solution to track shipping and receiving?  Do your employees feel that the job of processing orders is a tedious manual task? 

Multiple software can create problems such as inaccurate and insufficient data. Odoo ERP can integrate these systems for a smooth business functionality within a single database. It is a source that contains accurate real-time data and prevents information confusion. This in turn helps your employees make quick decisions while freeing up their time to work on high-value projects that promote business growth. 

3. Your accounting system is too complicated

Is your accounting department still relying on paper-based invoices and sales orders? Is your staff spending many hours manually entering information into various accounting systems? Has your financial reporting become a horrendous task? If so, you need the Odoo ERP system to make a significant impact and save you some valuable time. 

With the Odoo ERP system, you can have all your financials on a single database. This means you can save time in manually cross-posting information and reconciling data. Implementing Odoo ERP reduces frustrations and minimizes delays in delivering critical reports. 

Read more: Meeting the HR Requirements With Odoo 

4. You have a complex and time-consuming IT system

Is managing your IT system consuming a lot of time? Managing multiple systems can be complex, costly, and time-consuming. Trying to add additional software to an already ineffective system is as good as patching a hole in a bucket with a cotton ball. In contrast, adopting Odoo ERP system gives you the capability to respond effectively to changing business and IT requirements. The cloud-based edition of Odoo ERP offers customized solutions. It increases flexibility and efficiency within your business. It can give you an edge in managing your partners, customers, and suppliers. 

5. Your sales are suffering because of bad customer support

Are you finding that your inventory management has become more challenging as your business continues to grow? Are you running out of popular stock just when it is most in demand? Are your employees unable to locate products that your customers are requesting? These situations can undermine the trust of your customers in your reliability and customer service. No business can survive without retaining old customers in addition to acquiring new ones.

Odoo ERP allows your entire staff to access information in real-time. This enables your customer service representatives to answer customer queries without having to transfer them to another department. This also helps warehouse managers to replenish the stock before it completely runs out. It is a failproof way to stay ahead in business competition.

Read More: 5 Reasons to Integrate Your E-commerce Application with Odoo ERP 

You Know You Need ERP. What Next?

If you see these signs in your business, you now know that you need an ERP system, so where do you go from there? You might want to know if it is worth the investment and how you can implement it. 

Firstly, remember there is no limit to the improvements brought into your business by a well-implemented Odoo ERP system. It can fix your existing problems and also enhance what is working well, which is the best driver of growth and innovation. The Odoo ERP system is a single powerhouse software that covers all your business requirements. It can improve business efficiency while providing the much-needed flexibility to run your business smoothly. As an integrated management system, Odoo ERP focuses on the main business processes often in real-time. It can collect, store, manage, and interpret data from all aspects of your business. Investing in Odoo ERP software can help businesses improve performance. It can assist with the automation of certain processes within the organization making it a worthwhile investment.

How do you implement it? Fingent is an official partner of Odoo and has hands-on expertise in consulting, implementation, and customization of Odoo for clients all over. We can help you implement and customize Odoo ERP solutions for your business needs and answer any other questions you might have. Get in touch with us and let’s get the conversation started.  

Read more: A 3-day Odoo CRM implementation story!  

A list of 5 popular open-source ERPs that support healthcare equipment suppliers

The global healthcare expenditure is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 5% till 2023. The healthcare industry can, therefore, look at a bright future. Medical equipment suppliers have to deal with various challenges. They have to ensure that all products comply with the regulatory guidelines, are of high quality, and are entirely traceable. Robust ERP systems can help medical equipment suppliers to gather insights from data to make quick decisions. Let’s take a look at some of the open-source ERP systems out there that are suitable for SMEs.

1. Odoo ERP

Odoo is an open-source ERP platform that allows ease of deployment. This is specifically helpful for SMEs that do not have dedicated IT infrastructure. The flexibility helps integration of different business processes and systems. Odoo for medical equipment suppliers is a comprehensive ERP solution that helps manage financials and operations with ease. 

The core modules of Odoo like Accounting, Project Management, and Inventory Management make it suitable for medical equipment suppliers. Developers can create custom third-party apps to meet the specific needs of a medical equipment supplier. Odoo offers more than 10,000 apps to meet most business needs. Fingent is an official partner of Odoo with years of experience in implementing, customizing, and providing consultation for clients. As an Odoo development company, Fingent has catered to the needs of various customers and streamlined their operations. Our motto of increasing efficiency and ease-of-use has made us a popular choice among various organizations for Odoo implementation requirements. 

Read more: 5 Salient Features of Odoo that Make it a Reliable ERP for Enterprises

2. ERPNext 

ERPNext is a contemporary ERP solution that allows you to focus on delivering medical equipment of high-quality by effortlessly managing your supply chains. It enables you to intelligently track orders, monitor stock levels, implement promotions, and minimize errors in inventory sourcing. You can leverage the numerous built-in integrations offered by ERPNext and start supplying in no time. With ERPNext, you can have real-time updates on the movement of equipment, control equipment transfers within different warehouses, and generate required reports quickly and easily. You can also create your customized software on-the-fly without any code. 

3. Epicor 

Medical equipment suppliers have to deal with difficult delivery timelines, complicated pricing arrangements, unique inventory, oversee seller agreements, and concessions. Epicor ERP solution enables you to carry out all your operations with ease. The Epicor Prophet 21 ERP is specifically designed for supply and distribution. This user-friendly ERP system can help suppliers maximize profits and scale without limits. Epicor allows you to integrate all your business applications with RESTful API. You can also automatically manage your warehouses with Epicor Prophet 21. This helps in the smooth running of all processes in your warehouse. This, in turn, improves precision enabling you to provide better services to your customers.   

Epicor Commerce Connect helps you to create and maintain an online presence which is the need of the hour. The increased visibility across the supply chain helps medical equipment suppliers even forecast demand. 

Read more: ERP or Digital Transformation: The Best Technology Solution For Your Enterprise

4. Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 combines the best practices of Microsoft’s ERP, CRM, and BI solutions into a single product that is cloud-based. These features enable the system to scale and grow along with your business. Capabilities like Material Resource Planning and Vendor Self-Service Help minimize vendor lead times and inventory carrying costs. The fully automated warehouse management system (WMS) helps optimize your warehouse space, labor, and resources. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 gives medical device suppliers full visibility across the entire supply chain and the ability to track information and job at all touchpoints. This helps improve efficiency, reduce expenses, and promote smooth communication within different segments of the medical device industry supply chain. As a medical device supplier, you need to understand who has purchased the device from you and whether it has come back for service. You have to take information from different systems and combine those to give meaningful reporting. You also may have to rework your inventory according to changes in regulations. Microsoft Dynamics 365 allows you to be unique in the medical device industry because that’s what gives you the edge.

Read more: ERP E-commerce

5. Oracle NetSuite 

Oracle Netsuite is proven to be a very mature SaaS solution that brings in next-level integration and seamless nature to the table. Though NetSuite is ideal for SMEs who can leverage the relatively low-cost entry point, many enterprise-level companies are also considering Netsuite due to the scalability that it provides. Oracle NetSuite helps medical device suppliers to react to the diverse market and deal with different customer bases and different routes-to-market. NetSuite helps you reduce indirect costs and get through the maze of the regulatory framework by allowing modifications and customizations. You get one central source of information that helps simplify the complexities of the medical device business. The flexibility that Oracle NetSuite offers, helps the medical equipment industry to adapt to the changes in customer demand and provide them with what they want and when they want. 

Read more: 5 Reasons to Integrate Your E-commerce Application with Odoo ERP

Conclusion

Analyses of the medical equipment supplies and distribution industry show that companies that have demonstrated the ability to leverage cloud computing and ERP have increased their profitability and revenue. This was achieved as a result of seamless integration of all business processes which enabled real-time financial and operational visibility, better cost management structures, improved forecasting and revenue tracking, and the ability to access data from anywhere. 

A large number of medical equipment suppliers usually are small to medium-sized businesses, where the one-off system automation model proves to be inefficient. Cloud-based ERP systems eliminates the old standalone computer systems and replaces them with a single, unified software program. Thus, someone in Finance can easily look into the Warehouse software to check if an order is shipped. ERP cloud computing can help you see exactly where your business is, at any second of the day. You can see how much revenue you’ve earned for the day, how much inventory you have, how you are trending over previous days, months, and years. 

Read more: A 3 day Odoo CRM implementation story!

Cloud-based ERP systems becoming the rage for medical equipment suppliers, it’s high time that you too invest in one, if not done already. Fingent helps you leverage the benefits of the open-source ERP systems mentioned above by understanding your unique business requirements. Because we know that this uniqueness is what gives you that competitive edge. Contact us to know more about how your business can benefit from ERP integration.